Thunderbird is the steel Wing Coaster at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, and it was the first launched Wing Coaster built in the United States. Designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard, it opened on April 25, 2015, replacing a traditional chain-lift hill with a magnetic launch that flings riders to 60 mph before they even see the first inversion.
This guide breaks down everything riders search for before getting in line: exactly how fast Thunderbird goes and how it gets there, the current height requirement, what each of its four inversions feels like, how it stacks up against other Wing Coasters, and practical tips for planning a visit to Holiday World.
Quick Answer
Thunderbird is a 140-foot-tall Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster that launches riders from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds using a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM), then sends them through four inversions — including the tallest vertical loop on any Wing Coaster in the world — over a 3,035-foot track in about 78 seconds. The height requirement is 48 to 78 inches.
Thunderbird at a Glance
Park: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Indiana. Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). Opened: April 25, 2015. Height: 140 ft (43 m). Top Speed: 60 mph (97 km/h), reached in 3.5 seconds. Length: 3,035 ft (925 m). Duration: about 78 seconds (1:18). Inversions: 4. Trains: 2, each with 5 cars carrying 4 riders per car (20 riders per train). Hourly Capacity: roughly 1,140 riders. Height Requirement: 48–78 inches. Reported Cost: $22 million.
Thunderbird was the eighth Wing Coaster built anywhere in the world and only the fourth in the U.S. — but the first anywhere to use a launch instead of a lift hill. It also gave Holiday World, a family-owned park best known for its award-winning wooden coasters and free soft drinks, its first major steel thrill ride.
How Thunderbird Launches: 0 to 60 in 3.5 Seconds
Instead of a chain-lift hill, Thunderbird uses a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) launch system housed in a building the park nicknamed “Will Power,” after longtime Holiday World president Will Koch. The launch draws on two 24,000-pound flywheel assemblies that store rotational energy between cycles and release roughly 2.5 megawatts of power in a single burst, propelling the train from a dead stop to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds — with no run-up and no visible hill in sight.
That launch was the ride’s headline innovation in 2015: it made Thunderbird the first Wing Coaster on Earth to swap a traditional lift hill for a magnetic launch, a format B&M has since used on later launched coasters elsewhere.
The Ride Experience: Elements and Layout
As a Wing Coaster, Thunderbird seats riders in pairs cantilevered off either side of the track, with nothing above or below their feet — a seating position that makes every drop and inversion feel unusually exposed. A themed pre-show with fog, lighting, and simulated thunder builds anticipation before the launch itself.
Immediately after launching to 60 mph, the train crests a 140-foot Immelmann loop, then dives into a 125-foot vertical loop — the tallest vertical loop on any Wing Coaster in the world, surpassing Wild Eagle at Dollywood. A zero-g roll and an in-line twist round out the four-inversion layout, with overbanked turns and an elevated spiral connecting the elements. Along the way, the track threads several tightly choreographed “near-miss” moments past a barn, a windmill, and a chimney, and crosses over Holiday World’s wooden coaster The Voyage twice before returning to the station.
Height Requirement and Who Can Ride
Thunderbird’s height requirement is 48 to 78 inches to ride, with riders required to maintain control of their upper torso, head, and neck throughout the ride. Holiday World lowered the minimum from 52 inches to 48 inches in April 2025, opening the ride to more younger and smaller riders than it originally allowed at launch.
Because of the wing-seat position and four inversions, Thunderbird is best suited to riders comfortable with launched coasters and inverting elements; it’s more intense than Holiday World’s classic wooden coasters like The Legend or The Raven.
Records: The Tallest Vertical Loop on Any Wing Coaster
Thunderbird’s 125-foot vertical loop is the tallest ever built on a Wing Coaster, a record that has stood since the ride opened in 2015 and remains unbroken. It also earned fifth place in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards for Best New Ride in 2015, the year it debuted alongside other major coaster openings nationwide.
Beyond the records, Thunderbird’s real significance is that it proved a launch system could work on a Wing Coaster at all — a layout previously built exclusively with lift hills — paving the way for the format on later installations, including Rapterra, the B&M launched Wing Coaster that opened at Kings Dominion in Virginia in 2025.
Best Seat and Ride Tips
Holiday World itself recommends the outside seat on the left wing for the strongest sense of the ride’s “near-miss” elements, since that side passes closest to the barn, windmill, and chimney set pieces. Riders looking for a different sensation often favor the back row, where the whip through the rolls and twists feels more pronounced, while the front row offers the clearest view of the launch and the first loop but tends to draw longer waits.
There’s no dedicated single-rider line at Thunderbird as of this writing, so odd-numbered groups should expect to be paired up by ride attendants at the station rather than routed through a separate queue.
Planning Your Visit
Holiday World operates on a seasonal schedule, typically running from late April or early May through late October, with daily hours that vary by season — commonly a 10am start with evening closing times that shift throughout the year, plus extended hours on select summer weekends. Because these hours change by date and season, check the official Holiday World hours & calendar page before you go.
Admission is sold through several ticket tiers — single-day “Any Day” tickets, date-specific “Pick Your Day” tickets, multi-visit Flex tickets, and season passes — and every ticket type includes park entry, free parking, free sunscreen, and Holiday World’s signature free soft drinks. Current pricing and availability for each tier are listed on the official Holiday World tickets page.
Thunderbird roller coaster FAQs
How fast does Thunderbird go?
Thunderbird launches from a standstill to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds using a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM), rather than gaining speed from a lift hill and first drop like a traditional coaster.
What is the height requirement for Thunderbird?
Riders must be between 48 and 78 inches tall. Holiday World lowered the minimum height from 52 to 48 inches in April 2025.
How long does the Thunderbird ride last?
The ride lasts about 78 seconds (1 minute, 18 seconds) from launch to return to the station, covering 3,035 feet of track.
What makes Thunderbird different from other Wing Coasters?
Thunderbird was the first launched Wing Coaster built in the United States when it opened in 2015. Instead of climbing a chain-lift hill, it uses an LSM launch to reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds before entering its four inversions. A second launched Wing Coaster, Rapterra, opened at Kings Dominion in Virginia in 2025.
How many inversions does Thunderbird have?
Thunderbird has four inversions: a 140-foot Immelmann loop, a 125-foot vertical loop (the tallest on any Wing Coaster), a zero-g roll, and an in-line twist.
Is Thunderbird a scary or intense ride?
It’s one of Holiday World’s more intense attractions thanks to the abrupt launch and exposed wing-seat position, but it doesn’t include extended airtime hills or a particularly rough ride — most riders describe it as fast and disorienting rather than jarring.
Which seat is best on Thunderbird?
Holiday World recommends the outside seat on the left wing for the best view of the ride’s near-miss elements past the barn, windmill, and chimney. The back row tends to feel more forceful through the rolls, while the front offers the clearest sightlines but longer waits.
Where is Thunderbird located and when does it operate?
Thunderbird is located at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana. It runs during the park’s regular season, typically late April or early May through late October — check the official Holiday World hours & calendar page for current dates and daily hours.
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