Greezed Lightnin'
Encyclopedia
Greezed Lightnin' is a shuttle roller coaster
at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky
. It is a standard sit-down Schwarzkopf
"Shuttle Loop" with a weight drop launch system. The ride accelerates from 0 to 60 mi/h in less than six seconds, takes the riders though a single loop and up a 70 degree incline, and then does the same track backwards. Greezed Lightnin' is known for being exceptionally loud. In fact, the sound of the train heading through the brake run can be heard all through the park.
as Viper, and before that at Six Flags Great America
in Gurnee, Illinois
, as Tidal Wave. Ironically, another Schwarzkopf shuttle loop named Tidal Wave, then located at Marriott's Great America in California
, was renamed Greased Lightnin’ after the song in the Paramount movie Grease
when Paramount Parks
purchased the park. In the 2005/2006 off-season, this now-retired coaster was used as parts for Greezed Lightnin' in Kentucky, the subject of this article.
Another Schwarzkopf shuttle loop was also named Greezed Lightnin'
, but this one was operated at Six Flags Astroworld
in Texas
before the park's demolition, and has been relocated to Joyland Amusement Park
.
The sites the Kentucky Greezed Lightnin' occupied at both Six Flags Great America
and Six Flags Over Georgia
have been taken over by other coasters. The site at Great America is occupied now by Batman: The Ride
, and the site in Georgia is occupied by Superman: Ultimate Flight
.
Shuttle roller coaster
A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster that ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and traverses the same track backwards...
at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. It is a standard sit-down Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
"Shuttle Loop" with a weight drop launch system. The ride accelerates from 0 to 60 mi/h in less than six seconds, takes the riders though a single loop and up a 70 degree incline, and then does the same track backwards. Greezed Lightnin' is known for being exceptionally loud. In fact, the sound of the train heading through the brake run can be heard all through the park.
History
Previously this coaster was at Six Flags Over GeorgiaSix Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia is a theme park located west of Atlanta, in unincorporated Cobb County. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six Flags chain, after the original opening in 1961 in Texas....
as Viper, and before that at Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
in Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28,834 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 30,772 in 2005. The village borders the city of Waukegan and is considered a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Gurnee is perhaps best known for being the location of...
, as Tidal Wave. Ironically, another Schwarzkopf shuttle loop named Tidal Wave, then located at Marriott's Great America in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, was renamed Greased Lightnin’ after the song in the Paramount movie Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
when Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
purchased the park. In the 2005/2006 off-season, this now-retired coaster was used as parts for Greezed Lightnin' in Kentucky, the subject of this article.
Another Schwarzkopf shuttle loop was also named Greezed Lightnin'
Greezed Lightnin' (Six Flags Astroworld)
Greezed Lightnin is a steel Shuttle Looper roller coaster at Joyland Amusement Park in Lubbock, Texas, relocated from Houston's Six Flags Astroworld....
, but this one was operated at Six Flags Astroworld
Six Flags Astroworld
AstroWorld was a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land between Kirby Drive and Fannin Avenue, directly south of Loop 610 in Houston, Texas, USA...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
before the park's demolition, and has been relocated to Joyland Amusement Park
Joyland Amusement Park
The Joyland Amusement Park is a small family-owned traditional amusement park, located in Lubbock, Texas, USA within Lubbock's Mackenzie Park. It typically operates from March to September of each year, opening 7 days a week but only during the evening on weeknights.-History:The park was founded in...
.
The sites the Kentucky Greezed Lightnin' occupied at both Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
and Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia is a theme park located west of Atlanta, in unincorporated Cobb County. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six Flags chain, after the original opening in 1961 in Texas....
have been taken over by other coasters. The site at Great America is occupied now by Batman: The Ride
Batman: The Ride
Batman: The Ride is a steel inverted roller coaster found in many Six Flags theme parks, as well as other parks around the world, including Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Fiesta Texas , Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags St. Louis, Six Flags...
, and the site in Georgia is occupied by Superman: Ultimate Flight
Superman: Ultimate Flight
Superman: Ultimate Flight is a steel flying roller coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard. Themed to the popular comic book character, Superman: Ultimate Flight has been installed at three Six Flags theme parks around the United States. Superman: Ultimate Flight simulates flying like the...
.