‘That Extra Whip’: Kennywood’s Thunderbolt Roller Coaster Celebrates a Century of Thrills

50 years ago, Thunderbolt was known as the King of Roller Coasters.

Guests ride the Thunderbolt under a menacing sky on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Kennywood, which opened for the 2023 season. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS

By Benjamin Kail From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

PITTSBURGH—Mike Lowery hasn’t been in this spot since he was 10 years old. He edges up to the last stanchion near a pile of hats and backpacks and other loose gear that riders don’t want flying into the Monongahela River.