It was back in 2018 that I had my lone visit to Kentucky Kingdom. It was the final park of a three park trip that Mindy and I took through Indiana and Kentucky. It started with Indiana Beach followed, up by Holiday World, and ended with Kentucky Kingdom. All three parks were first time visits and I enjoyed my time at each.
It has now been seven years since my last visit. I tried to include Kentucky Kingdom into the 2021 trip to Kings Island and Holiday World with Sam and Kaylee, but the park had wrapped up its operations just prior to our plans. So for me, this visit was long overdue.
One New Credit, but Re-Rides on Some Favorites
Seven years ago I fell in love with both Storm Chaser and Lightning Run during my visit to Kentucky Kingdom. I got to ride both coasters over and over as the park was mostly empty. We didn’t even get off the trains – just rode over and over again. That didn’t quite happen this visit, but we didn’t have overly terrible waits for anything either, with one exception.
Woodland Run
Talk about the biggest surprise of the visit for me. I rode this coaster under its former name, Thunder Run in 2018. While it rode way better than both Hurler clones that followed its layout, it didn’t really feature any forces or memorable moments. I did tell Sam she’d most likely enjoy this way more than the Carowinds Hurler clone that she experienced a few years ago. She never got to ride the one at Kings Dominion though.
What I didn’t know going into this trip was that Thunder Run, now Woodland Run, had gotten some re-track work by the Gravity Group. And I’ll tell you what, while Grizzly at Kings Dominion is getting all the attention for its re-track, people should also be talking about Woodland Run.
Sam and I had numerous pops of airtime, with there being a great moment of it on the first drop. And boy was the track smooth! This ride was always better than those Hurler clones, but now it’s even surpassed itself. Don’t sleep on this ride if you make your way to Kentucky Kingdom. I wish we would have gotten a few more rides on it, honestly.
Kentucky Flyer
Since my first visit to Kentucky Kingdom the park has added one new coaster in Kentucky Flyer. After riding both Wooden Warrior at Quassy and Oscar’s Wacky Taxi at Sesame Place in Philadelphia, I have been eager to give this one a try. I do love both those rides, although both are quite short. That is my only knock on them.
Kentucky Flyer didn’t feel as short to me, but of the three coasters, I felt the other two feature better elements and forces. It is a great addition to the park, nonetheless, and I enjoyed our rides on it. If your visits are anything like ours, you might not have much of a wait either. Tucked back into the waterpark area, no one was going to the ride.
Wind Chaser & Lightning Run
When it comes to my favorite two coasters at the park, I had some different feelings on one of them this time around. That being the former Storm Chaser, now known as Wind Chaser.
First of all, stupid name. I get it that the new owners are putting their stamp on things and trying to still pay some homage to the park’s history. But seriously… What is a wind chaser? Had that been my biggest gripe of the ride, that would have been great. That wasn’t the case, however. Its intensity felt neutered.
For years I put Storm Chaser and Twisted Timbers at Kings Dominion neck and neck on my Favorite Coasters ranking. They both have some similar elements and both of them felt like they wanted to throw me from the train. Well, in 2025 Storm… ehh, Wind Chaser felt way less intense. The barrel roll down drop felt kind of gracious, not at all like Twisted Timbers that wants to drop me out of the train before the ride even begins.
Then the airtime hills felt like they were taken at a fraction of the speed I remembered. Even if they didn’t, something about them felt way less intense. Sam even looked at me when getting off and said that felt nothing like Twisted Timbers. And she was right. It sure doesn’t anymore. This bummed me out as I know how much Sam loves Twisted Timbers and I had talked this ride up for months now.
As for Lightning Run, aside from the slow wait and one train operations, this ride still felt punchy. I would have liked to have gotten in a few more rides on it, but the line was just so slow moving to want to do more than three.
I still don’t understand how more parks haven’t bought one of these rides yet. They are impressive, take up a small foot print, and pack a punch. From my understanding they aren’t overly expensive compared to other similar rides either. I’d love to see one at a park like Knoebels or Dorney Park. Having one of these much closer to home would rock!
Final Ride Counts
Hollyhock & Roll (1)
Kentucky Flyer (3)
Lightning Run (3)
Wind Chaser (3: Sam, 2: Patrick)
Woodland Run (3)
I Wonder What the Future Holds?
Now that Herschend owns Kentucky Kingdom I am excited to see what the future holds. The updates to the park so far are impressive. The landscaping alone makes this park look so much better than it did back in 2018. There is clearly a new ride coming soon right next to Lightning Run. I can’t wait to see what that might be. And like Holiday World, this is a park I’d like to revisit again with more of the crew. Mine as well do both whenever we can make that happen.
Kentucky Kingdom Photo Gallery - June 4, 2025
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CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): Kentucky Flyer
Sam
Admiral
New Credit(s): Hollyhock & Roll, Kentucky Flyer, Lightning Run, Wind Chaser, Woodland Run