Negative-G - Kennywood West Mifflin, Pennsylvania - 2025

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The Thunderbolt roller coaster at Kennywood Park, West Mifflin, PA

The bowl section that Andy Vettel added to The Pippin to create the Thunderbolt is a double helix that has some amazing lateral g forces.

The trains for Thunderbolt have no seat dividers. Mix no seat dividers with high lateral forces and you can see why kids are supposed to be seated on the right side of the train. The last time we visited Bond was 15 and slammed into me ruthlessly with his "elbows of steel" while riding the Thunderbolt. This time I worked it so I'd be on the right side of the train. He didn't realize this until we were locked in. "Oh SHIT" is what came out of his mouth while I just sat there with a sky smile on my face. Revenge is sweet.

Outside of my sweet, sweet revenge the Thunderbolt, like the rest of Kennywood's coaster collection is a world class coaster.

The Thunderbolt isn't the biggest or the most intense coaster in existence, but it is the perfect mix of airtime, laterals, terrain, and a whole lot of fun.

That's why this coaster has been beloved since 1968.