SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Dorney Park has gotten a lot of attention this season for the first year of its new Iron Menace roller coaster.
But the amusement park is getting ready to mark the anniversary of its first coaster.
On June 29, the park will hold the 100th anniversary of Thunderhawk, which opened as The Coaster at Dorney in 1924 and continues as a popular attraction today, the park announced Friday.
The all-day event, included with park admission, will feature a special ceremony, music, food, a pop-up history museum, special guests, photo ops and more.Dorney Park news release
The all-day event, included with park admission, will feature a special ceremony, music, food, a pop-up history museum, special guests, photo ops and more.
There also will be a NanoCoaster Building Contest.
Contestants will participate in a one-hour race against each another to complete the fastest and most quality build Nanocoaster — a small replica of Thunderhawk that you can collect and display.
The build will be a Special Edition Thunderhawk Nanocoaster with a commemorative etched base.
Details and a schedule of events will be released as the event gets closer, Dorney said in a release.
For now, guests can find information at dorneypark.com.
Thunderhawk history
The Coaster was built in 1923 as an out-and-back roller coaster featuring little more than a drop and return, and opened to the public in 1924.
Over the years it has been renamed and reconfigured into the ride it is today.
“Thunderhawk is a national landmark and an integral part of our park’s history. We are proud of the generations of men and women who have preserved this roller coaster over the years, and we’re excited to celebrate its centennial.”Dorney Park General Manager Jessica Naderman
“Thunderhawk is a national landmark and an integral part of our park’s history,” Dorney Park General Manager Jessica Naderman said.
“We are proud of the generations of men and women who have preserved this roller coaster over the years, and we’re excited to celebrate its centennial.”
In addition to the celebration, Thunderhawk also will sport special decals and signs for the 100th celebration.
Dorney this yearintroduced its newest coaster, Iron Menace, the northeast’s first dive coaster. It suspends riders 160 feet in the air before plummeting at a beyond-vertical, 95-degree drop.
