WILLOW GROVE PARK THUNDERBOLT roller coaster 1930's

Here are some old movie reels of a wild little coaster called the Thunderbolt. It opened in the 1930s and was located at Willow Grove Park near Philadelphia PA. The coaster operated until the park closed in 1975.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• wooden
• roller
• coaster
• Willow
• Grove
• amusement
• park
• Thunderbolt
• Philadelphia

[TalonRider]

I wish the park was still open. It would be way better than the boring mall that is there now

[scrapplecheesesteak]

Only visited WG Park once when I was a just a toddler, Six Gun Territory...but too young to recall it. I only remember the vacant fenced in park, the Alps stood along Easton road. Trees lined Welsh Road, and you can see the rollercoaster tracks on my way to the pool with my mom. Man I wish I was around during the days of the Park..the 40s or 50s. So sad to see the congested ugly mess (I think) Willow Grove has become.

[sheev11]

@calichigal Sorry I don't. 

[calichigal]

@sheev11 Did you know David Winn? He worked there fairly close to the end, also, early 1970s?

[iamjustjudy]

Willow Grove is a pit now. I don't care how much "improvement" they do it is turning into philthydelphia... property values dropping, crime rates rising...sad

[mjp1305]

a blast from the past, i have fond memories of the park, and that roller coaster!

[cannibalonXthedead]

This looks to be the inspiration for Grona Land's Twister

[hop208]

They're trying to have a Willow Grove Park celebration celebrating the history of Willow Grove, PA. I live about 3 miles away from the mall that stands there now and I think it's a crock. There is no park, no recognizable sights of historical importance (at least not important enough for me to know about) and NO willow trees. Willow Grove was named Willow Grove because of a grove of willow trees. Now, its just a mall surrounded by run down looking businesses, houses and the Olive Garden.

[OldsVistaCruiser]

@Tubes12AX7k - There is at least one such type of park left in eastern PA. Although not a true trolley park, Knoebel's is the biggest free-admission (free parking, too!) amusement park in the U.S., which is in Elysburg, PA right at the Northumberland/Columbia county line, not far from Exit 236 of I-80 near Bloomsburg. It's a family-oriented park where you only pay for rides/games and food.

[cannibalonXthedead]

@rwoodlan100 Oh My God! a park like six flags would immediately be immediatly demolished if something like that happened! parks used to be so fun and care-free back then. Lawyers have really ruined the fun for everyone

[rwoodlan100]

I used to go there every summer. I do know of one instance where two guys stood up at the top of the lift hill of the Thunderbolt and tumbled out on that curve -- they didn't die but landed on the tracks below. The park was fun.