LOUISVILLE, Ky. — To launch the celebration of its 30th anniversary, Kentucky Kingdom hosted a reunion last night for the members of “Save My Park,” a group of longtime supporters of Kentucky Kingdom who led the effort to convince state and local officials not to bulldoze the theme park when the former operator closed and abandoned it.

John Mulcahy, a leader in the “Save My Park” movement, remarked, “After the park was abruptly abandoned in early 2010, everyone thought that was the end of Kentucky Kingdom.  But we rallied 6,000 supporters on Facebook, got the attention of Ed Hart, and now here we are – celebrating 30 years of fun!”

Dan English, a key organizer of the “Save My Park” group, commented, “I can hardly believe it’s been five years since the new Kentucky Kingdom reopened – and 30 years since Ed Hart’s team first resuscitated the original park.”

To celebrate the park’s 30th anniversary, Adam Birkner, Kentucky Kingdom’s senior marketing manager, announced that a new roller coaster, the Kentucky Flyer, will be ready to ride on the park’s opening day in 2019.

Birkner remarked, “What better way to celebrate Kentucky Kingdom’s 30th anniversary than to add our sixth roller coaster! The Kentucky Flyer is designed by The Gravity Group, an internationally acclaimed American wooden roller coaster supplier. The Kentucky Flyer will navigate through 56-degree hairpin turns at rapid speeds, treating riders to plenty of airtime. It’s also a big plus that the unique design of The Gravity Group’s Timberliner coaster train comfortably accommodates a wide range of passenger sizes [minimum 40-inch height] and weights.”

Korey Kiepert, principal with The Gravity Group, added, “Many coasters have a minimum height requirement of 48 inches, which is the average height of an eight-year old, but the minimum height for riders of the Kentucky Flyer will be only 40 inches [when accompanied by an adult]. We’re excited about providing Kentucky Kingdom a ride that will allow younger children, many for the first time, to join their moms, dads, brothers, and sisters in experiencing the exhilaration of a high-speed roller coaster. Our goal was to build a coaster that the whole family can enjoy, but without sacrificing the thrills that coaster enthusiasts have come to expect from The Gravity Group. The Kentucky Flyer certainly accomplishes that goal.”

To add to the celebration of Kentucky Kingdom’s 30th anniversary, operating hours at the Hurricane Bay water park will be extended to 7 p.m. on weekdays during the month of July. In addition, the price for “early bird” season pass purchases will be lowered by $10.

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