Dreamworld Thunderbolt remains

[HarryHeHe8]

I have been doing some research recently, and I was wondering if Dreamworld still had some of the track and a train from the ride in back of house areas. Also, if anyone has images of it's demolition (files from the og posts were so old i couldn't open it) that would be amazing.

[ShakeShack]

1 hour ago, HarryHeHe8 said:

I have been doing some research recently, and I was wondering if Dreamworld still had some of the track and a train from the ride in back of house areas. Also, if anyone has images of it's demolition (files from the og posts were so old i couldn't open it) that would be amazing.

Was doing research literally just creating this topic?

[HarryHeHe8]

5 minutes ago, ShakeShack said:

Was doing research literally just creating this topic?

No it involved literally spending hours online, including looking through every mention of the Thunderbolt on this site and looking through about 40 pages. I just can't find any recent info since it was demolished so long ago.

[wikiverse]

I'm not sure why you need this information, but you could try writing an email to Dreamworld.  Their social media team is pretty active and if you're doing a blog/vlog about it, they might even have photos, videos of the ride and the demolition to share.  Given their rebranding to a more classic DW aesthetic, they might still have a train and a piece of track for it to sit on - even to install as 'memorial' theming for whatever goes into the empty plot of land.

If anything of the original ride does exist, they'll likely be able to find out and might even invite you to come see it for yourself.

To be honest, if it does exist, I think DW would probably want to do this anyway to promote whatever is being built on the 'historic' site, since they'll likely want to promote it as being as iconic as the original ride - even if it's for water park expansion.

[HarryHeHe8]

33 minutes ago, wikiverse said:

I'm not sure why you need this information, but you could try writing an email to Dreamworld.  Their social media team is pretty active and if you're doing a blog/vlog about it, they might even have photos, videos of the ride and the demolition to share.  Given their rebranding to a more classic DW aesthetic, they might still have a train and a piece of track for it to sit on - even to install as 'memorial' theming for whatever goes into the empty plot of land.

If anything of the original ride does exist, they'll likely be able to find out and might even invite you to come see it for yourself.

To be honest, if it does exist, I think DW would probably want to do this anyway to promote whatever is being built on the 'historic' site, since they'll likely want to promote it as being as iconic as the original ride - even if it's for water park expansion.

Thanks. I'll give it a shot. The reason I was hesitant to write an email in the first place is because I once wrote to them regarding Blue Lagoon, and the reply stated that 'nothing' exists from the attraction, even though there is a MOUNTAIN just towering over the exit of ST. But I'll give it a shot, thanks.

[Naazon]

1 hour ago, HarryHeHe8 said:

I just can't find any recent info since it was demolished so long ago.

You probably can't fine recent info in it since it was demolished.

[HarryHeHe8]

57 minutes ago, wikiverse said:

 you could try writing an email to Dreamworld.  Their social media team is pretty active and if you're doing a blog/vlog about it, they might even have photos, videos of the ride and the demolition to share. 

I will attach a draft of the email I want to send. I am double checking because I only have one chance at this. Do you think this is good or are there any changes that you may recommend.

[mattcrombie]

Might be there still but back in the day they had a few pieces laying around near the big brother studio area.

I have attached where roughly... But might not be there anymore. 

[HarryHeHe8]

9 minutes ago, mattcrombie said:

Might be there still but back in the day they had a few pieces laying around near the big brother studio area.

I have attached where roughly... But might not be there anymore. 

Looks like I’ll be taking a walk down that road. Thanks a lot! I would take my drone over but it’s now covered in trees so I’m not sure if I’d see it. Also when was this roughly?

[wikiverse]

21 minutes ago, HarryHeHe8 said:

I will attach a draft of the email I want to send. I am double checking because I only have one chance at this. Do you think this is good or are there any changes that you may recommend.

This seems ok.  You might even ask if they'd be open to sharing some more photos or videos of the history of Ocean Parade - even if they'd be open to doing a Reels/Tiktok series looking back on the transformation over the years.

This is a particularly good time to do an Ocean Parade retrospective on Socials because The Claw will be closing in January, for King Claw's construction. 

This way you're presenting them with an idea for an easy, nostalgia based Social Media campaign, and they'll likely thank you for the idea rather than feel obliged to just answer questions.  You're offering them something of value in the idea, and all your questions would be answered through them making that series.

Just keep the focus on Ocean Parade (and possibly Village Green) and away from the other side of the park.

[mattcrombie]

8 minutes ago, HarryHeHe8 said:

Looks like I’ll be taking a walk down that road. Thanks a lot! I would take my drone over but it’s now covered in trees so I’m not sure if I’d see it. Also when was this roughly?

Years ago. Mid 2000's but you could see the orange track with the cream/yellow

[HarryHeHe8]

19 hours ago, wikiverse said:

This seems ok.  You might even ask if they'd be open to sharing some more photos or videos of the history of Ocean Parade - even if they'd be open to doing a Reels/Tiktok series looking back on the transformation over the years.

This is a particularly good time to do an Ocean Parade retrospective on Socials because The Claw will be closing in January, for King Claw's construction. 

This way you're presenting them with an idea for an easy, nostalgia based Social Media campaign, and they'll likely thank you for the idea rather than feel obliged to just answer questions.  You're offering them something of value in the idea, and all your questions would be answered through them making that series.

Just keep the focus on Ocean Parade (and possibly Village Green) and away from the other side of the park.

Do you think this is better?

[wikiverse]

Seems good.  Give it a shot.

If you've hit a dead end online, the only real option is to go directly to the park.

[New display name]

The only photo that I know circulating is this one.

 

Parkz overview on what happened at the time of removal.

 

"The ride was standing but not operating (SNBO) from August 2003 until early 2004, during which time it was offered for sale through various second-hand ride sales agencies. The Thunderbolt was removed in March of 2004. The removal was done in such a way that it is clear the ride was scrapped and not sold. The park however does still have the trains and some sections of track, presumably for construction of a memorial of sorts to the Gold Coast icon."

Edited 8 hours ago by New display name

[wikiverse]

To be honest, if that is how the track was being stored without any maintenance, it would likely have rusted away to nothing more than scrap over 20 years.  My guess is that this was scrapped a long time ago when it became clear that the Thunderbolt plot would not be getting a new attraction.

They may still have a train or some train cars somewhere.

There was only two Meisho Double Loop coasters still operating around the time Thunderbolt was scrapped - one in China which closed in 2010 and the other in North Korea - which is apparently still operating (but I would doubt that), so selling them wasn't really an option.  All of the other Meisho Double Loops were removed from parks around 2000-2005.