This coaster came to the United States in 1999 when it opened in Branson, Missouri as Firestorm at the Branson USA amusement park. In 2002, the park was purchased by Herschend Family Entertainment, owners of the nearby Silver Dollar City. The coaster, and the entire property, sat dormant in 2002, but in 2003, the park was transformed into Celebration City and the coaster reopened as Thunderbolt. Unfortunately, the park closed at the end of the 2008 season and has yet to reopen. This coaster was saved and relocated, but many of the other rides, including one roller coaster, still sit there and are wasting away.
©2015 Joel A. Rogers.