After years of trying to ride this coaster I finally got the opportunity during its media preview day at its new home, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.

Greezed Lightin’ first opened at Six Flags Great America (then know as Marriott’s Great America) in 1978. After 14 seasons it was removed for the addition of Batman: The Ride, the world’s first inverted coaster. After its removal it traveled down I-55 to Six Flags St. Louis. After a short stay in the parking lot at Six Flags St. Louis (it never operated) it was moved once again to Six Flags over Georgia, and this time it was installed and operated for seven seasons from1995 to 2001. Once again this coaster was packed up to make room for a new high tech coaster. Was this the end of the road for this classic Schwarzkopf shuttle loop coaster? How many lives does this coaster have? Four so far, as Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom brought it to their park for their new coaster in 2003.

I arrived at the park with the skies gray and threatening rain, but luckily it held off during the media preview. After checking in I made my way over to the entrance of Greezed Lightin’ where Six Flags set up a nice lunch for us all. At four pm Amy r. called all the Make-A-Wish kids over to the entrance for the official ribbon cutting.

After a short introduction speech by Amy Ballard-Riley, the kids cut the ribbon and hurried up to the very well designed station. Shortly after the kids made it to Greezed Lightin’ the ride decided to have technical difficulties that would keep it closed for a while. In the mean time Six Flags had opened Road Runner Express, a wild mouse roller coaster and the sky coaster (free) for our enjoyment.

After an hour and half they got the problem solved and put out the call for the Make-A-Wish kids to come up for the first official ride. This time the ride worked with out a problem and opened for the rest of us to ride.




Although this ride is over 25 years old, it still delivers a good punch and a very smooth ride. Once seated in the car you pull the lap bar down to the lock position. As with all Schwarzkopf shuttle loop coasters, the cars provide a tight fit for those of us with long legs, but they have made the ride more comfortable by adding padding to protect your knees. A horn blows and you are hurtled out of the station down the launch track. You are slowed a bit before the loop, but it actually adds to the feeling that you will fall out of your seat during the loop which is next. Talk about hang time! After the loop you coast up the front spike, until you lose all the momentum and the train reverses course and heads through the loop backwards. You are again slowed as you head back through the station and then up the back spike. Then you come back down to a nice stop in the station and the end of the ride.

Greezed Lightin’ isn’t the most technology advance ride nor is it the biggest but it provides plenty of thrills and has find a nice home at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.