Thunder Run is a unique powered roller coaster

Powered coaster

A powered roller coaster is a roller coaster which relies on a motor in the train to complete the course, often replacing a traditional chain lift hill. This allows for both compact layouts that start out with curving hills, or long, extended layouts that would need too many lifts to be feasible....

, themed after a runaway mine train

Mine Train roller coaster

A Mine Train roller coaster is a steel roller coaster whose trains depict a set of mine carts, sometimes pulled by the reproduction of a steam locomotive which is often designed in a cartoon style...

, found at Canada's Wonderland, in Vaughan

Vaughan

Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...

, Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. Rather than having a traditional chain lift hill, the train has an electric motor onboard. The train (consisting of nine cars of two rows of two seats, plus an extra single row at the front of the train) flies directly into Wonder Mountain, the artificial mountain that is a trademark of the park. The coaster opened on May 23, 1981, and operated until 1985 as Blauer Enzian, but in 1986 it was relocated, extended, and incorporated into the mountain.

The ride occupies the interior of Wonder Mountain, which was initially supposed to hold a "Bavarian Market". Instead, mechanical equipment was placed inside, which was later relocated to the "roof" of the mountain to make room for the ride. The relocation of mechanical equipment also resulted in the Wonder Mountain walkway to be closed. Riders on the Vortex can before the first drop still see remnants of the look-out terrace.

Ride experience

With a height restriction that accommodates children as small as 40 inches (1,016 mm) tall, Thunder Run's design is geared towards families. It is the only roller coaster in the park that is partially enclosed. While most of the ride is experienced in the dark, riders also encounter visual themes, most notably the Dragon (nicknamed "Herman" by Wonderland employees). Other visual effects include lighted tunnels and strobe lights.

In addition, Wonderland employees operate the ride so that it makes two circuits, maximizing the capability of the coaster's rather small footprint.

In the past, during the park's Halloween Haunt

Halloween Haunt

Halloween Haunt, originally known as "Fearfest", is a haunted attraction at Canada's Wonderland located in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It runs after the park's regular operating hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in October - up to, and including Halloween night...

event in October, Wonderland has renamed the ride to Haunted Thunder Run with additional light, sound and fog effects.