Zamperla, a leading ride manufacturer, is celebrating the opening of ThunderVolt at Playland at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE). The new ride is the fastest launch coaster in Canada.
The project was first announced by Shelley Frost, PNE president and CEO, in November 2022.
Frost comments: “We are extremely happy to be opening this state-of-the-art Zamperla designed launch coaster at Playland. Aptly named the “ThunderVolt”, we know that this ride will thrill and amaze our Playland guests as well as visitors from across Canada and around the world. Positioned next to our historic Playland Wooden Coaster, the ThunderVolt represents a significant investment into the future of our park.”
See also: Playland Amusement Park & the evolution of the Pacific National Exhibition
Next-generation roller coaster
With its pink columns, yellow track, and adrenaline-inducing features, ThunderVolt has introduced a new generation of thrills to the Vancouver park.
As Canada’s fastest launch coaster, ThunderVolt accelerates from a stop to full speed in seconds. The sequence starts in a custom-designed tunnel with LED lighting before flying up into an airtime hill, followed by an enormous figure-of-eight helix.
Antonio Zamperla, CEO of Zamperla Group, says: “This is an extremely exciting day for our company. ThunderVolt uses our new Lightning trains, and they represent the next generation of roller coaster design. They are light, have a low maintenance cost and are extremely comfortable. A decade’s worth of research was put into creating these fantastic coaster vehicles.”
ThunderVolt is located near the site of the upcoming PNE Amphitheatre, which will open in 2026. These two developments reimagine the northeast portion of the park, creating appeal for both present and future Vancouver residents.
Michael Coleman, North American sales manager at Zamperla, adds: “The new launch coaster compliments the rest of the park extremely well. The park had a classic wooden roller coaster and now a next generation launch coaster. Playland truly offers something for every type of thrill seeker.”
Playland features various Zamperla attractions, including the prototype Gryphon that premiered in 2022. ThunderVolt is the largest joint initiative between the Italian manufacturer and the park.
Earlier this month, Zamperla celebrated the opening of two new Family Coasters at attractions in Europe. Jeepo Dino launched at La Récré des Trois Curés in France and Brazilian Buggies at Bellewaerde Park in Belgium.
