Thunderbolt opened in 1968 as a renovation of the Pippin, a John Miller coaster from 1924. The park's in-house teams, led by Andy Vettel Sr., added the lift hill and helix turns during the 1968 renovation. The Pippin's ravine drops and century flyer trains remain today. In 1974, the New York Times named Thunderbolt the "King of Coasters."