Thunder River Rapids Ride, Water ride at Dreamworld theme park, Queensland, Australia
Thunder River Rapids Ride was a water ride at Dreamworld theme park in Queensland, Australia, that carried guests in round rafts through simulated white water across a 410-meter course. The installation moved visitors at speeds reaching 45 kilometers per hour (28 miles per hour) through a water channel where submerged logs created turbulent currents.
The installation opened in December 1986 and operated for three decades as a family attraction within the park. A fatal accident in 2016 led to its permanent shutdown, and the structure was completely removed two years later.
Located in the Gold Rush section of Dreamworld, the ride reflected the regional mining heritage through its design and surrounding decorative elements.
Each circular raft seated six people facing one another during the roughly four-minute journey. Riders passed through multiple turns and drop sections where water splashed into the vessel regularly.
The rafts came from a Sydney manufacturing facility rather than from Intamin, the German supplier known for similar installations. This gave the system a design that differed from comparable installations found elsewhere around the world.
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