Kings Island Eiffel Tower replica
Inside Kings Island's main entrance

Kings Island is a 364-acre (147 ha) amusement park located in Mason, Ohio. The park is known for releasing record-breaking and first-of-a-kind rides over the years, such as Flight of Fear, the world's first launched roller coaster using a linear induction motor, and The Beast which opened as the world's tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in 1979.[1][2] The Beast still retains the length record and continues to be highly-ranked in the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today.[3] With the addition of Mystic Timbers in 2017, Kings Island claimed the world record for having the most wooden roller coaster track in a single amusement park, and it tied the record for most wooden roller coasters, raising the park's total to five.

Kings Island added a 12-acre (4.9 ha) water park called WaterWorks in 1989, constructed near White Water Canyon.[1] The area featured 15 water slides, a lazy river, and a children's play area.[1][4] After multiple expansions and name changes, the park was eventually renamed Soak City.[1]

For safety reasons, Kings Island publishes a ride rating system that classifies the attractions one through five based on the intensity of the ride, with one representing the calmest rides to five indicating the most aggressive.[5]

Kings Island

WindSeeker at Kings Island
WindSeeker during testing in 2011
Attractions located in Kings Island
Ride Manufacturer Type or model Description Location Thrill rating[5] Ref(s)
Adventure Express Arrow Dynamics Mine train roller coaster Jungle adventure-themed roller coaster that features audio and visual special effects Adventure Port 5 [5][6][7]
Backlot Stunt Coaster Premier Rides Launched roller coaster Based on a chase sequence in the 2003 film The Italian Job featuring audio and visual effects, including gunfire and flames
Formerly known as The Italian Job: Stunt Track (2005–2007) 		Rivertown 5 [8][9][10]
Banshee Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted Coaster An inverted roller coaster, the longest of its kind in the world, with seven inversions located in the former location of Son of Beast Action Zone 5 [11][12]
Boo Blasters on Boo Hill Sally Corporation Interactive dark ride Family dark ride where guests can interact by shooting laser guns at targets throughout the ride
Formerly known as: Enchanted Voyage (1972–1983); The Smurfs' Enchanted Voyage (1984–1991); Phantom Theater (1992–2002); Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle (2003–2009) 		Planet Snoopy 1 [13][14]
Cargo Loco Zamperla Midi Tea Cup Adventure Port [15]
Character Carousel Chance Rides Carousel Children's carousel featuring Peanuts characters and themes Planet Snoopy 1 [16]
Charlie Brown's Wind Up Zamperla Swing ride Children's miniature swing ride Planet Snoopy 1 [17]
Congo Falls Intamin Shoot-the-Chutes An 815-foot-long (248 m) water flume ride with 16-foot (4.9 m) boats and a 34-foot (10 m) drop
Formerly known as Amazon Falls (1988–1998) 		Action Zone 5 [18][19][20][21]
Delirium HUSS Giant Frisbee Frisbee flat ride that swings riders 76 mph (122 km/h) at an angle of 120°, lifting riders 137 feet (42 m) into the air Action Zone 5 [22][23][24]
Diamondback Bolliger & Mabillard Hypercoaster Rivertown 5 [25]
Dodgem Barbezi (Azzurra) & Majestic International Bumper cars Coney Mall 4 [26]
Drop Tower Intamin Gyro Drop A 315-foot-tall (96 m) drop tower ride that opened as the tallest of its kind in the world
Formerly known as Drop Zone: Stunt Tower (1999–2007). 		Action Zone 4 [27][28]
Eiffel Tower Intamin Tower International Street 2 [29]
Festhaus — Live show venue Oktoberfest — [30]
Flight of Fear Premier Rides Launched roller coaster Formerly known as The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear (1996–2000) Area 72 5 [2]
Flying Ace Aerial Chase Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster Planet Snoopy 4 [31]
Grand Carousel Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel International Street 1 [32]
International Showplace — Live show venue International Street — [30]
International Street Bandstand — Live show venue Entertainment venue located between the Eiffel Tower and Royal Fountain International Street — [30]
Invertigo Vekoma Invertigo An inverted Boomerang roller coaster featuring three inversions
Formerly known as FACE/OFF (1999–2007) 		Action Zone 5 [33][34]
Joe Cool's Dodgem School Jurgen Scmidt Bumper cars Planet Snoopy 2 [35]
Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad Crown Metal Products Company Steam train Rivertown 1 [36]
Kings Island Theater — Live show venue A 1,300-seat indoor theater first opened in 1976 and designed by Paul Shortt, the original founding faculty member at Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music.

Formerly known as: American Heritage Music Hall (1976–1992); Paramount Theater (1993-2007)

International Street — [30][37][38][39]
Kings Mills Antique Autos Gould Manufacturing Antique Cars An antique car attraction reminiscent of the former Les Taxis ride. Includes a covered bridge, a pond, a faux gas station, and several billboards that reference past Kings Island attractions. Coney Mall 2 [40][41]
Kite Eating Tree Zamperla Frog hopper Planet Snoopy 3 [42]
Linus’ Beetle Bugs W.F. Mangelas Co — Planet Snoopy 2 [43]
Linus Launcher Zamperla Kite Flyer Planet Snoopy 3 [44][45]
Monster Everly Aircraft Co. Octopus Coney Mall 3 [46]
Mystic Timbers Great Coasters International Wooden roller coaster Rivertown 4 [47]
Orion Bolliger & Mabillard Giga Coaster Area 72 5 [48]
PEANUTS 500 Venture Ride Mfg., Inc. Low-speed car ride Planet Snoopy 1 [49]
PEANUTS Off-Road Rally Hampton Amusement Corporation Mini car carousel Planet Snoopy 1 [50]
PEANUTS Playhouse — Live Show Venue Planet Snoopy —
PEANUTS Showplace — Live Show Venue Planet Snoopy —
Race For Your Life Charlie Brown Arrow Dynamics, Hopkins Rides Log flume Planet Snoopy 4 [51]
Sally's Sea Plane Zamperla Crazy Bus Planet Snoopy 2 [52][53]
Scrambler Eil Bridge Company Twist Coney Mall 3 [54]
Shake, Rattle and Roll Huss Troika Coney Mall 3 [55]
Snoopy's Junction Heinrich Mack K.C Train ride Planet Snoopy 1 [56]
Snoopy vs. Red Baron Zamperla Mini Jet Planet Snoopy 2 [57][58]
Sol Spin Zamperla Endeavour Adventure Port [15]
Surf Dog Zamperla Rockin' Tug Planet Snoopy 4 [59][60]
The Bat Arrow Dynamics Suspended Coaster A suspended roller coaster originally themed to the film Top Gun in 1993 and was later renamed The Bat, paying homage to the first suspended coaster in the world that opened in 1981
Formerly known as: Top Gun (1993–2007); Flight Deck (2007-2013) 		Action Zone 5 [61][62][63]
The Beast Kings Island Wooden roller coaster A custom wooden coaster built and designed internally by Kings Island which still holds the world record for length according to Guinness World Records Rivertown 5 [64][65]
The Great Pumpkin Coaster E&F Miler Industries Children's roller coaster Planet Snoopy 2 [66]
The Racer Philadelphia Toboggan Company Wooden roller coaster Coney Mall 4 [67]
Timberwolf — Amphitheatre Outdoor amphitheatre concert venue Action Zone — [30]
Viking Fury Intamin Pirate ship Oktoberfest 3 [68]
White Water Canyon Intamin River rapids ride Rivertown 4 [69]
WindSeeker Mondial Wind Seeker Coney Mall 4 [70][71]
Woodstock Express Philadelphia Toboggan Company Wooden roller coaster Formerly known as: Scooby Doo (1972–1979); The Beastie (1979–2005); Fairly Odd Coaster (2006–2010) Planet Snoopy 4 [72]
Woodstock Gliders Larson International Flying Scooters Planet Snoopy 3 [30]
Woodstock Whirlybirds Caripro Amusement Technology Tram Planet Snoopy 2 [73][74]
Xtreme Skyflyer[nb 1] Sky Fun Skycoaster Pay-per-ride attraction where riders free-fall dive from a height of 153 feet (47 m) in a pendulum-swinging motion, reaching speeds up to 60 mph (97 km/h) Action Zone 5 [75][76][77]
Zephyr Zierer Wave Swinger Coney Mall 3 [78]

Soak City

Mondo Monsoon water slide
Mondo Monsoon in Soak City

Soak City opened in 1989 as WaterWorks, 17 years after Kings Island opened.[1] In 1997, Kings Island expanded the water park to 15 acres (6.1 ha) by adding the wave pool (Surfside Bay; now known as Breakers Bay), and a new children's water playground.[1] The following year, the FlowRider, and Pipeline Paradise opened as Wipeout Beach.[1] Six years later, WaterWorks was renamed to Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay Waterpark (later simplified to Boomerang Bay Waterpark). In 2012, the water park was re-branded to Cedar Fair's Soak City. All of the water slides and the lazy river were refurbished. An additional wave pool was also constructed.[1][79]

Attractions located in Soak City Waterpark
Ride Type/model Height requirement Thrill Rating[5] Ref(s)[5]
Aruba Tuba Two-person tube slide, two children body slides, and a gang slide for younger children Over 36 inches (91 cm) or with adult 4 [80]
Breakers Bay Wave pool Over 42 inches (110 cm) with adult and lifejacket or over 46 inches (120 cm) with lifejacket (if needed) 4 [81]
Castaway Cove Small children slides and pools No height requirement needed, more for children. 1 [82]
Coconut Cove Pool Over 52 inches (130 cm) or with child 1 [83]
Mondo Monsoon Raft water slide Over 48 inches (120 cm) 5 [84]
Paradise Plunge Four body water slides Over 48 inches (120 cm) 4 [85]
Pineapple Pipeline Three body water slides Over 48 inches (120 cm) 3 [86]
Pipeline Paradise FlowRider Over 42 inches (110 cm) 5 [87]
Rendezvous Racer Four lane mat racer water slide Over 40 inches (100 cm) 4 [88]
Splash Landing Interactive water playground with three water slides Over 36 inches (91 cm) 2 [89]
Splash River Lazy river Over 42 inches (110 cm) with adult and lifejacket or over 48 inches (120 cm) with lifejacket (if needed) 2 [90]
Thunder Falls 2 intertwining speed slides Over 40 inches (100 cm) or under 42 inches (110 cm) with lifejacket and adult 3 [91]
Tidal Wave Bay Wave pool Over 42 inches (110 cm) with adult and lifejacket or over 46 inches (120 cm) with lifejacket (if needed) 4 [92]
Tropical Plunge multi-slide complex with drop body and tube slides Over 48 inches (120 cm) 5 [93]
Tropical Twister Intertwined water slides Over 48 inches (120 cm) 4 [94]
Zoom Flume Family raft water slide Over 40 inches (100 cm), 40 inches (100 cm) to 48 inches (120 cm) with adult, under 42 inches (110 cm) with lifejacket 4 [95]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Denotes the requirement that guests pay an additional fee for the ride or attraction.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Timeline". Kings Island. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Flight of Fear". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  3. ^ "Amusement Today — Golden Ticket Awards 2012" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 19, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  4. ^ "Calendar: Outdoors/Sports". Cincinnati Magazine. 22 (8). Emmis Communications: 31. May 1989. ISSN 0746-8210. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Kings Island: 2017 Guest Assistant Guide" (PDF). Kings Island. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  6. ^ Yeager, Connie (March 31, 1991). "Awesome dips, loops will greet park-goers". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  7. ^ "KiTunes Park Music". KIExtreme.com. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  8. ^ "Timeline". KICentral. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  9. ^ "Backlot Stunt Coaster (Kings Island) at Coaster-Net". Coaster-Net. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  10. ^ "Backlot Stunt Coaster". Kings Island. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  11. ^ "Kings Island unleashes Banshee, world's longest inverted coaster". Amusement Today. April 17, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  12. ^ Marden, Duane. "Banshee  (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  13. ^ "Life Without Scooby". Sally Corporation. July 6, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  14. ^ "Boo Blaster on Boo Hill". Kings Island. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  15. ^ a b "New Rides & Experiences in 2023 | Cincinnati, OH | Kings Island". www.visitkingsisland.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  16. ^ "Character Carousel". Kings Island. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  17. ^ "Charlie Brown's Wind Up". Kings Island. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  18. ^ "Amusement Parks Ready For Season". The Bryan Times. April 7, 1988. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  19. ^ Harmon, Charlie (April 27, 2015). "Top 5 Old-School Kings Island Coasters". Cincinnati Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  20. ^ "Congo Falls". Kings Island. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  21. ^ Tresslar, Tim (April 18, 1999). "Kings Island riding tourist boom". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  22. ^ "Delirium at Kings Island". ultimaterollercoaster.com. 2003. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  23. ^ Richardson, Rachel (April 17, 2014). "Interactive: Kings Island's biggest and baddest". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  24. ^ "Delirium". Kings Island. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  25. ^ "Diamondback". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  26. ^ "Dodgem". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  27. ^ "Drop Tower". Kings Island. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  28. ^ "Drop Tower". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  29. ^ "Eiffel Tower". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  30. ^ a b c d e f "Kings Island 2016 Park Map" (PDF). Kings Island. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  31. ^ "Flying Ace Aerial Chase". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  32. ^ "Grand Carousel". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  33. ^ Marden, Duane. "Invertigo  (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  34. ^ "Invertigo". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  35. ^ "Joe Cool's Dodgem School". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  36. ^ "Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  37. ^ McElfresh, Tom (April 18, 1976). "Kings Island Performers Record-Breakers". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  38. ^ Batz, Bob (April 8, 1993). "Kings Island to debut its Hollywood image". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  39. ^ Knipperenberg, Jim (April 27, 2008). "Kings Island: Back to Basics". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  40. ^ "Hidden references in Kings Mills Antique Autos - Kings Island". www.visitkingsisland.com. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  41. ^ "Family Ride | Kings Mills Antique Autos | Kings Island".
  42. ^ "Kite Eating Tree". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  43. ^ "Linus Beetle Bugs". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  44. ^ "Linus Launcher". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  45. ^ "Kite Flyer". Zamperla. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  46. ^ "Monster". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  47. ^ "Mystic Timbers". Kings Island. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  48. ^ "Steel Roller Coaster | Orion | Kings Island". www.visitkingsisland.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  49. ^ "Peanuts 500". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  50. ^ "PEANUTS Off-Road Rally". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  51. ^ "Race For Your Life Charlie Brown". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  52. ^ "Sally's Sea Plane". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  53. ^ "Crazy Bus". Zamperla. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  54. ^ "Scrambler". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  55. ^ "Shake, Rattle and Roll". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  56. ^ "Snoopy's Junction". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  57. ^ "Snoopy vs. Red Baron". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  58. ^ "Mini Jet". Zamperla. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  59. ^ "Surf Dog". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  60. ^ "Rockin' Tug". Zamperla. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  61. ^ Tate, Skip (April 1993). "The Shape of Kings To Come". Cincinnati Magazine. 26 (7). Emmis Communications: 82–83. ISSN 0746-8210. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  62. ^ "The Bat flies again at Kings Island". FOX19-WXIX. October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  63. ^ "The Bat". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  64. ^ Helbig, Don (June 29, 2016). "The Story Behind The Beast". Kings Island. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  65. ^ "The Beast". Kings Island. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  66. ^ "The Great Pumpkin Coaster". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  67. ^ "The Racer". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  68. ^ "Viking Fury". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  69. ^ "White Water Canyon". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  70. ^ "WindSeeker". Kings Island. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  71. ^ "Wind Seeker". Mondial. Archived from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  72. ^ "Woodstock Express". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  73. ^ "Chopper Chase". Canada's Wonderland. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  74. ^ "Woodstock Whirlybirds". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  75. ^ Helbig, Don (July 19, 2009). "Extreme Skyflyer a breathtaking thrill". Kings Island Insider. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  76. ^ "Xtreme Skyflyer". Kings Island. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  77. ^ "SkyCoaster". SkyCoaster. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  78. ^ "Zephyr". Kings Island. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  79. ^ McClelland, Justin (September 2, 2011). "Kings Island to double waterpark with $10M expansion". Springfield News-Sun. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  80. ^ "Aruba Tuba". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  81. ^ "Breakers Bay". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  82. ^ "Castaway Cove". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  83. ^ "Coconut Cove". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  84. ^ "Mondo Monsoon". Kings Island. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  85. ^ "Paradise Plunge". Kings Island. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  86. ^ "Pineapple Pipeline". Kings Island. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  87. ^ "Pipeline Paradise". Kings Island. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  88. ^ "Rendezvous Run". Kings Island. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  89. ^ "Splash Landing". Kings Island. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  90. ^ "Splash River". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  91. ^ "Thunder Falls". Kings Island. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  92. ^ "Tidal Wave Bay". Kings Island. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  93. ^ "Thunder Falls". Kings Island. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  94. ^ "Tropical Twister". Kings Island. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  95. ^ "Zoom Flume". Kings Island. Retrieved March 29, 2013.

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