Linus' Beetle Bugs (Kings Island)
Encyclopedia
Linus' Beetle Bugs originally opened at Coney Island
in 1967.
Linus' Beetle Bugs is a miniature version of a classic whip ride
. This ride is located at Kings Island
amusement park in Kings Mills, Ohio. This ride was one of the various rides that was brought over from Coney Island
to build the park in 1972. This ride is themed towards kids and is located in the Planet Snoopy
area of the park
.
, and it caused the ride's name to be changed to Alley Cat. In 2006, came the complete makeover of the kid's area (which the ride is located in), which at the time was The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera
, with 3 new rides and attractions. The area then became known as Nickelodeon Universe. This makeover included complete rethemeing of all the Hanna-Barbera rides to fit the Nickelodeon theme. That is when the ride became known as Swipers Sweepers. Although Cedar Fair Entertainment Company had the rights to continue using the Nickelodeon theme through 2016 following its purchase of the park in 2006, it was decided to remove all remaining Hanna-Barbera and Nickelodeon themes from the kids area in time for the start of the 2010 season. So in 2010, the area went through a another rethemeing to fit with other Cedar Fair's kid's areas. Nickelodeon Universe then became known as Planet Snoopy
. To fit with the rethemeing, Swipers Sweepers became Linus' Beetle Bugs.
. The 8 vehicles are attached by a metal bar to a chain that rotates around a rectangle (with two rounder sides). When the cars reach the shorter ends of the rectangle, (the rounded sides), they will go around the curve at a faster rate, giving the feeling that you are being "whipped" to the outside edge of your seat. The cars are painted to resemble beetle bugs, to fit with the ride's name: Linus' Beetle Bugs. The seat belts are child-proof, meaning they have a safety lock that you need a special key to unlock it with.
If this wasn't very clear, click here for a picture.
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
in 1967.
Linus' Beetle Bugs is a miniature version of a classic whip ride
The Whip (ride)
The Whip was a ride originally designed and built by W.F. Mangels Company of Coney Island, New York, USA. William F. Mangels patented the ride in 1914 and it soon became an extremely popular ride....
. This ride is located at Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
amusement park in Kings Mills, Ohio. This ride was one of the various rides that was brought over from Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
to build the park in 1972. This ride is themed towards kids and is located in the Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy is a Peanuts themed area for children in Cedar Fair parks.* Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.* Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina* Canada's Wonderland in Canada.* California's Great America* Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia....
area of the park
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
.
History
Linus' Beetle Bugs opened in the year 1972 with the park's grand opening. The ride's name was originally Screecher. However, in 1992, Phantom Theater (an omnimover dark ride) opened. Because of its great success, in 1993, the Screecher's name was changed to Funky Phantom. Then, in 1998, there was an expansion of The Happy Land of Hanna-BarberaHanna-Barbera theme parks
Through its history, Hanna-Barbera was also operates theme park attractions, mostly as a section in Kings Island , Carowinds, Great America, Kings Dominion, Canada's Wonderland, and recently, Six Flags Great America.Outside the North America, the theme parks was also available in several countries,...
, and it caused the ride's name to be changed to Alley Cat. In 2006, came the complete makeover of the kid's area (which the ride is located in), which at the time was The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera theme parks
Through its history, Hanna-Barbera was also operates theme park attractions, mostly as a section in Kings Island , Carowinds, Great America, Kings Dominion, Canada's Wonderland, and recently, Six Flags Great America.Outside the North America, the theme parks was also available in several countries,...
, with 3 new rides and attractions. The area then became known as Nickelodeon Universe. This makeover included complete rethemeing of all the Hanna-Barbera rides to fit the Nickelodeon theme. That is when the ride became known as Swipers Sweepers. Although Cedar Fair Entertainment Company had the rights to continue using the Nickelodeon theme through 2016 following its purchase of the park in 2006, it was decided to remove all remaining Hanna-Barbera and Nickelodeon themes from the kids area in time for the start of the 2010 season. So in 2010, the area went through a another rethemeing to fit with other Cedar Fair's kid's areas. Nickelodeon Universe then became known as Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy is a Peanuts themed area for children in Cedar Fair parks.* Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.* Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina* Canada's Wonderland in Canada.* California's Great America* Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia....
. To fit with the rethemeing, Swipers Sweepers became Linus' Beetle Bugs.
Fun Fact
Linus' Beetle Bugs has given 6,283,547 rides since 1972, the 31st-most in park history. Its record year was 1976, when 270,376 rides were given.Layout
Linus' Beetle Bugs is a smaller version of a classic whip rideThe Whip (ride)
The Whip was a ride originally designed and built by W.F. Mangels Company of Coney Island, New York, USA. William F. Mangels patented the ride in 1914 and it soon became an extremely popular ride....
. The 8 vehicles are attached by a metal bar to a chain that rotates around a rectangle (with two rounder sides). When the cars reach the shorter ends of the rectangle, (the rounded sides), they will go around the curve at a faster rate, giving the feeling that you are being "whipped" to the outside edge of your seat. The cars are painted to resemble beetle bugs, to fit with the ride's name: Linus' Beetle Bugs. The seat belts are child-proof, meaning they have a safety lock that you need a special key to unlock it with.
If this wasn't very clear, click here for a picture.