Paramount's Kings Island
Encyclopedia
Kings Island is a 364 acres (1.5 km²) amusement park
located 24 miles (38.6 km) 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.
with an estimated 3.1 million visitors in 2010 (second overall in North America behind sister park Canada's Wonderland).
Originally part of a 1600 acres (6.5 km²) purchase, Kings Island currently owns 773 acres (3.1 km²) of land. It offers over 80 rides, shows, and attractions including 14 roller coaster
s and a 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) water park. Kings Island has won Amusement Today's
Golden Ticket Award for having the "Best Kids' Area" in the world for eleven consecutive years (2001–2011).
, a popular park on the banks of the Ohio River 10 miles (16.1 km) east of downtown Cincinnati, suffered from a major flood that submerged the area in over 14 feet (4.3 m) of water. Although flooding was nothing new for the successful amusement park, limited space for expansion and parking was becoming just as much an obstacle. The Wachs family who owned and operated Coney Island decided it was time to relocate the park in order to stay competitive. In 1968 after actor Fess Parker
announced plans to build a new theme park in Northern Kentucky, the need to finalize plans became more urgent. In July 1969 following several failed attempts to find a major financial partner, the Wachs sold Coney Island to the Taft Broadcasting Company (a business interested in promoting its recently acquired Hanna-Barbera
division) for $6.5 million USD. Taft Broadcasting Co. then purchased 1600 acres (6.5 km²) of land in Warren County, Ohio
for $3.2 million to be used for the future site of the new park.
. Later that year a public contest was held to name the new park. "Kings Island" emerged the most popular for its recognition of the Kings Mills
area as well as its predecessor Coney Island. Most of the former park's rides were either relocated to Kings Island or demolished (it was set to close following the 1971 season but reopened permanently in 1973). Less than two years after breaking ground, Kings Island opened its gates for the first of several preview events on April 29, 1972 and officially opened to the public the following month on May 27. The site is located between I-71 and the Little Miami River
and remained in Deerfield Township until annexed into the city of Mason in 1997.
Early on, Kings Island was nationally promoted in two well-known ABC
sitcoms
. Each filmed an episode on location at the park: The Partridge Family
in 1972 and The Brady Bunch
the following year in 1973. Both sitcoms were produced by Paramount Studios, who just happened to be a large shareholder in the Taft Broadcasting Company. In later years, Kings Island would change ownership several times. Taft sold its theme park division in 1984 for $167.5 million to Kings Entertainment Company (KECO), a company formed by senior executives and general managers of Taft's Amusement Park Group. Three parks were involved in the sale — Kings Island, Kings Dominion, and Carowinds — along with a 20-percent stake in Canada's Wonderland. Only three years later in 1987, the chain of parks were sold again. American Financial Corporation led by Carl Lindner
purchased the parks for $150 million but allowed KECO to continue to managing operations under contract. California's Great America was added to the lineup in 1989.
. In addition, they bought out the remaining 80% stake in Canada's Wonderland in 1993 raising the total number of parks to five. That same year Paramount Parks began adding its themes which often were from hit movies released by the studio. Viacom entered the picture in 1994 and purchased Paramount Communications Inc. paving the way for Nickelodeon
themes to be used throughout the parks. Kings Island saw the addition of Nickelodeon Splat City which evolved into Nickelodeon Central and eventually Nickelodeon Universe. When Viacom split into two companies in 2005 (Viacom
and CBS Corporation
), CBS inherited ownership of Paramount Parks and soon after in January 2006 announced they were interested in putting the theme parks up for sale.
: Paramount's Kings Island, Cedar Point
and Geauga Lake (purchased from Premier Parks in 2003). Kings Island would continue to use the Paramount branding through the end of the 2006 season. Cedar Fair began removing it from the park the following year from a number of attractions — rides, live shows and restaurants — that were based on Paramount Pictures
and other Viacom themes. Some popular examples of this include FACE/OFF changing to Invertigo, the Italian Job Stunt Track to Backlot Stunt Coaster
, Tomb Raider: The Ride to The Crypt
, and Top Gun to Flight Deck. Nickelodeon's presence would remain in the park through 2009 until Cedar Fair completed work in the off-season to change the kids' area to the Peanuts
theme.
In late 2009, the Mason City Council decided to put a measure on a 2010 ballot that would mandate a 3-percent ticket tax and a 5-percent parking tax at both Kings Island and The Beach
waterpark. Council member Tony Bradburn argued that it was necessary in order to generate enough revenue for the city to help pay for infrastructure improvements, as well as cover the costs of police and fire expenses. This proposed tax hike was the center of debate for several months leading up to the vote, in which Kings Island actively encouraged the public to write, email and call Mason City Council representatives to express opposition to the tax. On February 8, 2010, the Mason City Council voted against the tax increase overwhelmingly by a vote of 5-1.
, a 1/3 scale replica of the original which offers a view of the entire park to its guests. Also located here is the Grand Carousel, Kings Island Theater, and a variety of restaurants and souvenir shops.
Another original attraction is The Racer, a wooden roller coaster that consists of two trains that race each other side-by-side on identical tracks. Designed by legendary designer John C. Allen
, The Racer is recognized as being an integral part of the coaster renaissance of the 1970s. On June 18, 2007 American Coaster Enthusiasts
(ACE) awarded it the Roller Coaster Landmark plaque.
Other coasters present at the opening in 1972 were the Bavarian Beetle, a small steel coaster brought over from Coney Island
(removed in 1979) and a new junior wooden coaster in the Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera originally named Scooby-Doo.
Additional attractions present at opening day were Haley's Comet, Kings Mill Log Flume, Les Taxis, Grand Carousel, Der Spinning Keggers, Sky Ride, Enchanted Voyage, Marathon Turnpike, Scrambler, Flying Scooters, Winnie Witch's Spinning Cauldrons, Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad, Monster, and The Rotor.
where it operated until 1999 eventually being dismantled in 2004.
1979: Kings Island unveils The Beast breaking many world records at the time as the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in the world. Thirty years later, it still holds the title of the world's longest wooden roller coaster
at 7359 ft (2,243 m) according to Guinness World Records
.
1981: The park introduces The Bat generally accepted as the world's first suspended roller coaster. However, plagued with mechanical problems and a substantial amount of downtime, The Bat was removed just three years later in 1984.
1982: Kings Island holds its first Winterfest, a Christmas
-time holiday event (1982–1992, 2005).
1984: King Cobra
is released. It was the first roller coaster in the world to be designed from the ground-up as a stand-up coaster, even though other coasters prior to its release had been converted to stand-up designs. King Cobra was dismantled and put up for sale in 2002 when downtime and maintenance proved to be too expensive.
1987: The Vortex is added to the park and briefly set a new record with six inversions.
1989: WaterWorks debuts as a family water park featuring a wave pool, water slides, and other attractions.
1999: Kings Island's "Adventure Village" area begins the first of a two-year expansion to re-energize the area. Renamed Paramount Action Zone, the area is completely re-themed as a brightly colored movie studio backlot. Two new rides, FACE/OFF and Drop Zone: Stunt Tower, open with the latter setting a new record for the world's tallest gyro drop (Sister park Kings Dominion released a version in 2003 that had a longer drop but was shorter in height).
2000: For the second year of the Paramount Action Zone two-year expansion, Son of Beast opened setting records as the world's tallest, fastest, and only-looping wooden roller coaster. The ride is billed as a sequel to Kings Island's own legendary roller coaster, The Beast. In October 2000, Kings Island debuted FearFest which runs annually from late September through October (later renamed to Halloween Haunt).
2002: Tomb Raider: The Ride opens at Kings Island using an unorthodox marketing approach. The vehicle is by design concealed from view even as guests are being seated. Opening-day riders did not know what was going to happen as the ride started. Under the hood, the ride is based on a typical top spin
model ride, except that this version is the world's first Giant variation holding nearly twice as many riders. In addition, the ride operates indoors synchronized to a composed musical score, lasers, water effects, fog, and theatrical lighting.
2005: Kings Island releases Italian Job: Stunt Track
, a roller coaster that primarily focused on special effects to tie in with the film The Italian Job
(sister park Canada's Wonderland also released one the same year).
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2007: Kings Island unveils Firehawk
, a Vekoma
flying roller coaster
. This ride originally opened in 2001 at Geauga Lake under the name X-Flight but due to low attendance was relocated to Kings Island. Its colors were also changed from neon green and with dark gray supports to red with steel gray supports.
2009: A Bolliger & Mabillard
steel
hypercoaster
called Diamondback
opens in place of the former Swan Lake. It is the park's first steel hypercoaster. On July 22, 2008 dark red track sections were delivered to the park and set on site of the construction. The park launched a teaser program on their website the same day. On August 6, 2008 the park officially announced the new ride.
2010: Planet Snoopy opens in place of the Nickelodeon Universe kids area. The Nickelodeon theme and characters including Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo are completely removed. This change marked the first time since the park's debut in 1972 that Scooby-Doo
was not present in the park.
2011: WindSeeker
, a flat ride manufactured by Mondial
, is added to the Coney Mall next to the Vortex. A Pay-Per-Use attraction
called Dinosaurs Alive!
also debuts at Kings Island as the world's largest animatronic dinosaur park. It is also located in Coney Mall near WindSeeker.
2012: Soak City
was announced on September 2, 2011 as the new name for Boomerang Bay. The Australian theme will be dropped and new additions will include a second, larger wave pool along with a completely revamped lazy river ride.
in Cincinnati. Renamed Coney Mall in 1986, upon Coney Island's revival into the amusement park business. The area it themed to have a feel of a carnival with many classic rides, game booths, arcades, and food stands. The paths have been paved with bricks for the 2011 season. The area has three roller coasters, one thrill ride, and five family rides. It also includes a Dinosaur park.
X-Base, a sub-area, opened in 2007 with the addition of Firehawk. Since Firehawk was built next to Flight of Fear, the area took on the new theme, claiming to be a government area testing new flight-and-propulsion systems. While it is signed, it is not officially marked on the park map, and lacks things such as bathrooms. The X-Base area has two roller coasters.
, later shortened to Hanna-Barbera Land. The upper part that borders Rivertown saw the addition of a kids' play area, stage, and water attraction in 1995 and was named Nickelodeon Splat City. In 2001, Kings Mills Log Flume became The Wild Thornberrys River Adventure and Rugrats Runaway Reptar
was introduced. The expansion of this area into the lower part of Rivertown became known as Nickelodeon Central
. In time for the 2006 season, the rest of the Hanna-Barbera Land was converted as well and was renamed "Nickelodeon Universe". During the 2009-2010 off-season, Nickelodeon was completely removed as the kids area was again rethemed Planet Snoopy
based on the popular comic strip Peanuts
. Amusement Today
has awarded Kings Island with the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Kids' Area in the World for the past eleven years.
featuring two wave pools, several children's areas, and a variety of water slides. Kings Island announced on September 2, 2011 that a $10 million dollar expansion would take place in the 2011-2012 offseason.
event called Winterfest, which ran from November 25 through December 31. The International Street fountain attraction was turned into an ice-skating rink, and for a few years a nightly laser light show
was centered on the Eiffel Tower. Most rides were closed with the exception of a holiday-themed train ride, the Grand Carousel, hayrides, and the Enchanted Voyage. In earlier years, horse-drawn carriage rides existed as well. Special shops, restaurants, and other holiday-themed activities were also available. There were live holiday shows at both the American Heritage Music Hall (now the Kings Island Theater) and Festhaus. The event ended after the 1992 season, but made one additional appearance in 2005. A variety of reasons including low ticket sales prompted new owners Cedar Fair to shelve the idea.
-themed event at Kings Island on weekends during the month of October after the regular season. It features haunted houses, mazes, live shows, and most of the park's regular season attractions. It has been a yearly event at Kings Island since its debut in 2000. The following section contains the most recent lineup of attractions for 2011.
Indoor mazes
Outdoor mazes
Scare Zones
Live shows
There is also a children-friendly version during the day called Howl-O-Fest featuring kids activities in Planet Snoopy.
Other names stated by Kings Island.
, filmed at the park in the episode "I Left My Heart in Cincinnati" which aired on January 26, 1973 (Episode #66 from Season 3).
November 23, 1973 - Another ABC sitcom, The Brady Bunch
, filmed at the park in the episode "The Cincinnati Kids".
1974 - Sixty-nine-year-old Karl Wallenda
broke a world Skywalk
record of 1600 feet (487.7 m).
October 25, 1975 - Evel Knievel
successfully jumped 14 Greyhound buses at Kings Island, setting a new audience viewing record for ABC's Wide World of Sports
, garnering a 52 household share when his performance was broadcast live. He landed on the 14th bus, but held on. This was one of his last big jumps.
July 4, 1976 - Kings Island hosted the wedding of Paul Revere from the pop
rock
band Paul Revere & the Raiders
.
May 24, 2008 - Robbie Knievel
, son of famed dare devil Evel Knievel, successfully jumped over 24 Coke Zero trucks in the Kings Island Parking Lot. This is expected to be the last of Robbie's big jumps.
July 4, 2008 - High wire artist Rick Wallenda, grandson of Karl Wallenda
, broke a world Skywalk
record, walking the distance from Kings Island's Eiffel Tower to the park entrance setting a world record breaking distance of 2000 feet (609.6 m) on a 5/8 inch high wire 75 feet (22.9 m) above the ground. Karl Wallenda
set the previous record in 1974, also at Kings Island.
August 31, 2008 - Barry Williams
, Susan Olsen
, and Mike Lookinland
returned to Kings Island for A Very Brady Reunion, a four-show special of song, dance, and Brady Bunch stories.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located 24 miles (38.6 km) northeast of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
in Mason, Ohio
Mason, Ohio
Mason is an affluent city in southwestern Warren County, Ohio, United States, 22 miles away from Cincinnati . As of the 2010 census, Mason's population was 30,712. Mason has experienced fast growth, with its historic Main Street remaining at the center of the community...
. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company
Taft Broadcasting
The Taft Broadcasting Company, also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated, was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio....
and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with an estimated 3.1 million visitors in 2010 (second overall in North America behind sister park Canada's Wonderland).
Originally part of a 1600 acres (6.5 km²) purchase, Kings Island currently owns 773 acres (3.1 km²) of land. It offers over 80 rides, shows, and attractions including 14 roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
s and a 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) water park. Kings Island has won Amusement Today's
Amusement Today
Amusement Today is a monthly periodical featuring articles, news, pictures, and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The magazine, which is based in Arlington, Texas, USA, was founded in 1997 by Gary Slade and Virgil...
Golden Ticket Award for having the "Best Kids' Area" in the world for eleven consecutive years (2001–2011).
Origins
Kings Island was an idea conceived as early as 1964 when Coney IslandConey Island, Cincinnati, Ohio
Coney Island is a small amusement park and waterpark located in the California neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio and Anderson Township, on the banks of the Ohio River east of Downtown Cincinnati...
, a popular park on the banks of the Ohio River 10 miles (16.1 km) east of downtown Cincinnati, suffered from a major flood that submerged the area in over 14 feet (4.3 m) of water. Although flooding was nothing new for the successful amusement park, limited space for expansion and parking was becoming just as much an obstacle. The Wachs family who owned and operated Coney Island decided it was time to relocate the park in order to stay competitive. In 1968 after actor Fess Parker
Fess Parker
Fess Elisha Parker, Jr. was an American film and television actor best known for his portrayals of Davy Crockett in the Walt Disney 1955-56 TV mini-series and as TV's Daniel Boone from 1964-70...
announced plans to build a new theme park in Northern Kentucky, the need to finalize plans became more urgent. In July 1969 following several failed attempts to find a major financial partner, the Wachs sold Coney Island to the Taft Broadcasting Company (a business interested in promoting its recently acquired Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
division) for $6.5 million USD. Taft Broadcasting Co. then purchased 1600 acres (6.5 km²) of land in Warren County, Ohio
Warren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
for $3.2 million to be used for the future site of the new park.
Early history with Taft Broadcasting and KECO (1970-1992)
Construction began on June 15, 1970 in what was then a part of Deerfield TownshipDeerfield Township, Warren County, Ohio
Deerfield Township, one of the eleven townships of Warren County, Ohio, United States, is located in the southwest corner of the county. The most urbanized of the eleven, it had 25,515 people in the 2000 census, down from the 26,359 in 1990...
. Later that year a public contest was held to name the new park. "Kings Island" emerged the most popular for its recognition of the Kings Mills
Kings Mills, Ohio
Kings Mills is an unincorporated community in the northeastern corner of Deerfield Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States, on the western shore of the Little Miami River...
area as well as its predecessor Coney Island. Most of the former park's rides were either relocated to Kings Island or demolished (it was set to close following the 1971 season but reopened permanently in 1973). Less than two years after breaking ground, Kings Island opened its gates for the first of several preview events on April 29, 1972 and officially opened to the public the following month on May 27. The site is located between I-71 and the Little Miami River
Little Miami River
The Little Miami River is a Class I tributary of the Ohio River that flows through five counties in southwestern Ohio in the United States. The Little Miami joins the Ohio River east of Cincinnati. It forms parts of the borders between Hamilton and Clermont counties and between Hamilton and Warren...
and remained in Deerfield Township until annexed into the city of Mason in 1997.
Early on, Kings Island was nationally promoted in two well-known ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
sitcoms
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
. Each filmed an episode on location at the park: The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family is an American television sitcom about a widowed mother and her five children who embark on a music career. The series originally ran from September 25, 1970 until August 31, 1974, the last new episode airing on March 23, 1974, on the ABC network, as part of a Friday-night lineup...
in 1972 and The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
the following year in 1973. Both sitcoms were produced by Paramount Studios, who just happened to be a large shareholder in the Taft Broadcasting Company. In later years, Kings Island would change ownership several times. Taft sold its theme park division in 1984 for $167.5 million to Kings Entertainment Company (KECO), a company formed by senior executives and general managers of Taft's Amusement Park Group. Three parks were involved in the sale — Kings Island, Kings Dominion, and Carowinds — along with a 20-percent stake in Canada's Wonderland. Only three years later in 1987, the chain of parks were sold again. American Financial Corporation led by Carl Lindner
Carl Lindner, Jr.
Carl Henry Lindner, Jr. was a Cincinnati businessman and one of the world's richest people. According to the 2006 issue of Forbes Magazine's 400 list, Lindner was ranked 133 and was worth an estimated $2.3 billion...
purchased the parks for $150 million but allowed KECO to continue to managing operations under contract. California's Great America was added to the lineup in 1989.
Paramount Kings Island (1992-2006)
In 1992, Kings Island and the rest of the parks under KECO were purchased by Paramount Communications Inc. for $400 million. Paramount formed a new division which was known as Paramount ParksParamount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
. In addition, they bought out the remaining 80% stake in Canada's Wonderland in 1993 raising the total number of parks to five. That same year Paramount Parks began adding its themes which often were from hit movies released by the studio. Viacom entered the picture in 1994 and purchased Paramount Communications Inc. paving the way for Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
themes to be used throughout the parks. Kings Island saw the addition of Nickelodeon Splat City which evolved into Nickelodeon Central and eventually Nickelodeon Universe. When Viacom split into two companies in 2005 (Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
and CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
), CBS inherited ownership of Paramount Parks and soon after in January 2006 announced they were interested in putting the theme parks up for sale.
The Cedar Fair era (2006-present)
On June 30, 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. took CBS up on their offer and made the purchase for approximately USD $1.24 billion. With this acquisition, Cedar Fair would own all three major amusement parks in OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
: Paramount's Kings Island, Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
and Geauga Lake (purchased from Premier Parks in 2003). Kings Island would continue to use the Paramount branding through the end of the 2006 season. Cedar Fair began removing it from the park the following year from a number of attractions — rides, live shows and restaurants — that were based on Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
and other Viacom themes. Some popular examples of this include FACE/OFF changing to Invertigo, the Italian Job Stunt Track to Backlot Stunt Coaster
Backlot Stunt Coaster
Backlot Stunt Coaster is a steel launched roller coaster currently open at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia; and Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.-History:The three roller coasters originally opened as Italian Job: Stunt Track at Canada's Wonderland and...
, Tomb Raider: The Ride to The Crypt
The Crypt (Kings Island)
The Crypt is a Giant Top Spin thrill ride located at Kings Island theme park in Ohio. Originally constructed in 2002 by then-owners Paramount Parks, the ride opened as TOMB RAIDER: The Ride, featuring numerous special effects, pre-shows, and voice-overs establishing its relation to the Paramount...
, and Top Gun to Flight Deck. Nickelodeon's presence would remain in the park through 2009 until Cedar Fair completed work in the off-season to change the kids' area to the Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
theme.
In late 2009, the Mason City Council decided to put a measure on a 2010 ballot that would mandate a 3-percent ticket tax and a 5-percent parking tax at both Kings Island and The Beach
The Beach Water Park
The Beach Waterpark is a water park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. In addition to water rides, the tropical-themed water park offers other amenities including sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, pool-side beverage service, and a night club for teens called Club Aqua Splash...
waterpark. Council member Tony Bradburn argued that it was necessary in order to generate enough revenue for the city to help pay for infrastructure improvements, as well as cover the costs of police and fire expenses. This proposed tax hike was the center of debate for several months leading up to the vote, in which Kings Island actively encouraged the public to write, email and call Mason City Council representatives to express opposition to the tax. On February 8, 2010, the Mason City Council voted against the tax increase overwhelmingly by a vote of 5-1.
Original attractions
The central attraction at Kings Island is International Street featuring the Royal Fountain, a 600000 gal capable of shooting 10000 gal of water into the air each minute, and the signature Eiffel TowerEiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
, a 1/3 scale replica of the original which offers a view of the entire park to its guests. Also located here is the Grand Carousel, Kings Island Theater, and a variety of restaurants and souvenir shops.
Another original attraction is The Racer, a wooden roller coaster that consists of two trains that race each other side-by-side on identical tracks. Designed by legendary designer John C. Allen
John C. Allen
John C. Allen was a roller coaster designer who was responsible for the revival of wooden roller coasters which began in the 1970s. He attended Temple University. He started working for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1934 as a coaster operator and rose to become president of the company by...
, The Racer is recognized as being an integral part of the coaster renaissance of the 1970s. On June 18, 2007 American Coaster Enthusiasts
American Coaster Enthusiasts
The American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
(ACE) awarded it the Roller Coaster Landmark plaque.
Other coasters present at the opening in 1972 were the Bavarian Beetle, a small steel coaster brought over from Coney Island
Coney Island, Cincinnati, Ohio
Coney Island is a small amusement park and waterpark located in the California neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio and Anderson Township, on the banks of the Ohio River east of Downtown Cincinnati...
(removed in 1979) and a new junior wooden coaster in the Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera originally named Scooby-Doo.
Additional attractions present at opening day were Haley's Comet, Kings Mill Log Flume, Les Taxis, Grand Carousel, Der Spinning Keggers, Sky Ride, Enchanted Voyage, Marathon Turnpike, Scrambler, Flying Scooters, Winnie Witch's Spinning Cauldrons, Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad, Monster, and The Rotor.
Notable additions
1977: Screamin' Demon debuts as the first forward- and backward-looping roller coaster in the United States. It was later sold in 1987 to Camden ParkCamden Park (amusement park)
Camden Park is an amusement park located in Huntington, West Virginia. The park first opened in 1903 as a picnic spot along the Camden Interstate Railway street car line between Huntington and Ashland, Kentucky. It is traditional park home to over 30 rides and attractions. The park features two of...
where it operated until 1999 eventually being dismantled in 2004.
1979: Kings Island unveils The Beast breaking many world records at the time as the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in the world. Thirty years later, it still holds the title of the world's longest wooden roller coaster
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
at 7359 ft (2,243 m) according to Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
.
1981: The park introduces The Bat generally accepted as the world's first suspended roller coaster. However, plagued with mechanical problems and a substantial amount of downtime, The Bat was removed just three years later in 1984.
1982: Kings Island holds its first Winterfest, a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
-time holiday event (1982–1992, 2005).
1984: King Cobra
King Cobra (Kings Island)
The King Cobra was a TOGO Stand-up roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. It was the first in the world to be designed from the ground up as a stand-up roller coaster. Other stand-up roller coasters that preceded the King Cobra were sit-down models later modified to accommodate...
is released. It was the first roller coaster in the world to be designed from the ground-up as a stand-up coaster, even though other coasters prior to its release had been converted to stand-up designs. King Cobra was dismantled and put up for sale in 2002 when downtime and maintenance proved to be too expensive.
1987: The Vortex is added to the park and briefly set a new record with six inversions.
1989: WaterWorks debuts as a family water park featuring a wave pool, water slides, and other attractions.
2000: For the second year of the Paramount Action Zone two-year expansion, Son of Beast opened setting records as the world's tallest, fastest, and only-looping wooden roller coaster. The ride is billed as a sequel to Kings Island's own legendary roller coaster, The Beast. In October 2000, Kings Island debuted FearFest which runs annually from late September through October (later renamed to Halloween Haunt).
2002: Tomb Raider: The Ride opens at Kings Island using an unorthodox marketing approach. The vehicle is by design concealed from view even as guests are being seated. Opening-day riders did not know what was going to happen as the ride started. Under the hood, the ride is based on a typical top spin
Top Spin (ride)
The Top Spin is a thrill ride developed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik, and is the generic name for a series of rides from other manufacturers that follow the same principle. The ride consists of a passenger platform suspended between two counterweighted arms...
model ride, except that this version is the world's first Giant variation holding nearly twice as many riders. In addition, the ride operates indoors synchronized to a composed musical score, lasers, water effects, fog, and theatrical lighting.
2005: Kings Island releases Italian Job: Stunt Track
Backlot Stunt Coaster
Backlot Stunt Coaster is a steel launched roller coaster currently open at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia; and Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.-History:The three roller coasters originally opened as Italian Job: Stunt Track at Canada's Wonderland and...
, a roller coaster that primarily focused on special effects to tie in with the film The Italian Job
The Italian Job (2003 film)
The Italian Job is a 2003 heist film directed by F. Gary Gray. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, and Donald Sutherland. It is an American remake of a 1969 British film of the same name, and is about a team of thieves who plan to steal...
(sister park Canada's Wonderland also released one the same year).
Firehawk (roller coaster)
For information on this roller coaster when it ran at Geauga Lake, see X-Flight.Firehawk is a steel Vekoma flying roller coaster operating at Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally built at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure as X-Flight in 2001, the ride was manufactured by Vekoma...
, a Vekoma
Vekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
flying roller coaster
Flying roller coaster
A flying roller coaster is a variation of roller coaster meant to simulate the sensations of flight by harnessing riders in a prone position during the duration of the ride. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured such that their backs are parallel to the track...
. This ride originally opened in 2001 at Geauga Lake under the name X-Flight but due to low attendance was relocated to Kings Island. Its colors were also changed from neon green and with dark gray supports to red with steel gray supports.
Bolliger & Mabillard
Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
steel
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
hypercoaster
Hypercoaster
A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet...
called Diamondback
Diamondback (roller coaster)
Diamondback is a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.The ride is long and spans from just behind International Street and the Eiffel Tower and over the Rivertown area, and into a wooded area. The roller coaster contains a splashdown element near the end...
opens in place of the former Swan Lake. It is the park's first steel hypercoaster. On July 22, 2008 dark red track sections were delivered to the park and set on site of the construction. The park launched a teaser program on their website the same day. On August 6, 2008 the park officially announced the new ride.
2010: Planet Snoopy opens in place of the Nickelodeon Universe kids area. The Nickelodeon theme and characters including Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo are completely removed. This change marked the first time since the park's debut in 1972 that Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise based around several animated television series and related works produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969...
was not present in the park.
2011: WindSeeker
WindSeeker
WindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012...
, a flat ride manufactured by Mondial
Mondial (amusement ride manufacturer)
Mondial is a Dutch company specialising in the manufacture of amusement rides. The company was founded in 1987 and has installations throughout the world....
, is added to the Coney Mall next to the Vortex. A Pay-Per-Use attraction
Upcharge attraction
An upcharge ride or attraction at an amusement park is a ride that is not included with paid admission. These are commonly found at a number of park chains, including Six Flags, Cedar Fair, and Paramount Parks.Some examples of upcharge rides include:...
called Dinosaurs Alive!
Dinosaurs Alive! (attraction)
Dinosaurs Alive! is an animatronic dinosaur themed area for children at several Cedar Fair parks. The version of this attraction at King's Island is the world's largest animatronic dinosaur park. A $5.00 fee is required in order to enter into this attraction....
also debuts at Kings Island as the world's largest animatronic dinosaur park. It is also located in Coney Mall near WindSeeker.
2012: Soak City
Soak City (Kings Island)
Soak City is a water park at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. The water park is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and is included with the price of admission to Kings Island.-History:...
was announced on September 2, 2011 as the new name for Boomerang Bay. The Australian theme will be dropped and new additions will include a second, larger wave pool along with a completely revamped lazy river ride.
Lists of attractions
| Ride Rating System | |
|---|---|
| Thrill | Description |
| 1:Low | Rides that are generally calm and gentle in nature. |
| 2:Mild | Rides that generally have low speeds with gentle motion and braking. Rides have smooth transitions with some changes in elevation and speed. |
| 3:Moderate | Rides that generally have low to medium speeds and/or heights with moderate motion and braking. Riders may encounter unexpected changes in direction and/or speed during portions of the ride. |
| 4:High | Rides that generally have medium to high speeds and/or heights with moderate to rapid braking. Riders may encounter unexpected changes in speed, direction and/or elevation. |
| 5:Aggressive | Rides that generally have one or more of the following: high speeds and/or heights, aggressive and unexpected forces, and rapid directional or elevation change. Riders will encounter many unexpected rapid changes in speed, direction and/or elevation. |
Action Zone
Opened in 1974 as Lion Country Safari. Name changed to Wild Animal Habitat. Renamed Adventure Village in 1994. Renamed Action Zone in 1999. This area is themed as a movie stunt set. There is a Hollywood like water tower in the center of the area surrounded by extreme amusement rides. It has three roller coasters, three thrill rides, and two family rides.| Ride | Year opened | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congo Falls Shoot-the-Chutes Shoot-the-Chutes is an amusement ride consisting of a flat-bottomed boat that slides down a ramp or inside a flume into a lagoon. Unlike a log flume, a Shoot-the-Chutes generally has larger boats and one single drop.... |
1988 | A shoot-the-chute Shoot-the-Chutes Shoot-the-Chutes is an amusement ride consisting of a flat-bottomed boat that slides down a ramp or inside a flume into a lagoon. Unlike a log flume, a Shoot-the-Chutes generally has larger boats and one single drop.... boat flume ride with a 34' drop. Originally known as Amazon Falls the ride was renamed after the Paramount movie Congo Congo (film) Congo is a 1995 action adventure film, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It was directed by Frank Marshall and stars Laura Linney, Dylan Walsh, Tim Curry, Ernie Hudson, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Grant Heslov, and Joe Don Baker. The film was released on June 9, 1995 by... in 1999 when Adventure Village became Paramount Action Zone. |
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| Delirium Frisbee (ride) The Frisbee is an pendulum-motion amusement ride designed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik. The term is often used to describe similar rides built by other companies.-Design and operation:... |
2003 | A HUSS Giant Frisbee Frisbee (ride) The Frisbee is an pendulum-motion amusement ride designed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik. The term is often used to describe similar rides built by other companies.-Design and operation:... that takes riders up to 137 feet (41.8 m) into the air and swings in a 240° arc while rotating. |
5 |
| Drop Tower: Scream Zone | 1999 | An Intamin gyro drop ride which at 315 feet (96 m) tall is the tallest of its kind in the world (although sister park Kings Dominion has one with a longer drop). Due to an incident that occurred on a giant drop ride at Six Flags in Kentucky, all five Intamin-designed drop tower rides at Cedar Fair parks were closed to inspection on June 22, 2007. Kings Island's Drop Tower: Scream Zone was closed for several weeks. Originally called Drop Zone: Stunt Tower, the ride was renamed for the 2008 season as part of the initiative to remove the Paramount branding from the park. | 4 |
| Flight Deck | 1993 | An Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... Suspended roller coaster in which free-swinging cars are suspended below the track. Originally was to be named Thunder Run before opening in 1993, but instead opened as Top Gun (1993–2007) complete with themes from the Paramount film Top Gun Top Gun Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie... . |
4 |
| Invertigo | 1999 | A Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... inverted Boomerang Boomerang (roller coaster) Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians... roller coaster originally known as FACE/OFF after a Paramount film Face/Off Face/Off is a 1997 action thriller film directed by John Woo, starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. The two both play an FBI agent and a terrorist, sworn enemies who assume the physical appearance of one another.... of the same name until 2008 when it was renamed. |
5 |
| Xtreme Skyflyer Skycoaster Skycoaster, most commonly also named Ripcord or Xtreme SkyFlyer , is an amusement park ride, produced and managed by Skycoaster, Inc.... |
1995 | Double Skycoaster with a dive of 153 feet (46.6 m). Pay-per-ride attraction known as Drop Zone after the Paramount film Drop Zone Drop Zone (film) Drop Zone is a 1994 action movie directed by John Badham. It stars Wesley Snipes, Gary Busey and Yancy Butler.-Plot:Aboard a commercial airliner, U.S... until 1999 when a new drop tower ride at the park was to take on the same name. |
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| Son of Beast | 2000 | Built by Roller Coaster Corporation of America and designed by Werner Stengel Werner Stengel Werner Stengel is a German roller coaster designer and engineer. Stengel is the founder of Stengel Engineering, also known as Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH .... , Son of Beast was the first wooden roller coaster Wooden roller coaster A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design... with a vertical loop and is currently the only wooden hypercoaster Hypercoaster A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet... . In response to 27 injuries that occurred on July 9, 2006, Cedar Fair installed lighter trains acquired from the Hurricane: Category 5 roller coaster at the former Myrtle Beach Pavilion Myrtle Beach Pavilion The Myrtle Beach Pavilion was an amusement park located on the corner of 9th Avenue and Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Considered by many as the "heart" of Myrtle Beach, the Pavilion sat one block away from the beach itself in a pedestrian-populated area, surrounded by similar... and removed the loop in order for the new trains to complete the circuit. It reopened on July 4, 2007 but closed indefinitely on June 23, 2009 following another injury report. NOTE: Park officials confirmed on March 18, 2010 that there were no current plans to reopen the ride. It has been removed from Kings Island's park map as well as the official web site. |
|
| Thunder Alley | 1996 | Go-kart Go-kart thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle... racing track is a pay-per-ride attraction originally based on the hit movie Days of Thunder Days of Thunder Days of Thunder is a 1990 American auto racing film released by Paramount Pictures, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The cast includes Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes and Michael Rooker. The film also features appearances... until it was renamed in 2008. |
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Oktoberfest
Opened with the park in 1972. This area is themed as a German town. It has timber-framed German buildings and a full service bar located on Oktoberfest lake. Contains one roller coaster, one thrill ride, and one family ride.| Ride | Year opened | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure Express Adventure Express Adventure Express is a Mine Train roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park that opened in 1991.The ride is located in the Oktoberfest section of Kings Island near Outer Hank's and the SlingShot. The ride is considered a mine train and has the typical lap bar designed trains, abrupt... |
1991 | Mine train model coaster designed by Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
5 |
| Sling Shot Reverse bungee The Reverse Bungee is a modern type of fairground ride that was invented by Troy Griffin in 1995... |
2002 | Pay-per-ride attraction that catapults riders 275 feet (83.8 m) in the air up to 100 miles per hour (160.9 km/h) in a steel cage that flips multiple times before returning slowly to the platform. | 5 |
| Viking Fury Pirate ship (ride) A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride, consisting of an open, seated gondola which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum.... |
1982 | Swinging pirate ship ride. | 3 |
International Street
Opened with the park in 1972. This area is themed to a multinational town. It has many different architectural style buildings containing restaurants and shops, an Eiffel Tower replica, and the Royal Fountain with light and water shows. This area has three family rides.| Ride | Year opened | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower | 1972 | An approximately one-third scale replica of the Eiffel Tower Eiffel Tower The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world... in Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... at 315 feet (96 m) and 450 tons; manufactured by Intamin AG Intamin AG Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an... . Known as Sherwin-Williams presents The Eiffel Tower (1972–1992) |
2 |
| Grand Carousel Carousel A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders... |
1972 | The classic carousel was built in 1926 and is painted with more than 20,000 sheets of 23-karat (96%) gold and 1,000 sheets of sterling silver and 48 hand-carved wooden horses. The ride operated at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ohio (1926–1971). It features the Wurlitzer Organ #157. | 1 |
| Boo Blasters on Boo Hill | 1972 | A Sally Sally Corporation Founded in 1977, Sally Corporation is known for its dark rides , and its human, animal and cartoon animatronic characters and shows. The company serves amusement parks, attractions, museums and retail clients worldwide... dark ride Dark ride A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects.... experience for families which involves shooting laser guns at ghosts and ghouls. Known as Enchanted Voyage (1972–1982), Smurf's Enchanted Voyage (1984–1991), Phantom Theater (1992–2002), and Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle (2003–2009) |
1 |
Coney Mall
Opened with the park in 1972 as Coney Island, named after the park's predecessor, Coney IslandConey Island, Cincinnati, Ohio
Coney Island is a small amusement park and waterpark located in the California neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio and Anderson Township, on the banks of the Ohio River east of Downtown Cincinnati...
in Cincinnati. Renamed Coney Mall in 1986, upon Coney Island's revival into the amusement park business. The area it themed to have a feel of a carnival with many classic rides, game booths, arcades, and food stands. The paths have been paved with bricks for the 2011 season. The area has three roller coasters, one thrill ride, and five family rides. It also includes a Dinosaur park.
X-Base, a sub-area, opened in 2007 with the addition of Firehawk. Since Firehawk was built next to Flight of Fear, the area took on the new theme, claiming to be a government area testing new flight-and-propulsion systems. While it is signed, it is not officially marked on the park map, and lacks things such as bathrooms. The X-Base area has two roller coasters.
| Ride | Year Opened | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backlot Stunt Coaster Backlot Stunt Coaster Backlot Stunt Coaster is a steel launched roller coaster currently open at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia; and Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.-History:The three roller coasters originally opened as Italian Job: Stunt Track at Canada's Wonderland and... |
2005 | A Premier Rides family launch coaster based on the chase sequence of the 2003 remake of The Italian Job The Italian Job (2003 film) The Italian Job is a 2003 heist film directed by F. Gary Gray. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, and Donald Sutherland. It is an American remake of a 1969 British film of the same name, and is about a team of thieves who plan to steal... . Riders launch into a parking garage, dodge police cars, and are attacked by a helicopter, which ignites fire all around riders before hitting a second launch section, sending riders into pitch black darkness. Known as The Italian Job: Stunt Track (2005–2007). |
5 |
| Dodgems Bumper car Bumper car is the generic name for a type of flat ride consisting of several small electric cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator... |
1972 Remodeled in 1985 | Special 2-seater bumper cars from Italy with working headlights, taillights, rear-view mirrors, and hazard flashers. The original ride operated at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ohio (??-1971). | 4 |
| Dinosaurs Alive! Dinosaurs Alive! (attraction) Dinosaurs Alive! is an animatronic dinosaur themed area for children at several Cedar Fair parks. The version of this attraction at King's Island is the world's largest animatronic dinosaur park. A $5.00 fee is required in order to enter into this attraction.... |
2011 | Built by Dinosaurs Unearthed, this pay-per-entry attraction is the world's largest animatronic dionosaur park that stretches along a 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) path featuring more than 60 life-sized dinosaurs. Four have interactive consoles that help show guests how scientists believe each dinosaur moved. The attraction also features a replica of an excavation site as well as a paleontological dig site Historical digging Historical digging is the pursuit of antique bottles and related objects while excavating defunct privy vaults, old town dumps, landfills and elsewhere... for children. |
|
| FireHawk Firehawk (roller coaster) For information on this roller coaster when it ran at Geauga Lake, see X-Flight.Firehawk is a steel Vekoma flying roller coaster operating at Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally built at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure as X-Flight in 2001, the ride was manufactured by Vekoma... |
2007 | A Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... Flying Dutchman (1018 m) flying roller coaster. Originally operated at Geauga Lake as X-Flight (2001–2006). Firehawk is located directly beside of Flight of Fear in the X-Base themed section of the park. The ride itself carries the same theme as it did as "X-Flight," a government flight prototype looking for test subjects codenamed FireHawk. This ride is Kings Island's 14th coaster. |
5 |
| Flight of Fear | 1996 | A Premier Rides Premier Rides Premier Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. The company was the first to use Linear Induction Motors on their roller coasters. Jim Seay has been the sole owner and company president since 1996.... LIM Linear induction motor A linear induction motor is an AC asynchronous linear motor that works by the same general principles as other induction motors but which has been designed to directly produce motion in a straight line.... -launched roller coaster prototype. Over-the-Shoulder harnesses were also removed and replaced with lap bars in 2001. Identical to the coaster with the same name that opened at Kings Dominion the same year. Known as Outer Limits: Flight of Fear (1996–2000). |
5 |
| Monster Octopus (ride) The Octopus is a type of amusement ride in the shape of an octopus. Five to eight arms attached to a central axis spin and move up and down in random, while cars at the end of the arms spin on rotary bolts. Each Octopus ride has the arms attached the middle of the ride. The middle of the ride will... |
1972 | Traditional "Spider" ride that spins in three different circles at the same time. While it quickly raises and lowers riders as their cars continue to spin. It originally operated at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ohio (1969–1971). | 3 |
| Scrambler Twist (ride) The Twist, also known as the Twister, Cyclone, Sizzler, Scrambler, Merry Mixer, Jambalaya, or Grasscutter is an amusement ride in which suspended riders spinning in cars experience the illusion that they will crash into other suspended, spinning cars. Riders are seated in small carriages clustered... |
1972 | Traditional amusement park ride. 3 arms spin riders giving them the sensation of almost hitting the wall. It originally operated at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ohio (1957–1971). | 3 |
| Shake, Rattle, and Roll Troika (ride) The Troika is an amusement park ride, designed and manufactured by HUSS Maschinenfabrik in the mid-1970s. The ride is available in both transportable and permanent forms, although due to the total weight and size of the ride , transportable Troikas are unpopular and uncommon... |
1975 | Huss spinning ride. Also known as The Troika | 3 |
| The Racer | 1972 | A John C. Allen John C. Allen John C. Allen was a roller coaster designer who was responsible for the revival of wooden roller coasters which began in the 1970s. He attended Temple University. He started working for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1934 as a coaster operator and rose to become president of the company by... /Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters twin-racing wooden roller coaster. One side was changed to ride backward in 1982 but was eventually switched back to its original form in 2008. |
4 |
| Vortex | 1987 | An Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... designed "Mega Looper" coaster that opened as the world record holder for most inversions, with six. At nearly 150 feet (45.7 m), it was the tallest steel coaster in the world when it opened, but was quickly outpaced the following year by Six Flags Great Adventure Six Flags Great Adventure Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation... 's Great American Scream Machine at 173 feet (52.7 m). |
5 |
| WindSeeker WindSeeker WindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012... |
2011 | A flat ride designed by Mondial Mondial (amusement ride manufacturer) Mondial is a Dutch company specialising in the manufacture of amusement rides. The company was founded in 1987 and has installations throughout the world.... featuring two-person swings that slowly rotate and ascend the 301 feet (91.7 m) tower until reaching the top where speeds increase up to 30 miles per hour (48.3 km/h). After several delays in May, it opened June 21. |
4 |
| Zephyr | 1986 | A giant, suspended swing ride that rotates with a wave motion lifting riders up to 30 feet (9.1 m) in the air. | 3 |
Rivertown
Opened with the park in 1972. This area is themed as a gold rush style railroad town with many ranch style buildings, old wooden signs, and an old water tower. It was set around the old swan lake until Diamondback arrived in 2009. This area is has two roller coasters, one thrill ride, and two family rides.| Ride | Year opened | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamondback Diamondback (roller coaster) Diamondback is a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.The ride is long and spans from just behind International Street and the Eiffel Tower and over the Rivertown area, and into a wooded area. The roller coaster contains a splashdown element near the end... |
2009 | A steel B&M Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president... roller coaster that is 230 feet (70.1 m) tall and 5282 feet (1,610 m) long with a top speed of 80 mi/h. Kings Island's first hypercoaster Hypercoaster A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet... , Diamondback spans over 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of terrain and features a unique splashdown water effect ending. |
5 |
| Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad | 1972 | A steam train ride which provides transportation between the main theme park and Boomerang Bay. Before the water park and its station were built, the train ride was a narrated excursion traversing open fields and wooded areas with multiple old west American Old West The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century... -themed props, small buildings, and a fort. |
1 |
| The Beast | 1979 | A wooden roller coaster constructed and designed internally by the Kings Island's Engineering & Construction department which consistently remains a top roller coaster among many industry experts and enthusiasts. When it first opened, it held virtually every major record for roller coasters (tallest, fastest, and longest). Even to this day, it still holds the record as the longest wooden roller coaster in the world. The ride takes advantage of the hilly terrain and has two separate chain lifts throughout the course. | 5 |
| The Crypt The Crypt (Kings Island) The Crypt is a Giant Top Spin thrill ride located at Kings Island theme park in Ohio. Originally constructed in 2002 by then-owners Paramount Parks, the ride opened as TOMB RAIDER: The Ride, featuring numerous special effects, pre-shows, and voice-overs establishing its relation to the Paramount... |
2002 | An indoor Huss Giant Top Spin Top Spin (ride) The Top Spin is a thrill ride developed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik, and is the generic name for a series of rides from other manufacturers that follow the same principle. The ride consists of a passenger platform suspended between two counterweighted arms... themed to the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is a 2001 adventure thriller film adapted from the Tomb Raider video game series. Directed by Simon West and starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, it was released in U.S. theaters on June 15, 2001. The film was a commercial success... until the park was sold to Cedar Fair. The theme, musical soundtrack, and pre-show were all removed in 2008 as a result. Known as Tomb Raider: The Ride (2002–2007). |
5 |
| White Water Canyon White Water Canyon White Water Canyon is a river rafting ride originally named White Water Rafting Adventure. It is found at the Cedar Fair parks of Canada's Wonderland, Kings Dominion, and Kings Island. It features six seat tubes.-Locations:... |
1985 | Whitewater river rapids attraction that takes riders on a winding course through the densely wooded terrain in Kings Island's Rivertown. Riders are placed in circular inner-tube rafts that seat up to six. Whirlpools, hidden geysers, and even a wave maker help make for a unique experience each time. It is one of the longest rides in the park at 5 minutes and 20 seconds. | 4 |
Planet Snoopy
The area opened with the park in 1972 as 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,...
, later shortened to Hanna-Barbera Land. The upper part that borders Rivertown saw the addition of a kids' play area, stage, and water attraction in 1995 and was named Nickelodeon Splat City. In 2001, Kings Mills Log Flume became The Wild Thornberrys River Adventure and Rugrats Runaway Reptar
Reptar
Reptar is a fictional character from the American animated television series Rugrats. Reptar is a green dinosaur with rounded, blue spike-like appendages on his back, which intentionally causes him to resemble and spoof Godzilla.-The Rugrats films:Reptar appeared in the first Rugrats film as a...
was introduced. The expansion of this area into the lower part of Rivertown became known as Nickelodeon Central
Nickelodeon Central
Since the 1990s, Nickelodeon, a worldwide children's entertainment company, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement park rides. This article details the ventures of Nickelodeon in amusement parks....
. In time for the 2006 season, the rest of the Hanna-Barbera Land was converted as well and was renamed "Nickelodeon Universe". During the 2009-2010 off-season, Nickelodeon was completely removed as the kids area was again rethemed 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....
based on the popular comic strip Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
. Amusement Today
Amusement Today
Amusement Today is a monthly periodical featuring articles, news, pictures, and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The magazine, which is based in Arlington, Texas, USA, was founded in 1997 by Gary Slade and Virgil...
has awarded Kings Island with the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Kids' Area in the World for the past eleven years.
| Ride | Year opened | Description | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Carousel Character Carousel (Kings Island) Character Carousel is a smaller version of a regular carousel ride that is located at Kings Island in Kings Mills, Ohio. It featured many different characters from different themes that it had had throughout its history.-History:... |
1982 | Children's carousel. Known as Hanna Barbera Carousel (1982–2005) and Nick-O-Round (2006–2009). | 1 |
| Charlie Brown's Wind Up Charlie Brown's Wind Up (Kings Island) Charlie Brown's Wind Up is a miniature version of a classic swing ride. It is located at Kings Island amusement park in Kings Mills, Ohio. The ride is very similar to the Zephyr , although, since the ride was designed specifically for kids, the ride does not tilt and does not go as fast like a... |
1992 | Chair swing for children. Known as Pixie and Dixie's Swingset (1992–2005) and Backyardigan's Swing-Along (2006–2009). | 1 |
| Flying Ace Aerial Chase Flying Ace Aerial Chase (Kings Island) Flying Ace Aerial Chase is a steel inverted roller coaster at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio and Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina. The ride is a Suspended Family Coaster built by Vekoma designed specifically for families.-History:-Kings Island:... |
2001 | A Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... suspended roller coaster for all ages. It is the first designed especially for children. Known as Rugrats Runaway Reptar (2001–2009). |
4 |
| Joe Cool's Dodgem School Joe Cool's Dodgem School (Kings Island) Joe Cool's Dodgem School is a miniature version of a dodgem ride. It is located at Kings Island theme park in Kings Mills, Ohio. It is in the kid's area of the park which is called Planet Snoopy... |
1976 | Children's bumper cars. Known as Flintstone's Boulder Bumpers (1976–2005) and Jimmy Neutron's Atom Smasher (2006–2009). | 2 |
| Kite Eating Tree Kite Eating Tree (Kings Island) The Kite Eating Tree is an amusement ride at Kings Island in Kings Mills, Ohio. It is themed to the kids area in the park which is Planet Snoopy. It is a miniature version of Drop Tower: Scream Zone .-History:... |
2006 | A mini-drop ride that takes riders 20 feet (6.1 m) into the air that bounces up and down as the ride eventually lowers to the ground. Known as Plankton’s Plunge (2006–2009). | 3 |
| Linus' Beetle Bugs Linus' Beetle Bugs (Kings Island) 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... |
1972 | 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.... from Coney Island, Cincinnati (1967–1971). Known as Screecher, Funky Phantom, Alley Cat 500 (??-2005), and Swiper's Sweepers (2006–2009). |
1 |
| Linus' Launcher Linus' Launcher (Kings Island) Linus' Launcher is a circular ride where guests lie down face to the ground. When the ride starts, guests will be lifted up and swing around in a tilted motion, giving the feeling of flight... |
2006 | Known as Danny Phantom's Phantom Flyers (2006–2007)and Phantom Flyers (2006–2009). | 3 |
| PEANUTS 500 Peanuts 500 (Kings Island) PEANUTS 500 is a ride where 1-2 guests can drive their own pint sized cars around the "expressway". The ride was designed for kids and is located in the kid's area of the park which is called Planet Snoopy. The ride is themed to characters from the peanuts show.... |
1979 | Themed car ride. Known as Mr. Jinks Jalopies (1979-??), Fender Bender 500 (??-2005) and Nick Jr. Drivers (2006–2009). | 1 |
| PEANUTS Off-Road Rally Peanuts Off-Road Rally PEANUTS Off-Road Rally is a children's amusement ride that is themed to peanuts. Guests will board different types of automobiles and will travel on a circular track. This is basically a variation of the classic carousel ride... |
1972 | Miniature carousel ride with vehicles. First operated at Coney Island, Cincinnati (1969–1971). Previously known as Pee Wee Raceway, Motor Mouse, and Go Diego Go!. | 1 |
| Race For Your Life Charlie Brown | 1972 | Themed log ride Log flume (attraction) Log flumes originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats... from Coney Island, Cincinnati (1968–1971). Closed during the 2000 season, it reopened under a new name and Nickelodeon theme in 2001. Known as Kings Mills Log Flume (1972–1999) and The Wild Thornberrys River Adventure (2001–2009). The new theme is modeled after the 1977 Peanuts movie Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown is a 1977 animated film produced by United Feature Syndicate for Paramount Pictures, directed by Bill Meléndez, and the third in a series of movies based on the Peanuts comic strip... . |
4 |
| Sally's Sea Plane | 1998 | Themed plane ride. Known as Atom Ant's Airways (1998–2005) and Timmy's Airtours (2006–2009). | 2 |
| Snoopy vs. Red Baron | 1992 | Themed after the popular Peanuts comic strip featuring Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" is a novelty song written by Phil Gernhard and Dick Holler and recorded in 1966 by the Florida based rock band, The Royal Guardsmen. The song was recorded at the Charles Fuller Productions studio in Tampa, Florida, and was released as a single on Laurie Records... . Known as Dick Dastardly's Biplanes (1992–2005) and Blue's Skidoo (2006–2009). |
2 |
| Snoopy's Junction | 1982 | Miniature railroad. Known as Quick Draw's Railway (1982–2005) and La Adventura de Azul (2006–2009). | 1 |
| Snoopy’s Splash Dance | 1995 | Walk-through water attraction. Known as Nickelodeon Green Slime Zone (1995–2005) and SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom Bash (2006–2009). | 1 |
| Surf Dog Disk-O The Disk'O is a type of flat ride manufactured by Zamperla of Italy. The ride is a larger version of a Rockin' Tug, also manufactured by Zamperla.-Versions:-Ride:... |
2006 | Disk'O Coaster. Skateboard themed ride that spins as it glides over a ramp; known as Avatar: The Last Airbender (2006–2009). | 4 |
| The Great Pumpkin Coaster The Great Pumpkin Coaster The Great Pumpkin Coaster is a junior steel roller coaster at Kings Island in Kings Mills, Ohio.- History :The Great Pumpkin Coaster opened in the year 1972 as Scooby Zoom to fit the theme of the children's area which at the time was... |
1992 | A junior roller coaster that takes riders up a small hill through a series of dips and then circles back around to complete the circuit for a second time. Known as Scooby Zoom (1992–1997), Top Cat's Taxi Jam (1998–2005), and Little Bill's Giggle Coaster (2006–2009). | 2 |
| Woodstock Express | 1972 | A John C. Allen John C. Allen John C. Allen was a roller coaster designer who was responsible for the revival of wooden roller coasters which began in the 1970s. He attended Temple University. He started working for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1934 as a coaster operator and rose to become president of the company by... /Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters family wooden coaster. Known as Scooby Doo (1972–1979), Beastie (1980–2005), and Fairly Odd Coaster (2006–2009). |
4 |
| Woodstock's Whirlybirds | 1998 | Helicopter-themed sky tram. Known as Yogi's Sky Tours (1998–2005) and Lazytown Sportacopters (2006–2009). | 1 |
Soak City
Free with park admission, Soak City is a 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) water parkWater park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
featuring two wave pools, several children's areas, and a variety of water slides. Kings Island announced on September 2, 2011 that a $10 million dollar expansion would take place in the 2011-2012 offseason.
Stages & theaters
| Venue | Year opened | Location | Current Show | Previous Shows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Theater | 1994 | Coney Mall | Dinosour's Alive! 3D | Days of Thunder, SpongeBob SquarePants 3D, Elviras superstition (shown during Fearfest), |
| Festhaus | 1983 | Oktoberfest | Graveyard Shift (2011-) | American Country (2010-), Way Too Much TV (2010-2011), Down Home Country (2009-2010), Ghouls Gone Wild, Girls Night Out (2008), The County Line (2008-2009). |
| International Showplace | 1972 | International Street | Hot Blooded (2009-2011) | Signed, Sealed, Delivered! (2010-2011), Flashback: Totally 80s (2008-2009), Twistin' in the 60s (2006-2007), |
| International Street Bandstand | 1972 | International Street | Hot Summer Nights | |
| Kings Island Theater | 1976 | International Street | Snoopy Rocks On Ice! | Known as American Heritage Music Hall and Paramount Theater. Renovated in 2004 with new seating and digital systems. |
| PEANUTS Playhouse | 2006 | Planet Snoopy | Peanuts Pirate Adventure | Known as Nickelodeon Theater (2006–2008), Putz HQ (2009) |
| Timberwolf Amphitheatre | 1982 | Action Zone |
Food & beverages
| Venue | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Scream Zone | Action Zone | Famous blueberry, chocolate and vanilla soft serve ice cream, floats, ICEES. |
| Stunt Crew Grill | Action Zone | Char-grilled burgers, grilled chicken and pork BBQ sandwiches, salads, ice-cold beer. |
| Hanks Smoke House | Oktoberfest | Smoked turkey legs, Italian sausage, fresh corn on the cob, ice-cold beer. |
| Outer Hanks | Oktoberfest | Fried fish and shrimp, BBQ chicken & ribs. |
| Hanks Back Porch Bar | Oktoberfest | Full service bar and appetizers. |
| Festhaus | Oktoberfest | LaRosa’s pizza, burgers, chicken tenders,specialty salads, desserts, ice-cold beer, Panda Express Gourmet Chinese food. |
| Tower Drinks | International Street | Cotton candy, popcorn, soft pretzels, ICEE. |
| Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-A |"fillet"]]) is a quick service restaurant chain headquartered in College Park, Georgia, United States, specializing in chicken entrées and is known for promoting the company founder's claims of Christian values. Long associated with the southern United States, where it has been a... |
International Street | Chicken sandwiches, tenders, fries. |
| Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and... |
International Street | Coffee Shop. |
| Graeter’s Ice Cream | International Street | Gourmet hand-dipped ice cream a Cincinnati tradition since 1870. |
| Cinnabon Cinnabon Cinnabon is a chain of American baked goods stores and kiosks, normally found in high-traffic areas such as malls. The company's signature item is a grande cinnamon roll. As of July 2009, over 750 Cinnabon bakeries are in operation in over 30 countries around the world... |
International Street | Cinnamon rolls. |
| LaRosa’s Pizzeria | International Street, Rivertown | Pizza, hoagies, specialty salads, desserts, ice-cold beer. |
| International Street Restaurant | International Street | Breakfast with the Characters and Banquet facilities. |
| Skyline Chili Skyline Chili Skyline Chili is a chain of chili restaurants based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1949 by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides, Skyline Chili is named for the view of Cincinnati's skyline that Lambrinides could see from his first restaurant , opened in the section of town now known as Price Hill... |
International Street, Coney Mall | Cincinnati’s famous chili on a cheese coney dog, 3-way or 4-way. |
| The Pretzel Shop | International Street | Hand-rolled pretzels, pretzel dogs, fresh squeezed lemonade, ice-cold beer. |
| International Street Funnel Cakes | International Street | Funnel cakes with toppings. |
| Juke Box Diner | Coney Mall | Burgers, chicken, fries, onion rings and shakes made to order. |
| Subway Subway (restaurant) Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011... |
Coney Mall, Boomerang Bay | Fresh made sub sandwiches and ICEE. |
| Midway Treats and Eats | Coney Mall | Fresh-cut fries, corndogs, chicken bites, soft serve ice cream. |
| Coney Refreshments | Coney Mall | Cotton candy, popcorn, soft pretzels, ICEE. |
| Ralph’s Ice Cream | Coney Mall | Specialty shakes, soft serveice cream cones, and floats. |
| Paradise Island | Rivertown | Famous blueberry and vanilla soft serve fruit smoothies. |
| Icee Mix-It-Up | Rivertown, Boomerang Bay | Pick and mix ICEE flavors. |
| Rivertown Potato Works | Rivertown | Fresh-cut thick fries, chicken bites, fried shrimp, ice-cold beer. |
| Rivertown Funnel Cakes | Rivertown | Funnel with toppings, soft serve ice cream and hand-twisted pretzels. |
| Dip-N-Dots Depot Dippin' Dots Dippin' Dots is an ice cream snack, invented by Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduate Curt Jones in 1987. The confection is created by flash freezing ice cream mix in liquid nitrogen; consequently, Dippin' Dots contain less air than conventional ice cream... |
Rivertown | Dip-N-Dots shakes and sundaes. |
| Rivertown Junction Dining Hall | Rivertown | All you care to eat buffet. |
| Snake Pit | Rivertown | Turkey legs, hotdogs, kettle corn, ice-cold beer. |
| Ice Cream | Planet Snoopy | Famous blueberry and vanilla ice cream cones. |
| Planet Snoopy Grill | Planet Snoopy | Hamburgers, chicken tenders, corndogs, kids’ meals. |
| Snoopy’s Snack Shack | Planet Snoopy | Kids meals, popcorn, cotton candy. |
| Snow Cone | Planet Snoopy | Snow cones and smoothies. |
| Kangaroo Cones | Boomerang Bay | Famous blueberry, chocolate and vanilla soft serve, fruit smoothies. |
| Outback Shack | Boomerang Bay | Pizza, chargrilled burgers, chicken tenders, wraps, salads. |
| Wally’s Pub | Boomerang Bay | Frozen cocktails, ice-cold beer and appetizers. |
| Backyard BBQ | Picnic Grove | |
| Catered Events | Picnic Grove |
Shops
| Venue | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| On Location | Action Zone | Cameras, trend apparel, convenience items. |
| Airbrush | Oktoberfest | Airbrushed apparel, headwear, novelty items. |
| Airbrush Tattoos | Oktoberfest | Artwork that is airbrushed right on your body. |
| Wood Works | Oktoberfest | Custom wood signs, personalized products. |
| Glassblower Shop | International Street | Souvenir glass specialties. |
| International Street Fudge and Candy Shop | International Street | Sweets and treats including homemade fudge and bulk pick-a-mix. |
| Girl Space | International Street | Junior fashion apparel, jewelry, accessories. |
| Paws & Claws | International Street | Create a stuffed animal friend of your own. |
| Lotsapalooza | International Street | Souvenirs and apparel featuring a large selection of park merchandise. |
| Keyhole Photo | International Street | Guest photo souvenirs. |
| Convenience Corner | International Street | Film, cameras, sun care, accessories. |
| Thrill Seekers | International Street | Ride-themed apparel and merchandise. |
| Emporium | International Street | Souvenirs, apparel, candy, rides and fashion merchandise. |
| Spotlight Souvenirs | International Street | Souvenirs and apparel. |
| Attitudes | Coney Mall | Apparel, jewelry, trend merchandise and novelties. |
| Coney Confections | Coney Mall | Candy, souvenirs, toys. |
| DB Trading Post | Rivertown | Diamondback apparel and merchandise. |
| Snoopy Boutique | Planet Snoopy | PEANuTS™ character and Kings Island merchandise for kids of all ages. |
| Matildas | Boomerang Bay | Basic waterpark needs. |
| Mic’s Seaside Supplies | Boomerang Bay | Swimwear, sun care, snacks, towels, souvenirs. |
Games
| Venue | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Coney Arcade | Coney Mall | |
| Coney Mall Midway Games | Coney Mall | |
| Three Point Challenge | Coney Mall | |
| Rivertown Arcade & Games | Rivertown | |
| Planet Snoopy Games | Planet Snoopy |
Winterfest (1982–1992, 2005)
In 1982 Kings Island introduced a ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
event called Winterfest, which ran from November 25 through December 31. The International Street fountain attraction was turned into an ice-skating rink, and for a few years a nightly laser light show
Laser lighting display
A laser lighting display or laser light show involves the use of laser light to entertain an audience. A laser light show may consist only of projected laser beams set to music, or may accompany another form of entertainment, typically a dance concert or other musical performance.Laser light is...
was centered on the Eiffel Tower. Most rides were closed with the exception of a holiday-themed train ride, the Grand Carousel, hayrides, and the Enchanted Voyage. In earlier years, horse-drawn carriage rides existed as well. Special shops, restaurants, and other holiday-themed activities were also available. There were live holiday shows at both the American Heritage Music Hall (now the Kings Island Theater) and Festhaus. The event ended after the 1992 season, but made one additional appearance in 2005. A variety of reasons including low ticket sales prompted new owners Cedar Fair to shelve the idea.
Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt, formerly known as Fear Fest from 2000 to 2007, is the HalloweenHalloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
-themed event at Kings Island on weekends during the month of October after the regular season. It features haunted houses, mazes, live shows, and most of the park's regular season attractions. It has been a yearly event at Kings Island since its debut in 2000. The following section contains the most recent lineup of attractions for 2011.
Indoor mazes
- CarnEVIL (Planet Snoopy)
- Club Blood (Action Zone)
- Holiday Horror (Planet Snoopy)
- Massacre Manor (Coney Mall)
- Mysteria (Coney Mall/X-Base)
- Slaughter House (Action Zone)
- Urgent Scare (Coney Mall)
- Wolf Pack (Action Zone)
Outdoor mazes
- CornStalkers (Tower Gardens)
- Cut Throat Cove (Oktoberfest)
- Tombstone Terror-tory (Rivertown)
Scare Zones
- Nightmare Alley (Planet Snoopy)
Live shows
- Half Pint BrawlersHalf Pint BrawlersHalf Pint Brawlers is a wrestling company and television series. The company is considered the craziest and also the top midget wrestling company in the country. Known for controversy and also for their hardcore wrestling style, they often use staple guns, thumb tacks, broken bottles, and barbed...
- Hot Blooded
There is also a children-friendly version during the day called Howl-O-Fest featuring kids activities in Planet Snoopy.
Slogans
- 1969-1971: "Fun in the Making"
- 1972-1992: "America's Family Entertainment Center" also "Come on, get happy"
- 1992: "Let Yourself Go"
- 1993: "Where the magic of the movies meet the thrills of a lifetime"
- 1994-1996: "The Only Place that Thrills are Paramount"
- 1997-2002: "Where the magic of the movies meet the thrills of a lifetime"
- 2003: "Choose your Adventure"
- 2004: "Memories That Last a Lifetime"
- 2005-2006: "The Best in Hollywood Entertainment, Now Playing"
- 2007-Present: "Kings Island, The Fun and Only!" also "Ride On"
Awards
- Amusement TodayAmusement TodayAmusement Today is a monthly periodical featuring articles, news, pictures, and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The magazine, which is based in Arlington, Texas, USA, was founded in 1997 by Gary Slade and Virgil...
- Golden Ticket Award for Best Kids’ Area (2001–2011) - Amusement TodayAmusement TodayAmusement Today is a monthly periodical featuring articles, news, pictures, and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The magazine, which is based in Arlington, Texas, USA, was founded in 1997 by Gary Slade and Virgil...
- Golden Ticket Award for Best Concert Venue (2007)
Notable people
- Lewis JohnsonLewis JohnsonLewis Johnson is a reporter for ESPN, and NBC Sports. He formerly worked for Versus. He was the sideline reporter for Notre Dame football home games and in 2001 and 2002 was a sideline reporter for the NBA Finals on NBC and for the network's Arena Football telecasts from 2003 through 2006...
(reporter) - Former rides supervisor on the Beast and Racer roller coasters at Kings Island (1981–83) - Curtis CreganCurtis CreganCurtis John Cregan is an American actor. He is currently seen in the American version of the children's television show Hi-5....
(actor) - Worked as a live shows performer as an emcee for the Nickelodeon show at Kings Island. - Woody HarrelsonWoody HarrelsonWoodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson is an American actor.Harrelson's breakthrough role came in the television sitcom Cheers as bartender Woody Boyd...
(actor) - Wood Carver at Kings Island during high school. - Carmen ElectraCarmen ElectraTara Leigh Patrick , professionally known as Carmen Electra, is an American glamour model, actress, television personality, singer, and dancer...
(singer) - Started her professional career in 1990 as a dancer at Kings Island in the show “It’s Magic”.
Other names stated by Kings Island.
- Nick LacheyNick LacheyNicholas Scott "Nick" Lachey is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and television personality. Lachey rose to fame as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees. He later starred in the reality television series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica with his then-wife, Jessica Simpson. He has released...
(98 Degrees) Part of quartet that performed throughout the park. - Justin Jeffre (98 Degrees) Part of quartet that performed throughout the park.
- Gigi RiceGigi RiceGigi Rice is an American actress in movies and television shows.-Early life:She graduated from the Ohio State University, and majored in Theatre. Gigi Rice has enjoyed a career on television, gaining national attention when she was added to the cast of the The John Larroquette Show in 1993...
(actress) - Susan PerkinsSusan PerkinsSusan Perkins, a native of Middletown, Ohio, was Miss America 1978.She has been a professional singer, spokesperson and television reporter. Susan walked in the New York Marathon with the Achilles Club as a guide for an 80 year old former Marine Colonel.She is married with two children and lives...
(Miss AmericaMiss AmericaThe Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
1978) - Susan Kay Johnson (Miss OhioMiss OhioThe Miss Ohio Scholarship Program selects the representative for the U.S. state of Ohio to compete for the title of Miss America...
1987) - Lisa Akey (actress)
- Rob PottorfRob PottorfRob Pottorf is an American composer.Pottorf was born and raised in Sidney, Ohio. He graduated in 1977 from Sidney High School. He was inducted into the same Hall of Fame in 2005....
(Film Composer) - Worked as live show performer and starred in Kings Production's TV series, Pumpkin Creek - Jeff Day (Screenwriter/Director/Producer) - (Co-founder Lucky Day Studios) - Worked as live show performer 1983-1985
Notable events
1972 - ABC sitcom, The Partridge FamilyThe Partridge Family
The Partridge Family is an American television sitcom about a widowed mother and her five children who embark on a music career. The series originally ran from September 25, 1970 until August 31, 1974, the last new episode airing on March 23, 1974, on the ABC network, as part of a Friday-night lineup...
, filmed at the park in the episode "I Left My Heart in Cincinnati" which aired on January 26, 1973 (Episode #66 from Season 3).
November 23, 1973 - Another ABC sitcom, The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
, filmed at the park in the episode "The Cincinnati Kids".
1974 - Sixty-nine-year-old Karl Wallenda
Karl Wallenda
Karl Wallenda was the founder of The Flying Wallendas, an internationally known daredevil circus act famous for performing death-defying stunts without a safety net.-Personal life:...
broke a world Skywalk
Tightrope walking
Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
record of 1600 feet (487.7 m).
October 25, 1975 - Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel , born Robert Craig Knievel, was an American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket...
successfully jumped 14 Greyhound buses at Kings Island, setting a new audience viewing record for ABC's Wide World of Sports
Wide World of Sports (US TV series)
ABC's Wide World of Sports is a sports anthology series on American television that ran from 1961 to 1998 and was originally hosted by Jim McKay. The title continued to be used for general sports programs until 2006...
, garnering a 52 household share when his performance was broadcast live. He landed on the 14th bus, but held on. This was one of his last big jumps.
July 4, 1976 - Kings Island hosted the wedding of Paul Revere from the pop
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders is an American rock band that saw considerable U.S. mainstream success in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s with hits such as "Kicks" , "Hungry" , "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?" and the 1971 No...
.
May 24, 2008 - Robbie Knievel
Robbie Knievel
Robert Edward "Robbie" Knievel is an American daredevil and son of stunt performer Evel Knievel.-Family:...
, son of famed dare devil Evel Knievel, successfully jumped over 24 Coke Zero trucks in the Kings Island Parking Lot. This is expected to be the last of Robbie's big jumps.
July 4, 2008 - High wire artist Rick Wallenda, grandson of Karl Wallenda
Karl Wallenda
Karl Wallenda was the founder of The Flying Wallendas, an internationally known daredevil circus act famous for performing death-defying stunts without a safety net.-Personal life:...
, broke a world Skywalk
Tightrope walking
Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
record, walking the distance from Kings Island's Eiffel Tower to the park entrance setting a world record breaking distance of 2000 feet (609.6 m) on a 5/8 inch high wire 75 feet (22.9 m) above the ground. Karl Wallenda
Karl Wallenda
Karl Wallenda was the founder of The Flying Wallendas, an internationally known daredevil circus act famous for performing death-defying stunts without a safety net.-Personal life:...
set the previous record in 1974, also at Kings Island.
August 31, 2008 - Barry Williams
Barry Williams
Barry William Blenkhorn , known professionally as Barry Williams, is an American actor best known for his role as Greg Brady in the ABC television series The Brady Bunch.-Early life and career:...
, Susan Olsen
Susan Olsen
Susan Marie Olsen is a former American child television actress and current animal welfare advocate. Olsen is best known for her role as Mike and Carol Brady's youngest daughter, Cindy Brady, on the 1970s television sitcom The Brady Bunch for the full run of the show, from 1969-1974.-Early...
, and Mike Lookinland
Mike Lookinland
Michael Paul "Mike" Lookinland is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the youngest brother Bobby Brady on The Brady Bunch from 1969 until 1974.-Early life:...
returned to Kings Island for A Very Brady Reunion, a four-show special of song, dance, and Brady Bunch stories.
See also
- Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
- Coney IslandConey Island, Cincinnati, OhioConey Island is a small amusement park and waterpark located in the California neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio and Anderson Township, on the banks of the Ohio River east of Downtown Cincinnati...
- Kings MillsKings Mills, OhioKings Mills is an unincorporated community in the northeastern corner of Deerfield Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States, on the western shore of the Little Miami River...
- List of Cedar Fair parks
- List of former Kings Island attractions
External links
- Official Website
- Kings Island Rides and Attractions
- Kings Island on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Kings Island on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Kings Island on YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Kings Island Central (formerly PKICentral) (Fan Website)
- KIExtreme (Fan Website)
- Kings Island at RCDB
- Kngs Island at Screamscape.com
- Kings Island Ghosts
- Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park (Kings Island) c1972
- Kings Island at CoasterGallery (Fan Website)
- Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau