Kings Island
Diamondback Roller Coaster - Kings Island POV
updated
WinterFest is an unforgettable holiday experience where Kings Island transforms into eleven enchanting winter wonderlands. Voted in 2021 as one of the top Theme Park Holiday Events in the country by USA TODAY readers, the annual event features ice skating on the Royal Fountain, the Eiffel Tower turned into a magical Christmas tree, the Winter Wonderland parade, more than 5 million lights and live entertainment throughout the park. Plus, experience up to 20 rides including Mystic Timbers and Kings Mills Antique Autos. Cincinnati’s premier holiday event is open select nights in November and December.
#kingsisland #amusementpark #themepark #christmas #holiday
An annual visit to Kings Island has become tradition for literally millions of people. More than 140 million visitors have experienced the park’s fun and thrills since 1972 making Kings Island one of the most celebrated amusement parks in the world.
Kings Island Year-by-Year:
1970: On June 15, 1970, the Taft Broadcasting Company broke ground and began the construction of Kings Island led by the Charles V. Maescher & Co. Construction firm. By the end of the year construction of the Eiffel Tower, Royal Fountains and Racer roller coaster was underway. The Park was dubbed Kings Island, after the town of Kings Mills in which the park was built and its famous predecessor on the Banks of the Ohio River, Coney Island. Only 150 of the 1600 acres purchased were utilized to begin building the park.
1971: Construction of the Eiffel Tower, Royal Fountain and Racer roller coaster was completed by early fall. By Thanksgiving, rides and attractions had been transported and installed from Coney Island, including the Dodgem, Scrambler, Monster, Rotor, Log Flume, Sky Ride, Tumblebug and Flying Scooters.
1972: After two years of construction, Kings Island opened to public April 29, 1972. The two flagship rides were the Racer and the Enchanted Voyage dark ride through Hanna-Barbera's cartoon land. The Racer was the first twin-track wooden coaster to be built in modern times and at speeds approaching 60 mph, it was the fastest, too. At $2 million, the dark ride was the most expensive attraction in the park. Other popular rides included: the Rotor, the Tumblebug, the Skyride, the Turnpike Cars, the Scooby-Doo roller coaster, the Monster, the Antique Cars, and the Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad.
1973: On April 18, 1973, the park announced the completion of a $6 million expansion project. Three rides were added - the Flying Dutchmen, the Bayern Kurve, and a second log flume - as well as a new games arcade, a 1/2-mile nature trail, and a sit down, fine-dining restaurant specializing in chicken dishes and sourdough bread. The Park gained national attention in January when The Partridge Family aired an episode shot entirely at the park in 1972 called, "I Left My Heart in Cincinnati." Not about to be outdone, the entire cast of The Brady Bunch visited the park in August to shoot their own episode.
1974: A fifth themed area was added this year - the 100-acre Lion Country Safari (later known as Wild Animal Habitat). During early stages of construction, developers decided to take the then popular drive-through nature park a step further. By adding a monorail ride, a new concept in animal preservation was born in the country. Grand opening guests this year witnessed a record-breaking high wire walk by 69-year-old Karl Wallenda.
1975: Daredevil Evel Knievel successfully jumped over 14 Greyhound buses on his motorcycle in the Kings Island parking lot on October 25 to set a new world's record. The jump was nationally televised by ABC-TV's "Wide World of Sports" and held the highest rating in the show’s history. Additions to the park included the Zodiac, one of only two double Ferris wheels in the United States at the time, and the world's largest floral hanging basket weighing in at approximately eight tons.
1976: Following the collapse of the park's air theatre from a heavy snowstorm, the imposing American Heritage Music Hall (now known as Kings Island Theater) was erected at a cost of $1.8 million.
1977: The park's major new attraction this year, the Screamin' Demon, was the first steel looping coaster in the United States to run both forward and backward. The entertainment program was expanded once again with the construction of the 1,700-seat outdoor International Showplace Theater which was officially dedicated by comedian Dick Van Dyke.
1978: The College Football Hall of Fame joined the Kings Island complex. At the park, a new Tower Gardens area was opened, an electronic shooting gallery was the new game, and the wildlife preserve became home for 15 black-footed penguins from Africa.
1979: The Beast, the “biggest, baddest, longest, fastest coaster in the world”, begins to terrify park guests. The monster of a ride is designed and built in-house. It includes underground tunnels, two lift-hills, and a frightening 540-degree helix finale. Season passes are introduced.
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Audiences of all ages will delight in this spooky, zany, whimsical production that’s filled with music, comedy and mystifying illusions. Download our free mobile app for iPhone and Android for show times.
For those that did not experience Phantom Theater during its years of operation, riders took a journey through an abandoned theater while witnessing the spirits of past performers, stagehands, and Maestro, the former star who presided over this once stately venue.
Entering the theater lobby, the taunting voice of the Maestro warned riders that they were disturbing the silence that had settled within the theater for decades. Unaware of the surprises that awaited them, guests boarded cars that carried them on a journey through hallways, dressing, rehearsal and stage areas where the Maestro would periodically reappear and reaffirm that their intrusion was disturbing the spirits of past performers that inhabited the theater.
Guests encountered the great Houdelini practicing magic tricks as he grabbed the ears of a rabbit in a hat, and this monstrous rabbit with glowing eyes appeared. Along the route, a mummy case sprung open revealing its ancient contents, and a giant rat emerged terrifying a stray cat. Meanwhile, opera singer Hilda Bovine was seen preparing for her performance, and there was the great Garbonzo climbing into a cannon from which he would be shot. In the boiler room, tenders were stoking the fire which emitted an intense heat as the cars neared the flame with one of the characters asking, “How 'bout some heat?” At the end of the ride when guests exited their cars, voices repeated Maestro’s warning that they would not be forgiven for disturbing the spirits, and they’d be back!
R&R Creative Design of Anaheim, CA was responsible for Phantom Theater’s creative concept, and AVG Inc. of Valencia, CA was the supplier of the ride’s 38 animated figures. #kingsisland #phantomtheater #KI50
Another Hollywood big-screen spectacular comes to life at Paramount’s Kings Island with the addition of THE ITALIAN JOB: Stunt Track™, a multi-million dollar fast-track coaster experience for 2005. Based on the high-action finale of Paramount Pictures’ The Italian Job (2003) starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green, Mos Def, and Donald Sutherland, this wild ride took families on a high-speed stunt car adventure through movie sets and scenes inspired by the film’s climatic chase sequence.
Park guests experienced what it’s like to be a Hollywood stunt driver and go behind the scenes of an action movie. Guests boarded their very own stunt car tricked out with audio special effects adding to the multi-sensory sensation of the experience. Once strapped into their custom stunt car, rubber meets the road as the cars peeled out to begin their chase sequence. Drivers twisted through a parking garage, dodged near-collisions, raced down stairs, chased through tunnels and narrowly escaped massive explosions triggered by gunfire from a menacing helicopter. Tires skidded out one last time as the stunt cars crash through a billboard and splash down into an L.A. aqueduct concluding the chase sequence and their trial as a stunt driver in this screen test!
The notorious Pumpkin Eater is on the prowl, hidden within the dark confines of the haunted town he once terrorized. Beware the demons who roam the winding serpentine road. They were townsfolk once, just like you.
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
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The ride goes from 0-54 mph in just four seconds. How? With the help of old technology being revitalized. The ride is launched using magnets, or to be specific, Linear Induction Motors (LIMs). Underneath the trains would be airplane-like aluminum fins on both sides. The fins pass through a series of LIMs lined up on both sides of the track down the runway, propelling the ride to its maximum speed.
The story of Flight of Fear begins with Hangar 18, Fort Cooper. As you enter the military base, it is clear that something seems - off. The Bureau of Paranormal Activity has been residing over all the extra paranormal activities that have been recently occurring and have been very stern and quiet with the public and members of the media. For the first time, locals are being authorized to discover for themselves what mysteries surround the research and strange auroras that have been lingering around the base. Upon entering the base, guests will discover a massive flying saucer, one that is being analyzed and carefully watched. What visitors don’t realize, however, is that they are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the deepest inner mind to the outer limits. Guests are “invited” to enter the vessel and discover that which lies beyond this mortal sphere. Invited by whom, exactly, is unknown.
Being launched would act as a metaphor to being captured by the extraterrestrial. At first, executives weren’t convinced about the ride needing to be indoors, which would mean that an entire structure would have to be built with the existing budget. But Esparza got with his team to create a model with preliminary drawings, which blew executives away.
#kingsisland #amusementpark #themepark
New for 2022! Terror and evil have risen! This Skull Squad celebrates with sinful steps and demonic dance in a trance for death. Combining rhythmic step team moves of five dancers with the thrash, EDM and metal of guitar, bass, and drum set and two dueling drummers, this cast of creatures is melting faces with otherwordly music and moves.
Showtimes:
Fridays, Saturdays & Sunday, Oct. 9, 16, 23 - 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM, 10:00 PM, 11:00 PM
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
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NEW FOR 2022! When darkness falls, the personnel working inside Area 72 show their true form, and the secrets of Area 72 are revealed. Walk through the displays of Alien creatures who have been contained...well most of them.
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
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Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #halloween #haunted
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
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New for 2022! When the acrobatic and action sports world meets Zombies, the perfect theatrical combination of exciting stunts, a suspenseful storyline, and creative staging brings the audience an action-packed one-of-a-kind adventure.
Showtimes:
Fridays, Saturdays & Sunday Oct. 9, 16, and 23 - 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 9:30 PM, 10:30 PM
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #halloween #stunt #allwheelsports
Make no bones about it, Kings Island's Tricks and Treats Fall Fest is set to be the area’s favorite Halloween event. Everyone in the family—from tots to tweens to grown-ups—will have a spooktacular time with fun fall activities, specialty food and craft beers, games and game shows, music entertainment, trick-or-treating, and so much more!
Bring a monster-sized appetite for boo-licious food! Throughout the park, you’ll find gotta-have-it park favorites and lots of traditional goodies with a Halloween twist.
Tricks and Treats Fall Fest offers all the playful fun of a traditional fall festival with the extra-special AMAZING you’ll find only at Kings Island. Have a fang-tastic time with fall-themed games, game shows, jellybean challenge, dance party, haybale maze, QR Code scavenger hunt, kiddie tractor rides, crafts, and more. Plus, your favorite rides will be open for the thrills and chills you crave!
We invite children 12-and-under to dress up as their favorite monster, character, or adorable little creature. Our Costume Council will be searching for new members to join their “houses” as they gather their teams for the big costume contest! Don't have a costume? No problem! The Costume Council can turn any look from drab to fab!
Trick-or-treating is the center of any Halloween event, and you can count on Kings Island to deliver! At designated trick-or-treating spots throughout the park, kids receive individually packaged tasty treats with perhaps some fun tricks thrown in.
We’re also brewing up tasty craft beer, ciders, and specialty potions you can order without alcohol or “bewitched” with a nip of spirits.
#kingsisland
Halloween Haunt runs select nights through Oct. 29. Discover the best deals and biggest savings to experience the award-winning event by purchasing your tickets online.
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
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NEW FOR 2022! Everyone has heard about the haunting tales of the old Hotel St. Michelle, but are they true? As you sneak into the abandoned hotel, named after the manager's missing daughter, you eerily find the hotel is not abandoned but very alive in spirit! #halloween #horror #themepark #amusementpark
Get tickets to Halloween Haunt here: visitkingsisland.com/events/haunt
#kingsisland #amusementpark #themepark #halloween
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #nickelodeon #amusementpark #themepark
Fun, Fireworks and Fifty – a Kings Island Nighttime Spectacular is narrated by Barry Williams, best known for his role as Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch TV sitcom.
*This video is exclusive to Kings Island’s official YouTube channel. Reuploading the entirety of this video is not permitted.
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #4k #amusementpark #themepark #rollercoaster #fireworks #drone #drones #subscribe #pyro
#kingsisland #amusementpark #themepark #pizza
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #concert #amusementpark #themepark #music
Ultimately operating from 1994-2013, the Paramount Action FX Theater/Action Theater showed many 3D films during it's time. Riders could choose one of two theaters, each with 36 two-person motion platforms positioned in a tiered fashion. A 26x59 ft screen played films like Days of Thunder, James Bond 007: A License to Thrill, Stan Lee's 7th Portal, Spongebob 3D, and seasonal Haunt films.
#kingsisland #amusementpark #themepark
Watch the full video to truly unlock the unknown secrets, pull audio down halfway for relaxing sounds.. #kingsisland #asmr #ambient #music #paranormal #amusementpark #themepark #tiktok #写真好きな人と繋がりたい #sleep #live #livestream
All net proceeds from this concert will be donated to A Kid Again, a nonprofit organization which exists to foster hope, happiness and healing for families raising kids with life-threatening illnesses through fun-filled group activities and events.
Tickets start as low as $10 which also includes free parking at 5 p.m. Any purchase of a Premium, VIP, or Ultimate VIP ticket will also receive FREE ADMISSION to Kings Island that day.
For more information on the benefit concert, go to visitkingsisland.com/events/concert-series/five-for-fighting. #kingsisland #amusementpark #themepark #subscribe
#kingsisland #concert #amusementpark #themepark
#kingsisland #amusementpark #entertainment #themepark #subscribe
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
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A-ha - our first clue! The magic of movies combined with the thrills of a lifetime was the main focus back in the new-millennium for then Paramount’s Kings Island. Kenton’s Cove Keelboat Canal, the park’s 1973 hydroflume ride, operated for the last time in 2000, and was in the process of being removed for something big. As guests made their way to Rivertown, the site was fenced up with boards saying phrases like, “AN EXCITING NEW ADVENTURE IS COMING IN 2002”. Members of the media and American Coaster Enthusiasts were invited to the International Restaurant for an announcement on July 2, 2001. Based on the blockbuster hit Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and the video game series, it was announced that for the 2002 season Kings Island would be getting Tomb Raider: The Ride, a Huss Giant Top Spin - the only one of its kind ever to be built. But at the time of the announcement until opening day, no one knew what kind of ride it would be. The only way to find out was to experience it yourself when it opened.
Billed as a “heavily themed, totally immersive dark ride adventure”, the attraction finally opened to guests on April 5, 2002 after much anticipation. More than just a flat ride in a box, the ride featured many special effects such as lighting, smoke, and water. An original soundtrack was composed by Kings Island Hall of Fame member Rob Pottorf, and cast members from the movies such as Angelina Jolie reprised their roles for the voiceovers.
A-ha! We have found it. The mysterious entrance to Tomb Raider: The Ride. Guests were greeted by a Land Rover Defender, similar to the one Lara Croft drove in the blockbuster movie. We gaze upon a cavernous entrance in Rivertown, beckoning us to explore the unknown. As we walk in, we can see that a bamboo structure has been holding up the site temporarily, but could cave in at any moment. Moving quickly, we reach the antechamber. Stone monkey warriors can be seen guarding the tomb, an authentic prop from the film. All of a sudden, gears are turning and a beam of light hits the Triangle of Light, and aligns itself with the engravings and gem. As the fog dissipates, the door has been opened and leads us into another chamber, guarded by a 17-inch Brahma statue, also from the film. Here, we are given a glimpse into Lara Croft’s story and her mission.
When Cedar Fair purchased Paramount parks in 2006, Tomb Raider: The Ride became The Crypt for the 2008 season. The Crypt would then give its last rides on October 30, 2011.
A-ha! Here it is: the tape we’ve been in search of, with the entire story of Tomb Raider: The Ride, from many, many years ago! Let’s look at it, shall we?
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #tombraider #themepark #amusementpark
There are seven natural wonders of the world. If there were a list of the top man-made wonders of the world, The Beast would be on it. Designed and built in-house by Kings Island personnel, The Beast unleashes its awesome power on the unsuspecting as it sprawls across 35 acres of wooded terrain. When The Beast first opened to the public April 14, 1979, it was acclaimed America’s ultimate roller coaster. It broke all existing records as the longest and fastest ride in the world. It is still listed in the prestigious “Guinness Book of World Records” as the longest wooden roller coaster in the world at 7,361 feet. Features of The Beast include a ride time of more than four minutes; vertical drops of 137 feet (at a 53-degree angle) and 141 feet (at an 18-degree angle); a 125-foot long underground tunnel at the bottom of the 137-foot drop; eight banked turns – some to 45 degrees; 540-degree helix tunnel and speeds up to 65 mph.
#kingsisland #asmr #amusementpark #themepark #4k
#kingsisland #3doorsdown #concert
On a hot, muggy July night, bands 3 Doors Down and Candlebox took the stage in front of thousands of concert goers at Kings Island’s Timberwolf Amphitheatre and put on electrifying performances.
Up next at Timberwolf is Daryl Hall and the Daryl’s House Band with special guest Todd Rundgren Aug. 7.
Daryl Hall is a modern-day renaissance man, an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the best-selling duo of all time, the star of his very own award-winning web series-turned-TV staple, Live from Daryl’s House, as well as a successful venue owner with “Daryl’s House,” a restored venue and live music space in Pawling, N.Y.
Gates open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m.
visitkingsisland.com/events/concert-series
Fifty years ago when Kings Island opened, The Racer was the star attraction and the most talked about ride in America. The design of the ride was truly inspirational, a twin-tracked, out-and-back racing coaster, unlike no other than had been built. Kings Island had in The Racer a ride with high capacity, graceful aesthetics, and one of the best rides in the country. With its red, white and blue color scheme, The Racer was visually stunning!
Prior to The Racer, the demand for roller coasters, and more specifically wooden roller coasters, had been in decline since the Great Depression. Literally hundreds of roller coaster built from 1890-1930 met the fate of the wrecking ball. By 1965, only about 200 of the 2,000 roller coasters built through the 1920s remained in operation. Then along came The Racer. The ride’s instant popularity sparked a roller coaster renaissance that has yet to slow down a half-century later.
In addition to acting as the catalyst for other potential high-capacity racing coasters including Racer 75 (formerly Rebel Yell) at Kings Dominion and Gemini at Cedar Point, The Racer has also been the site of several world-record riding attempts and is notable for its appearance in the “Cincinnati Kids” episode of The Brady Bunch, filmed at the park in 1973. In 1982, one side of The Racer was transformed into the world’s first full-length, backwards traveling roller coaster, offering a unique ride experience that lasted for 26 seasons.
The Racer was the first roller coaster structurally build on the ground with prefabricated sections lifted into position and bolted. It was billed as the most spectacular, longest, fastest and highest leading up to its opening, and the largest that John Allen of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company had built. He considered The Racer to be the finest roller coaster he ever built. And, he built a lot of them!
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #rollercoaster #amusementpark #pov #ローラーコースター #过山车
#kingsisland #drone #fireworks #amusementpark
With the amusement industry constantly evolving, Kings Island is always looking for ways to engage guests with all-new experiences. Entertainment has always been a shining star in parks, and Kings Island always manages to stay on top of industry trends - this is no different. A little birdie - or unmanned aircraft - may have told you that a special part of Kings Island’s all-new Fun, Fireworks and Fifty nighttime spectacular are 200 synchronized LED drones, helping tell the story of 50 years of Kings Island memories.
A show of this caliber takes quite the setup, and with setup comes preparation. That preparation starts by looking at the weather conditions determining if the conditions are adequate for drone flying, and are also abiding by FAA rules and regulations. After it is determined that the weather is clear for flying, crewmembers start placing the drones out around two hours in advance of takeoff. Each drone has its own landing pad marked when it can return to “home base”. Once they are in place, their cable must be plugged in so that they may receive a signal to the computer controlling them. When the cables are finally attached, the lights are tested on each drone from the computer by picking various colors and effects, ensuring that each of them are reviving a signal.
It’s showtime! The entertainment OD counts down as the timecode starts at zero. This means that the lasers, pyro, fireworks, and drone work together simultaneously, pulling off and creating a stunning 14-minute performance you simply must see more than once. The computer does all the work from here on out as the drones take off in groups of four, heading to the sky to reveal the original Kings Island logo, accompanying Ralph’s Wachs’ famous speech made on September 6, 1971 at Cincinnati’s Coney Island. Throughout the show, the computer “talks” to the drones to pull off creative 2D and 3D formations. You’ll see memories and characters come to life, like Snoopy, The Enchanted Voyage television set, daredevil Evel Knievel, and even the Great Pumpkin!
If you haven't made the time to see Fun, Fireworks and Fifty yet, consider this an invitation to make a new memory at Kings Island, one you won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
On July 10, 1978, ABC-TV premiered “World News Tonight” with anchors Frank Reynolds, Peter Jennings and Max Robinson, “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb topped the billboard charts, and in southwest Ohio, something happened that would change the world forever. Well, at least the roller coaster world.
Officials at Kings Island announced the park had begun construction on a major new attraction that would open as America’s champion roller coaster in the spring of 1979. The new coaster would break all existing records as the longest and fastest with the two greatest vertical drops. Not only were the statistics of the coaster impressive with a top speed of 65 miles per hour, a total track length of 7,359 feet and vertical drops of 135 feet and 141 feet, but the use of the rugged natural terrain ensured that no other roller coaster anywhere would top the thrills the ride would deliver as it weaved along steep cliffs, down ravines, into four tunnels, through nine sharply banked turns, among a forest of trees and often at tree-top heights.
Another feature that made the coaster different than any other was the fact the park had designed it and constructing it themselves.
Two-hundred and 11 days following the announcement, on February 6, 1979, Kings Island unveiled the name of America’s champion roller coaster. The biggest, baddest, tallest, fastest wooden roller coaster in the world would be known as The Beast.
Watch the video below to see POV footage of The Beast as the ride was unleashed for members of the news media on Media Day April 13, 1979.
#kingsisland #rollercoaster #amusementpark
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #concert #amusementpark
Fun, Fireworks and Fifty – a Kings Island Nighttime Spectacular is narrated by Barry Williams, best known for his role as Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch TV sitcom.
*This video is exclusive to Kings Island’s official YouTube channel. Reuploading the entirety of this video is not permitted.
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #4k #amusementpark #themepark #rollercoaster #fireworks #drone #drones #subscribe #pyro
This year as part of Kings Island’s 50th anniversary season, the Mason, Ohio amusement and water park has brought back a popular former attraction, but in a different way.
Phantom Theater Encore, a live stage show that can be seen six days a week in the Kings Island Theater, pays tribute to the retired Phantom Theater as memorable characters from the attraction sing, dance and decompose before your eyes.
Now, you’ve seen Broadway plays become movies and vice-versa, but never before has a ride been made into a live theater production. The show is sure to rekindle memories for Phantom Theater fans as they watch memorable characters from the attraction like Maestro, Houdelini, Hilda Bovine and The Great Garbanzo back on the stage again to reprise what they didn’t survive.
For those unfamiliar with Phantom Theater, a little history: Designed and created by Rick Bastrup, Phantom Theater operated at Kings Island from 1992 to 2002 and had an acknowledged reputation as one of the best dark rides in the amusement and theme park industry. The omnimover-style attraction transported guests throughout the theater, showing 38 ghost-like animations and 17 different scenes during a ride experience that lasted longer than a ride on The Beast!
As you include Phantom Theater Encore among the rides, shows and attractions you want to see and experience during your visit to Kings Island, be sure to arrive at the Kings Island Theater at least 15 minutes before the show begins so you can check out the treasure trove of Phantom Theater artifacts on display in the theater lobby that take you through the history and design of the ride, including concept art, scrims and a model of the attraction. It’s all very detailed and sets the stage for the show.
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland
Kings Island’s two steam trains are among its oldest and most popular attractions, opening with the park in 1972, and designed around the 4-4-0 American styled “General” engine which was built in 1855 in Paterson, New Jersey by Rodgers, Ketchum & Grosvenor Locomotive and Machine Works and was the subject of The Great Locomotive Chase, also known as Andrews’ Raiders, in 1862, in northern Georgia during the American Civil War.
Steam train enthusiasts today can see the General locomotive at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Ga.
For those unable to make the trip to Georgia, or if you’re someone with nostalgic longings for the days of steam on the railroad, Kings Island’s trains offer a ride through history, close to home.
The Blue No. 12 engine, also known as the “Kenny Van Meter”, and the Green No. 19 engine, also known as the “Lew Brown” are 36-inch gauge – or more commonly known as narrow gauge.
Instead of being coal or wood fired, both engines are propane gas fired but the 400-gallon boilers on each engine provide plenty of capacity to make them real authentic steam-spitting locomotives.
The engine weight of approximately 50,000 pounds, combined with the boiler pressure of 185 psi, gives a starting tractive effort of slightly more than 5,000 pounds.
The return journey to the Losantiville station in Rivertown features a recreation of what western civilization was like in the 1800s. It was common back then for towns to have a bank, a gunsmith, a combination physician-surgeon-dentist-undertaker, and a general store. But the heart of the town was the railroad. Without it, the townspeople couldn’t get the supplies needed to survive.
Each morning before Kings Island opens, the train crew prepares the engines for operation at the engine house, which is located near the Losantiville station. The work is very detailed and time consuming, taking about 75 minutes to complete, and includes checking each of the 27 grease points and three drip oilers, blowing steam to clear out excess water and greasing the track.
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland
Phantom Theater Encore, a live stage show that can be seen six days a week in the Kings Island Theater, pays tribute to the retired Phantom Theater as memorable characters from the attraction sing, dance and decompose before your eyes.
Now, you’ve seen Broadway plays become movies and vice-versa, but never before has a ride been made into a live theater production. The show is sure to rekindle memories for Phantom Theater fans as they watch memorable characters from the attraction like Maestro, Houdelini, Hilda Bovine and The Great Garbanzo back on the stage again to reprise what they didn’t survive.
For those unfamiliar with Phantom Theater, a little history: Designed and created by R&R Creative Amusement Designs, Phantom Theater operated at Kings Island from 1992 to 2002 and had an acknowledged reputation as one of the best dark rides in the amusement and theme park industry. The omnimover-style attraction transported guests throughout the theater, showing 38 ghost-like animations and 17 different scenes during a ride experience that lasted longer than a ride on The Beast!
As you include Phantom Theater Encore among the rides, shows and attractions you want to see and experience during your visit to Kings Island, be sure to arrive at the Kings Island Theater at least 15 minutes before the show begins so you can check out the treasure trove of Phantom Theater artifacts on display in the theater lobby that take you through the history and design of the ride, including concept art, scrims and a model of the attraction. It’s all very detailed and sets the stage for the show.
Be sure to come see Phantom Theater Encore in the Kings Island Theater daily (except Thursdays) at 1:30, 2:30, 4 & 5pm.
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #entertainment #theater
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #stunt #bmx #action
The year was 1984. It was a big year at Kings Island with the Mason, Ohio amusement park introducing a new standup roller coaster, King Cobra. But something else was also happening in the park that guests wanted to see and do in the Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera. But let’s not start there. Let’s go back to 1928.
Pierre Culliford was a Belgian comic writer born on June 25, 1928 in the Belgian municipality Schaerbeek. After completing school, he received his first career job at Compagnie belge d'actualités, a small Belgian animation studio. Knowing he wanted to be a comic writer, he went to work for a newspaper called La Dernière Heure, making some of his first comics. Out of all of his series he produced, one he had a passion for the most - Johan et Pirlouit (translated into English as Johan and Peewit. During this series, a certain notable character was introduced: a Smurf.
On October 23, 1958, the album La Flûte à Six Schtroumpfs (The Six Smurfed Flute) released, getting readers their first look at what would be later known to them as a Smurf. Pierre, who decided to be known by his pseudonym Peyo, saw the success and potential of these blue humanoid creatures and started his own studio along with other writers.
One year later, in 1959, the first published Smurfs series saw its debut, with over thirty comic albums being created over time. Merchandise was made side-by-side with the comics, and the comic strip soon gained international attention. The Smurfs eventually made their way to the United States, where in 1981, Hanna-Barbera studios gave The Smurfs their own animated television series, along with their ever-so-popular theme song. According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, retail sale for Smurf's merchandise in the United States alone exceeded $650 million in 1982.
Back to Kings Island. In 1982, The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera had been renamed Hanna-Barbera Land upgraded with the additions such as Scooby-Choo (today known as Snoopy’s Junction), Rawhide Railway (hand crank cars, McScrappy’s Farm (play area), Shaggy’s Silly Sticks (play structure), Fool House (funhouse), Woodland Theatre (a small theater built for puppet shows in a tree), and the Hanna-Barbera Amphitheater. Huckleberry Hound blueberry ice cream was introduced to families for the first time. Kings Island saw the Saturday morning cartoon identity rapidly growing, and wanted to keep up with the demand.
Taft Broadcasting (soon to be Kings Productions), owner and operator of Kings Island at the time, already owned licensing to Hanna-Barbera characters, and soon received licensing for Peyo’s Smurfs. That meant that Kings Island could use them as meet-and-greet characters, merchandise, food, and of course, attractions.
Then in 1984, The Smurfs “invaded” Kings Island, albeit first appearing in a stage show the previous season. Guests could get a picture with Smurfette on a bench, or they could indulge their taste buds on a “Smurf cone”. The highlight of the additions that year was the Smurfs’ Enchanted Voyage. The attraction was largely an overhaul of the former Enchanted Voyage ride that took you on a boat ride to meet all your favorite Saturday morning cartoon characters. The Smurfs’ Enchanted Voyage retained its same water trough layout, but featured The Smurfs going on adventures brought to life by scenic designer Brad Kain through the four seasons, with the evil antagonist Gargamel not too far behind.
The attraction played its Smurfs’ notable theme song throughout the attraction in different renditions to match the scenes. To this day it is a beloved and remembered attraction by many.
The attraction operated through 1991, a total of only eight seasons before it was replaced by a new attraction. The ride building and trough system was gutted in favor for a more advanced storytelling attraction with the help of Morgan Manufacturing and R&R Creative Amusement Designs. This soon awakened the spirits of the Phantom Theater, which opened in 1992.
Celebrate Peyo’s birthday by taking an enchanted voyage through Smurf Village, which is part of our 50th Anniversary Archives series, exclusive to YouTube.
#kingsisland #smurfs #amusementpark
Since the inception of the event 13 years ago, more than 332,000 children and adults have participated in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, according to the World Waterpark Association.
Acknowledged as one of the top water parks in Ohio, Soak City features more than 50 water activities to explore including 36 water slides, two wave pools, rivers and lagoons.
Admission to Kings Island includes Soak City.
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: visitkingsisland.com/daily-tickets
#kingsisland #entertainment #amusementpark
It’s the dress-up party of the decade, and you’re invited! Dance and sing along with the PEANUTS™ Gang in this song-filled fashion show where anything can happen! There’s music, fun, and plenty of surprises along the way.
#kingsisland #peanuts #snoopy
“Fun, Fireworks and Fifty – A Kings Island Nighttime Spectacular,” a new show designed to preserve and build upon the special relationship between Kings Island and its guests, debuted this summer as part of Kings Island's summer-long Golden Celebration.
The 14-minute spectacular takes place every night throughout the summer and will include 200 drones, fog, fire, lasers, synchronized lights, fireworks and snow, plus an exclusively produced original score that pays tribute to Kings Island’s 50th anniversary season.
Fun, Fireworks and Fifty – A Kings Island Nighttime Spectacular is narrated by Barry Williams, best known for his role as Greg Brady in the 1970’s television series, The Brady Bunch. Williams was perfectly suited for the role. “The Cincinnati Kids” episode of The Brady Bunch filmed in 1973 at Kings Island ranks as one of the most popular and most watched episodes of the series.
The spectacular is sure to send guests home with a memory they’ll never forget.
#kingsisland #KI50 #fireworks