Kings Dominion facts for kids
| Previously known as Paramount's Kings Dominion - 1993 to 2006 | |
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| Location | Doswell, Virginia, Virginia, United States |
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| Coordinates | 37°50′24″N 77°26′42″W / 37.840°N 77.445°W |
| Opened | May 3, 1975, 50 years ago |
| Owner | Cedar Fair |
| General manager | Tony Johnson |
| Slogan | Ride On! |
| Operating season | March-January |
| Area | 400 acres (1.6 km2) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 59 |
| Roller coasters | 12 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Website | kingsdominion.com |
Kings Dominion is a super fun amusement park located in Doswell, Virginia. It's about 20 miles north of Richmond and 75 miles south of Washington, D.C.. This huge park, covering 400 acres, is owned by Cedar Fair. It first opened its gates on May 3, 1975.
Kings Dominion has over 60 rides, shows, and attractions! This includes 12 exciting roller coasters and a 20-acre water park. The park's name comes from its sister park, Kings Island, and Virginia's old nickname, "Old Dominion."
Contents
Discovering Kings Dominion's Past
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After the success of Kings Island in Ohio, the park's creators wanted to open another one. They chose a 400-acre spot in Doswell, Virginia. Building started on October 1, 1972. The new park was designed to be similar to Kings Island, with many of the same themes and rides.
Kings Dominion officially opened on May 3, 1975. It had fifteen attractions for visitors to enjoy. In 1975, a daily ticket cost $7.50, and parking was just one dollar. A campground was added in 1978 for guests who wanted to stay overnight.
The park kept growing! In 1993, it became part of Paramount Parks and changed its name to Paramount's Kings Dominion. New rides and areas based on Paramount's TV shows and movies were added almost every year.
Then, on May 22, 2006, Cedar Fair bought all five Paramount Parks. The sale was completed on June 30, 2006. The park was still called Paramount's Kings Dominion until the 2007 season. After that, "Paramount" was removed from the name.
Exploring Park Areas and Rides
Kings Dominion has several themed areas, each with its own unique feel and attractions.
International Street: Your Grand Entrance
International Street is the first area you see when you enter the park. It has a long fountain pool in the middle, leading to a smaller copy of the Eiffel Tower. This area looks like different European cities, with shops and restaurants from various cultures. It's a great place to start your adventure!
| Ride | Opening year | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berserker | 1984 | Intamin | A ride that swings you high like a pirate ship. |
| Dominator | 2008 | Bolliger & Mabillard | A roller coaster where your feet dangle! It used to be in Ohio. |
| Eiffel Tower | 1975 | Intamin | A tall tower, about one-third the size of the real Eiffel Tower in Paris. You can go up for amazing views! |
| Grande Bandstand | 1975 | A stage for performances right under the Eiffel Tower. |
Old Virginia: A Step Back in Time
Old Virginia is one of the original sections of Kings Dominion. It still has its first name! This area feels like an old-fashioned country town. It has colonial-style buildings and music. It even has a copy of the Liberty Bell.
| Ride | Opening year | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Tollway | 1975 | Cars you drive yourself on a special track. | |
| Flying Eagles | 1975 | Bisch-Rocco | A ride where you control how high your eagle flies. |
| Grizzly | 1982 | Curtis D. Summers/Taft Broadcasting | A thrilling wooden roller coaster. |
| Kings Dominion Theater | 1975 | A theater that hosts shows like Cirque Imagine. | |
| Shenandoah Lumber Company | 1975 | Arrow Development | A classic log flume water ride. |
| Gran Prix Raceway | 1995 | R.E. Enterprises | A Go-kart racing track where you pay to race. |
| White Water Canyon | 1983 | Intamin | A fun River rafting ride that splashes you! |
Candy Apple Grove: Sweet Thrills
Candy Apple Grove was first called Coney Island when the park opened in 1975. It got its sweet new name in 1976. This is the biggest section of Kings Dominion. It used to have an orchard theme with apple-themed rides.
For Kings Dominion's 40th birthday in 2014, Candy Apple Grove went back to its original orchard theme. The famous animatronic Singing Mushrooms returned with new technology. You can also find a restored floral clock, giant candy apples, and the popular blue ice cream here. Part of this area also has a cool 1950s theme.
Some popular rides here include WindSeeker, a 301-foot-tall swing ride, and Delirium, a giant swinging pendulum ride. The newest ride, Twisted Timbers, is a steel hybrid coaster that opened in 2018. This area also has an arcade, carnival games, and places to eat.
| Ride | Opening year | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Americana | 2009 | A giant ferris wheel that used to be at another park. | |
| Apple Zapple | 2002 | Mack Rides | A fast and twisty wild mouse roller coaster. |
| Bad Apple | 2002 | HUSS | A spinning ride that goes round and round. |
| Carousel | 1975 | Philadelphia Toboggan Company | A beautiful, historic wooden carousel from 1917. |
| Delirium | 2016 | Mondial | A 115-foot-tall spinning pendulum ride. |
| Dodgem | 1975 | Classic Bumper cars for crashing fun. | |
| Drop Tower: Scream Zone | 2003 | Intamin | A super tall tower that drops you really fast! |
| Candy Apple Grove Stage | 2018 | A stage for live music and shows. | |
| Racer 75 | 1975 | Philadelphia Toboggan Company | A dual-track wooden roller coaster where two trains race. |
| Twisted Timbers | 2018 | Rocky Mountain Construction | A thrilling steel and wood hybrid roller coaster. |
| Wave Swinger | 1975 | Zierer | A swing ride that lifts you high and swings in a wave motion. |
| WindSeeker | 2012 | Mondial | A tall tower with swings that spin and go up to 301 feet high. |
| Xtreme Skyflyer | 1996 | Skycoaster | A pay-per-ride attraction where you soar through the air. |
Safari Village: An African Adventure
Safari Village used to be called Congo. It's the easternmost part of Kings Dominion and has an African theme. It was inspired by an old park attraction called Lion Country Safari, which had a boat ride and a monorail through a nature preserve. This area has African-style buildings and plants, with rides and restaurants based on African stories.
| Ride | Opening year | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaconda | 1991 | Arrow Dynamics | A looping roller coaster that goes through an underwater tunnel! |
| Avalanche | 1988 | Mack Rides | A unique bobsled roller coaster, the only one of its kind in the U.S. |
| Backlot Stunt Coaster | 2006 | Premier Rides | A roller coaster based on a car chase scene from The Italian Job movie. |
| The Crypt | 2005 | HUSS | A spinning ride with cool fire and water effects. |
| Flight of Fear | 1996 | Premier Rides | A roller coaster that launches you into darkness! |
| Intimidator 305 | 2010 | Intamin | A giant roller coaster, one of the tallest in the world. Named after NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt. |
| Scrambler | 2000 | Eli Bridge Company | A classic spinning ride that twists you around. |
Planet Snoopy: Fun for Younger Guests
This area was first called Nickelodeon Splat City in 1995, then Nickelodeon Central in 2000. In 2010, it was re-themed to the beloved Peanuts characters. In 2013, more rides were added, and in 2017, three new attractions opened. It's a perfect spot for younger kids and families!
| Attractions | Height Requirement | Opening Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boo Blasters on Boo Hill | Under 46" with adult | 2004 | An interactive dark ride where you shoot at ghosts. |
| Kite-Eating Tree | 36" or higher | 2017 | A small drop tower ride. |
| Lucy's Crabbie Cabbies | Under 54" | 1975 | Children's bumper cars. |
| Flying Ace | Over 44" or with adult | 2000 | A swing ride where you fly like an aviator. |
| Great Pumpkin Coaster | 40" or with adult | 2007 | A fun children's roller coaster. |
| Joe Cool's Driving School | Between 40" and 60" | 2000 | A miniature driving course for kids. |
| Peanuts 500 | Over 42" or with adult | 2017 | A miniature whip ride. |
| Peanuts Road Rally | Under 54" | 1990 | A car ride that follows a track over a pond. |
| Sally's Sea Plane | Over 42" or with adult | 2017 | A ride that bounces and spins like a crazy bus. |
| Snoopy vs. Red Baron | Between 36" and 54" | 1990 | Miniature airplanes that fly in a circle. |
| Peanuts Turnpike | Under 54" | 1978 | A car ride that follows a track. |
| Woodstock Express | Over 46" or with adult | 1974 | A small wooden roller coaster, opened before the park itself! |
| Flying Ace Balloon Race | Over 42" or with adult | 2013 | A ride with spinning hot air balloons. |
| Snoopy's Rocket Express | At least 36". Between 36" and 42" with adult | 2013 | A slow-moving monorail ride above the area. |
| Linus Launcher | 42" | 2013 | A circular ride where you lie down and swing. |
| Charlie Brown's Wind Up | Over 42" or with adult | 2013 | A small-scale swing ride. |
| Lucy's Tugboat | Over 42" or with adult | 2013 | A rocking and spinning tugboat ride. |
| Snoopy's Junction | Over 36" or with adult | 2013 | A fun train ride. |
| Snoopy's Space Buggies | Over 36" or with adult | 2013 | A circular ride with vehicles that bounce up and down. |
| Woodstock Whirlybirds | Over 42" or with adult | 2013 | A classic teacups ride. |
Soak City: Make a Splash!
Soak City is Kings Dominion's awesome water park! It opened in 1992 as Hurricane Reef. The best part? It's included with your admission to Kings Dominion. In 2015, the water park got even bigger and was renamed Soak City. It's a great place to cool off on a hot day!
Fast Lane: Skip the Lines
Fast Lane is a special system at Kings Dominion. For an extra fee, you get a wristband that lets you go to the front of the line on 15 of the most popular rides. It's a great way to experience more attractions without waiting!
Halloween Haunt: Spooky Fun!
Halloween Haunt is an annual Halloween event at Kings Dominion. It started in 2001 as FearFest and was renamed Halloween Haunt in 2007. In 2017, it was even voted the second-best theme park Halloween event by USA Today! It's a super spooky and fun experience with haunted mazes and scare zones.
Halloween Haunt Attractions
| Attraction | Type | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaver Brothers Carnival | Scare zone | 2012 |
| Blackout | Maze | 2016 |
| Blood on the Bayou | Maze | 2017 |
| CornStalkers | Maze | 2011 |
| IronWorX | Scare zone | 2010 |
| Necropolis | Scare zone | 2010 |
| No Vacancy: Condemned | Maze | 2018 |
| Trick Or Treat | Maze | 2016 |
| The Lair | Scare zone | 2011 |
| Zombie High | Maze | 2013 |
| Lockdown | Maze | 2015 |
| Tollway Terror | Maze | 2015 |
| The Yard | Scare zone | 2018 |
Images for kids
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The park entrance as seen from the observation deck of the replica Eiffel Tower
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The replica Eiffel Tower at Kings Dominion
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The Paramount Theatre (Now known as "Kings Dominion Theater")
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Overview of Volcano, The Blast Coaster and Flight of Fear in the background
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Dominator, a Bolliger & Mabillard floorless roller coaster formerly located at Geauga Lake, opened in 2008 in International Street. Dominator is the longest floorless roller coaster in the world
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Grizzly
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Original Kings Dominion logo used from 1975 to 1992; sometimes used in-park since 2014
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Paramount's Kings Dominion Logo used from 1993 to 2003
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Paramount's Kings Dominion logo from 2003 to 2006
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Logo used briefly in 2007 after the switch from Paramount Parks
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See also
In Spanish: Kings Dominion para niños
