Kings Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kings Island

Previously known as Paramount's Kings Island (1993–2006)
Kings Island's original fountains with Eiffel Tower
Location	Mason, Ohio, U.S.
Coordinates	39°20′41.23″N 84°16′06.99″W / 39.3447861°N 84.2686083°W / 39.3447861; -84.2686083
Status	Operating
Opened	April 29, 1972 (1972-04-29)
Owner	Cedar Fair
General manager	Michael Koontz
Slogan	It's Amazing In Here
Operating season	April–December
Attendance	3.18 million in 2021
Area	364 acres (147 ha)
Attractions
Total	49
Roller coasters	14
Water rides	3

Kings Island is a huge 364-acre (147 ha) amusement park located about 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio, United States. It is owned and run by Cedar Fair. The park was built by Taft Broadcasting and first opened in 1972. It was created to replace and expand Coney Island, an older park that often flooded.

Over the years, more than $300 million has been spent to make the park even better. Today, Kings Island has over 100 attractions. These include 14 exciting roller coasters and a 33-acre (13 ha) water park.

Early on, Kings Island became famous. It appeared in popular TV shows and was known for its amazing rides. One of its most famous rides, The Racer, helped bring back interest in roller coasters around the world in the 1970s. Other rides like The Beast and Banshee have set world records. The biggest ride investment ever was Orion, a $30-million giga coaster that opened in 2020.

Kings Island has eight themed areas. It is open from spring until fall, and then for special holiday events like Halloween Haunt and Winterfest. In 2021, about 3.18 million people visited Kings Island. This made it the third most visited seasonal amusement park in North America. The park has also won many awards, including "Best Kids' Area" for 18 years in a row!

History of Kings Island

Kings Island was first thought of around 1964. This was after Coney Island, a popular park near Cincinnati, had a big flood. The flood covered the park in over 14 feet (4.3 m) of water. Coney Island often flooded, and it also didn't have much room to grow. This made people think about moving the park.

Gary Wachs, whose family owned Coney Island, wanted to move the park. He researched new theme park ideas. In 1968, actor Fess Parker announced plans for a new park nearby. This made everyone realize that Coney Island needed to change.

Gary and his father met with Dudley S. Taft, who led Taft Broadcasting Company. Taft Broadcasting wanted to promote its Hanna-Barbera cartoons. In 1969, Taft bought Coney Island and 1,600 acres (650 ha) of land in Warren County, Ohio. This land became Kings Island.

Building the Park (1970–1992)

Construction for Kings Island started on June 15, 1970. A contest was held to name the new park. "Kings Island" was chosen because it honored the nearby Kings Mills area and the old Coney Island. Many rides from Coney Island were moved to the new park.

Kings Island officially opened on April 29, 1972. The grand opening was held a month later on May 27, 1972.

View from The Racer in the mid-1970s

One of the first big rides was The Racer. This wooden roller coaster has two trains that race side-by-side. It was designed by John C. Allen. The Racer was the first of its kind in 35 years and helped bring back roller coasters in the 1970s. It is now a Roller Coaster Landmark. Other early coasters included the Bavarian Beetle and Scooby Doo. A $2-million ride called Enchanted Voyage had over 100 moving Hanna-Barbera characters.

Kings Island became famous on TV. Episodes of The Partridge Family (1972) and The Brady Bunch (1973) were filmed at the park. The park also hosted world-record events. In 1974, Karl Wallenda, 69, walked 1,800 feet (550 m) on a tightrope. In 1975, Evel Knievel jumped 14 Greyhound buses on his motorcycle. This jump was 133 feet (41 m) long and was his longest successful stunt. It was shown live on TV to 55 million viewers! To keep the excitement going, Kings Island built The Beast. It opened in 1979 as the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in the world.

In the 1980s, the park faced some challenges. The Bat opened in 1981. It was the first modern suspended roller coaster, where cars swing below the track. But it had many problems and closed after only three years. To make guests happy, one side of The Racer started running backward in 1982. This was very popular! In 1984, King Cobra opened as the first stand-up roller coaster.

Kings Island also changed owners several times. In 1984, Taft sold its parks to Kings Entertainment Company (KECO). Then, in 1987, Kings Island was sold to American Financial Corporation. KECO continued to manage the park.

Paramount's Kings Island (1992–2006)

In 1992, Paramount Communications Inc. bought KECO and Kings Island. They created a new group called Paramount Parks. Paramount started adding themes from its movies to the parks. When Viacom bought Paramount in 1994, Nickelodeon themes were added. Nickelodeon Splat City opened in 1995, which later became Nickelodeon Central (2001) and Nickelodeon Universe (2006).

The Eiffel Tower and the fountains at night

In 1997, the city of Mason took over most of the land where Kings Island is. In 2005, Viacom split into two companies, and CBS Corporation took over Paramount Parks. CBS decided to sell the parks in 2006 because they didn't fit their main business plan.

Cedar Fair Era (2006–present)

On June 30, 2006, Cedar Fair bought Paramount Parks for $1.24 billion. This meant Cedar Fair owned all three major amusement parks in Ohio. Kings Island could still use Nickelodeon themes for a few years.

However, Cedar Fair decided to remove the Paramount themes sooner. In 2008, rides like Face/Off became Invertigo, and Top Gun became Flight Deck. Nickelodeon themes stayed until 2010. Then, Cedar Fair started using its Peanuts theme, changing Nickelodeon Universe to Planet Snoopy.

In 2009, there was a discussion about adding a tax on park tickets and parking. Kings Island asked the public to oppose it. In 2010, the Mason City Council voted against the tax.

In 2023, a new themed area called Adventure Port opened. It added two new family rides, Sol Spin and Cargo Loco. For 2024, Planet Snoopy is expanding with a new section called Camp Snoopy.

Areas and Attractions

Kings Island has spent over $300 million on improvements since 1972. The park started with 60 attractions and now has over 100. It also grew from five themed areas to eight. A water park was added in 1989. The number of employees has also grown from 1,300 to about 4,000.

Action Zone

Action Zone first opened in 1974 as Lion Country Safari. It was a 100-acre (40 ha) area with a monorail ride that took guests on a safari to see animals. Over the years, it had rides like Screamin' Demon (1977–1987), which was one of the first steel looping roller coasters in the U.S. that ran both forward and backward. King Cobra (1984–2001) was the first stand-up looping roller coaster in the world.

In 1993, Paramount added Top Gun, a suspended roller coaster named after the movie. The animal safari was removed, and the area became Adventure Village. In 1999, it was renamed Action Zone. Two new rides, Drop Zone: Stunt Tower and Face/Off, were added. Action Zone looked like a movie stunt set.

Son of Beast opened in 2000. It was the tallest, fastest, and only wooden roller coaster in the world with a vertical loop. But it had many problems and closed for good in 2009. It was taken down in 2012. Other popular rides include Delirium (2003), a huge swinging ride, and Banshee (2014), the world's longest inverted roller coaster.

Adventure Port

Adventure Port is a new area that opened in 2023. It has two family rides, Sol Spin and Cargo Loco. This area used to be part of Oktoberfest. It also includes Adventure Express, a mine train roller coaster that opened in 1991.

Area 72

Area 72 used to be called X-Base. It is themed like a secret aerospace research center and has two roller coasters. It started as a small part of Coney Mall when Flight of Fear opened in 1996.

Firehawk closed in 2018. In August 2019, the park announced Orion, the park's first giga coaster. It is a huge ride with a 300-foot drop (91 m). The area was renamed Area 72 for the 2020 season.

Coney Mall

When Kings Island opened in 1972, a section was made to look like the old Coney Island. This area, now called Coney Mall, has a carnival feel. Many rides from the old Coney Island were moved here, like Monster, Scrambler, and Dodgem. The Racer is also in this section. The area also has games, arcades, and food stands.

Over the years, new rides were added. Vortex (1987-2019) was a looping roller coaster that briefly held a world record for having six inversions. In 2011, WindSeeker, a 301-foot-tall (92 m) swing ride, was added. In 2019, Kings Mill Antique Autos, an old-fashioned car ride, returned to Coney Mall.

International Street

International Street is at the very front of the park, right after you enter. It was designed to look like parts of Italy, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland. The buildings are designed to look bigger than they are.

The main attractions here are the Royal Fountain and the Eiffel Tower. The Royal Fountain is a huge pool that shoots 10,000 US gallons (38 m³) of water into the air every minute. The Eiffel Tower is a one-third size copy of the famous tower in Paris. It offers great views of the whole park. The Grand Carousel, a classic ride from 1926, is also here. You can also find the Kings Island Theater, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest opened with the park in 1972. This area looks like a German town with special German-style buildings. The Festhaus building is the main spot, with live shows and indoor places to eat. Rides in Oktoberfest include Viking Fury, a swinging pirate ship ride that opened in 1982.

Planet Snoopy

Former Entrance to Planet Snoopy

This area first opened in 1972 as The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera. It had a junior wooden roller coaster called Scooby Doo. Another main ride was Enchanted Voyage, a dark boat ride with many moving Hanna-Barbera characters. This ride changed themes over the years, becoming Smurf's Enchanted Voyage and then Phantom Theater. Today, it is Boo Blasters on Boo Hill, where riders shoot laser guns at targets.

After Cedar Fair bought the park in 2006, all Nickelodeon themes were removed. In 2010, the area became Planet Snoopy, featuring characters from the Peanuts comic strip. This area has many rides for younger children, plus three family roller coasters. Kings Island's Planet Snoopy has won awards for being the "Best Kids' Area in the World" for 18 years!

Camp Snoopy

A part of Planet Snoopy that borders Rivertown was updated in 1995. It became Nickelodeon Splat City, with a play area and water attractions. In 2001, the log ride was updated and renamed. The Rugrats Runaway Reptar inverted roller coaster also opened that year. This expanded area was called Nickelodeon Central.

For the 2024 season, Kings Island is expanding Planet Snoopy again. The new section, Camp Snoopy, will have a new family roller coaster called Snoopy's Soap Box Racers. It will also have more play areas for families.

Rivertown

Rivertown is a park area with a western theme. It has ranch-style buildings and old wooden signs. One of its most famous attractions is the Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad. This area opened with the park in 1972. Early attractions included the Kings Mill Log Flume and a canoe ride.

In the 1970s, more rides were added. The Beast roller coaster opened in 1979. It was designed by Kings Island itself. When it opened, The Beast was the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in the world. It is still one of the most popular wooden roller coasters today. Other rides include White Water Canyon, a river rafting ride (1985), and Backlot Stunt Coaster (2005), which is based on a movie chase scene.

In 2009, Diamondback opened in Rivertown. This hypercoaster is 230-foot-tall (70 m) and reaches speeds of 80 mph (130 km/h). It ends with a big splash of water! In 2016, Kings Island announced Mystic Timbers, a 109-foot-tall (33 m) wooden roller coaster that opened in 2017. With this ride, Kings Island has the most wooden coaster track of any park in the world.

Soak City

Soak City is a 33-acre (13 ha) water park that is included with your park ticket. It has two wave pools, areas for kids, and many water slides. It first opened in 1989 as WaterWorks. It was expanded several times and renamed Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay in 2004. After Cedar Fair bought the park, it was renamed Boomerang Bay. In 2012, it became Soak City. Tropical Plunge, a seven-story water slide complex, was added in 2016.

Seasonal Events at Kings Island

Halloween Haunt

Halloween Haunt is a special Halloween event held on weekends in September and October. It has haunted houses, mazes, and live shows. Many of the park's regular rides are also open. The park uses special lights and fog, and actors in costumes walk around. This event started as FearFest in 2000 and changed its name to Halloween Haunt in 2007.

Winterfest

Winterfest is an annual Christmas holiday festival. It runs from mid-November to late December. You can go ice skating on the Royal Fountain and see millions of lights. Some rides are open, and International Street becomes a winter village. There are Christmas carolers, crafts, and holiday snacks. Winterfest first ran from 1982 to 1992. It came back briefly in 2005 and then returned for good in 2017.

Fast Lane

Fast Lane was added to Kings Island in July 2011. It's a special system that lets you wait less for popular rides. You buy a wristband in addition to your park ticket. This wristband lets you use a separate, shorter line for certain rides. Only a limited number of wristbands are sold each day. Kings Island also has Fright Lane passes for Halloween Haunt attractions.

Kings Island Fun Facts

Cool Changes and Additions

• 1977: Screamin' Demon opens. It was one of the first roller coasters in the U.S. to loop forward and backward.
• 1979: Kings Island opens The Beast, which was the world's tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster.
• 1981: The Bat opens as the world's first modern suspended roller coaster. It had problems and was removed in 1983.
• 1982: The annual Christmas event, Winterfest, begins.
• 1984: King Cobra opens as the first roller coaster designed to be a stand-up ride.
• 1987: Vortex is added. It briefly held a world record for having six loops.
• 1989: WaterWorks, a water park, opens. It has a wave pool, slides, and more.
• 1999: The Action Zone area gets a movie studio theme. Two new rides open: FACE/OFF and Drop Zone: Stunt Tower. Drop Zone sets a record as the world's tallest gyro drop.
• 2000: Son of Beast opens in Action Zone. It was the world's tallest, fastest, and only looping wooden roller coaster. It was also the park's first hypercoaster. The Halloween event, FearFest (now Halloween Haunt), also starts.
• 2002: Tomb Raider: The Ride opens. It was an indoor ride with special effects. King Cobra is taken down.
• 2007: Firehawk, a flying roller coaster moved from another park, opens.
• 2009: Diamondback, the first roller coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard at Kings Island, opens. Son of Beast closes permanently.
• 2010: Planet Snoopy replaces Nickelodeon Universe. All Nickelodeon and Hanna-Barbera themes are removed.
• 2011: WindSeeker, a tall tower swing ride, opens. Fast Lane is introduced.
• 2012: Boomerang Bay water park is renamed Soak City. Son of Beast is taken down.
• 2014: Banshee, the world's longest inverted roller coaster, opens.
• 2017: Mystic Timbers, a new wooden coaster, opens. Winterfest returns after 12 years.
• 2020: Orion is added. It's the park's first giga coaster with a 300-foot (91 m) drop.
• 2023: Adventure Port, the park's newest area, opens.

Son of Beast (original), added in 2000

Aerial view (2007) of The Racer, Firehawk and Flight of Fear

Diamondback, added in 2009

Famous Events at the Park

• 1972: The TV movie The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park was filmed at Kings Island.
• 1973: The TV show The Partridge Family filmed an episode called "I Left My Heart in Cincinnati" here.
• 1973: The TV show The Brady Bunch filmed an episode called "The Cincinnati Kids" here.
• 1974: Karl Wallenda set a world record by walking 1,800 feet (550 m) on a tightrope.
• 1975: Evel Knievel successfully jumped 14 buses, setting a record of 133 feet (41 m).
• 2008: Robbie Knievel, Evel's son, jumped over 24 trucks in the parking lot.
• 2008: Rick Wallenda, Karl's grandson, broke his grandfather's tightrope record by walking 2,000 feet (610 m).
• 2008: Some actors from The Brady Bunch returned for a special reunion show.
• 2009: Nik Wallenda walked 800 feet (240 m) on a wire 262 feet (80 m) high.
• 2013: More Brady Bunch stars returned to perform at the park.

Well-Known Former Employees

Many people who worked at Kings Island later became famous:

• Carmen Electra (singer) – started as a dancer in 1990.
• Woody Harrelson (actor) – was a wood carver in high school.
• Nick Lachey (singer) – performed in a singing group at the park.
• Dan Patrick (TV/radio sports host) – worked on the golf course.
• Susan Perkins (1978 Miss America) – performed in live shows.

Other Places Near Kings Island

Dogstreet Cemetery

Dogstreet Cemetery is a historic cemetery from 1803. It is located near the Kings Island parking lot. In 2012, the TV show Ghost Hunters investigated claims of ghosts at the park and cemetery.

Kings Island Resort

When Kings Island opened in 1972, it also had a golf course, a hotel, and a campground.

• The Golf Center at Kings Island - This golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus. It hosted professional golf tournaments.
• Kings Island Inn - This hotel had 300 rooms and looked like a small mountain village. It was even shown in the Partridge Family and Brady Bunch episodes filmed at the park. The inn closed in 2014.
• Kings Island Campground - This 45-acre (18 ha) campground opened with the park. It had cabins, RV spots, and tent sites. It closed in 2004.

Camp Cedar

Camp Cedar is a 52-acre (21 ha) camping resort less than a mile from the park. It opened in 2021 with cottages and RV spaces. Guests can buy special tickets for Kings Island.

Kings Island Greenhouse

The park has its own greenhouse. You can see it from the top of The Bat roller coaster. It grows all the flowers and plants for the park. They create amazing flower displays, like the "Living Liberty Bell" and the "Flower Clock" near the Eiffel Tower.

Awards and Recognition

Kings Island has won many awards!

Park Visitors (Attendance)

Kings Island is very popular! Here's how many people visited in recent years:

See also

In Spanish: Kings Island para niños