Woodstock Express (Kings Island) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woodstock Express |
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| Previously known as Scooby Doo (1972–1979) Beastie (1980–2005) Fairly Odd Coaster (2006–2009) |
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Aerial view of coaster when it was known as Fairly Odd Coaster
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| Kings Island | |
| Location | Kings Island |
| Park section | Planet Snoopy |
| Coordinates | 39°20′35″N 84°16′09″W / 39.343180°N 84.269267°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1972 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters |
| Designer | John C. Allen |
| Track layout | Figure Eight |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 38.6 ft (11.8 m) |
| Drop | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Length | 1,350 ft (410 m) |
| Speed | 35 mph (56 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:30 |
| Capacity | 1200 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 40 in (102 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train. |
 Must transfer from wheelchair |
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| Woodstock Express at RCDB | |
Woodstock Express is a fun wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park. It was designed by John C. Allen. You can find it in the Planet Snoopy area, which is where all the children's rides are.
This roller coaster has had four different names over the years! Its name changed each time the children's area at the park got a new theme. The ride has also been painted many different colors since it first opened.
Contents
The History of Woodstock Express
The Woodstock Express was designed by John C. Allen from a company called Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC). He based it on some of the first roller coasters he designed back in 1954. These earlier coasters opened in 1956 at places like Hunt's Pier and Angela Park.
How the Design Changed
John C. Allen made some cool changes to his original design for Woodstock Express. He made it a bit taller and longer. He also changed the loading area to be straight instead of curved. This new design was then used to build two very similar roller coasters at Kings Dominion and Carowinds. Another similar ride, Ghoster Coaster at Canada's Wonderland, also used this design but is even taller.
Name Changes Over the Years
When the park first opened in 1972, this roller coaster was called Scooby Doo. It was part of "The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera" section.
In 1980, after the huge success of The Beast roller coaster, Scooby Doo was renamed The Beastie. They even added a tunnel to the bottom of its first big drop!
Then, in 2006, the park changed its Nickelodeon Universe area. The tunnel was removed, and the ride was renamed Fairly Odd Coaster. This name was based on the popular Nickelodeon TV show, The Fairly OddParents.
Finally, in 2010, all the old Hanna-Barbera and Nickelodeon themes were removed from the kids' area. The park decided to give the area a new Planet Snoopy makeover. That's when the ride got its current name, Woodstock Express, named after Snoopy's bird friend!
The Woodstock Express once had a special award called ACE Coaster Classic status. However, because of some changes made to the coaster, it no longer has that award.
What the Ride is Like
The Woodstock Express has a classic figure 8 roller coaster layout. This means the track crosses over itself, looking like the number 8.
It's very similar to other junior wooden coasters at Kings Island's sister parks. You can find almost identical rides like the Woodstock Express at Kings Dominion and Carowinds. There's also Ghoster Coaster at Canada's Wonderland and Zach's Zoomer at Michigan's Adventure. It even shares many features with the Sea Dragon (roller coaster) at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's Rides At Adventure Cove.
If you ride the Woodstock Express, get ready to smile for the camera! There's an on-ride photo camera located at the bottom of the second drop, ready to capture your excited face.
