Its also credited for beginning the second golden age of the roller coaster.
Today’s Kings Island has eight themed areas, including Soak City Water Park, and over 100 rides, attractions and shows. When Kings Island premiered in April 1972, the park had fewer areas and way fewer rides and attractions. Though Kings Island looks different today, much of the. Some were running slow, not quite yet up to par.” In 1982, the trains on one track were turned around to travel backwards, making Racer the first backwards racing coaster in the world. Still, those opening-day glitches did not seem to dampen enthusiasm for the thrills and attractions Kings Island offered, with Knippenberg noting that although crowds were thin, there was a noticeable line in front of The Racer, one of the highlights of the new park.
The classic, out-and-back wooden roller coaster offered twin tracks upon which the Red Racer and Blue Racer ran simultaneously, reaching speeds of more than 50 miles per hour. Visitors also lined up to ride to the top of the scale replica of the Eiffel Tower, standing 330 feet tall just beyond the amusement park’s main entrance. “From the top you can see all of Kings Island,” Knippenberg noted, “and a big chunk of the countryside.”Īn opening celebration was planned for a month later, on May 27, 1972. The old-fashioned over-the-shoulder restraints slap you around pretty good - delivering jolting blows to the chin and neck.An article previewing the event in The Cincinnati Post noted it would kick off with “the most magnificent Grand Parade of the century,” starting at 10:01 a.m. Vortex briefly featured the most inversions of any coaster in the world when it opened in 1987. The alien-themed coaster starts off rough during the initial inversions but becomes a blast during the tight turns toward the end of the ride.ĩ) Vortex: The Arrow looping coaster features six inversions, including two loops, a double corkscrew and a batwing. The 1996 Premier ride was the world’s first linear induction motor launch roller coaster. The second half of the ride with the special effects mini-show and the plunge into darkness was better than the fairly ordinary opening act.Ĩ) Flight of Fear: The indoor-launch coaster through the dark features four inversions, including a cobra roll, sidewinder and corkscrew.
Kings island racer backwards full#
Although a little short on ride time, the side-to-side swinging coaster still delivers a full payload of thrills after nearly two decades in service.ħ) Backlot Stunt Coaster: Originally themed to the 2003 “Italian Job” movie, the 2005 Premier triple-launch coaster dodges police cars and comes under attack by helicopter. A classic example of a great old wooden coaster that has served as the “first coaster” for generations of kids.Ħ) Flight Deck: Opened in 1993, the terrain-hugging Arrow suspended coaster still features a jet fighter motif based on the ride’s former “Top Gun” theme. junior wooden coaster was originally known as Scooby-Doo when it debuted in 1972. I imagine I’d have to ride Firehawk a dozen times before I ever felt comfortable enough to enjoy the experience.ĥ) Woodstock Express: Another John Allen-designed ride, the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. The unusual “blind” departure and return while lying on your back feels alien and disorienting. I’d have to say I feared this ride more than I loved it based on the death grip I had on the hand holds. The former X-Flight coaster was relocated from Geauga Lake in 2007. All that’s missing from this American Coaster Enthusiast landmark is a head-to-head finish and the chance to taunt the competing train (assuming you win the race).Ĥ) Firehawk: The 50 mph Vekoma flying coaster features five inversions, including an inline twist, horseshoe and lie to fly. Coaster enthusiast and Kings Island spokesman Don Helbig has ridden Racer a record-setting 11,999 non-consecutive times. racing wooden coaster featured a train that ran backward on one of its two tracks from 1982 to 2007. This hyper viper offers a little bit of everything: speed, height, twists and plenty of airtime in a silky smooth ride worthy of the praise heaped on it by coaster fanatics.ģ) Racer: Designed by renowned ride builder John Allen, the 1972 Philadelphia Toboggan Co. The 215-foot-tall coaster, opened in 2009, reaches 80 mph before executing a signature splashdown element. The 540-degree helix tunnel after the second lift was the highlight of an exciting ride through the forest.Ģ) Diamondback: The $22-million terrain-hugging Bolliger & Mabillard megacoaster stretches to a mile and covers more than 10 acres. The 1979 coaster built by Philadelphia Toboggan Co., features two lift hills and three tunnels. A closer look at Kings Island’s top 10 roller coasters:ġ) The Beast: With a running time of more than four minutes, the 7,359-foot-long terrain-hugging ride is the longest wooden coaster in the world.
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