Kings Island Roller Coasters: A Complete Guide

Kings Island is an amusement park in Mason, Ohio. This 364-acre (147 hectares) theme park first opened in 1972 and has a history of record-breaking attractions. Many of the roller coasters at Kings Island have impressive specs that set world records. In fact, several of those records have yet to be beaten. 

Kings Island is one of the most visited amusement parks in North America. In 2019, this popular theme park had over 3.5 million guests between early spring to fall. King’s Island amusement park boasts over 100 attractions and 15 (or 14, depending on who you ask) rollercoasters. And in 1989, the park added a 12-acre (4.9 hectares) water park complete with 15 water slides. 

Buckle in for a fun ride and learn everything you need to know about Kings Island roller coasters below. 

Adventure Express

Adventure Express is a mine train roller coaster and one of the Kings Island roller coasters perfect for young thrill-seekers. The mine carts have lap bar restraints, so this roller coaster has no inversions but features a thrilling drop for beginner riders. 

Arrow Dynamics manufactured Adventure Express in 1991 in the Oktoberfest section of Kings Island. This four-million-dollar project has a 2,963-foot (903 meters) long track that dives into the lava-filled tunnels of a volcano and through a deserted mine shaft. 

Adventure Express is a chain lift roller coaster dedicated to Robert G. Rinckel, a Kings Island construction manager. 

• Height: 63 ft (19 m) 
• Drop: 47 ft (14.3 m)
• Speed: 35 mph (56 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 48 in (122 cm)

Backlot Stunt Coaster 

The Backlot Stunt Coaster is one of the fun launched roller coasters at Kings Island. This roller coaster opened in 2005 under the name of The Italian Job: Stunt Track. Kings Island renamed the ride to the Backlot Stunt Coaster and removed references to the Paramount movie from the theme at the end of 2007.  

The Backlot Stunt Coaster is the same design as rides of the same name at Canada’s Wonderland and Kings Dominion. Premier Rides manufactured the 1,960-foot (600 meters) long track from Werner Stengel’s designs for the Backlot Stunt Coaster. 

Visitors will find this thrilling roller coaster in the Rivertown section of the amusement park. This roller coaster has no inversions, so riders who don’t want to flip upside down will enjoy this epic car chase ride. 

• Height: 45.2 ft (13.8 m) 
• Drop: 31.2 ft (9.5 m)
• Speed: 40 mph (64 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 48 in (122 cm)

Banshee

A banshee is a spirit from Irish folklore whose screams and shrieks are heard by the living. The Banshee features seven scream-inducing inversions, making it easy to understand how it got its name. 

The Banshee is the longest inverted roller coaster in the world, with a track length of 4,124 feet (1,257 meters). 

Before the ride was finished, the construction site featured bone-chilling shrieks to build anticipation over the new, unannounced roller coaster. 

Bolliger and Mabillard manufactured this record-setting inverted roller coaster, and the 24-million-dollar project became operational in 2014. Before this investment, the Diamondback was the most expensive roller coaster in Kings Island amusement park. 

The riders’ screams make it easy for visitors to find the Banshee in the Action Zone of Kings Island. 

• Height: 167 ft (51 m) 
• Drop: 150 ft (46 m)
• Speed: 68 mph (109 km/h)

• Minimum visitor height to ride: 52 in (132 cm)
• Maximum visitor height to ride: 78 in (198 cm)

Diamondback 

When Diamondback joined the Kings Island roller coaster family in 2009, it was the first hypercoaster with a splashdown effect. This exciting out-and-back track roller coaster had a 22 million dollar price tag, making it the most expensive of all Kings Island roller coasters. 

Bolliger and Mabillard manufactured this hypercoaster with an out-and-back track layout for the Rivertown section of Kings Island. 

The 5,282-foot (1,610 meters) long track of Diamondback has no inversions. Instead, the roller coaster features a dramatic 74-degree vertical angle drop and a splashdown element when the train drags water into the air, splashing riders, especially those sitting in the back. 

Diamondback got the award for the best new attraction in 2009 by the National Amusement Park Historical Association and second-best by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards. 

• Height: 230 ft (70 m) 
• Drop: 215 ft (66 m)
• Speed: 80 mph (130 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 54 in (137 cm)

Flight of Fear

Flight of Fear is an indoor launched roller coaster, which makes it deceptively thrilling since you don’t know what to expect. The ride features four inversions and a G force of 4.5.

Flight of Fear began operating in Kings Island in June 1996 under the name The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear. The name was shortened to just Flight of Fear in 2000 after Paramount lost licensing rights. 

Premier Rides manufactured this roller coaster in 1996 from Werner Stengel’s designs. Kings Island spent 11.2 million dollars on this thrilling 2,705-foot (824 meters) long roller coaster in the Area 72 section of the park. 

• Height: 74.2 ft (22.6 m) 
• Speed: 54 mph (87 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 54 in (137 cm)

Flying Ace Aerial Chase 

Flying Ace Aerial Chase is one of the family-friendly Kings Island roller coasters for young ones to get a taste of the thrill of the ride. Flying Ace Aerial Chase is a suspended family coaster in the Planet Snoopy section of Kings Island. 

Flying Ace Aerial Chase first joined the Kings Island coaster list in 2001. Vekoma and Peter Clerx manufactured and designed this steel roller coaster with a G force of 2.2. 

This roller coaster has no inversions but instead twists and turns at 90-degree angles and drops down hills along the 1,122-foot (342 meters) long track. 

• Height: 48.6 ft (14.8 m) 
• Speed: 26 mph (42 km/h)

• Minimum visitor height to ride: 44 in (112 cm)
• Maximum visitor height to ride: 76 in (193 cm)

Invertigo 

Invertigo is an inverted boomerang roller coaster that graced Kings Island with its presence in 2008. Originally Invertigo was named Face/Off and had yellow tracks. Today, it has an aqua track and blue support beams. 

Invertigo’s 1,013.8-foot (309 meters) long track is installed at three other amusement park locations. Vekoma designed and manufactured the Invertigo for Kings Island in the Action Zone section of the park. 

This wild ride features three inversions and a G force of five with over-the-shoulder restraints on seats that sit back-to-back. 

• Height: 131.3 ft (40 m) 
• Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)

• Minimum visitor height to ride: 54 in (137 cm)
• Maximum visitor height to ride: 78 in (198 cm)

Mystic Timbers

Mystic Timbers was the fourth wooden roller coaster added to Kings Island. This towering wooden coaster was declared the best new ride by Amusement Today in the 2017 Golden Ticket Awards and scored in the top 15 as the best wooden roller coaster.

Mystic Timbers joined the list of Kings Island roller coasters in 2017. This 15-million-dollar project got created by Great Coasters International and Skyline Design. The installation of this impressive coaster enabled Kings Island to boast of having the most wooden roller coasters of any similar-sized amusement park. 

Visitors will quickly recognize the 3,265-foot (995 meters) long track of Mystic Timbers in the Rivertown section of Kings Island. 

• Height: 109 ft (33 m) 
• Drop: 98 ft (30 m)
• Speed: 53 mph (85 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 48 in (122 cm)

Orion 

Orion is both a hyper coaster and giga coaster since it stands just under 300 feet (87 meters) but has a drop of exactly 300 feet (91 meters). Bolliger and Mabillard manufactured this steel roller coaster in 2020 in the Area 72 section of Kings Island, making it the most recent roller coaster addition to the amusement park. 

When Orion was added to the Kings Island roller coaster repertoire, it was the seventh giga coaster on the planet, making it worthy of the 30 million dollar price tag. 

This exhilarating ride has no inversions but features heart-pounding twists, turns, and drops. The bright blue 5,321-foot (1,622 meters) long track towers over the park offering riders a spectacular panoramic view before they plunge down the 85-degree vertical angle drop. 

• Height: 287 ft (87 m) 
• Drop: 300 ft (91 m)
• Speed: 91 mph (146 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 54 in (137 cm)

Surf Dog

Surf Dog is a Kings Island attraction that first became operational in 2006 under the name of Avatar: The Last Airbender. We’re still not sure whether or not Surf Dog qualifies as a coaster or a flat ride because it is a Disk’O coaster that combines elements of both. 

Zamperla manufactured Surf Dog to replace Scooby’s Ghoster Coaster in the Planet Snoopy section of Kings Island, which was operational between 1998 and 2005. 

The 300-foot (91.4 meters) long wavy track has a boat-type train that swerves and turns for an easy thrill for little ones or thrill-seekers taking a break on an easy-going ride. 

• Height: 43 ft (13.1 m) 
• Speed: 91 mph (146 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 42 in (107 cm)

The Bat 

The Bat is one of the amazing Kings Island roller coasters in the Action Zone section of the park. Arrow Dynamics built this suspended roller coaster for its opening season in 1993. 

The Bat was formerly named Top Gun until 2007, then Flight Deck until 2013. Kings Island hired John DeCuir Jr. to design the roller coaster’s loading platform, similar to his designs for the motion picture Top Gun. 

The Bat’s 2,352-foot (717 meters) long track has no inversions. Instead, it takes sharp turns moments before it seems like the train is about to crash. The heart-pounding 45-degree vertical drop and G force of 2.9 makes this roller coaster a thrilling ride. 

• Height: 78 ft (24 m) 
• Drop: 70 ft (21 m)
• Speed: 51 mph (82 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 48 in (122 cm)

The Beast

The Beast is one of the oldest Kings Island roller coasters, but in its prime, it was the tallest, longest, and fastest wooden roller coaster on the planet. The Beast was manufactured by Kings Island and in-house designers Al Collins and Jeff Gramke and became operational in 1979. 

Despite its age, The Beast is one of the most popular roller coasters at Kings Island amusement park. Today, The Beast still holds the Guinness world record as the longest roller coaster in the world.

The Beast was a 3.2 million dollar investment for the theme park. This ride features a 7,361-foot (2,244 meters) long track and a 53-degree vertical angle drop. Visitors will find The Beast in the Rivertown section of the amusement park. 

• Height: 110 ft (34 m) 
• Drop: 141 ft (43 m)
• Speed: ~65 mph (~104 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 48 in (122 cm)

The Great Pumpkin Coaster

The Great Pumpkin Coaster is one of the family-friendly roller coasters at Kings Island. This steel roller coaster became operational in 1992 and has since been a family favorite. Before it was named The Great Pumpkin Coaster, this ride had multiple names, like the Scooby Zoom (1992 to 1998), Top Cat’s Taxi Jam (1998 to 2006), and Little Bill’s Giggle Coaster (2006 to 2010).     

The 199.3-foot (60.5 meters) long track takes dips, turns, and hills for an easy-going ride that will thrill adults and kids alike. Visitors taller than 40 inches (102 centimeters) are free to ride alone if they choose. 

• Height: 8 ft (2.4 m) 
• Speed: 91 mph (146 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 36 in (91 cm) with an adult 

The Racer

The Racer is one of the oldest roller coasters at Kings Island amusement park. This wooden roller coaster dates back to the opening of the park in 1972. In 1973, The Brady Bunch featured The Racer in an episode of the sitcom bringing roller coasters into a new era of popularity after experiencing a major decline. 

The historic roller coaster The Racer is attributed to revitalizing the amusement park industry after the Great Depression took enthusiasm and the money to invest in new technology away from many people. After being featured on television, designers and engineers began to experiment, leading to industry-changing inventions like the Guinness world record holder, The Beast. 

John C. Allen designed The Racer, while the Philadelphia Toboggan Company manufactured the epic ride in the Coney Mall section of Kings Island. The 3,415-foot (1,040.9 meters) long out-and-back track has a 45-degree angle drop that earns this ride a four out of five for intensity. 

The Racer had a 1.2 million dollar price tag, and construction began in 1970, two years before Kings Island opened. In 2021, The Racer was repainted with a fresh coat of white to commemorate its 50th year anniversary. 

• Height: 88 ft (26.8 m) 
• Drop: 82.17 ft (25 m)
• Speed: 53 mph (85.3 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 48 in (122 cm)

Woodstock Express

Woodstock Express is another one of the Kings Island roller coasters that date back to the park’s opening in 1972. This wooden roller coaster is one of four in the park, contributing to it having the most coasters of its type in the world. 

Just like The Racer, The Philadelphia Toboggan Company manufactured the Woodstock Express based on designs from John C. Allen. 

Before its current name, the Woodstock Express had three name changes between 1972 and 2010. First, this exciting ride went by the name of Scooby-Doo, then The Beastie. In 2006, it was renamed the Fairly Odd Coaster. In 2010, the park removed all Nickelodeon themes and named it the Woodstock Express. 

Visitors can enjoy the 1,350-foot (410 meters) long Woodstock Express in the Planet Snoopy section of Kings Island. 

• Height: 88 ft (26.8 m) 
• Drop: 82.17 ft (25 m)
• Speed: 53 mph (85.3 km/h)
• Minimum visitor height to ride: 48 in (122 cm)

Conclusion

Kings Island is an impressive amusement park in Ohio with lots of attractions worth paying attention to. From its opening day in 1972 until today, Kings Island has been one of the most visited theme parks in North America. 

Kings Island has some exceptional roller coasters like the historic wooden roller coaster, The Racer. Visitors come to experience the Guinness world record holder, The Beast, and the newest park addition, Orion. From family-friendly coasters to heart-pounding drops, there’s a thrilling ride for all members of the family at Kings Island. 

Experience these 15 Kings Island roller coasters without waiting in line all day by picking up a fast pass. Kings Island has two options for fast passes; the Fast Lane Plus includes all of the adrenaline-pumping roller coasters on this list.