Kings Dominion Roller Coasters: A Complete Guide

Kings Dominion in Virginia is one of America’s premier theme parks and features some of the most thrilling roller coasters you’ll find anywhere in the world. Whether you’re a roller coaster enthusiast or planning your first trip to Kings Dominion, there’s something for everyone at this expansive park. 

Today, we’ll cover everything you need to know to ensure your trip to Kings Dominion is packed with screams, laughs, and nonstop fun. 

About Kings Dominion

Before we learn more about all the breathtaking coasters at Kings Dominion, let’s learn how this incredible theme park came to be. 

The Birth of Kings Dominion

Conveniently located about a half-hour north of Richmond in central Virginia, Kings Dominion was the brainchild of the Kings Entertainment Company. The company successfully launched Cincinnati’s Kings Island theme park in 1972, and a year later, they set their sights on a new location, hoping to bring the same fun and excitement to the East Coast. 

When the park opened, it was broken into four sections that still exist today. After strolling down International Street, visitors could split off into Old Virginia, Candy Apple Grove, Lion Country Safari, and a Hanna-Barbera-themed kid’s park. 

When the park opened fully in 1975, there were 15 different themed attractions for visitors to enjoy; a far cry from the dozens of other rides and attractions that Kings Dominion currently holds. Back then, there were only three coasters, a log flume, a monorail through the safari, and a few other small attractions. Even then, any visitor with an imagination could see the potential. 

Continued Expansion

The park continued to transform throughout the late 70s, with exciting additions such as the Anton Schwarzkopf-designed King Kobra, Kings Quarters Hotel, Kings Dominion campground, and the Lost World mountain.

With exciting new park amenities popping up every season, Kings Dominion refocused its energy on heart-stopping rides. They added a monstrous wooden coaster known as Grizzly, the White Water Canyon, and the Berserker, a ship ride that made a complete loop, one of the first rides of its kind. 

During this time, the park also expanded its catalog of waterslides, adding the Racing Rivers complex in 1987. Shortly after, the Anaconda coaster was made, which plunged riders into an underwater tunnel before treating them to four inversions above the lake. 

Around this time, Kings Dominion repurposed most of the area surrounding the manmade Lake Charles. This area would become the dedicated water park Hurricane Reef, which featured 15 different slides when it opened. 

The Paramount Years

A significant change arrived in 1993 when the park was purchased by Paramount, allowing Kings Dominion to begin incorporating themes from Paramount’s expansive catalog of film and television properties.

After the addition of Hurler by International Coasters, Kings Dominion became the only amusement park in the world with five different wooden roller coasters. Under Paramount’s direction, innovation continued, with Kings Dominion adding the world’s first LIM-propelled coaster, Flights of Fear. The Xtreme SkyFlyer sky coaster joined the park that same year.

Volcano joined the park the following year, becoming the world’s first inverted LIM-propelled coaster. This coaster was expertly placed in the park, and its interaction with Lost World Mountain made the ride even more exciting, as riders were shot out of the mountain’s peak at breakneck speed to begin their journey on Volcano. 

Park visitors who came to check out Volcano were also treated to a major water park expansion, which tripled in acreage and added exciting new attractions like Pipeline Peak and WaterWorks. Nickelodeon Splat City also received significant expansion during this time.

In 2001, the park added HyperSonic XLC, the first coaster in the world to utilize compressed air for propulsion. This coaster also made Kings Dominion the first theme park in the world to feature three different propelled coasters. 

Shortly after, Kings Dominion added its final few attractions under the Paramount banner, with the Drop Zone Stunt Tower, the world’s longest free-fall attraction at the time. DZST brought 56 riders at a time into the sky for a death-defying 272-foot free-fall drop. 

The park also added Tomb Raider: Firefall to celebrate the park’s 30th anniversary. In 2006, the park added the Italian Job Turbo Coaster, Kings Dominion’s fourth LIM-propelled attraction. Shortly after this exciting new coaster was announced, the park changed significantly.

The Next Chapter

Not long after the Italian Job Turbo Coaster was unveiled, the park was sold to Cedar Fair, one of the largest amusement chains in America. Under new ownership, several changes were made to the park. 

Cedar Fair began by further reinforcing the attractions at the water park, adding the ProSlide Tornado, Zoom Flume, and a second wave pool. Ownership also removed Hypersonic XLC from the park, a coaster that was plagued by maintenance issues since its inception. 

Shortly after, the Dominator floorless coaster was added, marking the first time a floorless coaster graced the campus at Kings Dominion. The Dominator didn’t enjoy its top billing for very long, as the incredible giga coaster Intimidator 305 joined the park on the heels of The Dominator. 

After the introduction of Intimidator 305, Kings added two additional coasters in 2018 and 2022. Twisted Timbers, a hybrid coaster, was introduced in 2018, followed by the newest ride in the park, the fourth-dimension coaster Tumbili.

Today, Kings Dominion features an impressive collection of 14 of the world’s most exciting roller coasters. Beyond the thrill rides, there are many other opportunities for fun and excitement for the whole family. 

The Roller Coasters of Kings Dominion 

If you aren’t already excited about the idea of taking a trip to this thrilling theme park, you will be after learning more about the incredible attractions of Kings Dominion. Here’s what you need to know as you prepare for your trip.

Anaconda

• Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics
• Year Opened: 1991
• Coaster Type: Sit-Down
• Best for: Extreme Thrills

Ron Toomer designed Anacadona for Arrow Dynamics in 1991, and it’s been thrilling Kings Dominion visitors ever since. The Anaconda featured a few firsts for the park, and it’s the first coaster with multiple inversions and the first coaster to send riders through an underwater tunnel during the ride. 

This custom looping coaster accommodates 28 riders simultaneously and generates a max G-force of 5.1G. The 2,700-foot coaster takes under two minutes to ride, and it features a drop of 144 feet and a total of four inversions while reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Anyone over 48” tall can ride this exciting coaster. 

Apple Zapple

• Manufacturer: Mack Rides
• Year Opened: 2002
• Coaster Type: Wild Mouse
• Best for: Families

This recently-designed wild mouse coaster is a thrill ride for the entire family, and it’s considered one of the most underrated rides in the park. The ride features a series of hairpin turns that you’ll take at breakneck speeds and a large 50-foot drop that’s surprisingly exhilarating. Apple Zapple has been a staple of Candy Apple Grove since its opening in 2002.

Like other wild mouse coasters, Apple Zapple features a single car with room for four riders at a time. Apple Zapple accommodates nearly 1,000 riders each hour despite the single-car design. The height requirement is 54”, but children over 44” can ride the coaster with a guardian. 

Backlot Stunt Coaster

• Manufacturer: Premier Rides
• Year Opened:  2006
• Coaster Type: LIM
• Best for: Thrills

One of the most exciting coasters from the Paramount days, Backlot Stunt Coaster is a launched coaster that takes riders on a thrilling high-speed chase through Hollywood. After launching, the coaster immediately bounds into an exciting double incline helix, one of the most thrilling moments you’ll have in the entire park. 

The coaster’s largest drop is only 31 feet, with a top speed of 40 miles per hour. While it’s nowhere near as intimidating as some of the larger coasters at the park, this one-minute ride is sure to thrill even the most seasoned coaster enthusiast. Plus, this ride offers some of the best and most cohesive theming of any Kings Dominion coaster. 

Dominator

• Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
• Year Opened: 2008
• Coaster Type: Floorless
• Best for: Extreme Thrills

This Werner Stengel-designed ride first found a home at Six Flags Ohio, where it was a Batman-themed coaster in the park’s Gotham City section. When this park, which Cedar Fair also owns, closed in 2007, this thrilling coaster was relocated to Kings Dominion, where it’s known as The Dominator. 

This floorless coaster reaches a blistering top speed of 65 miles per hour and features several inversions with a monster 148-foot drop. The Dominator delivers 3.8G at top speed, and its tremendous main loop is sure to leave riders shaking with excitement. As exciting as Dominator is, it does fall a bit short of the thrills that some other coasters provide. 

Flight of Fear

• Manufacturer: Premier Rides
• Year Opened: 1996
• Coaster Type: Indoor
• Best for: Extreme Thrills

Another coaster from Premier Rides, this indoor LIM-powered coaster features Premier’s signature “spaghetti bowl” style, and it’s been thrilling riders at Kings Dominion for over 25 years. 

Flight of Fear has won three awards from the International Association of Amusement Parks for its strong thematic elements and breakthrough technology. The beginning of the ride is its strongest point, and it features tons of flips and tight turns to get your blood flowing as the coaster reaches 4.5G’s at speeds of up to 54 miles per hour. 

Flight of Fear is one of the more unique coasters at Kings Dominion, and it helps diversify the coaster lineup. It might not be the most thrilling attraction at the park, but it’s one of the most fun coasters to ride. 

Great Pumpkin Coaster

• Manufacturer: E&F Miler Industries
• Year Opened: 1997
• Coaster Type: Kiddie
• Best for: Families

This steel kiddie coaster is the ideal way to start the family fun at Kings Dominion. This ride debuted in 1997 as Taxi Jam in the Kidzville section of the park, but it was later re-themed to feature iconic elements from Peanuts. 

The Great Pumpkin Coaster has a height requirement of 36”, making it a perfect ride for the little ones. What this coaster lacks in hair-raising excitement, it makes up for with its excellent thematic elements. 

Grizzly

• Manufacturer: Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
• Year Opened: 1982
• Coaster Type: Wooden
• Best for: Extreme Thrills

This old wooden coaster from Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters is a must-ride for coaster enthusiasts looking to pack maximum thrills into their trip. This coaster reaches a top speed of over 50 miles per hour while generating an incredible 5.5Gs of force during the ride. Grizzly is modeled closely after the Wildcat, a former Coney Island coaster, with an iconic double-figure-8 layout.

Before riding Grizzly, be warned that this is one of the roughest rides you’ll find on any wooden coaster. Some people think the bumpy ride, wild terrain, and heavy forestation make Grizzly a must-ride experience. 

Intimidator 305

• Manufacturer: Intamin AG
• Year Opened: 2010
• Coaster Type: Giga Coaster
• Best for: Extreme Thrills

Extreme thrill seekers needn’t look any further than Intimidator 305, arguably the most thrilling coaster in the world today. I305 is one of the only non-propelled coasters in the world to feature a drop greater than 300 feet, and the entire rod is packed with excitement and thematic elements that elevate it into the coaster Hall of Fame.

I305 reaches an insane top speed of 90 miles per hour and generates as many as 4.5Gs as it bounds over an impressive 5,100 feet of track. The main drop is practically a free fall at 85 degrees. Simply put, this ride isn’t for the faint of heart. In fact, unless you’re a true thrill seeker, you may even want to avoid riding it.

Whether you’re brave enough to ride this massive coaster, anyone can appreciate its engineering. I305’s lift hill includes only three support points, and its double-spine track allows for longer track runs without additional support.

Racer 75

• Manufacturer: John C. Allen
• Year Opened: 1975
• Coaster Type: Wooden
• Best for: Thrills

Originally known as Rebel Yell, this coaster was designed by the king of the wooden coaster, John C. Allen. This coaster has been operating nearly as long as the park itself, and it offers incredible views of the Intimidator for much of the ride. 

The Racer 75 reaches top speeds of 56 miles per hour while generating up to 4.2G. It’s a fairly pedestrian coaster, and the ride is quite smooth. Families looking for a coaster that’s a bit more thrilling than the kiddie coasters are sure to enjoy this classic coaster. 

Reptilian

• Manufacturer: Mack Rides
• Year Opened: 1988
• Coaster Type: Bobsled
• Best for: Thrills

This bobsled-style coaster debuted in 1988 as Avalanche, and it’s currently the only bobsled-style Mack Rides coaster operating in the United States. The coaster ran as Avalanche until the 2020 season, and it’s since been repurposed as part of the new Jungle X-pedition section of Kings Dominion. 

This unique coaster has no fixed track, allowing the cars to move freely through the ride. Reptilian tops out at 41 miles per hour, delivering a maximum G-force of 3.4G. This coaster is fun for the whole family, and all riders above 40” are welcome on Reptilian. 

Tumbili

• Manufacturer: S&S Worldwide
• Year Opened: 2022
• Coaster Type: Free spin
• Best for: Extreme Thrills

Tumbili is the latest coaster to join the park, settling into the new Jungle X-pedition section. This immersive 4D coaster features a fully vertical chain lift hill that sends riders on a thrilling one-minute ride complete with several beyond-vertical drops across three track levels. Considering the narrow footprint of the ride, it’s an engineering marvel. 

The coolest aspect of Tumbili is that since it’s a free spin coaster, you’re in for a different experience every time you ride the coaster. Factors like the weight of the riders, position in the car, and rider interaction can significantly affect how each seat spins during the ride. 

Twisted Timbers

• Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction
• Year Opened: 2018
• Coaster Type: Hybrid
• Best for: Extreme Thrills

Twisted Timbers debuted at Kings Dominion in 1994. At the time, the ride was called Hurler and featured a Wayne’s World theme under Paramount’s ownership. The Hurler was closed for renovations in 2015, and it debuted again in the park as Twisted Timbers after significant refurbishment from Rocky Mountain Construction. 

Twisted Timbers is now a hybrid coaster with RMC’s signature I-Box track. The ride captured the Golden Ticket Award for Best Steel Coaster in 2018 and 2019, and it remains one of the most exciting coasters in America. 

Airtime junkies are sure to love Twisted Timbers, which will have you out of your seat for the better part of the ride. With plenty of sharp turns and three inversions, there’s something for every coaster enthusiast to love about this ride.

Woodstock Express

• Manufacturer: John C. Allen
• Year Opened: 1974
• Coaster Type: Wooden
• Best for: Families

The coaster that started it all here at Kings Dominion, Woodstock Express, is a John C. Allen creation that initially debuted as Scooby Doo’s Ghoster Coaster. The ride was renovated in 2013, and it’s been the Woodstock Express since. 

This old woodie is an excellent ride for the kids, and it packs plenty of excitement despite its relatively pedestrian layout and theming. Woodstock Express is the perfect coaster to get your feet wet on your first trip to the park. 

Final Word 

Kings Dominion is one of the East Coast’s best and most exciting theme parks. The park features tons of excellent coasters, including exciting new additions like Tumbili, Intimidator 305, and the revamped Twisted Timbers. 

Whether it’s your first trip to Kings Dominion or you’re brushing up on their attractions to prepare for your next trip, there’s something for everyone here at Kings Dominion.