Kings Island opens to the public after two years of construction. Major attractions include the record-breaking Twin Racer, the whimsical Enchanted Voyage, and the park's icon, a one-third scale-replica Eiffel Tower. — — Map (db m227509) HM
1972 Kings Island opened to the public after two years of construction. The park was built to replace Cincinnati's Coney Island, which was prone to frequent flooding and lacked the necessary room for any major expansion. Kings Island was . . . — — Map (db m227578) HM
Bayern Kurve and Flying Dutchman open in Oktoberfest and Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal makes a splash in Rivertown. The Brady Bunch film an episode of their show at the park. — — Map (db m227511) HM
Kings Island goes wild with Lion Country Safari, a new animal preserve. It can be enjoyed from a new air-conditioned monorail.
Aerialist Karl Wallenda walks a 1,700-foot tightrope above the Coney Island area of the park. — — Map (db m227512) HM
A double-armed Ferris Wheel, Zodiac, and Shake, Rattle & Roll both spin onto the scene.
Daredevil Evel Knievel performs a record-breaking jump over 14 Greyhound buses in October. — — Map (db m227513) HM
In celebration of America's bicentennial, a new indoor theater named the American Heritage Music Hall opens near the park entrance.
Planning and design begin for a large new wooden roller coaster. — — Map (db m227514) HM
Riders are taken for a loop on Screamin' Demon, the world's first forward-and-backward looping roller coaster.
International Showplace, a new amphitheater, is dedicated by comedian Dick Van Dyke. — — Map (db m227515) HM
1977
Park guests were thrown for a loop on Screamin' Demon, a first-of-its-kind roller coaster that traveled forward and backward! The ride was located in Wild Animal Safari and was built above a lake for added thrill. Across the park, . . . — — Map (db m228784) HM
Ferris Wheel opens in Oktoberfest and Tower Gardens opens on International Street.
The construction of a new record-breaking wooden roller coaster is announced in July. The ride would open the next year. — — Map (db m227516) HM
The Beast, the "biggest, baddest, longest, fastest coaster in the world", begins to terrify park guests: The monster of a ride is designed and built in-house. It includes underground tunnels, two lift-hills, and a frightening 540-degree helix finale. — — Map (db m227518) HM
Modifications are made to The Beast, including combining two tunnels into a single, longer one.
The Scooby-Doo roller coaster becomes The Beast's little brother when it is renamed The Beastie and a tunnel is added to the ride. — — Map (db m227519) HM
Park guests begin taking flight on The Bat, a first-of-its-kind suspended roller coaster. The ride's swooping, downward spirals would swing the cars outwards as they sped around the twisted track. — — Map (db m227524) HM
An updated Hanna-Barbera Land opens, including new rides like Hanna-Barbera Carousel.
Viking Fury begins swinging park guests above Oktoberfest and Winterfest, a festive holiday event, makes its initial debut. — — Map (db m227525) HM
1982
Kings Island's tenth anniversary included a line-up of exciting new rides and attractions for the whole family, including an overhaul to Hanna-Barbera Land with fun new rides like the Hanna-Barbera Carousel, Rawhide Railway, and Scooby . . . — — Map (db m228785) HM
Festhaus makes its official debut with authentic German cuisine and entertaining new shows.
The Bat and the original Enchanted Voyage both operate for the last time. — — Map (db m227527) HM
Park guests stand-up to their fears on King Cobra, a first-of-its-kind stand-up roller coaster with a towering vertical loop.
Smurf's Enchanted Voyage, a festive trip through the Smurf seasons, begins cruising. — — Map (db m227528) HM
The wet and wild White Water Canyon rapids ride starts drenching park guests. Tumble Bug, the park's oldest ride, is retired in preparation for an exciting new thrill ride. — — Map (db m227529) HM
Zephyr and Skylab begin spinning in the newly-refurbished Coney Mall. An updated Dodgem also opens, allowing park guests to get behind the wheel of an out-of-control bumper car. — — Map (db m227530) HM
The iconic Vortex roller coaster opens in place of The Bat. The ride features a record-breaking six-inversions: two vertical loops, two corkscrews, and a batwing. The park's original looping roller coaster, The Demon, is retired. — — Map (db m227531) HM
1987 Vortex opened at the back of the park on land previously occupied by The Bat. The towering new attraction was the tallest of its kind in the world and was designed exclusively for Kings Island. This twisted mess of steel also had more . . . — — Map (db m228786) HM
Amazon Falls, marketed as "the world's most exciting drop of water", makes a splash. The ride plunges boatloads of park guests down a 45-foot drop and into a tidal wave of water, drenching both riders and onlookers. — — Map (db m227532) HM
A new waterpark, WaterWorks, opens south of the existing park. It promises watery fun with a lazy river, a children's play area, and several twisted waterslides. WaterWorks is connected to the main park via the train. — — Map (db m227533) HM
WaterWorks is expanded with Rushing River, a first-of-its-kind 700-foot family water slide. Flight Commander, a unique new thrill ride, opens toward the back of the park in Coney Mall. — — Map (db m227534) HM
Adventure Express family roller coaster with twists, turns, and four themed tunnels opens. Smurf's Enchanted Voyage ceases operation at the end of the season in preparation for an eerie new ride in the same building. — — Map (db m227535) HM
Phantom Theater, a spooky ride through an abandoned theater, opens in Hanna-Barbera Land.
Kings Island is sold to Paramount Communications, allowing for new movie themed rides and attractions. — — Map (db m227536) HM
1992 Hanna-Barbera Land was over-hauled with a new collection of child-friendly rides, including the Scooby-Zoom junior roller coaster, Red Baron's Bi-Planes, and Flintstones Flyers swing ride. Phantom Theater, a spooky new Let Yourself Go . . . — — Map (db m228787) HM
Top Gun, the park's first movie-themed attraction, opens.
Wild Animal Habitat closes after 19 seasons of operation. Its land would later be used for several exciting new attractions. — — Map (db m227537) HM
Days of Thunder, a motion-simulator that puts guests in the seat of a stock racecar, speeds into Coney Mall. The theater would later be used for other films, including seasonal showings and several 3D ones. — — Map (db m227538) HM
A new slime-filled children's area, Nickelodeon Splat City, allows park guests to make a mess. It includes a large new amphitheater and multiple interactive attractions, including the watery Green Slime Zone. — — Map (db m227539) HM
The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear launches onto the scene as a first-of its kind roller coaster. The extraterrestrial ride is completely enclosed in a large building. XS Raceway, an upcharge go-kart attraction, begins racing. — — Map (db m227540) HM
WaterWorks is doubled in size with Surfside Bay, a large new wave pool, and a children's play area, Buccaneer Island. Skylab is retired before the end of the season. — — Map (db m227541) HM
1997 WaterWorks was expanded with Surfside Bay, a new 600,000 gallon wave pool. Nearby, the new Buccaneer Island play area opened. It included a large pirate ship with five miniature slides and several water jets and cannons. The Skylab ride . . . — — Map (db m228788) HM
Three new rides are added to Hanna-Barbera Land, including Scooby's Ghoster Coaster and two other child-friendly rides. Park guests can try surfing at WipeOut Beach, a new surf simulator added to WaterWorks. — — Map (db m227542) HM
Face/Off and Drop Zone open in the newly-named Paramount Action Zone, which is themed after a movie studio backlot. A new wooden roller coaster is announced to the public in May. — — Map (db m227543) HM
Son of Beast, a record-breaking thrill ride, is unleashed. It is the world's tallest, fastest, and only looping wooden roller coaster. A scary new Halloween event, FearFest, begins in September. — — Map (db m227544) HM
Nickelodeon Central opens with two new rides: Rugrats Runaway Reptar is a junior inverted roller coaster, and Wild Thornberrys River Adventure is a colorful re-theme of the park's original log flume ride. — — Map (db m227545) HM
Tomb Raider: The Ride, a highly-immersive new indoor dark ride, is unveiled. Sling Shot begins catapulting riders toward the sky as Kings Island's fastest ride. — — Map (db m227546) HM
2002 An epic new indoor attraction, Tomb Raider: The Ride, opened in Rivertown. The multi-sensory adventure attraction was based on the 2001 hit film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and blended special effects, an orchestrated score, and a . . . — — Map (db m228791) HM
Delirium swings into Kings Island as the tallest ride of its kind in the world. Guests begin solving a mystery and scoring points in Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle. — — Map (db m227547) HM
WaterWorks is replaced with Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay, an Australian-themed water park resort with several new waterslides and experiences. The classic Flying Eagles and Antique Cars are both retired. — — Map (db m227548) HM
Italian Job: Stunt Track speeds onto the scene. The launched. family roller coaster, includes water and fire effects. WinterFest makes its triumphant return after a 13-year, hiatus. — — Map (db m227549) HM
Nickelodeon Universe combines the two separate children's sections into one unified area. It includes a new roller coaster and other family-friendly rides. Cedar Fair purchases the park. — — Map (db m227552) HM
Park guests get to experience flight on Firehawk, Ohio's only flying roller coaster. FearFest is retired and replaced with Halloween Haunt, a bigger and scarier seasonal event. — — Map (db m227553) HM
2007 Firehawk, a unique flying roller coaster, opened adjacent to Flight of Fear. The innovative new ride enabled park guests to take flight and soar through five intense inversions in a flying position. 2008 Robbie Knievel, son of the . . . — — Map (db m228792) HM
All Paramount-themed attractions are renamed. Daredevil Robbie Knievel trumps his father's 1975 stunt by jumping over 24 Coke Zero trucks in the parking lot. — — Map (db m227556) HM
Diamondback, a hyper roller coaster, slithers into Kings Island. It's the park's tallest and fastest roller coaster to date. Aerialist Nik Wallenda walks an 800-foot long, 262-foot high tightrope above the park. — — Map (db m227557) HM
Planet Snoopy replaces Nickelodeon Universe. The colorful new children's area features the Peanuts characters. Boo Blasters on Boo Hill transports riders through a haunted house. — — Map (db m227559) HM
WindSeeker begins lifting riders to new heights on a first-of-its-kind ride experience. Dinosaurs Alive!, the world's largest animatronic dinosaur park, is unearthed. — — Map (db m227560) HM
The water park undergoes a large overhaul and becomes Soak City. Included are a new wave pool, Tidal Wave Bay, and the updated Splash River. Son of Beast is demolished to accommodate something new. — — Map (db m227561) HM
2012 Kings Island Boomerang Bay underwent a huge transformation into the new Soak City. The expanded water park included a collection of new attractions, including sand valley ball courts, the 650,000 gallon Tidal Wave Bay, and an updated lazy . . . — — Map (db m228793) HM
A new sports-themed dining facility, Reds Hall of Fame Grille, opens in Rivertown.
A frightening new roller coaster, Banshee, is announced. It will be the longest ride of its kind. — — Map (db m227563) HM
Banshee, the world's longest inverted roller coaster, screams onto the scene. It resides in the former Son of Beast location. The Racer gives its 100 millionth ride in August. — — Map (db m227564) HM
Planet Snoopy is expanded with Woodstock Gliders, the return of the fan-favorite Flying Scooters ride previously removed in 2004. Snoopy's Space Buggies, a child-friendly bouncing ride, also begins entertaining park guests. — — Map (db m227565) HM
Park guests drop into Tropical Plunge, a colorful complex in Soak City with six twisted waterslide experiences. The park announces a new ride, teasing the attraction with the hashtag #WhatsInTheShed. — — Map (db m227567) HM
An out-and-back wooden roller, Mystic Timbers, is unveiled. The ride includes a midcourse tunnel, extensive theming, and a first-of-its-kind special effects finale.
WinterFest returns to much fanfare, after a 12-year hiatus. — — Map (db m227568) HM
2017 Kings Island's first new wooden roller coaster in 17 years, Mystic Timbers, made its big debut. The out-and-back ride featured a series of swooping curves, zippy transitions, and an eerie finale within a mysterious shed. The ride was the . . . — — Map (db m228795) HM
The delectable Coney Bar-B-Que opens, featuring an extensive offering of delicious menu items. The return of the classic antique cars attraction, originally closed in 2004, was announced for the 2019 season in August. — — Map (db m227569) HM
A classic is returned with Kings Mills Antique Autos, enabling park visitors to drive an antique vehicle around lush gardens.
Miami River Brewhouse begins serving up craft beers and food. — — Map (db m227571) HM
Orion, a giga roller coaster with a 300-foot drop, towers over. Kings Island. It's the park's tallest, fastest, and longest steel roller coaster to date. The surrounding area is rethemed as Area 72 in conjunction with the exciting new ride. — — Map (db m227573) HM
Kings Island Camp Cedar opens just north of the park. The luxury outdoor resort makes it easy to stay and play nearby. The Racer is refurbished with more than 500 feet of new, specialty-engineered track. — — Map (db m227574) HM
Kings Island celebrates its golden anniversary with a line-up of new shows and experiences.
The Beast continues thrilling riders with 2,000 feet of track work, including modifications in select areas of the ride. — — Map (db m227577) HM
The King Mansion. Built of bricks of clay from the Little Miami River, the King Mansion has stood majestically overlooking the town of Kings Mills since 1885. The home of industrialist Ahimaaz King and the first house in Kings Mills, this . . . — — Map (db m118361) HM
