The Bat is a suspended steel roller coaster at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, built by Arrow Dynamics and opened on April 9, 1993. Unlike traditional coasters, its trains hang freely below the overhead rail on pivoting axles, swinging outward through every banked turn to produce a soaring, airborne sensation that no sit-down coaster can replicate.
The ride debuted as Top Gun, themed to Paramount’s 1986 film, then became Flight Deck in 2008 after Cedar Fair acquired the park. In 2014 it was rechristened The Bat to honor its legendary predecessor — the world’s first suspended roller coaster, which operated at Kings Island from 1981 to 1983 before mechanical troubles ended its brief run. Photo: Rcfreak339 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Quick Answer
The Bat reaches a top speed of 51 mph (82 km/h) over its 2,352-foot track at Kings Island. It opened April 9, 1993, as Top Gun, and became The Bat in 2014. Despite a persistent online rumor, there is no record of a rider death on either version of The Bat — the closest documented incident was a loose wheel in June 2022 that caused a temporary closure with no injuries.
How Fast Does The Bat Go at Kings Island?
The Bat hits its top speed of 51 mph (82 km/h) as it swings through its 2,352-foot layout. Riders build to that speed after a chain lift carries the train to 78 feet, then a 70-foot first drop launches the cars into the ride’s signature horseshoe element and a sequence of tightly banked curves.
Because The Bat is a suspended coaster, its trains hang freely from the overhead rail on pivoting axles rather than locking into place like a standard sit-down coaster. That design makes the 51 mph top speed feel considerably faster than the number suggests — every turn sends the cars swinging outward, producing lateral g-forces that a fixed-track coaster at the same speed simply can’t match. The full circuit runs 1 minute 52 seconds from lift hill to final brakes.
The Bat Opened April 9, 1993 — Here’s the History
The Bat opened on April 9, 1993, as Top Gun, themed to Paramount’s 1986 film of the same name. Construction began in December 1992, and Arrow Dynamics — the same manufacturer behind the original 1981 Bat — finished the ride in time for Kings Island’s spring season. The station was built to resemble an aircraft carrier flight deck, with theming led by production designer John DeCuir, who had worked on the Top Gun film itself.
The coaster kept the Top Gun name for fifteen seasons. Cedar Fair, which took over Kings Island’s parent company Paramount Parks in 2006, dropped the movie licensing tie-in and renamed the ride Flight Deck starting in 2008. In 2014, the park retired that name too and rechristened the coaster The Bat, tying it back to Kings Island’s original 1981 suspended coaster of the same name.
Has Anyone Died on The Bat at Kings Island?
No. There is no documented rider death on either version of The Bat at Kings Island — not the 1981 prototype and not the 1993 coaster still operating today under that name. The rumor circulating online claims a swinging car slammed into a support pillar and crushed riders, but coaster historians and former park staff have debunked this repeatedly: the trains’ swing radius, even at full speed, isn’t wide enough to reach the wooden and steel supports lining the course.
The closest real incident came on June 22, 2022, when a wheel came loose on a moving train. The ride closed immediately, no injuries were reported, and Kings Island reopened The Bat several weeks later following repairs and inspection. That single documented mechanical issue is the most plausible seed of the larger urban legend, but it never involved a rider injury or fatality.
The Ride Experience
The layout opens with a chain lift to 78 feet, then plunges 70 feet before sweeping through a wide horseshoe element and a series of sharp, banked curves. Because the trains respond dynamically rather than being locked to the track, each turn tilts riders dramatically outward — the defining hallmark of Arrow’s suspended coaster design. Guests frequently feel as though they are barely clearing the wooden supports and terrain features lining the course.
Capacity runs to about 1,200 riders per hour across two seven-car trains, each seating 28 guests two-across. The 42-inch height requirement makes it accessible to a broad range of thrill-seekers, and the absence of inversions focuses the experience entirely on lateral swinging forces rather than upside-down elements.
A Legacy in Two Coasters
The Bat is the second ride to carry that name at Kings Island. The original Bat — an Arrow prototype — opened in 1981 as the world’s first suspended coaster, but persistent mechanical issues forced permanent closure in 1983. Renaming the 1993 coaster in 2014 restored the connection to that pioneering machine and gave the park a meaningful throughline in its coaster history.
Under three different names, the coaster has remained one of Kings Island’s most distinctive offerings. Its low-slung, terrain-hugging profile and freely swinging cars deliver a ride feel that modern inverted and launch coasters simply do not replicate, making The Bat a perennial favorite for riders who value sensation over raw statistics.
Ride The Bat at Kings Island
The Bat operates seasonally at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, alongside the park’s other roller coasters. For current operating hours, ticket pricing, and any ride closures, check the official Bat ride page at Kings Island before you visit.
The Bat at Kings Island FAQs
How fast does The Bat go at Kings Island?
The Bat reaches a top speed of 51 mph (82 km/h) over its 2,352-foot course, powered by a chain lift that brings riders to a height of 78 feet before the first drop.
When did The Bat open at Kings Island?
The Bat opened on April 9, 1993, under the name Top Gun. It was renamed Flight Deck in 2008 and then The Bat in 2014.
Has anyone died on The Bat at Kings Island?
No. There is no documented rider death on either the 1981 or 1993 version of The Bat. A June 2022 incident involving a loose wheel closed the ride temporarily but caused no injuries.
What type of roller coaster is The Bat at Kings Island?
The Bat is a suspended steel roller coaster. Its trains hang below the overhead rail on pivoting axles and swing freely through turns, producing a distinctive lateral swinging sensation throughout the ride.
Has The Bat always had that name?
No. It opened in 1993 as Top Gun, themed to the 1986 Paramount film. Cedar Fair renamed it Flight Deck in 2008 after acquiring the park, and it became The Bat in 2014 — a tribute to Kings Island’s groundbreaking 1981 suspended coaster of the same name.
Get More from The Bat at Kings Island
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate The Bat at Kings Island, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.