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.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Kings Island (Mason, Ohio)
- Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics
- Opened: April 9, 1993
- Height: 78 ft (24 m)
- Top Speed: 51 mph (82 km/h)
- Length: 2,352 ft (717 m)
- Inversions: 0
- Duration: 1 min 52 sec
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.
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The Bat FAQs
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.
How fast does The Bat go?
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.
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.
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Photo by Skyler Gerald on Unsplash.