Kings Dominion opened on May 3, 1975, in Doswell, Virginia, about 20 miles north of Richmond, quickly establishing itself as one of the mid-Atlantic’s premier amusement destinations. The 280-acre park is anchored by a 1/3-scale, 315-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower, a landmark visible for miles and one of the park’s most recognizable features since its earliest days.
Now operated by Six Flags following its 2024 merger with former owner Cedar Fair, Kings Dominion has grown to include more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions across themed areas such as International Street, Candy Apple Grove, and Old Virginia. With 13 roller coasters spanning wood, steel, and hybrid designs, plus the 20-acre Soak City water park, it remains a cornerstone stop for coaster enthusiasts traveling the East Coast circuit.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Doswell, Virginia
- Opened: May 3, 1975
- Operator: Six Flags
- Size: 280 acres
- Roller Coasters: 13
- Signature Coaster: Pantherian (Intamin Giga, 305 ft tall, 90 mph)
- Landmark: 1/3-scale Eiffel Tower replica, 315 ft tall
- Water Park: Soak City, 20 acres
The Ride Experience
Kings Dominion’s coaster lineup spans decades of design trends. Racer 75, a wooden dual-tracked racing coaster, has run since opening day in 1975. Twisted Timbers, a Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid that debuted in 2018, reworked an older wooden layout into a steel-tracked ride with steep drops and airtime moments. The park’s tallest attraction, Pantherian, opened in 2010 as an Intamin-built giga coaster reaching 305 feet and 90 mph, and it remains one of the most intense rides in the region.
Newer additions like Rapterra, a launched wing coaster that debuted in 2025, show the park continuing to invest in its coaster collection alongside long-running favorites like the B&M floorless coaster Dominator.
A Park Built Around a Landmark
Few American theme parks are as tied to a single visual icon as Kings Dominion is to its Eiffel Tower replica. Standing 315 feet tall at roughly a third the scale of the Paris original, the tower has served as the park’s entrance centerpiece since 1975 and offers an observation deck overlooking the property.
Ownership of the park has changed several times, from Kings Entertainment Company in the 1980s to Paramount Communications in the 1990s, then Cedar Fair from 2006 until the 2024 merger that brought Kings Dominion under Six Flags.
Explore more: Explore more Theme Parks.
Kings Dominion FAQs
When did Kings Dominion open?
Kings Dominion opened on May 3, 1975, in Doswell, Virginia.
How many roller coasters does Kings Dominion have?
The park has 13 roller coasters, ranging from the wooden Racer 75 to the Intamin giga coaster Pantherian.
Who owns Kings Dominion?
Kings Dominion is operated by Six Flags, following the 2024 merger between Six Flags and former owner Cedar Fair.
Get More from Kings Dominion
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Kings Dominion, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: APK / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.