Kings Island opened in 1972 with The Racer, a twin-track wooden coaster that still runs today. Since then the Mason, Ohio park has run 23 roller coasters, from The Beast, which Guinness World Records has listed as the world's longest wooden coaster, to Orion's 300-foot drop. This timeline starts with today's lineup and runs back to opening day, including the eight coasters that are gone.
Hypers and a Giga 2009 – today
A 230-foot hypercoaster, the world’s longest inverted coaster and a 300-foot giga coaster.
Snoopy's Soap Box Racers
A Vekoma family boomerang that opened with the Camp Snoopy area.
Orion
A 300-foot drop and a 91 mph top speed. It was the biggest investment in the park's history when it opened.
Seventh giga coaster in the world
Banshee
Seven inversions, built on the old site of Son of Beast.
Longest inverted coaster in the world
The Paramount Years 1992 – 2008
Paramount bought the park in 1992 and themed its new coasters to its movies, from Top Gun to Face/Off and The Italian Job.
Firehawk
A flying coaster that ran as X-Flight at Geauga Lake before it moved here. Removed after the 2018 season.
Queen City Stunt Coaster
Opened as The Italian Job: Stunt Track. Riders launch into a parking garage and dodge police cars.
Woodstock's Air Rail
A suspended family coaster that ran as Rugrats Runaway Reptar and then Flying Ace Aerial Chase.
Son of Beast
A wooden hypercoaster with a vertical loop. The loop came out after a 2006 accident, the ride closed for good in 2009, and it was torn down in 2012.
First wooden coaster with a vertical loop
Scooby's Ghoster Coaster
Billed as the first suspended coaster for kids. Removed when Hanna-Barbera Land became Nickelodeon Universe.
Flight of Fear
An indoor launched coaster that opened as Outer Limits: Flight of Fear. A twin opened at Kings Dominion the same day.
The Great Pumpkin Coaster
A junior coaster that has also been Scooby Zoom, Top Cat's Taxi Jam and Little Bill's Giggle Coaster.
Opening Day to The Beast 1972 – 1991
The Racer opened with the park. The Beast, King Cobra and Vortex followed, each setting records.
Vortex
Six inversions on the old site of the first Bat. It closed in 2019 after 33 seasons.
World's tallest full-circuit coaster, first with six inversions
King Cobra
A stand-up looper, removed after TOGO went out of business and parts got hard to find.
First stand-up coaster with a loop in the U.S.The Bat (the original)
A prototype suspended coaster that spent much of its short life down for repairs. The idea came back as Top Gun in 1993.
The Beast
Built and designed by the park itself, with two lift hills through the woods.
Longest wooden coaster in the world (Guinness)Screamin' Demon
The park's first looping coaster. It moved to Camden Park in West Virginia as Thunderbolt Express and was demolished in 2004.
First steel looper to run forward and backward in the U.S.
The Racer
John Allen's twin-track racer, an opening-day ride. One side ran backward from 1982 to 2007.
Woodstock Express
A junior wooden coaster that has also been Scooby Doo, Beastie and Fairly Odd Coaster.
Bavarian Beetle
A small steel coaster brought over from Cincinnati's Coney Island, where it ran as Galaxi.
Planning a visit? Our Kings Island park guide covers today’s rides, hours and tips, and the best Kings Island coaster experiences picks the highlights of today's lineup.
Kings Island Coaster History FAQ
What roller coasters opened with Kings Island in 1972?
Three: The Racer, a twin-track wooden racer; a junior wooden coaster then called Scooby Doo, now Woodstock Express; and Bavarian Beetle, a small steel coaster from Cincinnati's Coney Island. The Racer and Woodstock Express still run.
What happened to Son of Beast?
Son of Beast opened in 2000 as the first wooden coaster with a vertical loop. After 27 people were injured on July 9, 2006, the loop was removed and lighter trains were installed. It reopened in 2007, closed for good in June 2009 after another injury report, and was demolished in 2012. Banshee now stands on part of its site.
What happened to Vortex?
Vortex opened in 1987 as the world's tallest full-circuit roller coaster at 148 feet, and the first coaster with six inversions. It closed in 2019 after 33 seasons.
Is The Bat at Kings Island the same ride as the original Bat?
No. The original Bat was a 1981 prototype suspended coaster that closed in 1983 and was torn down; Vortex was built on its site. Today's Bat opened in 1993 as Top Gun, was renamed Flight Deck in 2008, and took The Bat name in 2014.
How many roller coasters has Kings Island removed?
Eight: Bavarian Beetle, Screamin' Demon, the original Bat, King Cobra, Vortex, Scooby's Ghoster Coaster, Son of Beast and Firehawk.
Photos: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0), taken at Kings Island 2000–2023; Firehawk is shown as X-Flight at Geauga Lake. Cards crediting a Wikimedia Commons photographer use that photographer's photo. Opening and closing years: Kings Island via Wikipedia.