Earlier this month, I had a blast visiting Kings Island for the first time. The awesome Cedar Fair park is located in Mason, Ohio just northeast of Cincinnati. Opening initially in 1972, the 364-acre destination includes 14 roller coasters and basically every type of attraction. I’d heard about Kings Island for many years and finally was able to make the five-and-a-half hour drive for a one-night stay in Mason.
I only had one day at Kings Island, so I made sure to prioritize the headliners that interested me the most. This included the classic wooden coaster The Beast, massive giga coaster Orion, and recent GCI woodie Mystic Timbers. I hoped to finally discover what was in The Shed and experience as much as possible.
In this article, I describe each ride that I checked out during my Kings Island trip. I write about the highlights and give a rating on a 10-point scale. There were no total duds in the mix, and a few really stood out as incredible attractions. I also really enjoyed the food and overall vibe of Kings Island. The ride ops were excellent, and guests just seemed to have so much fun on the trip. I should mention that I did skip Banshee and Invertigo since I don’t handle inverted coasters very well. Let’s get to my ratings!
The Beast
Type of Ride: Kings Island Wooden Roller Coaster
Location: Rivertown
Highlights: Wooded setting, second drop into the large helix
Rating: 8.5/10
I arrived in Kings Island around 9:30 a.m. and immediately headed towards The Beast. This classic wooden roller coaster was created in-house in 1979 and was my top priority for this visit. I boarded the first train of the day near the back and enjoyed a wild trip into the woods. This is not an airtime machine but still includes plenty of highlights, especially the drop and turn after the second lift hill into the tunnel and double helix. That element ranked as my favorite on this coaster, which feels even longer than the four-minute ride time.
The Beast received some track updates in 2022, which likely contributed to a pretty smooth ride given its age. Compared to coasters from a similar time period like the Screamin’ Eagle at Six Flags St. Louis, it runs comfortably. I love coasters that include tunnels, interesting landscapes, and extended ride times, and all of those are present in The Beast. It tops out at 64 miles per hour with the largest drop at 141 feet, but those stats fall short of what makes this coaster shine. The mix of history and thrills makes for one of Kings Island’s top coasters.
Diamondback
Type of Ride: B&M Hypercoaster
Location: Rivertown
Highlights: Intense first drop, cool final splashdown
Rating: 8/10
My next stop was this B&M hyper coaster, which is one of the most impressive sights in the park because you walk beneath the track in the Rivertown area. Diamondback reaches a top speed of 80 miles per hour and is forceful especially with the way it pulls you over the first lift hill. I rode in the two seats in the second-last row of the train’s interesting seating format. This was the most intense ride that I experienced on this trip, and the pacing feels surprisingly relentless for this type of steel coaster.
Diamondback includes the first splashdown on a B&M hyper, but that’s really just a cool visual for people nearby. The water goes well above the vehicle, but we’re already past it by that point. I didn’t enjoy this coaster as much as Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America, and it’s mostly because of the greater intensity on Diamondback. The hammerhead turn is powerful, and it’s followed by an energetic helix. By the time we reached the station, I was ready for a break. There’s still plenty to like on Diamondback, and it remains smooth despite the speed and intensity.
Backlot Stunt Coaster
Type of Ride: Premiere Rides Launched Roller Coaster
Location: Rivertown
Highlights: Initial launch and helix, helicopter scene and fire effects
Rating: 6/10
Next up is a deceptive coaster that packs a bigger punch than you might expect. Originally themed to The Italian Job when the park was owned by Paramount, the Backlot Stunt Coaster includes nice theming. In particular, the middle scene includes a helicopter firing at you and a fire effect with the train stopped. Thankfully, these effects functioned well on my trip, which adds a lot to the experience. You’re also riding small cars resembling Mini Coopers, which recalls the source material.
The Backlot Stunt Coaster also contains a surprisingly forceful launch where the vehicles reach 40 miles per hour in three seconds. The next step is an upward helix that has strong forces especially if you aren’t expecting them. The remaining drops are minor but do include fun theming as you glide through a broken billboard. This coaster is identical to rides with the same name at Kings Dominion and Canada’s Wonderland, and I don’t want to oversell it. They’ve also lost some effects since the original version. However, it’s worth a ride because of the powerful opening and theme.
The Racer
Type of Ride: Philadelphia Toboggan Company Wooden Roller Coaster
Location: Coney Mall
Highlights: Constant floater air time, the chance to race
Rating: 7/10
Debuting with the opening of Kings Island in 1972, The Racer is known for its appearance on The Brady Bunch one year later. I haven’t seen this episode but am interested now that I’ve ridden this wooden coaster. The sad part about my experience is that only the Red side was open on a fairly slow day. I had a similar experience with American Eagle at Great America, though I believe that coaster races a lot less frequently than The Racer. Regardless, I still had fun with this 51-year-old ride.
The main reason that The Racer works is the near-constant floater air time as the trains move through the out-and-back layout. The largest drop is only 82 feet tall, which makes this woodie a nice stepping stone for younger riders who’ve already conquered the kids’ coasters. The height restriction is 48 inches, but there’s really nothing too jarring or scary in this two-minute ride. Track work several years ago likely helped, as I had a much smoother ride here than on American Eagle, for example. Don’t sleep on The Racer, especially if both the Red and Blue sides are open!
Adventure Express
Type of Ride: Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Roller Coaster
Location: Adventure Port
Highlights: Clever theming especially in the tunnels, hilarious final lift hill
Rating: 6.5/10
I love Arrow Dynamics mine train coasters, which often include strange layouts and odd theming along with a few thrills. That’s definitely the case with Adventure Express, which contains perhaps one of the silliest coaster moments in any park. The second lift hill reminds me of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and includes large warrior statues moving back and forth. The stage is set for the ride’s big finish which is…sending you back to the station. It’s a head scratcher for new riders but also adds to the charm.
Adventure Express opened in 1991 and has a little more force than your typical mine train. Even so, the maximum speed is only 35 miles per hour, and the height is only 63 feet. What lifts this coaster over similar rides is the adventure theme, which once included Indiana Jones music when Paramount owned Kings Island. The tunnels and jungle theming isn’t that immersive but helps to sell the ride’s theme.
Orion
Type of Ride: B&M Giga Coaster
Location: Area 72
Highlights: Incredible first drop, smooth ride even at 91 miles per hour
Rating: 9/10
Wow! I was a little nervous about riding my first giga, but this was such a smooth and fun ride! Not everyone agrees that Orion is a giga since it only is 287-feet high, but I’m going to count it because of its 300-foot drop. That first drop is possibly my favorite opening drop on any coaster; you basically float to the ground and don’t experience anything jarring. Unlike Diamondback, I didn’t feel like this ride was pulling me aggressively through any of the layout. Instead, this B&M coaster remained smooth and comfortable even while you reached 91 miles per hour.
Orion includes several cool airtime hills following the initial drop including a 202-foot horseshoe, but all of them feel secondary to the awesome start. There’s also some nice theming as part of this Area 72 section, which also includes the indoor Flight of Fear coaster. It includes lots of fun references to other Cedar Fair coasters at Cedar Point, Carrowinds, and more. After riding Orion, I couldn’t imagine that any other coaster would top it as my favorite Kings Island coaster. What could be better?
The Bat
Type of Ride: Arrow Dynamics Suspended Coaster
Location: Action Zone
Highlights: Unique vehicles and layout, remote location in the woods
Rating: 5.5/10
Before we get to the other top contender, I took a very long walk to a remote corner of the park and then traversed a strangely large queue for The Bat. Originally called Flight Deck and then Top Gun, this Arrow suspended steel coaster is definitely a different type of experience. I was excited to see how this ride used the terrain and flew through the woods near the Great Wolf Lodge. Unfortunately, I found this experience pretty unpleasant and had quite a headache afterwards.
The Bat might seem like a calm ride compared to inverted coasters like Banshee and Invertigo, but it’s crazier than you will expect. When you’re riding in these ride vehicles and wearing the old-school shoulder restraints, 51 miles per hour feels quite powerful. I appreciate how different this coaster is than the rest of the park, and even its location adds to the impact. My body struggles with inverted coasters, especially as I’ve gotten older, and I think it’s a similar situation with The Bat. It’s worth a ride because there are few comparable coasters out there, but you should be a little wary of this one.
Mystic Timbers
Type of Ride: GCI Wooden Roller Coaster
Location: Rivertown
Highlights: Relentless pacing, constant airtime, silly finale in the Shed
Rating: 9.5/10
When I prepped for my first visit to Kings Island, my must-do coasters were The Beast and Mystic Timbers. I was nervous when the latter remained closed for the morning. I was heading for the Railroad after riding The Bat and noticed this GCI wooden coaster had started testing. Fans were congregating around the entrance, so I decided to wait it out and see what happened. After about 15 minutes, I was thrilled when Mystic Timbers opened for the first time in the day. It blew me away!
I mentioned that Orion seemed destined to be my favorite coaster of the day, but Mystic Timbers topped it. My favorite all-time coaster is The Voyage at Holiday World, and this coaster is the only one that compares in terms of constant intensity and airtime. The main difference is that Mystic Timbers doesn’t have steep hills at the beginning, but there’s still so much to enjoy. The stats might suggest a fairly tame ride, but do not underestimate the power of this rambunctious coaster.
Mystic Timbers is an airtime machine that provides nearly constant fun without ever being jarring. It also includes a fun story about the logging company Miami River Lumber and strange happenings. The ride concludes with a visit to The Shed, which promises something a bit scarier than it actually delivers. What I like about the ending is that it leans into the goofy nature of the story. I’d much rather see parks try to do something original than just go for the basics with their coasters. Mystic Timbers was my favorite coaster at Kings Island during this visit; do not miss it!
Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad
Type of Ride: Crown Metal Products Company Steam Train
Location: Rivertown
Highlights: Relaxing break from the intense rides; old-school vibe
Rating: 6/10
After riding eight coasters in a row, I was ready for a few laid-back rides before driving back to St. Louis. I can’t skip a railroad in any park especially since they’re often closed on less busy days. The Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad opened with the park in 1972 and received updates for its 50th anniversary in 2022. It’s interesting to note that it doesn’t circle the park but instead just travels in a loop along one side beginning in Rivertown near Mystic Timbers. It does provide some excellent views of that coaster along with scenery from a western town. There is a second station for the Soak City water park, though it wasn’t open since I visited in September after Labor Day.
The Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad provides a fairly quick ride of about 10 minutes, but it provides a quiet break from the crowds and excitement. The two steam engines were built for the attraction when it opened, and it’s hard to beat the sound of the engine as we move slowly along the track. I appreciate that Kings Island offers more than just thrill rides and has a lot more throughout the park.
Boo Blasters on Boo Hill
Type of Ride: Sally Corporation Interactive Dark Ride
Location: Planet Snoopy
Highlights: Physical sets and clever figures, simple retro interactivity
Rating: 7/10
My final ride of the day was an interactive dark ride that differs slightly from the previous Scooby-Doo! themed attractions in this spot. Boo Blasters on Boo Hill is a fun experience that works because it’s all physical sets and retains the silly tone of the past version. Sally Corporation is known for this type of throwback shooting ride, and there are lots of fun details as you fire at targets with skeletons and ghosts.
My choice of Boo Blasters led to my longest line of the day thanks to a deceptive queue with lots of switchbacks that weren’t visible from outside the building. My wait was about 25 minutes, which isn’t too bad on the surface. Spending that time in a large room with lots of screaming kids made it less exciting. Even so, I really enjoyed this ride and appreciate the sets and atmosphere. It reminded me a little bit of Buzz Lightyear if you’re looking for a Disney comparison.
Boo Blasters was a nice way to end an excellent day at Kings Island. There’s so much to enjoy in this massive park, which is so much better than places like Six Flags St. Louis. The large space leads to more walking but it also allows you to breathe and appreciate the environment. It’s also more than a coaster park and includes basically every type of attraction within its 364 acres. Kings Island should be a required visit if you’re a fan of coasters or amusement parks in general. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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