Kings Island timeline

This is a timeline for Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio.

Timeline

Pre-opening

1969 – Taft Broadcasting Company then purchased 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of land in Warren County, Ohio for $3.2 million.

1970 – June 15, construction of Kings Island started.

1971 – Construction of the Eiffel Tower, Royal Fountain and The Racer roller coaster were completed. Rides and attractions had been transported and installed from Coney Island.

1972–1979

1972 – Opening – Kings Island opened its gates for the first of several preview events on April 29, and officially opened to the public May 27.

1973 – April 18, the park announced the completion of a $6 million expansion project. The Partridge Family, filmed at the park in the episode "I Left My Heart in Cincinnati". The Brady Bunch, filmed at the park in the episode "The Cincinnati Kids".

1974 – Karl Wallenda broke a world Skywalk record of 1,600 feet (490 m).

1975 – October 25, Evel Knievel successfully jumped 14 Greyhound buses. Coney Island is extended.

1976 – Air theatre collapse from winter snow. July 4, the park held a bicentennial celebration and the wedding of Paul Revere from the pop rock band Paul Revere & the Raiders that made Time Magazine. July 24, safari ranger John McCann was mauled by a lion and died.[1]

1977 – First forward- and backward-looping roller coaster in the country opened. Dick Van Dyke became a spokesperson for the park. The movie Rollercoaster was filmed at the park.

1978 – Construction begins on The Beast. College Football Hall of Fame joined the Kings Island complex. Comedian Jonathan Winters became the spokesperson.

1979 – The Beast breaks world records for tallest, fastest and longest wooden roller coaster.

1980s

1980 – The Beast's 540deg helix was enclosed.

1981 – Wild Animal Habitat joined the Cincinnati Zoo and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine to establish the Cincinnati Wildlife Federation. Performers were added throughout the park entertain guests.

1982 – A $2.1 million expansion renovation of Hanna-Barbera Land. One of the trains on the Racer was turned around to travel in the backwards direction. July 9, Air Supply kicked off the new amphitheater. Was the first year for Winterfest. May 26, employee Terry Raitt was mauled by a lion. He suffered a punctured trachea and body cuts but survived.[2]

1983 – The Bat was closed due to mechanical problems. The first eland-to-eland embryo transfer in veterinary medicine history resulted in a birth at the park. King's Entertainment Company founded. May 13, John Harter, 17, was killed after falling down the elevator shaft from a restricted area of the Eiffel Tower.[3]

1984 – The first roller coaster designed for riders to stand opened at the park. Smurfs were introduced to the park.

1985 –

1986 – Coney Island was expanded and renamed. Flying Eagles and Dodgems were relocated within the park.

1987 – The Vortex broke the world record for most inversions. First ice skating show at Festhaus. Zodiac is closed to riders.

1988 – Science Day debuted at the park.

1989 – $4.2 million water park addition was added as well as an additional station for Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad. The two-day ticket was introduced.

1990s

1990 –

1991 – Olympic figure skating medalist Debi Thomas and teen stars from "Beverly Hills 90210" and the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" made special appearances. On June 9, two men, William Haithcoat, 20, and employee Darrel Robertson, 20, were killed and another hospitalized from electrocution after entering a shallow pond near the Oktoberfest beer garden. Later the same day, Candy Taylor, 32, fell from Flight Commander and also died.[4]

1992 – July 31, Paramount Communications, Inc. purchased Kings Island and KECO to form Paramount Parks. November 21, the park announced that it would be Winterfest's final year.

1993 – The park becomes "Paramount’s Kings Island". Animals from Wild Animal Habitat are removed.

1994 –

1995 – Nickelodeon was introduced to the park.

1996 – The world's first Linear Induction Motor (LIM) launch roller coaster opens at the park.

1997 – The park land was annexed into the city of Mason, Ohio.

1998 – Hanna-Barbara Land got a makeover and new rides.

1999 – Worlds tallest gyro-drop at 315 ft opens. Construction started on Son of Beast.

2000s

2000 – World's tallest, fastest, and only looping wooden roller coaster opens. A WaterWorks entrance from the parking lot is added. FearFest debuts at the park for the first time.

2001 – Part of Rivertown and Hanna-Barbara Land is added to the Nickelodeon Central kids area. Gold Season Passes are introduced. The world's first junior inverted coaster opens. First 3D movie plays at FX Theater.

2002 – World first enclosed giant tops spin ride is opens. Construction begins on Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle.

2003 – World's first Giant Frisbee ride opens. Metal detectors are added at the front gates. Royal Fountain are refurbished. A large American Flag is added to the Eiffel Tower. September, the park's main marquee sign was destroyed by high winds.

2004 – The Nickelodeon Parade debuts in July. Kings Island Campground is closed.

2005 – Winterfest returns.

2006 – Kids area gets makeover. June 30, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company purchases Paramount Parks from CBS Corporation for $1.25 billion. Son of Beast accident sends 27 people to the hospital and is closed. Winterfest is cancelled.

2007 – Paramount is removed from Kings Island's name. Fear Fest is renamed Halloween Haunt. Ice skating show returns. July 4, Son of Beast reopens.

2008 – Paramount movie ride names are changed. Daredevil Robbie Knievel jumped his motorcycle over 24 Coke Zero trucks in the parking lot to set a new world record. Rick Wallenda sets a new record with a 2,000-foot skywalk from the Eiffel Tower over the Fountains on International Street. The Kings Island Hall of Fame was created. Howl-O-Fest is introduced to the park. Swan Lake was drained to begin construction of Diamondback.

2009 – New amusement park record for the most money raised for a first riders auction. Son of Beast closed again this time for good.

2010s

2010 – PEANUTS characters were introduced to the park.

2011 – World's largest animatronic dinosaur park opens. Trick-or-Treat with the Dinosaurs was introduced. New water park was announced. Fast Lane was also introduced.

2012 – Water park gets a makeover with new attractions and a new entrance. Soak City introduces Howl-o-palooza

2013 – Dinosaurs Alive! receives the world's largest dino called the Sauroposeidon.

2014 – Kings Island receives the world's longest inverted coaster.

2015 – Kings Island receives the largest Starbucks in the Midwest And The Picnic area gets remodeled

2016 - Tropical Plunge added to Soak City.

2017 - Mystic Timbers a Great Coasters International wooden roller coaster added.

Sources

References

  1. ↑ "Lion kill safari ranger". Times Daily. Jul 26, 1976. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Amusement park lion attacks ranger who was cleaning area". Toledo Blade. 27 May 1982. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Teen dies from fall at amusement park". The Bryan Times. May 10, 1983. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Three Die in Mishaps at Ohio Park over Fun Weekend". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1991-06-11. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
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