Kings Dominion

Kings Dominion
Location	Doswell, Virginia, United States
Coordinates	37°50′24″N 77°26′42″W
Website	Official website
Owner	Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
General Manager	Pat Jones
Opened	1975
Previous names	Kings Dominion - 1975-93, 2007 to present Paramount's Kings Dominion - 1993 to 2006
Operating season	April - October
Area	400 acres (1.6 km2)
Rides	60 total 14 roller coasters 2 water rides
Slogan	"The Fun and Only" "Ride On"

Kings Dominion is an amusement park located in Doswell, Virginia 20 miles (32 km) north of Richmond and 75 miles (121 km) south of Washington, DC off of Interstate 95.

The 400-acre (1.6 km²) park in Hanover County was originally built and owned in a joint venture between the Taft Broadcasting Company and the Kroger Company. Kings Dominion opened in 1975 and is currently owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company who purchased Paramount Parks from CBS Corporation on June 30, 2006. It offers over 60 rides, shows and attractions including 15 roller coasters and a 20-acre (81,000 m²) water park. The name given to the park is derived from the name of its sister park, Kings Island, and the nickname for the state of Virginia, "Old Dominion".

History

Early history as Kings Dominion (1973-83)

The park entrance as seen from the observation deck of the replica Eiffel Tower

Following the success of Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, Family Leisure Centers (a partnership formed between Taft Broadcasting Company and Top Value Enterprises) decided to expand into a new region of the country by opening a second park. A 400-acre (1.6 km²) site was chosen in Doswell, Virginia in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic, and construction began in the summer of 1973. The new park was designed with Kings Island in mind as the blueprint using similar themes, rides, and activities.

Kings Dominion officially opened on May 3, 1975 offering fifteen attractions including the Rebel Yell, the Lion Country Safari Monorail, Galaxie, and a junior wooden roller coaster known as Scooby Doo. Also present at the opening was a log flume, steam train, a collection of flat rides and a cable-car sky ride that transported visitors between Old Virginia and The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera. In addition, Kings Dominion's 1/3-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower and the International Street Fountain greet visitors near the main entrance to the park. Original themed areas included The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera, International Street, Lion Country Safari, Old Virginia, and Coney Island.

Kings Dominion added their fourth roller coaster, a Schwarzkopf shuttle loop known as the King Kobra, in 1977. The King Kobra featured a 50-ton counter weight drop launch and was the park's first launched roller coaster. It was in the park for nine seasons before being relocated to Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City, Maryland and later to Hopi Hari in Brazil where it exists today as Katapul. Also in 1977, Kings Dominion was one of several amusement parks used as a set for the film Rollercoaster.

A campground was completed in time for the 1978 season and the park's well-known Lost World mountain debuted in 1979. Originally, the Lost World featured three rides: a flume ride called Voyage to Atlantis, a children's attraction mine ride known as Land of the Dooz, and a rotor called Time Shaft. Only a year later in 1980, the flume ride was rethemed Haunted River. Kings Dominion later expanded Old Virginia with the addition of the park's second wooden roller coaster, the Grizzly, in 1982 and a river rapids ride called White Water Canyon in 1983.

Growth under KECO management (1983-92)

The replica Eiffel Tower at Kings Dominion

Taft Broadcasting Company sold its theme park division in late 1983 for $167.5 million to Kings Entertainment Company (KECO), a new company formed by senior executives and general managers of Taft's Amusement Park Group. Three parks were involved in the sale — Kings Island, Kings Dominion, and Carowinds — along with a 20-percent stake in Canada's Wonderland. American Financial Group later purchased KECO in 1987 but allowed KECO to continue to manage operations at the amusement parks.

One of the first additions under the new management group was Berserker - a looping starship ride added to International Street in 1984. Also that year, Smurf Mountain replaced the mine ride Land of the Dooz, transforming the Lost World into The Smurfs theme. Kings Dominion unveiled a TOGO stand-up roller coaster in 1986 called Shockwave, the first of three roller coasters to be added under KECO. Shockwave has one loop like the older King Kobra but adds a helix. King Kobra was removed at the end of the season. A water slide complex known as Racing Rivers opened in 1987, and Avalanche, which remains the only Mack bobsled roller coaster in the United States, debuted the following year in 1988. The trains of Avalanche are themed after the United States', France's, Germany's, Canada's and Switzerland's bobsleds, so that riders in different trains can simulate being in a bobsled race in the Winter Olympics.

Kings Dominion continued to expand over the next few seasons starting with Hanna-Barbera Land in 1990 with the addition of more children flat rides. A new, looping roller coaster from Arrow Dynamics called Anaconda was introduced the following year in 1991 featuring the world's first underwater tunnel which travels under part of Lake Charles. Anaconda was also originally billed as having six loops, but unlike Arrow's six-inversion coaster Drachen Fire that opened at Busch Gardens Williamsburg the following year, the Anaconda actually has only four inversions: a vertical loop, a sidewinder, and two consecutive corkscrews.

A new 20-acre (81,000 m²) water park addition called Hurricane Reef opened in 1992. To build the water park, Kings Dominion filled in two-thirds of Lake Charles near the Candy Apple Grove region of the park. Originally it featured the Monsoon Chutes (two pairs of free-fall body slides, at 70 and 50 feet (15 m) high, respectively), the Torrential Twist (two enclosed body slides which wrapped around each other), the Pipeline (four open body slides), Cyclone (three enclosed body slides, the center of which was a free-fall), Tidal Wave (two open slides, which riders rode on inner tubes, Splash Island (an area for children with five water slides), and a lazy river.

Paramount era (1993-2006)

The Kings Dominion Theater (Named "The Paramount Theater" during the Paramount era)

Kings Dominion continued its growth when it became part of Paramount Parks in 1993 and switched its name to Paramount's Kings Dominion. New attractions and areas of the park themed to Paramount's television shows and films appeared at Paramount's Kings Dominion almost every season that they were under Paramount's ownership. In 1993, they added a motion simulator attraction, originally featuring the Days of Thunder film, and Lion County Safari was removed at the end of the season. The 1994 season saw the addition of a new area of the park themed to the 1992 Paramount motion picture Wayne's World, which featured their third full-size wooden roller coaster, Hurler, a shop called the Rock Shop, and a Stan Mikita's restaurant similar to the one featured in the film. Since then, the Wayne's World section has been merged into the Candy Apple Grove (since renamed the Grove); the Stan Mikita's was converted to the Happy Days Cafe, and the Hurler no longer has Wayne's World theming, except for a few spray painted "Wayne's World" logos near the exit of the ride. In the next year, another children's area, known as Nickelodeon Splat City, opened near the Shockwave roller coaster, this was a product of Viacom purchasing Paramount in 1994. This was later converted into Nick Central. Also Smurf Mountain was removed in 1995, leaving a dormant fiberglass mountain in the back of the park.

In 1996, Kings Dominion introduced its second launched roller coaster, and first LIM-launched roller coaster, The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear. The Outer Limits has a 56 miles per hour (90 km/h) launch, four inversions, and an identical "spaghetti bowl" layout to Flight of Fear at Kings Island. Almost as notable as the launch of The Outer Limits was the fact that the entire ride was in semi-darkness; the riders could not see where they were going. Five years after The Outer Limits opened, Paramount Parks' licensing agreement to use theming from the television show after which the ride was named expired; the Outer Limits-related theming in the ride and its queue was removed, and the ride was renamed Flight of Fear.

1997 featured the debut of Kidzville, a re-theming of the Hanna-Barbera section. Added was the new Taxi Jam roller coaster, and Scooby's Playpark became a construction themed playpen called Kidz Construction Company. Yogi's Cave was rethemed to Treasure Cave and filled with scrappy theming from other rides. Many rides in Kidzville, such as Scooby Doo's Ghoster Coaster, George Jetson's Spaceport, and Huck's Hot Rods, continued to bear the names of Hanna-Barbera characters.

Overview of Volcano, The Blast Coaster and Flight of Fear in the background

Kings Dominion continued what became a trend of adding launched roller coasters in 1998, when they opened Volcano, The Blast Coaster in the former Lost World mountain. The mountain's previous rides had all been removed several years prior, and Volcano gave the mountain a major transformation. Volcano, which was manufactured by Intamin, was the world's first LIM-launched inverted roller coaster. The ride featured two separate launch sections, an Immelman style loop out of the top of the mountain, and three heartline rolls on the way back down. Volcano was themed to the 1997 film Volcano; the other Paramount Parks added inverted or suspended roller coasters themed to Top Gun around the same time. During the next two seasons, Kings Dominion expanded Hurricane Reef behind the Rebel Yell and renamed it WaterWorks. The new portion of WaterWorks includes Pipeline Peak, a set of four enclosed water slides, one of which (the Night Slider) is the world's tallest dark free-fall slide. In 2000, Nick Central opened on what was Nick Splat City and part of Kidzville.

The park added its third launched roller coaster, Hypersonic XLC, in 2001. Hypersonic XLC, a Thrust Air 2000 air-launched coaster made by S&S Power, launched riders from 0 to 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) in 1.5 seconds, taking them up a 87-degree incline and down a 87-degree drop. The entire ride takes about 25 seconds. Hypersonic XLC broke down frequently and was closed for the first three months of its second season; no other Paramount Parks installed a similar ride. Nevertheless, Hypersonic XLC helped establish Kings Dominion's reputation as "the launched coaster capital of the world". Hypersonic XLC was removed after the 2007 season.

The early 2000s saw Kings Dominion opening new rides similar to existing rides at other Paramount Parks. In 2002, the park opened its new wild mouse roller coaster, Ricochet. Carowinds also installed their Ricochet in 2002. Diamond Falls, the Shoot-the-Chutes ride closed that season, leading to several seasons of speculation from park visitors over which ride would take its place. The 2003 season saw Kings Dominion become the final of several of the Paramount Parks to open a Drop Tower: Scream Zone, now Drop Tower: Scream Zone. The 305-foot-high (93 m) Drop Zone at Kings Dominion was the tallest freefall ride in the world at the time it opened. In 2004, Kings Dominion added Scooby-Doo! And the Haunted Mansion; similar Scooby Doo-themed dark rides had opened at three other Paramount Parks during the three previous seasons. In the next season, Kings Dominion added an inverted top spin called Tomb Raider: Firefall, now The Crypt, which was an outdoor version of a similar ride named Tomb Raider: The Ride, also now The Crypt, at Kings Island. The differences between the two were that at Kings Dominion riders' feet dangle freely and at Kings Island there is a floor. In the 2006 season, Kings Dominion opened the Italian Job Turbo Coaster, its fourth launched roller coaster. Unlike the previously built launched coasters at Kings Dominion, each of which was faster than its predecessor, the Italian Job Turbo Coaster is designed more as a family ride and features several launches at 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). The coaster would later be renamed the Backlot Stunt Coaster in 2008. It is similar to the Backlot Stunt Coaster rides at Kings Island and Canada's Wonderland, which both opened in 2005.

On May 22, 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. announced that they were purchasing all five Paramount Parks. The sale was finalized on June 30, 2006 for $1.24 billion. The park retained its Paramount's Kings Dominion name through the end of the 2006 season and reverted to its original Kings Dominion name beginning in the 2007 season.

Cedar Fair era (2007-present)

Control of the Paramount Parks had been transferred from Viacom to CBS Corporation at the start of the 2007 season. For the 2007 season, the park lowered its single-day admission by $5 to $44.95, one year after Cedar Point had made the same change to their ticket prices. This was the first time that Kings Dominion has ever lowered their ticket prices for a full season. In addition, they brought back their Starlight discount, which allows admission to the park for $29.99 after 4pm. Kings Dominion expanded WaterWorks for the 2007 season, adding a second wave pool called Tidal Wave Bay, a four-person family raft slide called Zoom Flume, and a ProSlide Tornado.

During the Cedar Fair era, the park introduced the Halloween event "HAUNT". While the park had always had a Halloween event, the new HAUNT event has been received very well.

In December 2006, Kings Dominion also put Hypersonic XLC up for sale. The park announced plans to keep it running until a buyer was found. It remained in operation during the 2007 season and was closed and dismantled several weeks before the 2008 season started. Also during the 2007-2008 offseason, Cedar Fair renamed the park's last two rides to open with Paramount theming. Drop Zone Stunt Tower became Drop Tower Scream Zone, The Italian Job: Turbo Coaster became Backlot Stunt Coaster, and Tomb Raider: Firefall received the name The Crypt. The Paramount Theater also changed its name to Kings Dominion Theater.

Dominator, a Bolliger & Mabillard floorless roller coaster formerly located at Geauga Lake, opened in 2008 in International Street. The Dominator is the longest floorless roller coaster in the world, with the second largest vertical loop in the world

The 2008 and 2009 seasons saw Kings Dominion receive three rides which had operated at Geauga Lake during its dry amusement park's final season. On October 23, 2007, Kings Dominion announced that Dominator, a floorless roller coaster, would be moved to Kings Dominion and located in the International Street section. Dominator opened on May 24, 2008, becoming Kings Dominion's first roller coaster with five inversions. For the 2009 season, two flat rides once located at Geauga Lake, like Dominator, opened in 2009. Located near Rebel Yell, Americana became Kings Dominion's first Ferris wheel. El Dorado, a pendulum ride, opened in the former site of Hypersonic XLC next to the Xtreme Skyflyer.

For the 2010 season, Kings Dominion opened Intimidator 305, a 305 ft (92.464 m) tall gigacoaster by Intamin. The ride features a cable lift hill, an 85° first drop and a maximum speed of at least 94 mph (145 km/h). The ride, which is themed to the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, was announced on August 20, 2009, and represents the park's largest-ever capital investment. It is open as of May 2010. Also for the 2010 season, the Kidzville and Nickelodeon Universe areas of the park are being re-themed to Planet Snoopy, as are the children's areas at Canada's Wonderland and Kings Island. The park has renamed the Hanna-Barbera themed rides in Kidzville to match the Planet Snoopy theme, ending the park's 35-year run with Scooby Doo and other Hanna-Barbera characters.

For the 2012 season, Kings Dominion will install WindSeeker in the Grove section of the park next to Juke Box Diner. This ride has versions in other Cedar Fair parks such as Canada's Wonderland, Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Knott's Berry Farm, and one will also go up at Carowinds. The ride will stand 301 ft tall and will give riders a view of the surrounding area. Kings Dominion will also add Dinosaurs Alive!, an upcharge dinosaur walkthrough which will be located in the Old Virginia section of the park, this time by Grizzly's entrance. This attraction also appears at Kings Island, and Cedar Point, Canada's Wonderland and Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.

Current areas and attractions

Ride Rating System
Rating	Thrill	Description
1	Low	Rides that are generally calm and gentle in nature
2	Mild	Rides that generally have low speeds with gentle motion and braking. Rides have smooth transitions with some changes in elevation and speed.
3	Moderate	Rides that generally have low to medium speeds and/or heights with moderate motion and braking. Riders may encounter unexpected changes in direction and/or speed during portions of the ride.
4	High	Rides that generally have medium to high speeds and/or heights with moderate to rapid braking. Riders may encounter unexpected changes in speed, direction and/or elevation.
5	Aggressive	Rides that generally have one or more of the following: high speeds and/or heights, aggressive and unexpected forces, and rapid directional or elevation change. Riders will encounter many unexpected rapid changes in speed, direction and/or elevation.

International Street

International Street is the park's main walkway area, which greets guests when they enter the park. Both sides of the walkway are lined with shops, including two park related souvenir shops just inside the park's front gate. Originally, only the walkway and its shops were considered part of the International Street area; during the park's Paramount seasons, the boundaries of International Street expanded to include the Action Theater.

Ride	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Rating
Action Theater	1994		A 3-D theater which currently houses a 3-D Spongebob Squarepants related movie. Formerly known as The Paramount Action F/X Theater (1998-2008), Days Of Thunder (1994-1997).
Beserker	1984	Intamin	An Intamin Looping Starship ride.	4
Dominator	2008	Bolliger & Mabillard	A Bolliger & Mabillard floorless roller coaster. Originally from Geauga Lake in Ohio.	5
Eiffel Tower	1975	Intamin	An approximately one-third scale replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris at 315 feet (96 m) and 450 tons. There is an exact replica at Kings Island.	2

Old Virginia

Grizzly

Along with International Street, Old Virginia is the only original section of Kings Dominion that has kept its same name throughout the park's history. In the 1970s, Old Virginia had an Intamin Flying Dutchman flat ride called Jamestown Landing; behind it, Old Virginia had a steam train ride, Old Dominion Line, which ran through the woods in the back of the park. Jamestown Landing closed by 1980; the Old Dominion Line stayed until it closed in the 1990s. .

Ride	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Rating
Blue Ridge Tollway	1975		Passenger-driven cars that ride along on a guide rail.	2
Flying Eagles	1975	Bish-Rocco	A Flying Scooters type ride.	2
Grizzly	1982	Taft Broadcasting	A wooden roller coaster. A similar one exists at Canada's Wonderland.	4
Kings Dominion Theater			A theater. Originally named The Paramount Theater	4
Shenandoah Lumber Company		Arrow Dynamics	An Arrow Dynamics log flume ride.	4
Thunder Raceway	1995	R.E. Enterprises	Pay-per-ride Go-kart racing track.	4
White Water Canyon	1983	Intamin	A River rafting ride. Originally White Water Rafting Adventure.	4

The Grove

The Grove section opened with the park in 1975, and it has also been named as Coney Island and the Candy Apple Grove. Currently it is Kings Dominion's largest section in the park. Candy Apple Grove opened with an orchard theme, complete with singing mushrooms, large candy apples, and three apple themed flat rides which were Adam's Apple, Apple Turnover, and Bad Apple. Candy Apple Grove lost much of its theming during the 1990s and changed its name to The Grove by 2001.

Besides rides, visitors can play games like Water Racers, play arcade style games in Grove Arcade, eat great foods like pizza, lasagna, or burgers at Victoria Pizza or Juke Box Diner, and shop name brand items at the Rock Shop.

Ride	Year Opened	Manufacturer	Description	Rating
Americana	2009		A Ferris Wheel that previously operated at Geauga Lake from 1999-2007.	2
Carousel		Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters	A wooden Carousel. One of the last wooden carousels operating in the world.	1
Dinosaurs Alive!	2012	Dinosaurs Unearthed	A pay-per-entry walkthrough Dinosaur attraction.	4
Dodgem			A classic Bumper cars attraction.	4
Drop Tower: Scream Zone	2003	Intamin	An Intamin Gyro drop tower	4
Hurler	1994	International Coasters, Inc.	A triple out-and-back Wooden roller coaster.	4
Rebel Yell	1975	Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters	A racing wooden roller coaster.	4
Ricochet	2002	Mack Rides	A wild mouse roller coaster.	4
Shockwave	1986	TOGO	A steel Stand-up roller coaster	5
Wave Swinger	1986	Zierer	A suspended swing ride that rotates with a wave motion lifting riders up to 30 feet (9.1 m) in the air.	3
WindSeeker	2012	Mondial	A flat ride featuring two-person swings that slowly rotate and ascend the 301-foot (92 m) tower until reaching the top where speeds increase up to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h).	4
Xtreme Skyflyer	1995	Sky Fun	Pay-per-ride Double Skycoaster	5

Congo

Congo is Kings Dominion's easternmost and predominantly African-themed section. It was inspired by one of the park's original attractions, the Lion Country Safari. Containing a boat ride and a monorail train through a nature preserve, the safari attraction closed in the 1990s. Congo is known for containing some of the park's most technologically innovative rides.

Ride	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Rating
Anaconda	1991	Arrow Dynamics	An Arrow Dynamics custom looping coaster. It was the first coaster to feature an underwater tunnel and the first coaster at Kings Dominion to feature more than one inversion.	5
Avalanche	1988	Mack Rides	A bobsled roller coaster that is the only Mack bobsled coaster currently running in the United States.	3
Backlot Stunt Coaster	2006	Premier Rides	A family LIM-launched roller coaster based on the chase sequence of the 2003 remake of The Italian Job. Riders launch into a parking garage, dodge police cars, and are attacked by a helicopter, which ignites fire all around riders before hitting a second launch section, sending riders into pitch black darkness. Formerly known as The Italian Job: Stunt Track (2005–2007).	5
The Crypt	2005	HUSS	A HUSS suspended top spin. Formerly known as Tomb Raider: Firefall (2005-2007).	5
Flight of Fear	1996	Premier Rides	A LIM-launched roller coaster prototype. Over-the-Shoulder harnesses were removed and replaced with lap bars in 2001. Formerly known as Outer Limits: Flight of Fear (1996–2000).	5
Intimidator 305	2010	Intamin	An Intamin giga coaster. Kings Dominion's newest roller coaster and one of the tallest in the world.	5
Scrambler	2000	Eli Bridge Company	A classic scrambler ride.	3
Volcano, The Blast Coaster	1998	Intamin	An Intamin launched inverted roller coaster. The largest of its kind in the world.	5

Children's areas

Planet Snoopy

Planet Snoopy, originally opened as Nickelodeon Central in 1996. It was re-themed to the Peanuts for the 2010 season, along with the other former Paramount Parks.

• Flying Ace
• Joe Cool Driving School
• Snoopy's Moon Bounce
• Snoopy's Splash Dance

KidZville

KidZville opened in 1997 and is the second chidren's area at Kings Dominion.

• Boo Blasters on Boo Hill
• Boulder Bumpers
• Ghoster Coaster
• Hot Rods
• Jeep Tours
• Junior Turnpike
• Red Baron
• Road Rally
• Space Port
• Swing A Round
• Taxi Jam
• Virginia Clipper

WaterWorks

Main article: WaterWorks

Free with the parks admission, WaterWorks can be thought of in terms of its two sides: Northside which was formerly known as Hurricane Reef, and Southside which is the newer section of WaterWorks. The rides that WaterWorks had as Hurricane Reef in the mid-1990s are all located in front of the Rebel Yell roller coaster; the newer rides are behind the Rebel Yell and are accessible by walking under the Rebel Yell on a walkway between Baja Bends and Shoot the Curl. The original Hurricane Reef attractions received new names when Kings Dominion renamed the water park WaterWorks in 1999.

Timeline

• 1974: Preview center opened featuring a film theater, Ghoster Coaster (then called Scooby-Doo), and Lion Country Safari (at that time, visitors had to drive their own vehicles through the safari section, later to be replaced by a monorail a few years after). Rebel Yell had been completed at that time, but did not open until spring of 1975 along with the rest of the park.
• 1975: Park opened in spring of 1975 (One week after Busch Gardens "The Old Country" in nearby Williamsburg, VA)
• 1976: Apple Turnover (Enterprise flat ride)
• 1977: King Kobra (Steel coaster)
• 1978: Kings Dominion Campground
• 1979: Lost World (Themed area); featuring Journey to Atlantis, Land of the Dooz and Time Shaft
• 1980: Haunted River replaced Journey to Atlantis
• 1982: Grizzly and Amphitheater
• 1983: White Water Canyon; Galaxie coaster closed
• 1984: Berserker; Smurf Mountain replaced Land of the Dooz
• 1985: Diamond Falls and Scooby's Play Park
• 1986: Shockwave; King Kobra removed
• 1987: Racing Rivers
• 1988: Avalanche
• 1989: Sky Pilot (Flat ride, took the place of Apple Turnover)
• 1990: Hanna-Barbera Land expansion
• 1991: Anaconda
• 1992: Hurricane Reef (Water park)
• 1993: Days of Thunder (Motion simulator theater)
• 1994: Hurler; Old Dominion Line steam train removed
• 1995: Nickelodeon Central; Smurf Mountain is removed
• 1996: Flight of Fear and Xtreme SkyFlyer
• 1997: Taxi Jam; Hanna-Barbera Land renamed KidZville
• 1998: Volcano; Action Theater replaces Days of Thunder
• 1999: Expansion of Hurricane Reef to WaterWorks
• 2000: Pipeline Peak added to WaterWorks
• 2001: HyperSonic XLC (Xtreme Launch Coaster); Shockwave and Anaconda both receive a new color scheme for the year
• 2002: Ricochet and Triple Spin; Diamond Falls closes
• 2003: Drop Tower and SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D
• 2004: Scooby-Doo & The Haunted Mansion
• 2005: The Crypt
• 2006: Backlot Stunt Coaster and Thunder Raceway Go-Karts; Flight of Fear shut down until mid-August when it reopened; FearFest's last year before stepping to a new level of fear
• 2007: Tidal Wave Bay, Tornado and Zoom Flume added to WaterWorks; last year for Hypersonic XLC; the park welcome Halloween Haunt, a new level of fear inspired from another Cedar Fair park, Knott's Berry Farm (Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt)
• 2008: Dominator (Originally from the now closed amusement park Geauga Lake)
• 2009: El Dorado and Americana (Both relocated from Geauga Lake); Grizzly retracked
• 2010: Intimidator 305 (Intamin Giga Coaster), Planet Snoopy (Retheme of Nickelodon Central) and Boo Blasters on Boo Hill replaces Scooby-Doo & The Haunted Mansion; Rebel Yell retracked; installed trim brakes on Intimidator 305
• 2011: Snoopy's Starlight Spectular - a lightshow featuring Snoopy and the gang. Removed trim brakes from Intimidator 305 and made modifications to first turn; Shockwave painted with a different color scheme; Grizzly retracked.
• 2012: WindSeeker and Dinosaurs Alive!; El Dorado closes.

Retired rides and attractions

• 1974-1993: Lion County Safari
• 1975-19??: Adam's Apple (himalaya ride)
• 1975-19??: Flying Carpets
• 1975-1983: Galaxie (Galaxi) made by S.D.C.
• 1975-1994: Old Dominion Steam Line train
• 1975-19??: Chairlift (Two entrances, one next to the Rebel Yell and one in Hanna-Barbera)
• 1975-1993: Safari Monorail
• 1976-1993: Apple Turnover (Enterprise ride next to Lake Charles)
• 1977-1986: King Kobra (Steel Coaster)
• 1979-1980: The Lost World Mountain: Journey to Atlantis (Replaced by Haunted River)
• 1979-1997: The Time Shaft (located in the mountain of Volcano)
• 1980-1997: The Haunted River (located in the mountain of Volcano)
• 1984-1995: Smurf Mountain (located in the mountain of Volcano)
• 1985-2002: Diamond Falls (Big Splash ride) (located where Black Lot Stunt coaster sits)
• 1989-19??: Sky Pilot (Located near Rebel Yell in Candy Apple Grove)
• 2001-2007: Hypersonic XLC compressed air-launched coaster made by S&S Power
• 2004-2009: Scooby Doo And The Haunted Mansion (Replaced by Boo Blasters on Boo Hill)
• 2009-2011: El Dorado (Located in the current WindSeeker location)

Past logos

• 

  Kings Dominion Logo used from 1993 - 2006 during the Paramount years (a revised one was used 2003-2006)

• 

  Kings Dominion logo from 2003-2006

• 

  Logo used briefly in 2007 after the switch from Paramount Parks

External links

• Official website
• Official website of Intimidator 305
• Historical Kings Dominion Gallery
• Photos of Kings Dominion c. 1981.
• Kings Dominion to open section featuring five water attractions - 1992 article from Travel Weekly announcing the opening of Hurricane Reef (requires subscription)
• Kings Dominion attraction timeline
• The people's park: Kings Dominion always takes you back - article in the Hook weekly
• Kings Dominion Timeline: 1971-2005
• Old Kings Dominion Photos: 1975-2004
• KDfansite | Unofficial Fansite of Kings Dominion
• VaThrills | Unofficial Fansite of Kings Dominion
• Kings Dominion photo book from 1981