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Coordinates: 39°20′46″N 84°15′53″W / 39.3461008°N 84.2646861°W / 39.3461008; -84.2646861
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'''Son of Beast''' is a record-breaking [[wooden roller coaster]] located at [[Kings Island]] in [[Mason, Ohio|Mason]], [[Ohio]], [[United States]], outside of [[Cincinnati]]. Son of Beast is billed as the sequel to [[The Beast (roller coaster)|The Beast]]. The ride was shut down in 2009 due to a reported injury, and has been standing but not operating since.
'''Son of Beast''' is a record-breaking [[wooden roller coaster|wooden]] [[hypercoaster|hyper]] [[roller coaster]] located at [[Kings Island]] in [[Mason, Ohio|Mason]], [[Ohio]], [[United States]], outside of [[Cincinnati]]. Son of Beast is billed as the sequel to [[The Beast (roller coaster)|The Beast]]. The ride was shut down in 2009 due to a reported injury, and has been [[standing but not operating]] since.


The sign located at the entrance of the ride featured a large wooden box covered with chains, rope, and metal straps. The front of the box is ripped open, suggesting a large creature of some sort tore its way out. The words "Son of Beast" were located in the center of the hole.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fudge |first=Mike |url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/13777937@N06/2175497594/ |title=Son of Beast &#124; Flickr - Photo Sharing! |publisher=Flickr |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>
The sign located at the entrance of the ride featured a large wooden box covered with chains, rope, and metal straps. The front of the box is ripped open, suggesting a large creature of some sort tore its way out. The words "Son of Beast" were located in the center of the box.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fudge |first=Mike |url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/13777937@N06/2175497594/ |title=Son of Beast &#124; Flickr - Photo Sharing! |publisher=Flickr |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Line 41: Line 41:
Prior to the removal of the loop, the ride originally operated with three [[Premier Rides]]-designed trains. The trains consisted of 6 cars, each holding 6 people. During the 2005/2006 offseason, the trains were shortened to 5 cars on each train. In 2007, they were replaced with two [[Gerstlauer]] trains from the defunct [[Hurricane: Category 5]] roller coaster at [[Myrtle Beach Pavilion]].<ref>{{RCDB|rcdb_number=584 |coaster_name=Son Of Beast |location=Kings Island |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>
Prior to the removal of the loop, the ride originally operated with three [[Premier Rides]]-designed trains. The trains consisted of 6 cars, each holding 6 people. During the 2005/2006 offseason, the trains were shortened to 5 cars on each train. In 2007, they were replaced with two [[Gerstlauer]] trains from the defunct [[Hurricane: Category 5]] roller coaster at [[Myrtle Beach Pavilion]].<ref>{{RCDB|rcdb_number=584 |coaster_name=Son Of Beast |location=Kings Island |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>


After it was announced that Son of Beast would close, the box at the entrance was removed.<ref>{{cite web|author=John |url=http://www.coaster101.com/2010/04/26/son-of-beast-signage-gone/ |title=Son of Beast Signage Gone |publisher=Coaster101 |date=2010-04-26 |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>
After it was announced that Son of Beast would close, the box at the entrance was removed.<ref>{{cite web|author=John |url=http://www.coaster101.com/2010/04/26/son-of-beast-signage-gone/ |title=Son of Beast Signage Gone |publisher=Coaster101 |date=2010-04-26 |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> Today, Son of Beast is no longer on the website and the park map and any references of the coaster have been taken out of Kings Island. <ref>http://www.visitkingsisland.com/things-to-do/thrill-rides</ref><ref>http://www.visitkingsisland.com/plan-a-visit/park-map</ref>


==Layout==
==Layout==
[[Image:PKI-Son of Beast.jpg|thumb|Son of Beast with loop]]
[[Image:PKI-Son of Beast.jpg|thumb|Son of Beast with loop]]
Upon loading the train, it leaves the station and makes a left-hand drop into a series of short hops before turning onto the {{convert|218|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} lift hill. Upon cresting the lift hill, the track makes a snaking left-hand turn over to the first drop, where it drops {{convert|214|ft|m}} to the ground, then a 70° banked turn to the right before descending a {{convert|168|ft|m}} second drop into a right-hand curve into a left-hand double helix known as the "Rose Bowl" or "Cone". Coming out of the helix, the ride passes through a mid-course brake run, and then makes a drop into a straight section of track (this was where the vertical loop was prior to 2006), before making another helix, a series of short hills, and finally hitting the ending brakes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn7J31gykP8 |title=Son of Beast Front Seat [POV&#93; HD video Kings Island Cincinnati OH |publisher=YouTube |date=2009-06-08 |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/new00/pki_sob/pki_sob_layout.html |title=2000 Preview - Son Of Beast Layout |publisher=Ultimate Rollercoaster |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>
Upon loading the train, it leaves the station and makes a {{convert|51|ft|m}} left-hand drop into a series of short hops before turning onto the {{convert|218|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} lift hill. Upon cresting the lift hill, the track makes a snaking left-hand turn over to the first drop, where it drops {{convert|214|ft|m}} to the ground, then a 70° banked turn to the right before descending a {{convert|168|ft|m}} second drop into a right-hand curve into a left-hand double helix known as the "Rose Bowl" or "Cone". Coming out of the helix, the ride passes through a mid-course brake run, and then makes a drop into a straight section of track (this was where the vertical loop was prior to 2006), before making another helix, a series of short hills, and finally hitting the ending brakes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn7J31gykP8 |title=Son of Beast Front Seat [POV&#93; HD video Kings Island Cincinnati OH |publisher=YouTube |date=2009-06-08 |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/new00/pki_sob/pki_sob_layout.html |title=2000 Preview - Son Of Beast Layout |publisher=Ultimate Rollercoaster |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>


===Materials===
===Materials===
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Included in its many world records, Son of Beast was the world's tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, the only modern wooden roller coaster in the world to incorporate a [[vertical loop]], and the second longest wooden roller coaster (second only to its predecessor, [[The Beast (roller coaster)|The Beast]], also located at Kings Island). <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coastergrotto.com/review.jsp?argId=137 |title=Son of Beast - Review |publisher=Coaster Grotto |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> This second-place record was deliberate, in order to leave the Beast with its 30+ year world record as the longest wooden coaster. Until the removal of its vertical loop in 2006, Son of Beast was also the longest roller coaster on Earth to contain a vertical loop. After its removal, [[California Screamin']] at [[Disney California Adventure Park]] gained the title.
Included in its many world records, Son of Beast was the world's tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, the only modern wooden roller coaster in the world to incorporate a [[vertical loop]], and the second longest wooden roller coaster (second only to its predecessor, [[The Beast (roller coaster)|The Beast]], also located at Kings Island). <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coastergrotto.com/review.jsp?argId=137 |title=Son of Beast - Review |publisher=Coaster Grotto |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> This second-place record was deliberate, in order to leave the Beast with its 30+ year world record as the longest wooden coaster. Until the removal of its vertical loop in 2006, Son of Beast was also the longest roller coaster on Earth to contain a vertical loop. After its removal, [[California Screamin']] at [[Disney California Adventure Park]] gained the title.


* [[List of roller coaster rankings#Fastest wooden roller coasters|Fastest wooden roller coaster]]
* [[List of roller coaster rankings#Fastest wooden roller coasters|Fastest wooden roller coaster]] <ref name="rankings">{{cite news |title=roller coaster timeline|year=2005|url=http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/history/timeline.shtml|accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>
* Only looping wooden roller coaster (2000–2006, loop removed after the 2006 season)
* Only looping wooden roller coaster (2000–2006, loop removed after the 2006 season) <ref>http://www.zuko.com/generation/Extreme_Wooden_Roller_Coasters.asp</ref>
* [[List of roller coaster rankings#Tallest wooden roller coasters|Tallest wooden roller coaster]]
* [[List of roller coaster rankings#Tallest wooden roller coasters|Tallest wooden roller coaster]] <ref name="rankings"/>
* [[List of roller coaster rankings#Tallest wooden roller coaster drops|Tallest wooden roller coaster drops]] (1st and 2nd drops beat the previous record. 2nd drop record now held by Colossos at Heide-Park Soltau in Germany)
* [[List of roller coaster rankings#Tallest wooden roller coaster drops|Tallest wooden roller coaster drops]] (1st and 2nd drops beat the previous record. 2nd drop record now held by Colossos at Heide-Park Soltau in Germany) <ref name="rankings"/>
* Longest looping roller coaster (until 2006; [[California Screamin']] at [[Disney California Adventure Park]] now holds that record)
* Longest looping roller coaster (until 2006; [[California Screamin']] at [[Disney California Adventure Park]] now holds that record)
* Most wooden coaster track at one park (22,612&nbsp;ft)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coaster-net.com/ride-gallery/69-son-of-beast/ |title=Son of Beast Article -> COASTER-net.com: Amusement Park and Roller Coaster News, Information, Photographs, & more! |publisher=COASTER-net |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>
* Most wooden coaster track at one park (22,612&nbsp;ft)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coaster-net.com/ride-gallery/69-son-of-beast/ |title=Son of Beast Article -> COASTER-net.com: Amusement Park and Roller Coaster News, Information, Photographs, & more! |publisher=COASTER-net |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref>
* World's first and only wooden [[hypercoaster]] (over {{convert|200|ft|m}} high)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rcca.com/RCCA/rides.html |title=Roller Coaster Corporation of America |publisher=Rcca.com |date= |accessdate=2011-09-26}}</ref>
* World's first and only wooden [[hypercoaster]] (over {{convert|200|ft|m}} high) <ref>http://www.coaster-net.com/blogs/150-kings-island-a-leader-in-new-ideas-for-years/</ref>

==Incidents==
==Incidents==
{{main|Incidents at Cedar Fair parks}}
{{main|Incidents at Cedar Fair parks}}
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On March 16, 2010, General Manager for Kings Island, Greg Scheid, stated that the ride has cost nearly $30 million so far for the park and that it would not open for the 2010 season.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2010/03/kings_island_hopeful_new_owner_or_not.html Son of Beast a no-go for 2010] Business Courier</ref> References to the ride were removed from the park map and website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitkingsisland.com/public/park/map/index.cfm |title=Kings Island park map |publisher=Visitkingsisland.com |date= |accessdate=2011-09-26}}</ref> A Kings Island spokesperson announced that the coaster will be closed for 2011 for the second straight season, and that the ride's future has not been decided. "No decision has been made concerning the ride's future," spokesman Don Helbig said. "It would be inappropriate to speculate on when a decision might be made. There's nothing else to talk about."<ref>[http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110423/NEWS01/104240311/What-s-next-Son-Beast- What's next for Son of Beast?] Cincinnati Enquirer</ref>
On March 16, 2010, General Manager for Kings Island, Greg Scheid, stated that the ride has cost nearly $30 million so far for the park and that it would not open for the 2010 season.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2010/03/kings_island_hopeful_new_owner_or_not.html Son of Beast a no-go for 2010] Business Courier</ref> References to the ride were removed from the park map and website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitkingsisland.com/public/park/map/index.cfm |title=Kings Island park map |publisher=Visitkingsisland.com |date= |accessdate=2011-09-26}}</ref> A Kings Island spokesperson announced that the coaster will be closed for 2011 for the second straight season, and that the ride's future has not been decided. "No decision has been made concerning the ride's future," spokesman Don Helbig said. "It would be inappropriate to speculate on when a decision might be made. There's nothing else to talk about."<ref>[http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110423/NEWS01/104240311/What-s-next-Son-Beast- What's next for Son of Beast?] Cincinnati Enquirer</ref>


{{As of|2011|alt=As of the end of the 2011 season}}, the ride remains closed and no announcements have been made regarding the future of the attraction.{{Update after|2012|4|1|reason=check status again near the beginning of the 2012 season}}
{{As of|2011|alt=As of the end of the 2011 season}}, the ride remains closed and no announcements have been made regarding the future of the coaster.{{Update after|2012|4|1|reason=check status again near the beginning of the 2012 season}}


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 19:40, 11 March 2012

Son of Beast
Son of Beast's track layout after the loop was removed
Kings Island
LocationKings Island
Park sectionAction Zone
Coordinates39°20′46″N 84°15′53″W / 39.3461008°N 84.2646861°W / 39.3461008; -84.2646861
StatusClosed
Opening dateMay 26, 2000
Closing dateJune 16, 2009
Cost$20,500,000 USD (Approximately)
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerRoller Coaster Corporation of America
DesignerWerner Stengel
Track layoutTerrain
Lift/launch systemChain Lift
Height218 ft (66 m)
Drop214 ft (65 m)
Length7,032 ft (2,143 m)
Speed78 mph (126 km/h)
Inversions1 (2000-2006)
0 (2007-present)
Duration2:20
Max vertical angle56°
Capacity1600 riders per hour
G-force4.5
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Son of Beast at RCDB

Son of Beast is a record-breaking wooden hyper roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, United States, outside of Cincinnati. Son of Beast is billed as the sequel to The Beast. The ride was shut down in 2009 due to a reported injury, and has been standing but not operating since.

The sign located at the entrance of the ride featured a large wooden box covered with chains, rope, and metal straps. The front of the box is ripped open, suggesting a large creature of some sort tore its way out. The words "Son of Beast" were located in the center of the box.[1]

History

The broken crate at the entrance to the attraction, it has since been removed

Son of Beast was announced on May 11, 1999. As part of a marketing campaign for the ride before its début, a box was placed next to a footpath in the park. Beastly growling and snarling noises came from inside the box and it shook violently, as if something inside was trying to escape. During the announcement, the box was revealed along with a model of the coaster and a list of all the records. [2] Upon opening, it set seven world records.

Prior to the removal of the loop, the ride originally operated with three Premier Rides-designed trains. The trains consisted of 6 cars, each holding 6 people. During the 2005/2006 offseason, the trains were shortened to 5 cars on each train. In 2007, they were replaced with two Gerstlauer trains from the defunct Hurricane: Category 5 roller coaster at Myrtle Beach Pavilion.[3]

After it was announced that Son of Beast would close, the box at the entrance was removed.[4] Today, Son of Beast is no longer on the website and the park map and any references of the coaster have been taken out of Kings Island. [5][6]

Layout

Son of Beast with loop

Upon loading the train, it leaves the station and makes a 51 feet (16 m) left-hand drop into a series of short hops before turning onto the 218-foot-tall (66 m) lift hill. Upon cresting the lift hill, the track makes a snaking left-hand turn over to the first drop, where it drops 214 feet (65 m) to the ground, then a 70° banked turn to the right before descending a 168 feet (51 m) second drop into a right-hand curve into a left-hand double helix known as the "Rose Bowl" or "Cone". Coming out of the helix, the ride passes through a mid-course brake run, and then makes a drop into a straight section of track (this was where the vertical loop was prior to 2006), before making another helix, a series of short hills, and finally hitting the ending brakes.[7][8]

Materials

  • Main Structure: Southern Yellow Pine[9]
  • Track Piles: Douglas Fir
  • Loop Structure: Steel (removed December 2006)
  • Loop Track: Wood
  • Timber used: 2.5 million board feet[10]
  • Acres of Timber used: 300-417 (estimated based on a board feet harvest of 6,000-8,335 per acre)
  • Acres of land used: 12 [11]
  • Footers: 2,414 footers, 11 feet (3.4 m) into the ground[11]
  • Bolts: 225,000 21" steel bolts[11]
  • Nails: Over 22 tons of nails [11]

World records set

At the time of its introduction in 2000, Son of Beast was the only wooden roller coaster in the top 10 categories (worldwide) that are typically dominated by steel-based coasters for track length, height, speed, and drop. It was also the only wooden roller coaster to feature a vertical loop, which was removed in 2006 after an incident in which 27 people were injured. The loop was not directly related to the incident, but was removed to allow for lighter trains, thus reducing the chances of the 2006 incident's re-occurrence.[12]

Included in its many world records, Son of Beast was the world's tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, the only modern wooden roller coaster in the world to incorporate a vertical loop, and the second longest wooden roller coaster (second only to its predecessor, The Beast, also located at Kings Island). [13] This second-place record was deliberate, in order to leave the Beast with its 30+ year world record as the longest wooden coaster. Until the removal of its vertical loop in 2006, Son of Beast was also the longest roller coaster on Earth to contain a vertical loop. After its removal, California Screamin' at Disney California Adventure Park gained the title.

Incidents

2006

On July 9, 2006 at 4:45 pm, a structural failure that created a bump on the track in the Rose Bowl caused 27 injuries and required rescue units to enter the scene. Most of the injuries were of the chest or neck. Seventeen people were released from hospitals within five hours of the accident and two were admitted. None of the injuries were life-threatening. The ride was shut down until the State of Ohio completed its investigation. After an inspection the following day, the park stated that the accident was caused by a crack or split in the wood.[18] The park completed repairs of the ride but the state asked for extensive testing to be done to ensure it would not happen again. The park indicated that the ride would not reopen until the 2007 season.[19][20]

Son of Beast's trains (2007-2009)

Two Gerstlauer trains from the demolished Hurricane: Category 5 coaster at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion were relocated to serve as lighter replacement trains for Son of Beast,[21][22] the belief being that lighter trains would cause less stress on the wooden structure. The loop was then removed so that the lighter trains could complete the circuit.

In late June, reports circulated that the ride had once again begun testing with the new Gerstlauer trains. Eyewitnesses reported seeing both a red and a blue train running on the track with test dummies in the seats. On July 4, 2007, Son of Beast re-opened for the first time since the accident[23] in July 2006. Despite the lack of the vertical loop, the coaster continued to hold the record as tallest and fastest wooden coaster in the world. The next fastest wooden coaster is Colossos in Heide Park located in Germany.[24] The former Premier trains are still owned by Kings Island, and are used as decorations of a "crashed" coaster at Kings Island's Halloween Haunt event.

2009

On June 16, 2009, a woman claimed to have suffered a head injury from riding Son of Beast. Her visit to the park was on May 31, 2009, but the first Kings Island officials did not hear of the incident until June 16. She said that she suffered from a burst blood vessel in her brain and was put in intensive care. "The first we heard of this was on June 16. Her visit was on May 31 and there's no record of going to first aid for anything here at the park," said Don Helbig, public relations manager for Kings Island. Helbig also said that there have been no other reports of injury on the ride this year. The Son of Beast was shut down as a precaution during the investigation. "At this point it would be inappropriate to speculate on an exact date when the ride may reopen. We're going to do a thorough maintenance review. We're going to work with the state of Ohio on that," said Helbig.[25]

The ride was investigated, and was found that there were no "irregularities" with the ride. However, the ride remained closed for the remainder of the 2009 season[26] because park officials have "not decided what steps they plan to take concerning the ride". As of 2010, the fate of the ride still remains unclear, according to an investigation summary released Wednesday July 29.[27]

Future

On March 16, 2010, General Manager for Kings Island, Greg Scheid, stated that the ride has cost nearly $30 million so far for the park and that it would not open for the 2010 season.[28] References to the ride were removed from the park map and website.[29] A Kings Island spokesperson announced that the coaster will be closed for 2011 for the second straight season, and that the ride's future has not been decided. "No decision has been made concerning the ride's future," spokesman Don Helbig said. "It would be inappropriate to speculate on when a decision might be made. There's nothing else to talk about."[30]

As of the end of the 2011 season, the ride remains closed and no announcements have been made regarding the future of the coaster.[needs update]

References

  1. ^ Fudge, Mike. "Son of Beast | Flickr - Photo Sharing!". Flickr. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJF7tdvhUTo
  3. ^ Son of Beast at the Roller Coaster DataBase Please specify an RCDB ID number as the first parameter.
  4. ^ John (2010-04-26). "Son of Beast Signage Gone". Coaster101. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  5. ^ http://www.visitkingsisland.com/things-to-do/thrill-rides
  6. ^ http://www.visitkingsisland.com/plan-a-visit/park-map
  7. ^ "Son of Beast Front Seat [POV] HD video Kings Island Cincinnati OH". YouTube. 2009-06-08. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  8. ^ "2000 Preview - Son Of Beast Layout". Ultimate Rollercoaster. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  9. ^ "Son of Beast Layout & Stats". Home.fuse.net. 1999-07-15. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  10. ^ "RCDB Fact Sheet". Rcdb.com. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  11. ^ a b c d "Son of Beast". 2001. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  12. ^ Eric, Schwartzberg (2009-07-02). "Son of Beast's history rough for park riders". The Oxford Press. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  13. ^ "Son of Beast - Review". Coaster Grotto. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  14. ^ a b c "roller coaster timeline". 2005. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  15. ^ http://www.zuko.com/generation/Extreme_Wooden_Roller_Coasters.asp
  16. ^ "Son of Beast Article -> COASTER-net.com: Amusement Park and Roller Coaster News, Information, Photographs, & more!". COASTER-net. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  17. ^ http://www.coaster-net.com/blogs/150-kings-island-a-leader-in-new-ideas-for-years/
  18. ^ "Theme Park Insider". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  19. ^ "MSNBC". MSNBC. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  20. ^ Latta, Tiffany Y. "Middletown Journal". Middletown Journal. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  21. ^ "American Coaster Enthusiasts". Aceonline.org. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  22. ^ "Screamscape". Screamscape. 2007-05-04. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  23. ^ "Local 12 Breaking News". Local12.com. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  24. ^ RCDB Fastest Wooden Roller Coasters
  25. ^ POSTED: 5:06 pm EDT June 22, 2009 (2009-06-22). "WLWT News". Wlwt.com. Retrieved 2011-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "Columbus Dispatch". Dispatch.com. 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  27. ^ Written by Carrie Whitaker. "Report Clears SOB". News.cincinnati.com. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  28. ^ Son of Beast a no-go for 2010 Business Courier
  29. ^ "Kings Island park map". Visitkingsisland.com. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  30. ^ What's next for Son of Beast? Cincinnati Enquirer