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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 24.172.135.130 (talk) at 17:05, 28 June 2012 (Launch pad was present in 2008). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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.

  • There were 5 themed areas: International Street, Oktoberfest, Coney Island, Rivertown, and The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera.
  • Rides
    • From Coney Island: Dodgems, Scrambler, Monster, The Rotor, Kings Mill Log Flume, Sky Ride, Tumble bug, Grand Carousel, and Flying Scooters.
    • Others: Alley Cat 500, Antique Cars, Auto Livery, Bavarian Beetle, Boo-Boo's Baggage Claim, Boo-Boo's Buggies, Canoe Ride, Cuddle Up, Der Spinning Keggers, Enchanted Voyage, Flying Carpet Slide, Gulliver's Rub-A-Dub, Haley’s Comet, Jet Orbiters, Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad, Pee Wee Raceway, Scooby Doo, Sky Ride, Sunshine Turnpike, Wheel of Fortune, and Winnie Witch's Cauldrons.
  • Attractions: International Showplace, International Street Bandstand

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".

  • Rides added: Bayern Kurve, Flying Dutchmen, Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal
  • Other attractions opened: Games arcade, a 1/2 mile nature trail, and The International Restaurant

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

  • Themed area added: Lion Country Safari
  • Rides added: Lion Country Safari Monorail
  • Attractions added: Salt Water Circus, Monkey Island

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

  • Rides added: The Troika, Zodiac.

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]

  • Rides added: Flintstone's Boulder Bumpers
  • Rides removed: Cuddle Up, Shawnee Landing, Kenton's Cove Canoes.
  • Attraction added: American Heritage Music Hall

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

  • Themed area renamed: Lion Country Safari » Wild Animal Safari
  • Rides added: Screamin' Demon
  • Rides removed: Canoe Ride, Bavarian Beatle.
  • Rides renamed: Lion Country Safari Monorail » Wild Animal Safari monorail
  • Attractions added: Fascination game building, International Showplace Theater.

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

  • Attractions added: electronic shooting gallery

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

  • Rides added: The Beast, Mr. Jinks Jalopies
  • Rides removed: Halley's Comet, Sky Ride.
1980-1989

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

  • Rides renamed: Scooby Doo » The Beastie
  • Attractions added: Beast souvenir shop, wine and cheese shop

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.

  • Rides added: The Bat
  • Rides removed: Gulliver's Rub-A-Dub, The Rotor

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 mulled by a lion. He suffered a punctured trachea and body cuts but survived.[2]

  • Rides added: Oktoberfest Ferris Wheel, Hanna Barbera Carousel, Quick Draw's Railway, Baba Looey's Buggies, Viking Fury
  • Rides removed: Bayern Curve
  • Attractions added: Timberwolf Amphitheatre, Festhaus, McScrappy's Farm, Jelly Bean Bowl

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]

  • Themed area added: Adventure Village
  • Themed area renamed: Wild Animal Safari » Wild Animal Habitat
  • Ride renamed: Wild Animal Safari Monorail » Wild Animal Habitat Monorail
  • Attractions removed: Elephant rides, Walk-through animal exhibit

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

  • Rides added: King Cobra
  • Rides renamed: Enchanted Voyage » The Smurfs Enchanted Voyage
  • Rides removed: The Bat

1985 -

  • Rides added: White Water Canyon
  • Rides removed: Tumble Bug, Boo-Boo's Buggies

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

  • Themed areas renamed: Old Coney = Coney Mall
  • Rides added: Skylab, Zephyr
  • Rides renamed: Flying Carpet Slide » McScrappy's Slide, Flying Scooters » Flying Eagles
  • Attraction added: Cinema 180 Theatre

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

  • Rides added: Vortex
  • Rides removed: Screamin' Demon

1988 - Science Day debuted at the park.

  • Rides added: Amazon Falls
  • Attractions added: Sea Dream(3D Movie)

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.

  • Themed area added: WaterWorks
  • Rides removed: Zodiac, Wheel of Fortune, Der Spinning Keggers
  • Water park attractions added: Ultra Twist, Bonzai Pipeline, Kings Mills Run, The Helix, Splash Island
1990-1999

1990 -

  • Rides added: Flight Commander
  • Rides removed: Flying Dutchman, Oktoberfest Ferris Wheel
  • Water park attractions added: Rushing River
  • Shows added: It's Magic

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]

  • Rides added: Adventure Express
  • Rides removed: Winnie Witch's Cauldrons, Enchanted Voyage
  • Attractions added: Lazer Maze, Hanna-Barbera Shop

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.

  • Rides added: Phantom Theater, Scooby Zoom, Pixie and Dixie's Swingset, Dick Dastardly's Biplanes
  • Rides removed: The Smurfs Enchanted Voyage
  • Attractions added: Enchanted Theatre, Anniversary parade

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

  • Rides added: Top Gun
  • Rides removed: Wild Animal Habitat Monorail
  • Attractions renamed: Columbia Palace  » Wings Diner, Busytown Grill » Quickdraw's Cafe, The Germain Bier Gardens » Oktoberfest Gardens, American Heritage Music Hall » The Paramount Theater

1994 -

  • Themed area renamed: Wild Animal Habitat » Adventure Village
  • Rides added: Days Of Thunder (Simulator)
  • Rides removed: McScrappy's Slide, Sunshine Turnpike
  • Attractions added: Preston T. Tucker's Roadside Cafe, Busytown Grill

1995 - Nickelodeon was introduced to the park.

  • Themed area added: Nickelodeon Splat City
  • Rides added: Drop Zone (Swing Ride)
  • Rides removed: Flight Commander
  • Attractions added: Emergency Green Slime Shower, Nickelodeon Green Slime Zone, Fowl Play (show)

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

  • Rides added: Outer Limits: Flight of Fear, XS Raceway

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

  • Rides renamed: Days Of Thunder » The Paramount Action F/X Theater
  • Rides removed: Skylab, Ohio Overland Auto Livery
  • Water park attractions added: Buccaneer Island, Sydney Sidewinder, Surfside Bay

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

  • Rides added: Scooby's Ghoster Coaster, Atom Ant's Airways, Yogi's Sky Tours
  • Rides renamed: Scooby Zoom » Top Hat's Taxi Jam
  • Attraction renamed: Days of Thunder » Paramount Action FX Theater
  • New Show: James Bond 007: A License to Thrill
  • Water park attractions added: Wipe-Out Beach

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

  • Themed area renamed: Adventure Village » Paramount's Action Zone
  • Rides added: Drop Zone: Stunt Tower, FACE/OFF
  • Rides renamed: Amazon Falls » Congo Falls, Drop Zone (swing ride) » Xtreme Skyflyer
2000-2009

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.

  • Rides added: Son of Beast
  • Ride renamed: Outer Limits: Flight of Fear » Flight of Fear

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.

  • Themed area renamed: Nickelodeon Splat City » Nickelodeon Central
  • Rides added: Flight Team Aerial Helicopter Tours, Rugrats Runaway Reptar
  • Rides renamed: King's Mill Log Flume » Wild Thornberry's River Adventure
  • Rides removed: Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal, King Cobra
  • New shows: 7th Portal

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

  • Rides added: SlingShot, Tomb Raider: The Ride
  • Rides removed: Phantom Theater

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.

  • Rides added: Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle, Delirium, Launch Pad
  • Rides removed:, Flight Team Aerial Helicopter Tours
  • Water park attractions renamed: Wipe-Out Beach » Pipeline Paradise
  • Water park attractions removed: FasTracks
  • New shows: SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D
  • Attractions renamed: Octoberfest Gardens » Bubba Gump's Shrimp Shack

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

  • Themed area renamed: WaterWorks » Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay
  • Rides removed: Antique Cars, Flying Eagles
  • Water park attractions added: Coolangatta Racer, Tazmanian Typhoon, Jackaroo Landing, Kookaburra Bay,
  • Water park attractions: All water park attractions were renamed to Australian themed names.
  • New shows: The Magic of the Movies

2005 - Winterfest returns.

  • Rides added: The Italian Job: Stunt Track, Launch Pad
  • Rides removed: Boo-Boo's Baggage Claim, Huck's Hotrods, Jetson's Jet Orbiters, Scooby's Ghoster Coaster, Baba Looey's Buggies
  • Attractions added: Back Porch Stage, Chick-Fil-A, Graeter's Ice Cream, Starbucks
  • Attraction removed: Emergency Green Slime Shower
  • Attractions renamed: Happy Days Diner » Preston T. Tucker's Roadside Cafe

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.

  • Themed area renamed: Hanna-Barbera Land / Nickelodeon Central » Nickelodeon Universe
  • Rides added: Plankton’s Plunge, Danny Phantom's Phantom Flyers, Avatar: The Last Airbender
  • Rides renamed: All kids rides were renamed with Nickelodeon names.
  • Attraction added: Nickelodeon Theater

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.

  • Themed area added: X-Base (Sub area)
  • Themed area renamed: Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay » Boomerang Bay
  • Rides added: Firehawk
  • New shows: Endless Summer on Ice

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.

  • Rides renamed: Top Gun » Flight Deck, Days of Thunder » Thunder Alley, Drop Zone: Stunt Tower » Drop Tower: Scream Zone, FACE/OFF » Invertigo, The Italian Job: Stunt Track » Backlot Stunt Coaster, Tomb Raider: The Ride » The Crypt
  • Attractions removed: Back Porch Stage
  • Attractions renamed: The Paramount Action F/X Theater » Action Theater, Bubba Gump Shrimp Shack » Outer Hanks

2009 - New amusement park record for the most money raised for a first riders auction.

  • Rides added: Diamondback
2010-present

2010 - PEANUTS characters were introduced to the park.

  • Themed area renamed: Nickelodeon Universe » Planet Snoopy
  • Rides renamed: Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle » Boo Blasters on Boo Hill, All kids rides were renamed with PEANUTS names.
  • New shows: Sign, Sealed, Delivered!, Way Too Much TV, Snoopy Rocks on Ice

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

  • Rides added: WindSeeker
  • Rides Removed: The Crypt
  • Attractions added: Dinosaurs Alive!

2012 - Water park gets a makeover with new attractions and a new entrance.

  • Themed area renamed: Boomerang Bay » Soak City
  • Water park attractions added: Sand Volleyball, New wave pool
  • New shows: Yesterday Once More: The 70's, British Invasion, Charlie Brown's All-Stars

2013 -

Sources

References

  1. ^ "Lion kill safari ranger". Times Daily. Jul26, 1976. Retrieved 24 January 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Amusment park lion attacks ranger who was cleaning area". Toledo Blade. 27 May 1982. Retrieved 24 January 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  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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