Kings Island opened in 1972, boosted by appearances in The Partridge Family and The Brady Bunch episodes. Dominated by a one-third replica of the Eiffel Tower, Kings Island today is owned by Cedar Fair, which makes it the sibling of fellow Ohio park Cedar Point.
Our recommendations below come from our ongoing survey of Theme Park Insider readers. Vote here to take part in our surveys and submit your picks for top attractions.
New for 2024
Camp Snoopy - The park's expansion of its Planet Snoopy children's area includes Beagle Scout Acres, a covered play area, as well as Snoopy's Soap Box Racers, a Vekoma Family Boomerang coaster.
Roller Coasters
Banshee
A 4,124-foot Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster with a 150-foot drop, top speed of 68 mph and seven inversions. Height requirement: 52 inches
The Beast
A now-7,361-foot Dinn wooden coaster with a 141-foot drop and top speed of 65 mph. Height requirement: 48 inches
Diamondback
A 5,282-foot Bolliger & Mabillard hyper coaster with a 215-foot drop and top speed of 80 mph. Height requirement: 54 inches
Mystic Timbers
A 3,265-foot Great Coasters International wooden coaster with a top speed of 53 mph. Height requirement: 48 inches
Orion
A 5,321-foot Bolliger & Mabillard giga coaster with a 300-foor drop and top speed of 91 mph. Height requirement: 54 inches
The Bat
A 2,352-foot Arrow Dynamics suspended coaster with a top speed of 51 mph, formerly known as Top Gun and Flight Deck. Height requirement: 48 inches
The Racer
Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters racing wooden coasters with tracks of 3,415 feet and top speeds of 53 mph. Height requirement: 48 inches
Flight of Fear
An indoor 2,705-foot Premier Rides launch coaster with a top speed of 54 mph and four inversions. Height requirement: 54 inches
Adventure Express
A 2,963-foot Arrow Dynamics mine train with a top speed of 35 mph. Height requirement: 48 inches
Backlot Stunt Coaster
A 1,960-foot Premier coaster initially called Italian Job: Stunt Track, with a top speed of 40 mph. Height requirement: 48 inches
Invertigo
A 1,014-foot Vekoma Invertigo (i.e. inverted Boomerang) with a top speed of 50 mph and three inversions. Height requirement: 54 inches
Other coasters for younger riders are Great Pumpkin Coaster, an E&F Miler oval; Woodstock's Air Rail (formerly Flying Ace Aerial Chase), a Vekoma family suspended coaster; and Woodstock Express, a Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters wooden coaster originally called Scooby-Doo.
Dining
For the complete Cincinnati culinary experience, hit up Skyline Chili and then follow that with some Graeter's ice cream. Yes, there's also Kings Island's famous Blue Ice Cream (originally known as Smurf Ice Cream), but Graeter's is one of the best ice cream brands in the nation.
Map
Kings Island is located off Interstate 71 in Mason, Ohio - 23 miles north of downtown Cincinnati.