The Racer has been a mainstay at Kings Island since the park opened in 1972, and with good reason. ![]() ![]() When the work is completed, The Racer is going to ride like a baby coach!īe sure to keep an eye on the Kings Island Blog as we continue to share construction updates on The Racer track work. Many of the ledgers are now in place in what we’ll term as “the belly.” (Both trains started going forward again in 2008.With the demolition of the old and original track from the base of the first drop to the base of the turnaround completed, new track construction on The Racer roller coaster has begun.Ĭrews are currently putting steel channels in the valleys and will be installing new intermediate (bolster) bents at these locations. It made history again in 1982 when one of the trains was reversed and became the first roller coaster to ride backward. The Racer was the first large-scale coaster built since 1947, and is credited with reigniting the roller coaster renaissance in the 1970s. “We think this is the finest coaster ever built, one of the largest ever built, and certainly the largest we ever built.” “There’s been a lot of sensation built into this ride,” Allen told The Enquirer at the time. Red and blue trains raced on twin tracks, up and down hills. to build a side-by-side racing roller coaster they called the Racer. Wachs hired venerable coaster designer John C. The popular Shooting Star wooden roller coaster was not, though. When Coney Island closed in 1971, most of the rides like the Grand Carousel, Cuddle Up and Tumble Bug were packed up and transported up the highway to the aptly named Old Coney section of Kings Island. The Oktoberfest area had its own teacup ride with a Germanic twist – Der Spinnen Keggers, aka the drunken barrels. … As you walked through the front gate, because you couldn’t see it from the outside, it was like you entered a whole new world.” “When I first walked in, the first memories, you saw the fountain and you saw the buildings going down International Street, the Eiffel Tower, you had the Sky Ride going across in front of it. “I was blown away,” said Don Helbig, now the area manager of digital marketing for Kings Island. ![]() The official grand opening on May 27 – with sunshine, parades and hot air balloons – was better received. Certainly no kind of a day to open a new amusement park.” “And everyone agreed that the weather was lousy. “Nearly everyone did agree that the park is big and beautiful, with lots of potential,” wrote The Enquirer’s Jim Knippenberg. To make it worse, a preview opening on April 29, 1972, was dampened by heavy rains. Critics questioned whether anyone would pay six dollars to get into the park when Coney Island had been free. Kings Island opened on time, with a price tag of $31 million (that's $214 million adjusted for inflation into 2022 dollars). Kings Island: 11 original rides, attractions still on track From Coney Island to Kings IslandĪnything you want to know about Kings Island? It’s probably found in Evan Ponstingle’s thorough history on the subject in “Kings Island: A Ride through Time.” He interviewed just about every principal figure in the creation and development of the park to get the inside scoop. Kings Island’s “Golden Celebration” events will begin May 28. A daylong celebration is planned for April 29, the date that the park opened for previews back in 1972. Kings Island will reopen for its 50th anniversary season on April 16, so folks can revisit their favorites and make new memories. The park was a game-changer for Cincinnati, drawing visitors from all over the Midwest. Every generation has its own Kings Island memories. Being wholly invested in which train is faster on the Racer – go Red Racer! – or sharing Smurf blue ice cream with a special someone. Time slips away to riding on the Beast over and over, testing whether the front car or back car has the most exciting trip. It’s the new amusement park, the exciting cousin to old Coney Island. Kings Island turns 50 this year, which doesn’t seem possible.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |