A history worth repeating

posted by John Keeter on April 20, 2017

If you’ve been to King’s Island anytime during the last 45 years, you probably have a favorite memory. You may have ridden your first roller coaster. You may have danced with a Smurf or Charlie Brown. You may have had your first kiss under the Eiffel Tower. You may have gotten soaked on a water ride. You may have even ridden the Turnpike ride with a long-lost loved one.

Kings Island holds more memories in the hearts and minds of its guests than there are stones in its pavement. Every ride, every building, every bit of landscaping in the park tell a story.

Throughout the coming weeks, in celebration of Kings Island’s 45th anniversary, I am honored to take you on an enchanted journey back through the park’s past. It’s a rich history that began over 100 years ago in, believe it or not, an apple orchard.

So, let’s trip down memory lane together. You may learn something new, you may find out what happened to a long-gone ride, or better yet, you may be amazed by the story Kings Island has to tell.

John Keeter

John M. Keeter first attended Kings Island 35 years ago when “The Bat” was originally taking flight. The awe of that first visit and later rides on “The Beast” (Still his favorite Kings Island attraction) triggered his enduring love of the park. A picture of a flooded Cincinnati’s Coney Island found in a grade school library book triggered his quest to learn all he could of Kings Island’s beginning. An avid roller coaster enthusiast, he’s ridden over 400 different coasters. He resides in Louisville, KY and maintains “Sit on It”, a Facebook Page dedicated to remembering the Kings Island of our past, as well as looking forward to the Kings Island of our future. It can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/SitonItKI/

Last splash of summer

The transition from the fun and freedom of summer break to the school year can be a tough one, especially when the summer sun is still shining outside the classroom window. Don’t stress, because you still have time to enjoy action packed days at Kings Island and Soak City Waterpark.

Evel Knievel's record-breaking jump

Spurred by the desire for more national exposure, Kings Island’s most attention-grabbing moment (thus far) occurred when, on Saturday October 25, 1975, Daredevil “Evel” Knievel set a world record by successfully jumping 14 Greyhound buses at the park. To say the jump at Kings Island was monumental would be an understatement. It would be Evel’s final world record attempt and his most successful jump.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and wife Jordan host 'King For A Day' event at Kings Island

Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl quarterback Andy Dalton and his wife, Jordan, hosted 40 families for the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation's fourth annual "King for a Day" community outreach program at Kings Island on Sunday, August 20. "King for a Day" is one of five programs initiated by the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation.

Quiz: How well do you know The Beast?

The Beast opened to rave reviews April 14, 1979 and still stands today as the world’s longest wooden roller coaster. How well do you know this world-renown attraction? Test your knowledge for a chance to win park tickets and a behind-the-scenes tour of the ride.

Thrown for a loop

Can you imagine Kings Island without its huge collection of world-class coasters? Can you imagine going to the park and there not being any “upside-down” rides? Well, for the first five seasons of operation from 1972-1976, that was the case.

Lions and tigers and baboons! Oh My!

Perhaps the most unique attraction at Kings Island was the Safari Monorail. Lasting 20 seasons, the park’s immensely popular attraction gave millions of guests the chance to see wild animals up close. However this attraction was no zoo – here the humans were the ones enclosed while the animals roamed around.

It's not easy being green

When Kings Island opened in 1972, it was decided that landscaping would serve a large part in telling the park’s story. Dick Ammon (a renowned local landscaping expert responsible for works such as the Cincinnati Zoo, Coney Island, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Miami University) and Roy Rector (Kings Island’s first grounds superintendent) were responsible for leading a team that designed the landscape of Kings Island. The team chose to base their design on those of elaborate European Gardens.

Scholarship awards presented to seasonal associates

In addition to sharing the fun and excitement of working at a world-class amusement park, Kings Island offers its associates the opportunity to apply for a scholarship during the season they are working. Congratulations to all selected recipients and their proud families!

There's no business like show business

One of the key ingredients to a successful theme park will always be its live entertainment. Ever since it opened its gates in 1972, Kings Island has been peppered with literally thousands of entertainment offerings. Never one to stagnate, the park has not only expanded its shows, but they’ve also expanded the facilities that house them.

Tropical Plunge features water slides you've gotta ride

Don’t underestimate the possibility of high-adrenaline thrills at Kings Island’s Soak City Water Park. One attraction in particular has something the adrenaline-seeker in the family won’t be able to get enough of. Debuting last summer and towering nearly seven stories, Topical Plunge features six different water slide experiences.

Kings Island