Diamondback roller coaster trains get new seats

January 25, 2018

Don Helbig

Area Manager, Digital Marketing - Kings Island

The tallest and fastest roller coaster at Kings Island will have a new look when the 364-acre amusement and water park opens for the 2018 season April 14.

New black seats are replacing the original red-colored seats on each of the three trains on Diamondback.

Designed by the world-renowned coaster designers Bolliger & Mabillard of Monthey, Switzerland, Diamondback stands 230 feet at its highest point with a first drop of 215 feet at a 74-degree angle. Riders snake their way around 5,282 feet of track at speeds up to 80 mph.

Diamondback introduced U.S. roller coaster fans to open-air, stadium-style seating, which allows riders no matter where they are seated on the train to experience an unobstructed view of all the thrills and excitement the coaster has to offer.

Since its debut in 2009, Diamondback has given 15.2 million rides – the most of any attraction at Kings Island over the past nine seasons. Its record year was its fifth season in 2013, when 1.8 million rides were given.

Don Helbig

Area Manager, Digital Marketing - Kings Island

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.

Here's the story

Not to be outdone by “The Partridge Family” (who had filmed an episode at Kings Island in 1972), television’s “The Brady Bunch” paid a visit to the park during the second season of operation. Although filmed a year later, the “Brady” episode is the more popular and well known of the two.

What Kings Island meant growing up for me

I grew up on the Westside of Cincinnati and like most in the tristate area; Kings Island was a part of my life. Kings Island was that magical getaway from everyday life. It actually still is. My family would make the trip maybe one or two times a year when I was very young, but once I got a little older my grandmother bought me a season pass and I visited more frequently.

Kings Island