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

Sign up for the Gravity show Kings Island Blog Meet-Up

One of the most popular shows with our guests has been Gravity, a cirque-style show in the Kings Island Theater. This Saturday, August 18, the Kings Island Blog is offering fans of the show an opportunity for a backstage tour following the 1:30 p.m. show. Space for the Gravity Kings Island Blog Meet-Up is limited. Kings Island park admission (season pass or ticket) is required to participate in the Meet-Up.

Something old will be new again in 2019

It's that time of year when amusement and theme parks across North America begin to unveil what the next year has in store for their guests. And Kings Island is no exception. At Kings Island, something old will be new again. Find out tomorrow, Thursday, August 16, what's returning to Kings Island in 2019. The announcement will be made in the Festhaus. All park guests are invited to attend.

Daily operation ends August 19

Here's a sure sign the end of summer is just around the corner: Daily operation for the 2018 season at Kings Island ends this Sunday, August 19. After Sunday, Kings Island will be open for weekend operation August 24, 25, 26, 31 and September 1, 2, 3 to close out the summer season. After Labor Day, Kings Island will be closed to the public until September 21 when another season of Halloween Haunt begins.

Happy 50th birthday, Snoopy! Learn the history of our favorite beagle

Many of the PEANUTS characters came from people in creator Charles Schulz’s actual life, and Snoopy was one of his earliest creations. As a young boy, Schulz loved drawing and reading comic strips, and at 15 he drew a picture of his black-and-white dog Spike and sent it to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (the drawing below says “drawn by Sparky” because of Schulz’s nickname). The drawing appeared in their newspaper feature, and Spike later inspired Snoopy in Schulz’s PEANUTS comic strips.

Sign up for the National Roller Coaster Day Kings Island Blog Meet-Up

August 16 is a big day in the amusement and theme park industry. It’s National Roller Coaster Day, which celebrates the king of the thrill rides. To celebrate, Kings Island is offering followers of the park’s blog a meet-up opportunity for a behind the scenes tour of the Racer roller coaster. The Racer is credited for re-igniting the roller coaster building boom in the early 1970’s, thus beginning the second golden age of the roller coaster.

6 ways to enjoy one last summer getaway at Kings Island

It’s hard to believe it’s already August! The sun is setting sooner, football practices have begun and back-to-school lists are hanging on fridges. Wait! Don’t put on that sweater just yet! Your final summer getaway still awaits at Kings Island. Discover six ways to enjoy Kings Island before autumn begins.

This Day in Kings Island History: The Partridge Family cast begins filming “I left my heart in Cincinnati” episode

A year before “The Brady Bunch”, another TV family visited Kings Island with “The Partridge Family” cast arriving at the park on August 7, 1972 to begin filming episode No. 66 of the popular prime-time ABC sitcom. Filming lasted a total of five days through August 11. While not as widely recognized as The Brady Bunch episode filmed a year later, The Partridge Family episode is the most significant visual record of Kings Island’s first season. It’s a must watch for all Kings Island fans.

Two Weeks Notice: Gravity show ends summer run August 19

Time is running out to see Gravity, our cirque-style show in the Kings Island Theater. It closes two weeks from today on August 19. The show features an incredible showcase of strength, balance and athleticism.

Ultimate Stunt Show a family affair decades running

Kings Island’s Ultimate Stunt Show, presented by Airheads Xtremes, features some of the best performers in the world attempting death-defying stunts, and for many of the performers, this life is all they’ve ever known. Ian Garden, Ultimate Stunt Show’s ringmaster, grew up with the circus like countless others. His grandfather started Garden Bros Circus of Canada, Canada’s oldest and first circus and the country’s biggest circus. After getting his education, Garden continued the family tradition.

Before another summer slips by, make plans to visit Kings Island

Family fun, thrill rides, an amazing stunt show, live entertainment, great food topped-off with colorful bursts of fireworks at park closing is what guests can expect when they visit Kings Island this weekend.

Kings Island