This Date in Kings Island History: The Beast welcomes 50 millionth rider

On October 24, 2014, an Ohio man became The Beast’s 50 millionth rider.

Mark Specht, of Berea, Ohio, was the lucky rider on the holy grail of wooden roller coasters, with the milestone ride coming appropriately at night during Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt.

The Beast’s 50 millionth ride was one of several milestone rides that Kings Island attractions gave during the 2014 season. 

In July that year, just four months after the record-breaking Banshee debuted, the 4,124-foot long steel inverted roller coaster gave its millionth ride to Grant Pederson, of Lexington, Kentucky.

Later in July, Mike Brogan of Cincinnati in the right place at the right time to earn the distinction as the 10 millionth rider on Diamondback.

In August, Kings Island’s oldest roller coaster, The Racer, welcomed its 100 millionth rider, Angela Marshall, from Chattanooga, Tennessee.