Today in Kings Island History: 51 years ago Taft Broadcasting Company broke ground to build the park

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History

Today in Kings Island History: 51 years ago Taft Broadcasting Company broke ground to build the park

June 15, 2021

One of the things I enjoy the most in my role at Kings Island is writing posts about the park’s history and the milestone I get to write about today is one of the most important. Exactly 51 years ago, on June 15, 1970, the Taft Broadcasting Company broke ground and began the construction of Kings Island led by the Charles V. Maescher & Co. Construction firm.

At the time of the ground breaking, the park had yet to be named but was later dubbed Kings Island, after the town of Kings Mills in which the park was build and its predecessor located on the Banks of the Ohio River, Coney Island. By the end of the year construction of the Eiffel Tower, Royal Fountain and The Racer roller coaster was underway.

During Coney Island’s final season in 1971, a preview center for Kings Island was set up on the midway featuring a model replica of the new park, as well as a short film showing guests what would make Kings Island beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. Below is that film. I remember watching it with my family when we visited Coney Island on its last operating day, September 6, 1971. We were sad that Coney Island was closing but very excited about the new place to make memories.

Watch and take a look back at fun in the making with some of the groundbreaking and construction process of Kings Island.