The year The Smurfs invaded Kings Island

The year was 1984. It was a big year at Kings Island with the Mason, Ohio amusement park introducing a new standup roller coaster, King Cobra. But something else was also happening in the park that guests wanted to see and do in the Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera. But let’s not start there. Let’s go back to 1928.

Pierre Culliford was a Belgian comic writer born on June 25, 1928 in the Belgian municipality Schaerbeek. After completing school, he received his first career job at Compagnie belge d'actualités, a small Belgian animation studio. Knowing he wanted to be a comic writer, he went to work for a newspaper called La Dernière Heure, making some of his first comics. Out of all of his series he produced, one he had a passion for the most - Johan et Pirlouit (translated into English as Johan and Peewit. During this series, a certain notable character was introduced: a Smurf.

On October 23, 1958, the album La Flûte à Six Schtroumpfs (The Six Smurfed Flute) released, getting readers their first look at what would be later known to them as a Smurf. Pierre, who decided to be known by his pseudonym Peyo, saw the success and potential of these blue humanoid creatures and started his own studio along with other writers.

One year later, in 1959, the first published Smurfs series saw its debut, with over thirty comic albums being created over time. Merchandise was made side-by-side with the comics, and the comic strip soon gained international attention. The Smurfs eventually made their way to the United States, where in 1981, Hanna-Barbera studios gave The Smurfs their own animated television series, along with their ever-so-popular theme song. According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, retail sale for Smurf's merchandise in the United States alone exceeded $650 million in 1982.

Back to Kings Island. In 1982, The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera had been renamed Hanna-Barbera Land upgraded with the additions such as Scooby-Choo (today known as Snoopy’s Junction), Rawhide Railway (hand crank cars, McScrappy’s Farm (play area), Shaggy’s Silly Sticks (play structure), Fool House (funhouse), Woodland Theatre (a small theater built for puppet shows in a tree), and the Hanna-Barbera Amphitheater. Huckleberry Hound blueberry ice cream was introduced to families for the first time. Kings Island saw the Saturday morning cartoon identity rapidly growing, and wanted to keep up with the demand. 

Taft Broadcasting (soon to be Kings Productions), owner and operator of Kings Island at the time, already owned licensing to Hanna-Barbera characters, and soon received licensing for Peyo’s Smurfs. That meant that Kings Island could use them as meet-and-greet characters, merchandise, food, and of course, attractions.

Then in 1984, The Smurfs “invaded” Kings Island, albeit first appearing in a stage show the previous season. Guests could get a picture with Smurfette on a bench, or they could indulge their taste buds on a “Smurf cone”. The highlight of the additions that year was the Smurfs’ Enchanted Voyage. The attraction was largely an overhaul of the former Enchanted Voyage ride that took you on a boat ride to meet all your favorite Saturday morning cartoon characters. The Smurfs’ Enchanted Voyage retained its same water trough layout, but featured The Smurfs going on adventures brought to life by scenic designer Brad Kain through the four seasons, with the evil antagonist Gargamel not too far behind. 

The attraction played its Smurfs’ notable theme song throughout the attraction in different renditions to match the scenes. To this day it is a beloved and remembered attraction by many.

The attraction operated through 1991, a total of only eight seasons before it was replaced by a new attraction. The ride building and trough system was gutted in favor for a more advanced storytelling attraction with the help of Morgan Manufacturing and R&R Creative Amusement Designs. This soon awakened the spirits of the Phantom Theater, which opened in 1992.

Celebrate Peyo’s birthday by taking an enchanted voyage through Smurf Village, which is part of our 50th Anniversary Archives series, exclusive to YouTube.