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125-508: Charles Dinn served as Kings Island 's Director of Construction, Maintenance and Engineering, where he oversaw the design and building of The Beast with a team including Al Collins, Jim Nickell, William Reed and Curtis D. Summers . In November 1983, Dinn left Kings Island and opened his own corporation in West Chester, Ohio . The corporation relocated three older wooden roller coasters from parks that had been closed to new parks One of

250-506: A 330-acre (130 ha) theme park in the then small village of Maple , part of Vaughan , Ontario, located directly north of Toronto. Several other possible locations in Ontario were considered, including Niagara Falls , Cambridge , and Milton , but Maple was finally selected because of its proximity to the City of Toronto and the 400-series of highways . Others had seriously considered

375-432: A Splash Works expansion for 2017 in the form of Muskoka Plunge, a 59-foot (20 m) tall waterslide complex featuring four "trap-door" speed slides. The slides replaced Body Blast. On 16 August 2017, Canada's Wonderland announced the addition of Flying Canoes for the 2018 season. Flying Canoes is an interactive family ride that allows riders to control their journey of flight in two-person canoes that rotate speedily around

500-400: A Vaughan residential association called SAVE, which thought the increased traffic would reduce property values. People in the region were concerned that the new park would be similar in aesthetics to a carnival or midway. Some of the concessions the company made included a landscaped berm around the park to reduce noise and modifying the appearance of the large parking lot. Taft Broadcasting

625-541: A circuit. They also announced the addition of Lumberjack for 2018. Made by Italian manufacturer Zamperla , Lumberjack is a thrill ride that takes guests to heights of 75 feet (23 m) on two swinging axe-themed pendulums, propelling them into a looping 360-degree experience. In addition to these two attractions, the park announced an expansion to the Splash Island pool (located in Splash Works), which doubled

750-520: A company formed by senior executives and general managers of Taft Attractions Group. Three parks – Kings Island, Kings Dominion and Carowinds – were involved in the sale. Taft invested in KECO to retain one-third interest. Three years later in 1987, Kings Island was sold individually to American Financial Corporation , led by Carl Lindner . The deal included a contract with KECO to continue managing park operations. KECO, which retained ownership of

875-445: A competing theme park. Construction began on June 15, 1970. Later that year, a public contest was held to name the new park. "Kings Island" emerged the most popular, as the name was a nod to both the local Kings Mills area as well as the park's predecessor Coney Island. Most of the rides at Coney Island were relocated, and much of what remained was demolished. The popular Sunlite Pool attraction continued to operate, however, and

1000-509: A distance of 133 feet (41 m). The jump set a world record that held until 1999. It was the longest successful jump of his career as well as his last major stunt, and the nationally televised event was broadcast live on ABC, landing 52 percent of the TV audience during that hour with an estimated 55 million viewers. Park executives favored the national exposure and additional revenue being generated by record-breaking, newsworthy events that kept

1125-525: A drive-in mass COVID-19 vaccination site. On 1 July 2024, Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags , and the combined Six Flags Entertainment Corporation took over Canada's Wonderland. On 8 August 2024, the park announced the construction of a Premier Rides launched coaster for the 2025 season known as AlpenFury . The ride will be 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in length and feature a 50-metre (160 ft) launch out of Wonder Mountain at 115 kilometres per hour (71 mph) along with nine inversions, setting

1250-465: A fight at the front gates of the park, which led to a shooting death. It was thought to have followed a prior dispute involving the two over a drug exchange, according to York Regional Police . The park has since added metal detectors at the front gate, with additional security, but not as a direct result of this event. In 2005, the park introduced Fearfest , a Halloween event featuring various haunted house attractions in different themed areas. Though

1375-420: A multi-level outdoor patio, and numerous fire pits for guests to relax by. The menu is a Canadian-inspired rustic-grill BBQ, featuring local ingredients and two meat smokers. In addition, the menu is rotational, changing for each major season. The restaurant opened to the public on 17 September 2022, with the indoor bar opening a week prior. On 11 August 2022, Canada's Wonderland announced two new attractions for

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1500-535: A new generation. Many changes occurred in the next decade. In 1996, Splash Works expanded, with a new water slide, a wave pool and a new child-friendly water playground (The Black Hole, White Water Bay and The Pump House). In 1998, the park expanded by adding KidZville , which was mainly designed for infants and children. In 1999, Splash Works expanded for the second time, with the addition of raft rides: The Plunge and Super Soaker. Other changes involved Paramount incorporating references to their film properties into

1625-699: A number of setbacks generating negative publicity, including the early demise of The Bat and Son of Beast roller coasters, both of which were problematic rides. Kings Island is divided into nine themed sections and operates seasonally from early spring through Labor Day in the fall, followed by two additional holiday-themed events known as Halloween Haunt and Winterfest. Kings Island had an estimated 3.18 million guests in 2021, ranking third in attendance among seasonal amusement parks in North America behind sister parks Canada's Wonderland and Cedar Point . In addition, Kings Island has won Golden Ticket Awards in

1750-529: A practice used by Disney throughout its theme parks. The area's main attractions include the Royal Fountain, a 600,000-US-gallon pool (2,300 m ) capable of shooting 10,000 US gallons (38 m ) of water into the air each minute, and the signature Eiffel Tower , a one-third scale replica of the original which offers a view of the entire park to its guests. Grand Carousel, a classic carousel built in 1926 and originally located at Coney Island,

1875-682: A record for inversions on a launched roller coaster in North America. Concurrent with AlpenFury's addition, the International Festival section of the park will be renamed and re-themed to Alpenfest to match the new ride. Canada's Wonderland is situated in Maple , a neighbourhood of Vaughan, Ontario. The park is east of Highway 400 between Rutherford Road (Exit 33) and Major Mackenzie Drive (Exit 35), 13 km (8.1 mi) north of Highway 401 , 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Highway 407 and 64 km (40 mi) south of Barrie . It

2000-451: A section of the park was dedicated to its predecessor, Coney Island . The area was constructed to resemble the former park's carnival-style layout and featured many of its flat rides which were relocated, including Monster, Scrambler, and Dodgem. One of the new flagship attractions during the park's inaugural year, The Racer, is located in this section. In addition to rides, some of Coney Island's famous Ginkgo trees were transplanted, lining

2125-561: A small steel coaster brought over from Coney Island, and a new junior wooden coaster in the Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera originally named Scooby Doo . The most expensive ride to open with the park was Enchanted Voyage , a $ 2-million dark ride attraction that featured over a hundred animatronic Hanna-Barbera characters. Kings Island was nationally promoted in two well-known sitcoms : The Partridge Family in 1972 and The Brady Bunch in 1973. Each filmed an episode on location at

2250-403: A suspended roller coaster from Arrow Dynamics , in 1993. Located next to the habitat attraction, it was titled after a film of the same name and was the first ride to be added to the park with a Paramount theme. The following year, the entire area was renamed Adventure Village coinciding with the removal of the animal habitat and monorail ride. In 1999, a two-year expansion initiative began with

2375-510: A swinging pirate ship ride called Viking Fury, which opened in 1982. The area initially opened with the park in 1972 as The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera and was later shortened to Hanna-Barbera Land . One of the area's flagship attractions was a junior wooden roller coaster named Scooby Doo , which like The Racer was designed by John C. Allen but intended for younger riders. Enchanted Voyage , an Old Mill dark ride that ferried guests in unaccompanied boats along water-filled guideways,

2500-655: A theme park in Northern Kentucky ;– well within Coney Island's primary market that extended as far south as Louisville . The announcement highlighted the need for change and gave Wachs' proposal credibility within the organization. Gary and Ralph met with Dudley S. Taft, president of Taft Broadcasting Company , to discuss a possible merger. Taft Broadcasting was interested in promoting its recently acquired Hanna-Barbera division, and in July 1969,

2625-486: A tight rope from the pond area of Medieval Faire to Wonder Mountain. For the 2010 season, Planet Snoopy opened to the public, which was a retheme of both "The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera" & "Nickelodeon Central" areas of the park to align Canada's Wonderland with the rest of the Cedar Fair chain. The area consisted of a retheme of all of the rides and facilities of both areas into one cohesive section themed to

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2750-714: A tipping bucket. Though not announced prior to its opening, SlingShot also for the 2015 season in the dry park. This upcharge attraction catapults riders nearly 300 ft (91.5m)in the air, and reaches speeds approaching 100 km/h (60 mph). Near the close of the 2015 season, Canada's Wonderland announced that two new flat rides would be added in 2016: Skyhawk (a Gerstlauer Sky Roller) and Flying Eagles (a Larson International Flying Scooters). Cedar Fair CEO Matt Ouimett also confirmed in December 2015 that virtual reality (VR) headsets would be added to Thunder Run in 2016. Available to riders for an additional upcharge fee,

2875-402: A top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h) and features a splashdown water effect finale. In August 2016, Kings Island revealed plans to build Mystic Timbers , a 109-foot-tall (33 m) wooden roller coaster that opened in 2017. The new ride added 3,265 feet (995 m) of track bringing the park's wooden coaster total to 18,804 feet (5,731 m), making it the most of any amusement park in

3000-452: A unique roller coaster concept. The Bat opened to the public in 1981 as the first modern-day, suspended roller coaster featuring an overhead track with train cars that swung freely from side to side, designed to simulate the feeling of flight. Although it was well received, it was plagued with design flaws and constant maintenance that resulted in frequent closures over its short, three-year history. In order to appease frustrated guests,

3125-614: A year after leaving Deerfield Township, the city of Mason annexed most of Kings Island. A temporary measure allowed for some land to remain in Deerfield in an attempt to appease park officials and reduce the impact on the township. The rest would be annexed in 1999. In 2005, Viacom split into two companies, Viacom and CBS Corporation , with CBS inheriting Paramount Parks. CBS made the decision to sell its theme park division in January 2006. CBS CEO Leslie Moonves stated that despite

3250-506: Is a 4-D interactive dark ride / roller coaster with animations from Montreal-based Triotech . Park management also announced that SkyRider would close Labour Day, 2014. In October 2014, a man was fatally stabbed at Halloween Haunt. SkyRider was removed at the end of the 2014 season and relocated to Cavallino Matto in Tuscany , Italy, as Freestyle in 2015. For the 2015 season, Splash Works opened two new attractions, which marked

3375-433: Is a cliff-jumping style attraction featuring multiple platforms of varying heights, the highest of which is 25 feet (7.6 m). Both of these attractions opened in 2021. On 22 November 2019, WinterFest debuted at Canada's Wonderland. WinterFest is a holiday event. During WinterFest, five million energy-efficient LED lights were strung on 800 trees, the buildings, the décor, and on Wonder Mountain. On International Street,

3500-485: Is a list of former employees at Kings Island that later became well known in another industry: Dogstreet Cemetery is located at the north end of the Kings Island parking lot and is maintained by Deerfield Township. The historic cemetery dates back to 1803. The Warren County Genealogical Society documented nearly 70 grave sites in the cemetery, though as of 2005 , only 52 headstones remained. On January 11, 2012,

3625-501: Is a secondary queue system that offers shorter wait times on the park's most popular rides. In addition to the standard admission charge, visitors can bypass the standard wait line by purchasing a wrist band that grants access to the Fast Lane queue. A limited number of wrist bands are sold each day. Kings Island offers Fright Lane passes that operate the same way as Fast Lane but are for Halloween Haunt attractions only. The following

3750-505: Is another International Street attraction. Also located here is Kings Island Theater along with a variety of restaurants and souvenir shops. Oktoberfest, relating to the eponymous German festival , opened with the park in 1972. The area resembles a German town with timber-framed, German-style architecture. The Festhaus building is its central attraction, featuring live shows with several indoor eateries. Rides within Oktoberfest include

3875-423: Is bounded by Highway 400 to the west, Jane Street to the east, Major Mackenzie Drive to the north and an access road approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north of Rutherford Road to the south. When the park originally opened, its surroundings were largely rural; however, the suburban sprawl since the mid-2000s has resulted in it being surrounded by housing and shopping plazas on all sides. Canada's Wonderland

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4000-639: Is located 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) north of Vaughan Mills and 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) north of Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station of Line 1 Yonge–University of the Toronto subway system. Prior to the opening of the subway station in December 2017, it was served by the 165 Weston Road North bus of the Toronto Transit Commission bus system operating from York Mills station via Wilson station . The park has two public entrances and one entrance for staff, deliveries, and buses. On

4125-521: Is located within the UNESCO -designated Fundy Biosphere Region. The attraction opened in June 2024. On 8 February 2024, Canada's Wonderland announced that Xtreme Skyflyer would permanently shut down for the 2024 season after 26 years of operating. The attraction gave over 1.17 million rides prior to its removal. This closure was cited for future expansion and development by the park. Restrictions placed by

4250-559: Is transformed into a winter village filled with Christmas carolers, homemade crafts, and holiday-themed refreshments and snacks. The event debuted in 1982 and returned annually through 1992, followed by a brief return in 2005. Under Cedar Fair's ownership, the park listened to guest feedback and brought Winterfest back in 2017. They planned several years in advance to increase the scale of the event, which showcases over 5 million color-changing lights and dozens of live performances each night. Fast Lane , introduced at Kings Island in July 2011,

4375-506: The Arctic , Pacific , Atlantic , and Great Lakes regions of Canada, each poured a vial of water from their home regions into the park's fountain. Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky also appeared as a special guest, helping to raise the Canadian flag . 12,000 guests were welcomed into the park for the first time. The park cost $ 120 million ($ 381 million in 2023 dollars) to build. During

4500-485: The COVID-19 pandemic . Canada's Wonderland normally operates from late April or early May to Labour Day , and then on select dates until early January. Special events are held throughout the season, including Halloween Haunt , WinterFest , and various festivals such as Celebration Canada, a month-long Canada Day festival. With eighteen roller coasters, Canada's Wonderland has the third most of any theme park around

4625-511: The Government of Ontario to combat the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the park remaining closed for the 2020 season. This also led to the cancellations of that season's Halloween Haunt and Winterfest events. Canada's Wonderland posted a series of four horror vignettes 30 October 2020 titled Nighttime Walk to celebrate Haunt featuring the empty park. The park attempted to reopen in May 2021, but it

4750-491: The Peanuts comics (both Ghoster Coaster & Swan Lake remained unchanged following the change), along with the addition of three new rides for children and families from Zamperla ; Lucy's Tugboat, Peanuts 500, and Snoopy's Revolution. In 2011, Canada's Wonderland opened WindSeeker , a 301-foot-tall (92 m) tower-swing ride, making it the tallest ride in the park until Leviathan opened in 2012. The park also announced

4875-438: The 1980s and early 1990s. The park's former connection to Hanna-Barbera Productions lessened after Paramount Pictures raised its stake from 20 percent to full ownership of the park in 1993 and renamed it Paramount Canada's Wonderland. After Viacom bought Paramount in 1994, a successful attempt was made to bring families back to the park by attracting children with original Nickelodeon cartoon characters that were familiar to

5000-523: The 1980s, Canada's Wonderland and the Loblaws supermarket chain mounted a cross-marketing campaign. Loblaws issued "Wonder dollars" based on customers' purchases, which were redeemable at Canada's Wonderland at par with the Canadian dollar on weekdays. The obverse of the coin featured Wonder Mountain, while the reverse featured the Loblaws logo. Kings Entertainment Company operated the park during

5125-509: The 2010 season, when Cedar Fair began incorporating its Peanuts theme throughout the park, primarily in the children's area. Nickelodeon Universe was renamed Planet Snoopy to complete the transition. In late 2009, the Mason City Council added a measure on its 2010 ballot that would mandate a 3-percent ticket tax and a 5-percent parking tax at both Kings Island and The Beach Waterpark . Council member Tony Bradburn argued that it

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5250-482: The 2023 season. The first, Tundra Twister, is a first-of-its-kind flat ride from Mondial that is located in Frontier Canada next to Yukon Striker's zero-g winder inversion, creating many near-misses with the coaster. The ride features rotating gondola arms that freely rotate, while the ride's base spins 360 degrees at heights of 154 feet (47 m) and speeds of 75 kilometres per hour (47 mph). The second

5375-738: The Greater Toronto Area as a spot to build a theme park, among them the Conklin family (whose Conklin Shows ran various midways around North America, including Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition midway in Exhibition Place ). Walt Disney also considered the idea before choosing Florida for the Walt Disney World Resort , rejecting Toronto mainly because of the city's seasonal climate , which would make

5500-729: The Kings Island resort, in 1972 Taft Broadcasting Company built a golf course, hotel and campground. Canada%27s Wonderland Canada's Wonderland , formerly known as Paramount Canada's Wonderland , is a 330-acre (130 ha) amusement park located in Vaughan , Ontario , a municipality within the Greater Toronto Area . Opened in 1981 by the Taft Broadcasting Company and the Great-West Life Assurance Company , it

5625-585: The Leviathan as a new attraction would help to spread out visitors. It was also described as part of a "roller coaster renaissance" where theme parks distinguished itself by introducing bigger and faster rides to attract guests. In addition to Leviathan, Canada's Wonderland also opened the Dinosaurs Alive! walk-through dinosaur exhibit, which was located in Planet Snoopy . On 27 May 2012, for

5750-508: The United States. Brokered by Intamin and manufactured by Waagner-Biro, the three-minute ride featured twelve gondolas on each of the two wheels, which were mounted to a long, hydraulic arm. It was removed following the 1986 season and relocated to Wonderland Sydney , where it reopened in 1989. In the 1980s, flat rides Skylab (1986–1997) and Zephyr were added, along with a looping roller coaster named Vortex (1987–2019), which

5875-420: The addition of new rides and attractions. The park originally opened with sixty attractions which grew to more than a hundred by 2017. The number of themed areas has also expanded from the original five – Coney Island, Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera, International Street, Oktoberfest, and Rivertown – to eight by 2023, including the latest additions of Area 72 and Adventure Port. A water park was added in 1989, and

6000-512: The addition of the Starlight Spectacular show, which started on 25 June 2011 and ended on Labour Day, 3 September 2011. It was a nightly 'light and sound show' designed to celebrate the park's 30th anniversary; it was shown at 10 pm EST every night on International Street. Canada's Wonderland stated that the total cost for the show was approximately $ 1 million, with 16 million different colours and 300,000 LED lights. While

6125-583: The addition of two new attractions for the 2020 season. The first, Beagle Brigade Airfield, is a new children's ride located in Planet Snoopy. The attraction is mostly identical to the version at sister park Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri , which share the same name, but Wonderland's version is partially covered. In addition, the park announced Mountain Bay Cliffs for Splash Works, which

6250-549: The agreement allowed Kings Island to continue using Nickelodeon themes and characters for four years and other Paramount-related branding for ten years, with the option to extend the license on both. Cedar Fair opted for a buyout option within an agreement clause to remove Paramount branding after one season. Beginning in 2008, Face/Off became Invertigo , The Italian Job Stunt Track became Backlot Stunt Coaster , Tomb Raider: The Ride became The Crypt and Top Gun became Flight Deck . Nickelodeon's presence remained until

6375-403: The amusement park and cemetery were featured on season 8, episode 1 of Ghost Hunters entitled Roller Ghoster . The show investigated claims of haunted occurrences inside the park and around the cemetery, particularly of a ghost reportedly known as "Missouri Jane." Warren County Genealogical Society records document a grave for a Missouri Jane Galeenor, who died in 1846 at age five. As part of

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6500-435: The annual publication from Amusement Today , including "Best Kids' Area" in the world for eighteen consecutive years (2001–2018) and "Best New Ride" in 2017 for Mystic Timbers . In the same publication, The Beast consistently ranks as one of the top ten wooden coasters in the world. Kings Island was conceived as early as 1964 when Coney Island , a popular amusement park 10 miles (16 km) east of downtown Cincinnati on

6625-480: The area became known as Wild Animal Habitat and included Adventure Village, a new area within the rebranded section. Over the years, it featured rides such as Screamin' Demon (1977–1987), the first steel looping roller coaster to run both forward and backward in the United States, and King Cobra (1984–2001), a stand-up looping roller coaster that was the first of its kind in the world. Early in its tenure after purchasing Kings Island, Paramount unveiled Top Gun ,

6750-462: The area encompassing what is now Splash Works , White Water Canyon , the Action Theatre and the southern part of Kidzville. Taft also proposed including a steam passenger train. While Frontier Canada was not brought up as an idea until 2019 by a different owner, several original themes remain in the area. Unlike its sister parks, Kings Island and Kings Dominion , it was decided early that

6875-406: The area's renaming to Action Zone and the addition of two new attractions – Drop Zone: Stunt Tower and Face/Off . When it debuted, Action Zone resembled a movie stunt set featuring a water tower as the centerpiece. The water tower was originally part of a skit with stunts and special effects that imitated a live movie set with a director and stunt performers. Son of Beast opened in 2000,

7000-463: The banks of the Ohio River , suffered from a major flood that submerged the area in over 14 feet (4.3 m) of water. Although occasional flooding was common at the successful park, the flood in 1964 was the fourth highest on record and caused considerable damage. Faced with already-limited space for expansion and parking, the event triggered discussions within the organization about relocating

7125-672: The centre of the Vortex helix, which has a top speed of 130 km/h. Upon opening, the ride became the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in the world and features four inversions, more than any other dive coaster, including the first vertical loop on a Dive Coaster. They also announced the opening of Frontier Canada, a gold-rush -themed attraction area that includes Yukon Striker, Mighty Canadian Minebuster, Lumberjack, Soaring Timbers, Flying Canoes, Vortex, Timberwolf Falls and White Water Canyon. Canada's Wonderland also announced Winterfest , an immersive holiday-themed event. In addition,

7250-405: The centrepiece of the park would not be a replica of Paris's famous Eiffel Tower . Instead, the park's designers chose to build a massive mountain, known as Wonder Mountain, situated at the top of International Street. Wonder Mountain featured a huge waterfall and interior pathways that led visitors to a look-out point. The interior pathways have been closed since and have remained closed. In 2018,

7375-400: The children's brand marketed at other Cedar Fair parks. For the 2024 season, Kings Island expanded Planet Snoopy, adding a new themed section called Camp Snoopy. It features a new family Boomerang roller coaster from Vekoma called Snoopy's Soap Box Racers, as well as additional play areas and activities for families. Some attractions were also re-themed. During the 2021-2022 off season

7500-548: The children's brand marketed at other Cedar Fair parks. Nickelodeon Universe became known as Planet Snoopy . The area features many rides intended for smaller children, as well as three family-oriented roller coasters and a skater coaster . Amusement Today awarded Kings Island with the Golden Ticket Award for "Best Kids' Area in the World" for eighteen consecutive years (2001–2018). Kings Island's Planet Snoopy

7625-558: The company purchased Coney Island for $ 6.5 million and 1,600 acres (650 ha) in Warren County, Ohio , for $ 3.2 million. Kings Island still owned 773 acres (313 ha) of that purchase as of 2005 . The site is located between I-71 and the Little Miami River in what was then a part of Deerfield Township . Following the purchase, Fess Parker's efforts to secure financing fell apart along with his plans to build

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7750-494: The east of Toronto in the Regional Municipality of Durham , which includes Pickering and Oshawa , while keeping the lands to the north of Toronto agricultural, as a Greenbelt . The Wonderland promoters were able to convince the province to amend the planning policy for the region, and the park secured infrastructure improvements, including a highway overpass and sewage systems, that were expanded and built out to

7875-453: The experience is co-developed with Mack Rides , a German amusement ride company. The VR headgear is a type of head-mounted display that animates the entire field of vision to produce a 360-degree 3D experience. On 26 August 2016, Canada's Wonderland announced that a new flat ride would be added in the 2017 season: Soaring Timbers (a Mondial Inferno). The ride is stated to be the first of its kind in North America. The park also announced

8000-691: The firm's first projects was rebuilding the San Antonio Playland Park Rocket as the Phoenix at Knoebels Amusement Resort . In 1985 Dinn contacted Curtis D. Summers , Inc., an engineering firm in Loveland, Ohio , to provide the design for the restoration of the helix of Paragon Park 's Giant Coaster which his company was moving to Wild World in Largo, Maryland. That was the start of relationship that lasted until 1991. In 1987

8125-443: The first expansion to the waterpark since 2002. Both attractions were relocated from Ontario Place , however they never opened in their original locations and were sent to Splash Works. Typhoon is a set of two partially enclosed tube slides with funnels, and was formerly known as Topsy Turvy . Splash Station is an interactive children's play structure similar to the adjacent Pump House, featuring two slides, numerous water features, and

8250-698: The first time in the park's history, Canada's Wonderland in partnership with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association hosted the Run For Vaughan, a one-kilometre, 5-kilometre, and 10-kilometre run to raise money for the planned Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital (then known as Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital) that would be built on land once owned by Canada's Wonderland north of Major Mackenzie Drive. On 30 August 2013, Canada's Wonderland announced that Wonder Mountain's Guardian would open inside Wonder Mountain in May 2014. The attraction

8375-499: The health and profitability of Paramount Parks, the business was "one that just doesn't fit our core strategy". After receiving interest from several potential suitors, CBS announced the sale of Paramount Parks to Cedar Fair on June 30, 2006, for $ 1.24 billion. The acquisition of Kings Island gave Cedar Fair, who had recently acquired Geauga Lake from Six Flags in 2004, ownership of all three major amusement parks in Ohio . Part of

8500-718: The key personnel from the Dinn Corp. On July 6, 2021, Dinn died at the age of 88 in Clermont, Florida. As of 2019, Dinn Corporation has built 11 roller coasters around the world and assisted with at least 3 known restoration. The Dinn Corporation served as project managers on the following ride installations: Kings Island Kings Island is a 364-acre (147 ha) amusement park located 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio , United States. Owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation ,

8625-483: The lake had been frozen into a skating rink called Snow Flake Lake. There were eight themed areas. On 16 June 2022, Canada's Wonderland announced Lazy Bear Lodge (marketed as Lazy Bear Lodge: Wood Fire Grille ), which became the park's largest dining facility to date. The restaurant is located on the hillside beside Vortex's first drop, overlooking Yukon Striker and the rest of Frontier Canada, and features seating for over 500 guests, an indoor and outdoor bar, two floors,

8750-463: The last Paramount-themed attractions to open at the park, The Italian Job: Stunt Track (now known as Backlot Stunt Coaster), was unveiled. The roller coaster replaced the antique car ride Les Taxis and Ohio Overland Auto Livery. In 2009, the park's first roller coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard , called Diamondback , opened in Rivertown. The 230-foot-tall (70 m) hypercoaster reaches

8875-570: The last weekend in October. Halloween Haunt runs in the late evenings on October weekends. On 4 May 2008, Canada's Wonderland opened a Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster called Behemoth , which held the record for the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada at the time of its opening, standing at 230 feet (70 m) and reaching speeds of 124 kilometres per hour (77 mph). On 19 July 2009, stunt performer Nik Wallenda walked on

9000-414: The main entrance. As one of the park's original staples when it opened in 1972, International Street was designed by Bruce Bushman, a former Walt Disney Imagineering layout design artist. The area's architecture and cultural themes represent Italy, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland. To save on the cost of construction, the second story of each building was designed on a three-quarters scale, borrowing from

9125-402: The middle of the walkway. Originally called Coney Island, the area was renamed Old Coney in 1980 and Coney Mall in 1986. The area also features game booths, arcades, and concession stands in the style of state fairs and traveling carnivals from the early twentieth century. Zodiac, described as a "spinning, climbing double ferris wheel", debuted in 1975 as one of only two of its kind in

9250-444: The number of employees required for park operations has grown from 1,300 to approximately 4,000. Action Zone opened in 1974 as Lion Country Safari, a 100-acre (40 ha) section of the park featuring a monorail ride that took guests on a safari-style tour through an animal preservation. This was part of a network of other safari-style zoos also called Lion Country Safari . It was later renamed Wild Animal Safari in 1977. In 1983,

9375-703: The operating season too short to be profitable. Construction of the park was opposed on multiple fronts. Many cultural institutions in Toronto ;– such as Ontario Place , the Royal Ontario Museum , and the operators of the Canadian National Exhibition ;– felt that the Toronto market was not large enough to support more competition. Other groups that fought the building of Wonderland included

9500-404: The original Viacom ), including Canada's Wonderland. CBS stated that amusement parks did not fit the company's new strategy. The acquisition was completed on 30 June 2006. After the sale, Cedar Fair began to drop the name "Paramount" from all of the former Paramount properties it acquired, as a result, the park reverted to its original name of Canada's Wonderland in January 2007. The 2007 season

9625-427: The other two parks, also added Great America to its portfolio after purchasing it in 1989 from the city of Santa Clara, California . In 1992, Paramount Communications Inc. (formerly Gulf+Western) purchased KECO along with Kings Island from American Financial in a deal worth $ 400 million. Paramount formed a new division known as Paramount Parks . KECO owned 20% of Canada's Wonderland, and Paramount bought out

9750-475: The pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 editions of Toronto's original Santa Claus Parade – normally held on the streets in Downtown Toronto in previous years – was pre-recorded from Canada's Wonderland with no spectators on site and was broadcast on Eastern Standard Time's prime time on 5 December 2020 and 4 December 2021, respectively. From 29 March 2021 until summer 2021, Canada's Wonderland served as

9875-622: The park announced Moosehorn Falls, a new waterslide for Splash Works for the 2024 season. The slide features six-person rafts travelling down a course of small drops and turns before plummeting down a large drop into a 42-foot (13 m) wall, leading into the final splash pool. The name "Moosehorn Falls" is inspired by waterfalls on the Moosehorn Trail in the Fundy National Park in New Brunswick . The trail and park

10000-420: The park announced plans to open a Hyatt House and Hyatt Place–branded hotel eventually. On 13 June 1979, Ontario Premier Bill Davis depressed the plunger on an electronic detonating device at St. Lawrence Hall in downtown Toronto, triggering an explosion on the site. Construction began immediately and continued on to early 1981. Canadian companies were partners on the preliminary design and engineering of

10125-473: The park announced that Dinosaurs Alive! would be closing on 28 October 2018. The attraction's former gift shop is still used seasonally for WinterFest. On 4 February 2019, the park announced that Orbiter would not be opening for the 2019 season. Since the announcement, the attraction has been removed from the park and the area surrounding it was replaced with a pathway connecting Action Zone and Frontier Canada. On 14 August 2019, Canada's Wonderland announced

10250-533: The park at the forefront of the industry. To keep momentum going, Kings Island spent years researching and designing a mammoth roller coaster, The Beast , which opened in 1979 as the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in the world. It was designed and manufactured internally by the park. On the heels of early success came turbulent times beginning in the 1980s. Kings Island partnered with Arrow Development , an amusement ride company well known for its work at Disneyland and Disney World , to develop

10375-458: The park in 1972. The area included attractions such as Kings Mill Log Flume and Shawnee Landing, a canoe ride in a part of Rivertown known as Kenton's Cove. Throughout the 1970s, Rivertown saw the addition of several attractions including Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal in 1973, which was an elevated log flume ride that operated through the 2000 season, and The Beast roller coaster in 1979. Designed internally by Kings Island, The Beast opened as

10500-459: The park introduced Spooktacular, a child-oriented Halloween event. The event included children's rides, costume contests and a treasure hunt. Spooktacular was open on weekends during the daytime, while Fearfest remained open at night. Fearfest was renamed Halloween Haunt and Spooktacular was renamed Camp Spooky. On 14 May 2006, Cedar Fair announced it was interested in acquiring the five Paramount theme parks from CBS Corporation (successor of

10625-544: The park unveiled Action Zone, a new themed area replacing the Exposition of 1890, which at the time contained already existing rides and added the Psyclone ride. Splash Works also received its third and most current upgrade, with the addition of a child water playground area called Splash Island and the removal of Pipeline. On 11 May 2003, with the park packed with people for Mother's Day , two guests were involved in

10750-585: The park was built by Taft Broadcasting and opened in 1972. It was part of a larger effort to move and expand Coney Island , a popular resort destination along the banks of the Ohio River that was prone to frequent flooding. After more than $ 300 million in capital investments over the years, the park has grown to feature over a hundred attractions including fifteen roller coasters and a 33-acre (13 ha) water park. Early in its history, Kings Island appeared in popular sitcoms and received widespread recognition for its record-breaking attractions and events. One of

10875-490: The park was partially restored years later. Less than two years after breaking ground, Kings Island opened its gates to the public on April 29, 1972. It was the first of several preview events. The grand opening was held the following month on May 27, 1972. One of the first signature attractions featured at the park was The Racer , a wooden roller coaster consisting of two trains that race side by side on identical tracks. Designed by legendary designer John C. Allen , who

11000-425: The park's most well-known attractions, The Racer , is often credited with reviving worldwide interest in roller coasters during the 1970s. A variety of attractions over the years introduced notable milestones, and The Beast and Banshee are two that have set enduring world records. The largest single investment in park history is Orion , a $ 30-million giga coaster that opened in 2020. The park has also experienced

11125-445: The park, and actors in costume engage with guests. The event originally debuted as FearFest in 2000, and the name was later changed to Halloween Haunt in 2007. Winterfest is an annual Christmas-themed holiday festival that operates from mid-November through late December, featuring ice skating on the Royal Fountain as well as the special lighting throughout the park. Some rides and attractions are in operation, and International Street

11250-524: The park, which were later broadcast on ABC . The Brady Bunch was produced by Paramount Television , a large Taft Broadcasting shareholder. The park also held several world-record-breaking events. In 1974, 69-year-old Karl Wallenda set a world record for the longest tightrope skywalk at a distance of 1,800 feet (550 m), which was performed 60 feet (18 m) off the ground. The following year, Evel Knievel successfully jumped fourteen Greyhound buses on his Harley Davidson at Kings Island, clearing

11375-512: The park. Leading the way was Gary Wachs, son of Coney Island president Ralph Wachs, who with friends and family owned a majority of stock. He decided it was time to relocate the park to stay competitive. After years of research and traveling abroad, he presented ideas for a new theme park to the company's board of directors. Some board members opposed relocating, including significant stockholder Charles Sawyer. It wasn't taken seriously until 1968 when actor Fess Parker announced plans to build

11500-459: The park. This included the addition of film props around the property, a film-merchandise store, and the renaming of several attractions after Paramount film properties. In 2001, a new themed area called Zoom Zone was added within the KidZville section. Three new attractions were built in that area: Silver Streak (a family roller coaster), Blast Off (a "frog hopper"), and Jumpin' Jet. In 2002,

11625-421: The project. Construction of the mountain alone involved a dozen local companies under Cincinnati engineer Curtis D. Summers. Two years later on 23 May 1981, Davis and Taft Broadcasting President Dudley S. Taft Sr. officially opened Canada's Wonderland to the public. The spectacular opening ceremony included 10,000 helium balloons, 13 parachutists , 350 white doves , and a pipe band . Four children, representing

11750-481: The remaining 80% stake in 1993, raising the total number of parks to five. Later that year, Paramount Parks began incorporating themes from its movies into each park. Viacom entered the picture after acquiring Paramount in 1994, paving the way for the inclusion of Nickelodeon themes. Nickelodeon Splat City , an interactive splash pad area, was added in 1995, which later evolved into Nickelodeon Central (2001) and eventually Nickelodeon Universe (2006). In 1997,

11875-463: The ride got repainted for the parks 50th anniversary celebration. Rivertown is an area within the park that features a western theme depicting a town with ranch-style buildings, old wooden signs, and one of the park's most iconic attractions, the Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad . Originally intended to be named Frontier Land , the area was eventually named Rivertown when it debuted with

12000-410: The second year of the area's two-year expansion. It was the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world and the first of its kind to feature a vertical loop. As a result of a number of structural issues and two accidents, the ride closed permanently in 2009 and was eventually demolished in 2012. Other notable rides include Delirium , which opened in 2003 as the largest Giant Frisbee ride in

12125-533: The section for smaller children was closed off, the park continued running many of the thrill rides during the event, such as the Thunder Run , in which patrons ride a mining type train through a mountain. During the Halloween season, it is re-themed as the "Haunted" Thunder Run, with a darker tunnel and more strobe lights, fog machines, and black-light lit scenes featuring the "skeletons" of miners. In 2006,

12250-496: The show took place at the front of the park (International Street), the highlight was on Wonder Mountain, with many 3D images and colours. In 2012, Leviathan , a Bolliger & Mabillard Hypercoaster (also classified as a giga coaster ), opened, surpassing the Canadian records set by Behemoth in 2008, becoming the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada. Norm Pirtovshek, general manager of Canada's Wonderland, said that

12375-412: The site. This infrastructure paved the way for increased development throughout the region. Concerns were also raised about the cultural implications of allowing an American theme park to open in Canada. Many felt that it would be a " Trojan Horse " for American culture . To counter the criticism, Taft planned to open Frontier Canada, a part of the park devoted to Canada's history . Early park maps show

12500-423: The size of the pool and included new interactive water features and children's slides, along with shaded seating areas for families to relax. The area was renamed to Lakeside Lagoon following these upgrades. On 15 August 2018, Canada's Wonderland announced Yukon Striker , a B&M Dive Coaster which opened to the public on 3 May 2019. The ride features a 245-foot-tall (75 m) drop into an underwater tunnel in

12625-500: The south track of The Racer began running its trains backward in 1982, which became so popular that the change remained until 2008. The park also pushed forward with its next major addition, King Cobra , which opened in 1984 as the first of its kind to be designed from inception as a stand-up roller coaster. Kings Island also went through a series of ownership changes over the next decade. Taft sold its theme park division in 1984 for $ 167.5 million to Kings Entertainment Company (KECO),

12750-563: The tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in the world, and in addition to retaining its record length, it remains one of the most popular wooden roller coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today . Other rides added over the years include a river rafting ride called White Water Canyon , which opened in 1985, and a heavily themed, indoor flat ride called Tomb Raider: The Ride (later renamed The Crypt), which opened in place of Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal in 2002. The Crypt closed permanently in 2011. In 2005, one of

12875-479: The transition. Area 72, formerly known as X-Base, is an area themed as a secret aerospace research facility that features two roller coasters. The area first opened as a small subsection of Coney Mall when Flight of Fear was introduced in 1996. It expanded in 2007 following the addition of Firehawk and was labeled X-Base, a name only designated by a small sign in Coney Mall. Firehawk closed in 2018 and

13000-503: The two started building new coasters, with Wolverine Wildcat and Raging Wolf Bobs both opening in 1988. In 1991, Dinn closed the Dinn Corporation after a dispute that occurred during the construction of Pegasus at Efteling . This was despite a possible project in the works for Kings Island to open in 1992. However, his daughter Denise Dinn Larrick formed the now-defunct company Custom Coasters International , with many of

13125-576: The world, behind Energylandia in Poland with nineteen and Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California with twenty. Twenty acres (8.1 ha) of the park houses a water park named Splash Works . Since the closure of Crystal Beach Park in Fort Erie in 1989, Canada's Wonderland remains the only amusement park in Ontario with wooden roller coasters in operation. When Canada's Wonderland

13250-460: The world, and Banshee , the world's longest inverted roller coaster which opened in 2014 at the former location of Son of Beast. In 2023, Kings Island opened a newly themed area called Adventure Port, which introduced family rides Sol Spin and Cargo Loco. The area was previously a part of Oktoberfest and includes a mine train roller coaster called Adventure Express , which opened in 1991. Adventure Express received theming enhancements during

13375-424: The world. Included with park admission, Soak City is a 33-acre (13 ha) water park featuring two wave pools , several children's areas and a variety of water slides. It originally opened in 1989 as WaterWorks and has since been expanded several times. It was renamed in 2004 to Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay , based on the titular character from the film "Crocodile" Dundee , played by Paul Hogan who

13500-414: Was Snoopy's Racing Railway , a family launch coaster manufactured by ART Engineering and the park's 18th roller coaster overall. Snoopy's Racing Railway is located in Planet Snoopy and takes up a portion of the land that was previously occupied by Dinosaurs Alive!. The coaster opened to the public on 18 May 2023, and Tundra Twister opened to the public a few weeks later on 3 June 2023. On 10 August 2023,

13625-491: Was a transition year throughout the park and included renaming the movie-themed rides since Cedar Fair did not hold the rights to Paramount film properties. By the start of the 2008 season, all Paramount logos and similar references had been removed. In August 2007, Cedar Fair announced that Fearfest would become Halloween Haunt to remain consistent with most other Cedar Fair parks, and that Spooktacular would become Camp Spooky. The park extended its regular operating season until

13750-428: Was added for the 2016 season. Kings Island announces an expansion for the 2025 season with the addition of RiverRacers, a dual-racing water coaster. Halloween Haunt is a Halloween -themed event at Kings Island that operates on weekends from September through October. It features haunted houses, mazes, live shows, and most of the park's regular season attractions. Special lighting and fog effects are utilized throughout

13875-429: Was added in 2011, which features two-person swing carriages that rotate around a central tower at a maximum speed of 30 mph (48 km/h). For the 2019 season, an antique car ride called Kings Mill Antique Autos, designed to resemble the retired Les Taxis (1972–2004), returned to Coney Mall as a new attraction. At the heart of the amusement park, visitors are greeted by International Street, which lies just beyond

14000-484: Was added in 2023, replacing part of Oktoberfest and adding two new family rides – Sol Spin and Cargo Loco. Through the 2024 season, Kings Island expanded Planet Snoopy with the addition of a new themed section called Camp Snoopy. On July 1, 2024, a merger of equals between Cedar Fair and Six Flags was completed, creating Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. Kings Island has invested more than $ 300 million in improvements since its grand opening in 1972, including

14125-437: Was also a primary attraction that opened with the park. Shaped like a large TV set, the building housed separately-themed areas that made heavy use of animatronic Hanna-Barbera characters. The ride was overhauled for the 1984 season when it became Smurf's Enchanted Voyage . In 1992, the building was transformed once more into Phantom Theater , replacing the ride's waterways with an Omnimover -style system of transport. It

14250-401: Was also hired to promote the revamped water park. Following Cedar Fair's acquisition of Kings Island, it was later renamed Boomerang Bay , and all references to the film character were removed. On September 2, 2011, Kings Island announced a $ 10-million expansion of the water park for the 2012 season, as well as a plan to rename it Soak City . Tropical Plunge, a seven-story water slide complex,

14375-506: Was also the largest in the Cedar Fair chain until 2013, when Kings Dominion doubled the size of its Planet Snoopy section. The portion of the area that borders Rivertown was revamped in 1995 with the addition of a kids' play area, stage and water attraction, and the new sub-section was named Nickelodeon Splat City . In 2001, the log ride Kings Mills Log Flume was updated with a children's theme and renamed The Wild Thornberrys River Adventure. The Rugrats Runaway Reptar inverted roller coaster

14500-417: Was concerned about opposition and flew a group of opponents and regional councillors to Mason, Ohio (just north of Cincinnati ) to show them the positive impact of one of its theme parks on the local community. Canada's Wonderland was also responsible for changing the master development plan for the province of Ontario. The provincial government wanted to increase residential and commercial development to

14625-464: Was convinced to come out of retirement, The Racer was the first of its kind in 35 years and played an integral part of the roller coaster renaissance of the 1970s. Decades later, it was distinguished as a Roller Coaster Landmark by American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) in recognition for its historical significance. Other roller coasters present on opening day in 1972 were the Bavarian Beetle,

14750-444: Was introduced the same year. This expansion into an area that was originally part of Rivertown became known as Nickelodeon Central . Hanna-Barbera Land was gradually converted over the next several years and eventually renamed "Nickelodeon Universe" in 2006. Following Cedar Fair's purchase of the park from Paramount in 2006, Nickelodeon-themed elements were eventually removed and replaced with Peanuts comic strip themes in 2010 –

14875-429: Was necessary for the city to help pay for infrastructure improvements, as well as cover police and fire expenses. The proposed tax hike was the center of debate for several months, as Kings Island actively encouraged the public to write, email, and call Mason City Council representatives to express opposition. On February 8, 2010, Mason City Council voted 5–1 against the measure. A new themed area called Adventure Port

15000-502: Was planned, the Greater Toronto Area lacked a seasonal amusement park. The city of Toronto had previously hosted three amusement parks that had roller coasters. Sunnyside Amusement Park closed in the 1950s to make room for the Gardiner Expressway . The Scarboro Beach and Hanlan's Point amusement parks both closed in the 1920s. In 1972, the Taft Broadcasting Company , headed by Kelly Robinson, first proposed building

15125-428: Was postponed to July of the same year. An online reservation system was required for guests to book the date and time of their visit during the shortened 2021 season. As a result, 2020 and 2021 season passes were extended to partially include the 2022 season and refunds were not officially offered. Both Beagle Brigade Airfield and Mountain Bay Cliffs had their opening years pushed back to the 2021 season. Also due to

15250-493: Was removed prior to the 2019 season. The park began leaking clues that implied a new ride would take its place, and in August 2019, the park unveiled plans to build Orion , the park's first giga coaster , with park guests and press in attendance. The area, which received an updated theme and was added to the official park map for the first time, was renamed Area 72 for the 2020 season. When Kings Island first opened in 1972,

15375-627: Was the first in the world to feature six inversions. Following Paramount's acquisition of the park in 1992, Coney Mall was further expanded in 1994 with the addition of Days of Thunder, a NASCAR -themed motion simulator ride based on the 1990 film of the same name . The ride was housed within Action Theater located near The Racer's turnaround, and it was later updated with different shows based on James Bond , SpongeBob , and other themes before its closure in 2013. A 301-foot-tall (92 m), three-minute swing ride called WindSeeker

15500-493: Was the first major theme park in Canada and remains the country's largest. Cedar Fair (merged with Six Flags since 1 July 2024) purchased the park from Paramount Parks in 2006, and they have owned and operated the park since then. In 2019, it was the most-visited seasonal amusement park in North America with an estimated 3.9 million guests. The park still retains this record, with an estimated 3.8 million guests in 2022 amid

15625-538: Was themed as a behind-the-scenes tour of a haunted theater. The theme and ride vehicles would see additional changes over the years – Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle in 2003 and Boo Blasters on Boo Hill in 2010 – but the same underlying transportation system was retained each time. Following Cedar Fair's purchase of the park from Paramount in 2006, Nickelodeon-themed elements were eventually removed and replaced with Peanuts comic strip themes in 2010 –

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