Amusement Views: April 2023

On Saturday, April 15th, my brother Scott and I attended opening day for Kings Island, an amusement park located in Mason, Ohio! It was our first road trip that we had done together in seven years, which was the last time we had visited Kings Island.

We had a great time attending opening day at Kings Island as the weather was summer like, the lines weren't too long, and we were able to ride the two newest roller coasters Mystic Timbers, Orion, and the antique car ride Kings Mill's Antique Autos. All three were added to the park since our last visit to the park!

Scott and I were also able to enjoy quite a few of the other rides and roller coasters which we enjoyed during our previous visits to Kings Island. It was a whirlwind of a trip that we both greatly enjoyed and was a great way start our 2023 amusement park season!

Be sure to enjoy some of the photos that I had captured of our quick trip to Kings Island on opening day! :-)

On Friday, April 14th, we drove down to Mason, Ohio to attend opening day at Kings Island on Saturday, April 15th. On the morning of opening day, we drove from our hotel to the park to join the line of cars that had formed on Kings Island drive before the parking lot gates opened at 9am. Once they opened, we waited for the toll gates to open.

Once the toll gates opened, we were able to find a parking spot close to the front gate rather quickly!

The day had started out a bit rainy, with downpours at times. But that did not dampen our spirits!

It was nice to be able to see the Eiffel Tower again!

On the front gate was a banner advertising the new Adventure Port section of the park that will be opening at Kings Island later this summer which features two new rides and a revamped Adventure Express, a mine train roller coaster that has been at the park since 1991.

The park gates had opened at 9:30am, letting guests head to their first rides of the day.

It was nice to see the renovations of International Street in person that had occurred a few years ago as they had removed all the large trees to make it look similar to how it was when the park opened 51 years ago in 1972.

Scott and I's first ride of the day was on Mystic Timbers, a Great Coasters International wooden roller coaster that opened in 2017. The last time we had seen Mystic Timbers, it was under construction in June 2016! We managed to get two rides on this amazing wooden coaster, with our first being in a downpour and our second ride after the showers had passed! It is a fun wooden coaster that is very smooth with banked drops, quick turns, and airtime hills!

The trains, themed to old pickup trucks just zip along its over 3,200 feet of track!

While we did not ride Diamondback during this visit, it does now feature a new paint scheme that is a bit darker than its last.

The first drop on Mystic Timbers is curved, which allows the train to gain a lot of momentum.

Here is a beautiful photo of the new-for-2020 Orion, the park's latest roller coaster! Orion is a Giga coaster model manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard.

After two rides on Mystic Timbers, I boarded The Beast, the World's longest wooden roller coaster. While waiting in line, the rain began to come down hard, but it luckily let up by the time the train I was in had dispatched from the station. The Beast rode even better than the last time I rode it in 2016!

Here's another view of Orion's first drop from the Coney Mall section of the park.

Up next was a ride on the classic Shake, Rattle & Roll, a Huss Troika that has been at the park since 1975. We had greatly enjoyed this ride the last time, so we made sure to ride it a couple of times this visit!

The Racer was repainted for the park's 50th anniversary in 2022. It looked shiny and new!

Here is a glimpse at the Kings Mills Antique Autos that opened in 2019. In a world of electric, it was nice to see that the cars are gas-powered, allowing them to operate in varying weather conditions.

Banshee's trains were swooping along its track all day long!

The Coney Mall at Kings Island has been one of my favourite sections at Kings Island since my first visit back in 2014 as it plays homage to the Coney Island of Cincinnati, Ohio. I just love the classic midway look!

The buds and blossoms were in full bloom during our trip as it was very warm!

Up next was an obligatory ride on the classic Monster!

The Monster was manufactured by Eyerly Aircraft and originally operated at Coney Island in Cincinnati from 1968 to 1971. It then was relocated with a ton of other rides to Kings Island where it has operated since 1972. The Monster is one of only four Eyerly Monster rides currently operating in North America.

After a fun time of spinning and dipping on The Monster, we joined the line for Orion! Orion is a fun, fast-actioned Giga Coaster located in the X-Base section that features a drop of 300 feet, banked curves, and airtime filled drops within its 5,321 feet of track! The Orion sits on the location of the former Firehawk, a Vekoma Flying Dutchman Coaster that had operated at Kings Island from 2007 to 2018. While I had personally greatly enjoyed Firehawk, Orion is a great replacement!

The Zephyr is also another beautiful ride located in the Coney Mall section at Kings Island.

The pink blossoms were in full bloom around Kings Island!

The Kings Mills Autos is very well landscaped!

After having some Skyline Chili 3-ways (chili and spaghetti), we ventured up the 300 foot tall Eiffel Tower.

On our way over to the Eiffel Tower, you could here the whimsical music of the Grand Carousel.

From the Eiffel Tower, you can get a clear view of Orion.

Orion makes The Racer look small!

Shake, Rattle & Roll was whirling under the bright afternoon sun! The vacant land behind Shake, Rattle & Roll was home to Vortex, an Arrow Dynamics custom looping coaster that operated from 1987 to 2019. Hopefully another looping coaster takes it spot one day!

Park visitors were enjoying their rides on the classic Racer as seen from the Eiffel Tower.

This is all you can see of The Beast as it is surrounded by many trees!

Here's a look at the Backlot Stunt Coaster, which is situated in the center of the park!

The KI and Miami Valley Railroad was offering relaxing rides during this beautiful summer-like Spring day!

Here's a view of Banshee, the World's longest inverted roller coaster that has been operating at the park since 2014.

Nearby Banshee is the construction of Adventure Port. This new section will feature two new rides consisting of Cargo Loco (spinning tea cup ride) and Sol Spin (an Endeavour ride) both manufactured by Zamperla of Italy.

From atop the Eiffel Tower, you can also get a great view of the twisted track of the amazing Mystic Timbers.

A trainload of passengers were going over the top of the lift hill on Diamondback while we were on the Eiffel Tower.

From the Eiffel Tower, I zoomed in on one of the airtime hills on Mystic Timbers.

International Street is simply stunning!

Since it was a warm day, the Congo Falls splash boat ride was operating.

Invertigo was also operating for the most the day until it broke down in the late-afternoon.

Orion features a forceful, steep over banked curve!

The Eiffel Tower at Kings Island received a fresh coast of paint in early 2022 by Baynum Painting Inc. This is the third time they have repainted this icon!

The splashdown on Diamondback continues to be an interesting and visually appealing element.

Up next was a ride on the classic steam-powered KI and Miami Valley Railroad, a train ride that has been chugging along since 1972.

Here is Scott and I seated on the KI and Miami Valley Railroad before it departed from the Rivertown Station.

The KI and Miami Valley Railroad travels through the forested section of Rivertown, allowing you to get some up close "behind the scenes" views of some of the park's other rides and attractions. Here is a view of Mystic Timber's first drop.

The KI and Miami Valley Railroad also runs under Diamondback, Kings Island's hyper coaster.

Just look at the 'hair-time' on Mystic Timbers!

Here's a look at the locomotive as it rounds one of the bends.

The lift hill threads through the turn after the first drop!

Here's a sunny view of a trainload of passengers beginning their journey on The Beast!

The pink blossoms around the park are quite beautiful!

After awhile, Scott and I lined up for the Kings Mills Antique Autos, an antique car ride that plays homage to the former Les Taxis car ride that operated at Kings Island from 1972 to 2004.

Scott drove while I took some photos of the beautifully themed and landscaped Kings Mills Antique Autos.

Along the quarter-mile of guided track, the Kings Mills Antique Autos features a replica gas station, trees, water fountains, a covered bridge, and billboards that reference former rides at Kings Island. It is a very well themed car ride!

Just look at the views you get while driving along!

The gas station is quite detailed.

The amount of landscaping they put around the Kings Mills Antique Autos is stunning! Even though this ride opened in 2019, it feels as if it has always been there.

As you drive along you even pass through a 'covered bridge'.

The ponds and fountains are a nice touch!

Here's another view of one of the fountains.

Here's a face-on view of the gas station.

Here is another view of the beautiful landscaping found along the Kings Mills Antique Autos.

The Scrambler is another of the classic rides in the Coney Mall section.

The Racer was lovingly restored for Kings Island's 50th anniversary in 2022. The queue house and roller coaster looks great with its fresh new coat of paint! The Racer had also recently received some re-tracking, which made it relatively smooth!