The Park gained national attention in January when “The Partridge Family” aired an episode shot entirely at the park in 1972 called, “I Left My Heart in Cincinnati.” Former Cincinnati Reds’ great and National Baseball Hall of Fame member, Johnny Bench, and former Miss Ohio, Mary Ann Mobley, guest starred. Three rides were added – the Flying Dutchmen, the Bayern Kurve, and a second log flume – as well as a new games arcade, a 1/2-mile nature trail, and a sit down, fine-dining restaurant specializing in chicken dishes and sourdough bread. Other popular rides included: the Rotor, the Tumblebug, the Skyride, the Turnpike Cars, the Scooby-Doo roller coaster, the Monster, the Antique Cars, and the Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad.ġ973: On April 18, 1973, the park announced the completion of a $6 million expansion project.

At $2 million, the dark ride was the most expensive attraction in the park. The Racer was the first twin-track wooden coaster to be built in modern times and at speeds approaching 60 mph, it was the fastest, too.

The two flagship rides were the Racer and the Enchanted Voyage dark ride through Hanna-Barbera’s cartoon land. By Thanksgiving, rides and attractions had been transported and installed from Coney Island, including the Dodgem, Scrambler, Monster, Rotor, Log Flume, Sky Ride, Tumblebug, and Flying Scooters.ġ972: After two years of construction, Kings Island opened to public April 29, 1972. Only 150 of the 1600 acres purchased were utilized to begin building the park.ġ971: Construction of the Eiffel Tower, Royal Fountain, and Racer roller coaster was completed by early fall. The Park was dubbed Kings Island, after the town of Kings Mills in which the park was built and its famous predecessor on the Banks of the Ohio River, Coney Island. By the end of the year construction of the Eiffel Tower, Royal Fountains and Racer roller coaster was underway.

Kings Island Blog shared the park’s history:ġ970: On June 15, 1970, the Taft Broadcasting Company broke ground and began the construction of Kings Island led by the Charles V. Coney Island amusement park, located on the banks of the Ohio River, closed in September, 1971, and on April 29, 1972, the brand-new Kings Island Amusement Park opened its gates and welcomed its first guests.

World record for roller splat