The good ol' days of Kings Island

A friend of mine posted a video on Facebook this morning which made me take a very long walk down memory lane.

The days when Kings Island was just Kings Island. It wasn't owned by any big to do movie maker, it was Kings Island period. Hanna Barbara land, the Beer Gardens, THE first stand up roller coaster, the Screamin Demon, Scoobie Doo, the scrambler was called the scrambler and the monster was the Octopus.

The screamin Demon

The King Cobra ( the first standing roller coaster)

When the train ride in Frontier land was actually a ride and not just transportation to other areas of the park.

When in Hanna Barbara Land the characters would dress up and would be around the park all day long and not just at "scheduled" times. When the shows were great and you didn't go see them just to cool off in the air conditioning.

This was one of my brother's favorite rides when he was little.

When you could see a dolphin and sea lion show and even get wet if you sat close enough. When you could only eat LaRosa's pizza if you were at Kings Island and it was the best pizza you had ever eaten. (I still think it is better at Kings Island).

When you could ride the Flying Eagles and they didn't trim the trees so your eagle could skim the branches if you got it high enough. It was the ultimate test of your flying skills, that and the buckling of the cord your eagle was hanging from. My mom was the best at this.


When blue ice cream was blue because of the Smurfs... not just because blue is cool. When people would stand in line forever to drive the old time cars.


When you had to follow the Beast foot prints to find the line to the Beast.



When ALL the turn stiles were open and by the time you were done standing in line for a roller coaster you were friends with everyone around you in line.

When it was cool to carve "I was here" on the wood pillars while standing in line for the Beast, as well as spitting into the water below to watch the fish come up and eat it.



When rumors were told of animal sacrifices being done in the tunnels of the Beast. ( I said a prayer each and every time I went through one of those tunnels in high school just in case.)

The Beast: Open April 14th, 1979 and just celebrated it's 30th year and shows no sign of slowing down.

The record-breaking features of The Beast include:
· A 7,400-foot long track (1.4 miles) and ride time of four minutes, 10 seconds.
· Drops of 135 feet (at a 45-degree angle) and 141 feet (at an 18-degree angle).
· A 125-foot long underground tunnel at the bottom of the 135-foot drop.
· Eight banked turns, some to 45 degrees.
· A massive 540-degree helix tunnel near the end.
· Speeds up to 64.77 miles per hour.

When the red and blue racers actually raced one another and you didn't have the choice to ride backwards.

Remember the bat? I loved the bat, it was one of my favorites.

I know we now have Top Gun.... but I am sorry friends.... it just isn't the same.

Remember the big red, white and blue super slide? Oh how I loved to go down the big slide. What about the ride where you would spin around and around and then the floor would drop out? I can't remember the name of it can you?

I remember walking around Kings Island and never getting tired until we were walking to the car after the fire works. I don't think I ever stayed awake long enough to see us exit the parking lot.

Ahhh, those were the good ol days.

Check out the YouTube video... this will REALLY take you back. Click here and Enjoy!