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Oh boy, you asked for it... After being scared to death by The Racer way back in 2000, I was terrified of roller coasters for 9 years and would refuse to even ride some of the more intense carnival rides. However, in 2009, with the addition of Diamondback, I decided to give roller coasters another shot and we planned a trip to Kings Island. We arrived May 14th, 2009 around 10:30 AM. Little did I know, the 230' Diamondback would not be the highlight of the trip, as good as it was...(and still is) After heading up the Eiffel Tower for some amazing views, we first tried the now-defunct Crypt (because it was raining and Beast was down), which (even though none of us knew it) was on its 2nd day of the "ultra-tame" ride cycle that the ride became lamented for during its final few years. While the ride, at first, caught me off guard and suprised me, it ended far too soon. I was dissapointed, and was a little worried that Kings Island might actually let me down. After leaving, the rain had stopped and Beast had re-opened. I entered, and smacked my sister with a q-line "gate" on accident. The Beast's crew was doing an excellent job getting people pumped up for what they claimed was the "best roller coaster in the world!". After a 25 minute wait, I boarded the ride..."Ok, here we go...a roller coaster..." The train left the station and around the turnaround. Thudthudthudthud..."Oh (Insert Curse Word Here) What Am I Doing!?! I'm on a HUGE wooden roller coaster! This might hurt..." Then, we began climbing the 110' lift hill...clankclankclankclank...to relieve some tension, I looked at my momma and cracked a joke: "Look ma, we're higher than da treez! " The ride reached the top of the hill, and one of the most famous images in all of coasterdom was before me: "Well, here goes no..." I couldn't finish because we began dropping! There is a trim brake on the first drop, but I didn't even feel it (In fact, I never have, even though I know it's there...) We hit the tunnel, and people were screaming, and I thought "Hey! This isn't so bad!". We dipped into a ravine, then back up, and flew into the brake shed, where I managed to catch my breath for a moment before the ride quickly turned again and darted into a tunnel. "Oh Man, this is a long tunnel!" I thought during that part of the ride...then, the ride exited into the daylight and made a few more downward turns into the woods before another lift hill emerged before us. We hit it, and I caught my breath again. My first thought "Momma, are you ok?". She said yes. My second thought was for a friend of mine who was also afraid of roller coasters, and he said he was loving it so far. So was I. Then my sister blurted out: "You ain't seen nothing yet!" "Crud!" I thought. Kings Island emerged in its glory, but I didn't get to view it for long before a 141' drop into a tunnel was smack dab in my face. The ride dived down, faster, faster, faster and into the darkness, where I was thrown around and the train began screaming as if it were trying to break free of the track. Then, we exited, and dove back in! All over again, and finally, the train calmly exited the second helix tunnel and turned right into a small drop, and then we hit the final brakes. "WOW!" I thought. "Welcome back riders, how was your ride?" My response: "WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" After that, I took on Vortex, later Diamondback, and numerous other rides at Kings Island. That night, I returned to Beast with my friend and we took a night ride on the wooden monster that put even the ride I described a minute ago TO SHAME. I have been on The Beast 7 times, and all 7 of those rides have been memorable for one reason or another, but never because they were bad. I've since been to Holiday World as well, and rode their wooden coasters, and yes, they are great...in fact, at one point I had both Voyage and Legend ahead of Beast in my coaster rankings, but a stunning Halloween Haunt night ride changed that so Beast was #1 again. And it hasn't lost that spot yet. (Granted, I've only been to 3 parks total and there are some pretty epic looking rides out there I have yet to go on, such as El Toro @ SFGadv, Bizzaro @ SFNE, Millennium Force & Maverick @ CP, etc etc) And I agree with KIFan73: I would go to Kings Island simply if Beast were the only ride/attraction there, no offense to Diamondback, Delirium, Flight of Fear, Vortex, Drop Tower, Racer, Flight Deck, etc etc. But, they are simply the cherry on top of a Beast sundae...MMMmmm...Beast sundae...

I would travel the same distance I do to Kings Island to a park named The Beast whose only attraction is a roller coaster named The Beast.

I can guarantee you that the opinions of a few people on a park fansite will have no bearing whatsoever on the fate of a "record breaking coaster" that has proven to be one of the park's biggest headaches.

My family have always been loyal to Kings Island. Even though we are located about the same distance from Great America (Gurnee, IL), Six Flags (St. Louis) & Kings Island, we have always considered Kings Island "our park". As I have mentioned lately I am sorting through some of my stuff...and I wandered across this old postcard packet that I got back in the mid 1970's when we were at Six Flags. (It was our one and only trip there...we just preferred Kings Island better.) I have no idea how much things have changed at the park...but I am guessing that pretty much all of this has...enjoy!

Yea, as long as it's clean. The index that I see right now is the same one. Do you need any help?

My mom and I July 17th 2004.... around six years later.... Sept 5th 2011

When the ride was delivered to Six Flags, it had three trains. It didn't have three trains long, as soon train three was sacrificed for parts. And Geauga Lake had far fewer riders than Kings Island does. Even as Six Flags, the park was far less busy than Kings Island. And ride ops at Six Flags were not the reason lines were shorter at Geauga Lake. I walked onto X-Flight many, many times at Geauga Lake. I have not had the same experience at Batwing.

I love the ride absolutely love it.

I'm not getting any warning on Firefox 10.0.2.

Never..at least when I've gone. It is always crowded. Most of the mornings the ride is closed, so a line builds up immediately.

I'd have to say the same thing that makes amusement parks on the moon so inferior to those on earth-the atmosphere, or lack thereof. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Discovery Cove is like this all the time. It was great. I miss Orlando.

I just noticed that the announcement of Invertigo's repainting was apparently enough to reset the "most online" record for the KIC forums. Apparently more people are interested in an existing coaster being repainted than in the announcement of the biggest and baddest coaster ever to hit KI. Go figure. EDIT: Never mind. I screwed up. See below.

^Maybe it wasn't known as a tunnel back then, therefore wouldn't need to be "tunnel'ish"

couple of notes: #1- the trains aren't racing... #2- the tunnel leading back to the station is open (not very tunnel'ish) #3- no 20' tall fence warning the masses of the obvious. Why do people have to be such dolts to necessitate fences everywhere, to among other things, block views.

I agree, On this one, I would rather be standing in 1974. Great job. Love the pics!

I'd love to see a return of Antique Cars, Flyers, a Ferris Wheel...

Glad to see the old monorail finally being put to some more good use.