"Minor" news...got this from Kings Island's Facebook page.

35 Years Ago (July 10, 1978): Construction began on what would be the tallest (by drop), fastest, and longest roller coaster in the world- The Beast. Months later, in April 1979, riders were treated to drops of 135' and 141', speeds approaching 65mph, and over 7,359 feet of track for the first time ever on a roller coaster. The ride remains one of the world's top-ranked wooden coasters, and retains its record as the world's longest wooden roller coaster to this day, nearly 35 years later.

Happy, uh, conception-day Beast!

Wow, he's gettin' up there in age. lol

Did it really take just nine months to fully construct and test that huge thing? That seems awfully quick.

For some reason I remember the land clearing starting in 1977.....

For some reason I remember the land clearing starting in 1977.....

Land clearing did begin in 1977, but the construction of the ride did not begin until this date in 1978. The name of the ride wasn't announced until February 6, 1979.

Did it really take just nine months to fully construct and test that huge thing? That seems awfully quick.

Really!

Oh, you - you - beast!

For some reason I remember the land clearing starting in 1977.....

Land clearing did begin in 1977, but the construction of the ride did not begin until this date in 1978. The name of the ride wasn't announced until February 6, 1979.

They cleared the land for "ride speculated to be called Banshee" in September 2012, construction began in 2013 .... I guess we will get official confirmation of the name on February 6, 2014 if The Beast schedule holds.

Construction for Codename Banshee started much earlier than construction for The Beast.

Edit: Codename Banshee actually sounds like a nice name for a new ride.

Really neat fact.

Makes me wish I grew up in the 60's/70's.

When you say construction started do you mean the first footing was poured or it first started to go vertical. I consider construction starting when the land clearing began.

The definition of "construction" means to build or the building of something. Land clearing isn't building anything.

To The Beast!

The Beast, The Best, as far as night rides go anyway.

You say tomato, I say tomato.

For many, construction (on anything) starts when payments need to be made for work performed.

Does that mean when land gets surveyed? Sure.

Does that mean when clearing starts? Sure.

Does that mean when things go verticle? Sure.

None are wrong, but not exactly right either.