From the park's Facebook page:

The holy grail of wooden roller coasters -- The Beast -- is poised to give its 50 millionth ride this Friday night during Halloween Haunt. When The Beast opened to the public 35 years ago in 1979, it was acclaimed America's ultimate roller coaster. It broke all existing records as the longest and fastest ride in the world. The Beast still stands today as the longest wooden roller coaster in the world at 7,359 feet.

Anybody here going to try to claim the title of 50,000,000th rider?

Wow...50 million riders. Hey wait...in 2014...

Banshee opens and reaches the 1,000,000 rider milestone and might even hit 2M.

Diamondback hits the 10,000,000 rider mark.

Racer finallyhits the 100,000,000 rider mark.

And now Beast is looking to hit 50,000,000.

Wow. What a year for coaster milestones at Kings Island, eh?

I would love to, but UC has a game that night.

Now, I'm thinking about it.

Wow...50 million riders. Hey wait...in 2014...

Banshee opens and reaches the 1,000,000 rider milestone and might even hit 2M.

Diamondback hits the 10,000,000 rider mark.

Racer finallyhits the 100,000,000 rider mark.

And now Beast is looking to hit 50,000,000.

Wow. What a year for coaster milestones at Kings Island, eh?

Banshee should give its 2 millionth ride the last weekend of the season. It has been a great year for ride milestones and anniversaries.

Awesome news! Here's to the next 50 million

Wow...50 million riders. Hey wait...in 2014...

Banshee opens and reaches the 1,000,000 rider milestone and might even hit 2M.

Diamondback hits the 10,000,000 rider mark.

Racer finallyhits the 100,000,000 rider mark.

And now Beast is looking to hit 50,000,000.

Wow. What a year for coaster milestones at Kings Island, eh?

Banshee should give its 2 millionth ride the last weekend of the season. It has been a great year for ride milestones and anniversaries.

Honest question right here:

Would the park purposely slow or speed up the line to make sure the milestone rides are hit during this season?

In the Banshee case would the crew be more likely to pulse the line through with all trains running to make sure the mark is hit this season versus doing a more slowed down 2 train operation? Same with Beast?

I know in restaurants during lunch they open more registers to hit the big rush, didnt know if it was like that for coasters...

Banshee crew has rocked all season, without exception. Beast crew as well has done a fine job. Diamondback, while a fine milestone, is still running well off capacity.

I really try to not be "that guy", but seat belts added or not, this crew has been off the mark, all season. We sat in line at the top of the stairs one day, 5 ride ops in station, 3 in driver booth for 4 cycles. When 2 of them left, both went to check exit gates. After that, 1 went back to the drivers booth, the other just hung out at exit. So, 5 ops on ride, 6 cycles, 2 checking restraints. Big "SIGH".

Banshee crew has rocked all season, without exception. Beast crew as well has done a fine job. Diamondback, while a fine milestone, is still running well off capacity.

I really try to not be "that guy", but seat belts added or not, this crew has been off the mark, all season. We sat in line at the top of the stairs one day, 5 ride ops in station, 3 in driver booth for 4 cycles. When 2 of them left, both went to check exit gates. After that, 1 went back to the drivers booth, the other just hung out at exit. So, 5 ops on ride, 6 cycles, 2 checking restraints. Big "SIGH".

Diamondback is in the neighborhood of where it was last year in the number of rides given through the same number of operating dates.

I'm going this weekend.. I hope it happens then!

This year has been a great year for KI.

I would love to be a part of Kings Island history, so of course I would like to claim this title.

I hope the lucky rider is allowed to take the giant sign to his/her car and then re-enter the park!

^Or at least have GR hold it for them to pick up on their way out.

Too bad it won't be me... I'll be otherwise occupied right next door.

Overheard the worker at the line entrance say they're about 4000 away.

Good luck anyone else here trying. I'll be taking Skeleton Crew breaks so hopefully I don't miss it.

We are heading that way now how was the line?

Half hour to 45 min

Thanks I over heard worker say it will be within next hour and half

All the cow corrals are open and full. Guy at the entrance told me they hadn't hit it yet but will soon.

Just got off ride have not seen Don yet

I'm still in line. Probably ride around 9:00. Wish me luck

I was on the train! That was so cool! I know it's shocking that I never have before but I celebrated with my first hands up ride on any coaster!

I already was excited just to see Don in the station, but to be on the 50-millionth ride train! We may not have all won the prize but we were all the 50 millionth riders

According to Kings Island via Twitter, the rider was Mark Specht from Berea, OH.

He is evidently a roller coaster enthusiast, as he is wearing a CoasterMania shirt in the included photograph:

....or, he shops at Goodwill?

My family and I were in the previous train. We overheard a ride op say they were at 1,500 around 7:00 pm so we tried calculating approx. what time it would happen assuming each train was a full train, so we came up with a time of approx. 9:10. After 3 previous rides we decided to get in line about 8:20 considering it was about a 45 minute wait at that time and ended up just missing it!! As usual though, each ride was freaking awesome especially after dark... The Beast is hands down the one of the best night rides in the world!!

I remember the two rides I took last night. Missed 50 mil. by ten minutes. The ride itself was better than usual. The brakes were minimally used. Flying through the bottom half of the ride and helix a few mph faster than normal. Best Rides EVER!

My family and I were probably 10 minutes early. We did see Mr. Don Helbig on the platform as we exited.

Our Beast ride was amazing! In car 5, row 1, it was as smooth as I've ever ridden it. The chilly air, the near complete darkness from the straight shed and through the hillside tunnel, and surprisingly efficient crew made for a Beast ride as great as I've ever had.

I've never kept track, but I've probably taken about 200 rides since my first in 1985. I've also escorted many first time riders over the years, including my brothers, close friends, our Brazillian exchange student (who still talks about it 25 years later), and both of my boys.

It's great that after all these years The Beast has endured as a fantastic coaster, and an astonishing night ride. I can't wait to ride with my grandkids in 20 years!

It seems as though many folks are having their "best ride ever" on The Beast this season......

....and that in itself is great to hear.

I'm one of those people.

A 35 year old wooden roller coaster that still has people coming back and enjoying their ride better than the previous one is an amazing feat, and it really says something about the ride.

We'll all probably like it just as much at 50..........Wait?.......50?........Yes, indeed.