Kings Island to add “family thrill” attraction in 2026

[Rivertown Rider]

I would not be surprised to see Killmart get demolished and a new restaurant put there.  That area gets a ton of foot traffic.

[HandsUp]

Just give me a Screaming Swing and something like Big Bear Mtn and I'd honestly be happy. As mentioned, the parks have different goals.

[SmartCat7162]

I guess in a sense this now a decoding thread. The fact that a lot of the survey markers found have been in Coney Mall I’m assuming this will be the area that gets this addition.
 
Without having to demo much these spots are were it would likely go?:

I would bet they are not demons jukebox could we see a ride go over the midway somehow?

[OverlandTaxis30]

3 hours ago, BeeastFarmer said:

Personally, I'd remove the basket ball game and bring back the flyers from Carowinds.  But that is just me.

(No harm towards @OverlandTaxis30 intended).

Even though I don't ride flyers, I have fond memories of watching them. 

I don’t know how that could have been harmful to me, but thanks. I think. 
 

I have no reason to be against having the Eagles back. 

[BeeastFarmer]

4 hours ago, OverlandTaxis30 said:

I don’t know how that could have been harmful to me, but thanks. I think. 
 

I have no reason to be against having the Eagles back. 

Not harm, per se.  I should have phrased as "No shade at @OverlandTaxis30"

[OverlandTaxis30]

43 minutes ago, BeeastFarmer said:

Not harm, per se.  I should have phrased as "No shade at @OverlandTaxis30"

I still don’t get it. But, thanks anyway. 

[Driver8rws]

I think it will either be a(nother) total revamp in the Boo Blasters building, or possibly a new dark ride in the Tomb Raider building. 

[Orion742]

This news is very disappointing for me. I was really hoping that 2026 would be our year for a new thrill coaster. Everything was lining up for it. But yet again we get another family addition. I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks that it’s getting stale. The best case scenario in my opinion would be getting something like Big Bear Mountain. I don’t have a problem with getting a ride like that. In fact Big Bear Mountain is my favorite ride at Dollywood. Correct me if I’m wrong but I think this is the first time in the park’s history that we will have gone at least 7 years without a thrill coaster. Whatever it is I really hope this is the end of the family additions.

[BeeastFarmer]

37 minutes ago, Orion742 said:

This news is very disappointing for me. I was really hoping that 2026 would be our year for a new thrill coaster. Everything was lining up for it. But yet again we get another family addition. I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks that it’s getting stale. The best case scenario in my opinion would be getting something like Big Bear Mountain. I don’t have a problem with getting a ride like that. In fact Big Bear Mountain is my favorite ride at Dollywood. Correct me if I’m wrong but I think this is the first time in the park’s history that we will have gone at least 7 years without a thrill coaster. Whatever it is I really hope this is the end of the family additions.

Kings Island is and always has been a family park. Yes, we have had major, ground breaking rides, but the family demographic is their bread and butter. (I think an original tagline for ads in the early years was something along the lines of "America's Largest Family Entertainment Center")

With the pass base we currently have, they will continue to cater to families as it works for them. If they cut hours, service, extras etc and it erodes the passholder base and they loose attendance numbers and revenue, they would reevaluate things. But with cheap passes, people will renew and buy in droves.  

CP is a resort destination, which Kings Island originally also intended to be. This never materialized for KI as there is not a resort draw to the area. Therefore, CP put in a concerted effort to draw people into Sandusky to fill up hotels.  The locals won't stay in their hotels, but destination seekers will.  That puts money in CPs coiffurs. They have to keep upping their game to maintain hotel occupancy. Hence they have winter entertainment with the sports and gaming complex and purchased sawmill Creek to use year round to compliment their indoor water resort. The concept that they want to sacrifice other parks only to prop up CP is ludicrous. They want to cater to each market base and capitalize on the benefits of doing so.

[WoodVengeance]

Kings Island's primarily role in the chain right now is to be a cash cow for the local family demographic, who is the demographic most likely to spend the most money at the park. The park knows it can get away with not installing major new additions because the local demographic will renew their season passes regardless as there's not much competition within the immediate area. Kentucky Kingdom and Holiday World are somewhat close by, but if you're a KI local, you're looking anywhere between 1.5 hours and 3 hours to get to those parks and neither of them are nearly to the same scale as Kings Island.

Cedar Point's role will always be to be "the roller coaster capital of the world", building up an elite collection of coasters and rides to attract people from around the world, and that includes Kings Island's local demographic. Cedar Fair/Six Flags wants to keep the elite record-breaking coasters exclusive to Cedar Point so passholders of Kings Island who want to experience that stuff will need to travel north to do so. (and gives them more incentive to buy the all-park passport which is also very important)

I do think there will come a time when Kings Island will add a new thrill coaster to the park. Likewise, I think there will come a time when Cedar Point will add a new family attraction similar to how they just added Wild Mouse. Just because these parks focus on different demographics doesn't mean they will exclusively add attractions to cater to those different demographics. With the families being the main priority for Kings Island right now, it may be some time before we see that thrill coaster come. In addition, don't expect the coaster to be an elite coaster that outdoes something at Cedar Point.

[DonHelbig]

47 minutes ago, WoodVengeance said:

Kings Island's primarily role in the chain right now is to be a cash cow for the local family demographic, who is the demographic most likely to spend the most money at the park. The park knows it can get away with not installing major new additions because the local demographic will renew their season passes regardless as there's not much competition within the immediate area. Kentucky Kingdom and Holiday World are somewhat close by, but if you're a KI local, you're looking anywhere between 1.5 hours and 3 hours to get to those parks and neither of them are nearly to the same scale as Kings Island.

Cedar Point's role will always be to be "the roller coaster capital of the world", building up an elite collection of coasters and rides to attract people from around the world, and that includes Kings Island's local demographic. Cedar Fair/Six Flags wants to keep the elite record-breaking coasters exclusive to Cedar Point so passholders of Kings Island who want to experience that stuff will need to travel north to do so. (and gives them more incentive to buy the all-park passport which is also very important)

I do think there will come a time when Kings Island will add a new thrill coaster to the park. Likewise, I think there will come a time when Cedar Point will add a new family attraction similar to how they just added Wild Mouse. Just because these parks focus on different demographics doesn't mean they will exclusively add attractions to cater to those different demographics. With the families being the main priority for Kings Island right now, it may be some time before we see that thrill coaster come. In addition, don't expect the coaster to be an elite coaster that outdoes something at Cedar Point.

Holiday World may be smaller on scale than Kings Island, but Holiday World has a number of things that are better than Kings Island, including water park. The value I received as a 2024 Holiday World passholder was superior to the value I received as a 2024 Kings Island passholder. I live three hours from Holiday World; 22 minutes from Kings Island. 

[Klabergian Empire]

"Family additions" by themselves are fine. But when the majority of recent additions are "family additions", I agree with @Orion742 it is really getting stale. I personally believe we are now at the point where KI has/has added "family additions" to the point where the park is oversaturated with them. A lot of people I've talked to really would love to see a new high thrill coaster come to KI. The guest demand is there. Not just from coaster enthusiasts, but also from the GP.