Kings Island to add “family thrill” attraction in 2026

[I...am SteVe]

12 hours ago, beastfan11 said:

My guess would be…

1. There’s been ongoing work inside the old TRTR that we can’t see. 

2. The new addition is small to the point where all work will be done during the off season. 

3. The project got canceled or delayed. 

Maybe it could involve the Boo Blasters space, but I think we’d have already seen work being done if that were so. 

I think we might get that indoor family launcher they've been teasing via surveys in the TRTR building, or they're just replacing Cavern of Terror with a new maze.

[BryanJay]

Here’s my elaborate thoughts on any 2026 ride:

1. All of this will probably get disproven in like a week, but I think the new attraction won’t be in the Crypt building, and a Conjuring house with a live tour guide will be placed in the building this season. Haunt auditions mention a theatrically trained guide, and the available space within the building allows that better than the old blackout building (also explaining why they hosted the daytime Madame Fatales tours last season, and if they began to upcharge houses adding two new experiences to the lineup would help add value to the event). I think we also would’ve seen more demolition of the tomb raider parts of the building (the exterior, the outdoor queue, the fright lane pass sign, etc.)

2. I’m pretty confident that the new attraction would be a Boo Blasters retheme, since the current iteration is the longest amount a dark ride has been in the park, and it’s an even year to do the retheme. I’m split between if it would be Phantom Theater reboot or peanuts interactive dark ride. Phantom Theater has a cult following (just look at my posting history) and is the only legacy attraction that has a major merch presence in the main gift shop. This project would require minimum demolition of the building since the constant ride system and architecture could be mostly left in tact. The concept drawing shown in the surveys for a Peanuts ride looks to be a clone of the Sally dark rides track system, which has about half of the current omnimover’s ride capacity, and more room for variable ride loading times. I could see a Phantom Theater reboot that’s not a screen ride but includes mostly static figures would be more cost effective than a screen-based attraction (looking at how often all the screens in Mystic Timbers are functional). A rethemed ride also allows for no increase in the staffing needed for the park, and could reasonably be done within the off season. Site markers (or what people have reported as site markers anyway) were seen around the area as well. Both these dark rides appeal to families, which seems to be the goal of KI’s new editions. 

3. The current plan of the six flags company known as Project Accelerate reportedly includes adding new attractions while closing old, expensive to maintain ones. I think based on rumors it’s inevitable that we lose one or more major attractions by next season, so I think any attraction, even if it’s done on the cheap, helps soften that operational blow. Also just gut feeling, but I think they’d put a coaster in The Vortex plot and I just can’t see that happening this year, especially since last year’s guest surveys use that space in at least one of their proposals and that’s not enough time to make a turn around on that project. They also just opened Snoopy’s Soapbox racers last season, so I don’t think they’d add a purely family coaster so soon after that.

[DJSkyFoxx]

It's also possible that with the theme of later openings for new attractions and what feels like procrastination from the outsider looking in, that we can't entirely rule out anything going into TRTR/Crypt's building either. I doubt thats the space they are going for, but I really wouldn't be mad if that was the chosen site for a new ride. Another indoor attraction would be appreciated by the masses. 

[Diamondback_Is_King]

I wouldn't be surprised if we got an announcement in late August early September. I think the new attraction will be in the Crypt building and be a non-roller coaster attraction. It's unclear what's actually going to happen and until we actually see work being done (which we may not see if its in the Crypt building), I'm not gonna waste my time making pointless predictions 

2 hours ago, BryanJay said:

I’m pretty confident that the new attraction would be a Boo Blasters retheme, since the current iteration is the longest amount a dark ride has been in the park, and it’s an even year to do the retheme

I could see them doing this, but is this a "family thrill attraction"? I would love to see Boo Blasters revamped, especially if it was something less out of place like the current ride. But if they do revamp Boo Blasters, I only want one thing from KI. One thing. Don't care about the rest, just please please please give us Blasters that actually work!!! Every time I attempt to play, I just get angry at the dang blaster and quit. I feel like I'm being rage-baited. Anyway, give us some decent blasters that actually give you points when your blaster is two feet in front of the target and I'll be happy. Another thing I'd like to see done with Boo Blasters is if they added screens to the ride. Even better: interactive screens where you shoot moving targets. If KI demoed the old omnimover ride system and replaced it with a new shooting ride vehicle, I think they could qualify it as a "family thrill attraction" and it would be a worthy replacement of Boo Blasters. Would a new ride system be realistic at all? And would they be able to do all that during the off-season?

[DiamondbackFan]

1 hour ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

I wouldn't be surprised if we got an announcement in late August early September.

The press release for all of the new additions was Thursday August 15th last year.  I wouldn't be surprised if they put out the press release on Thursday August 14th this year.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Additions like RiverRacers and AlpenFury were both announced on August 8th last year (with both having 8/8 date campaigns). This year's could come at any time throughout August, but I'd bet that it will be announced the same day season passes actually go on sale. I'm sure Six Flags has not been very happy with all of the people who've managed to buy 2026 passes through parks not named Canada's Wonderland. Instead of being able to release it on their own, online sleuths have been going through every combination of URL to find the sale and have been posting links before the park is ready to begin selling any 2026 passes. There is still an issue between Six Flags and Cedar Fair's pass systems which has made it difficult for some guests (who bought their 2026 pass outside of CW) to gain entry into Six Flags parks. 

If Six Flags really wants to make guests happy, they really need to do what they can to make sure that the new attractions have their grand openings by Memorial Day. I don't think we'll be seeing anything that can't reuse existing parts of the ride buildings/requires a lot of custom figures to be made. My current guess is that it will be either something from another park or an off-the-shelf attraction. That rules out a non-screen-based Peanuts dark ride and almost definitely rules out a new Phantom Theater. Six Flags could surprise us and give Kings Island a really good themed family thrill attraction, but I doubt they'll do that for a park they see as a season pass cash cow. 

There is a chance that if the new attraction goes in The Crypt's building it can reuse a lot of what is already in the queue line. 

[DJSkyFoxx]

Even though whatever 2026 attraction is absolutely not going anywhere the SoB station, I still often wonder why exactly the park chose to keep it. I can't see it being one of those things where they chose to do so because "man this old station would make a great Haunt!". I also can't imagine it would have been much more expensive to tear it down along with the rest of the structure at the time of its demise. 

I often wonder if they kept it because somewhere in the archives there were plans to do something big with it.

I will say that my hope isn't entirely lost on the possibility of it eventually being full of life again. Why? Because if BGW can reuse the old Drachen Fire station for a new coaster 27 years later, its not impossible for something else to eventually occupy SoB's station once again either. Granted, depending on which direction this merger really goes, it could be awhile longer. Or never. But I will remain optimistic that maybe some day some coaster train will roar through that station once again. 

[DonHelbig]

59 minutes ago, DJSkyFoxx said:

Even though whatever 2026 attraction is absolutely not going anywhere the SoB station, I still often wonder why exactly the park chose to keep it. I can't see it being one of those things where they chose to do so because "man this old station would make a great Haunt!". I also can't imagine it would have been much more expensive to tear it down along with the rest of the structure at the time of its demise. 

I often wonder if they kept it because somewhere in the archives there were plans to do something big with it.

I will say that my hope isn't entirely lost on the possibility of it eventually being full of life again. Why? Because if BGW can reuse the old Drachen Fire station for a new coaster 27 years later, its not impossible for something else to eventually occupy SoB's station once again either. Granted, depending on which direction this merger really goes, it could be awhile longer. Or never. But I will remain optimistic that maybe some day some coaster train will roar through that station once again. 

Outside of using it for a Haunt maze, there were no plans to do anything big with the SOB station when the decision was made to demolish the ride. 

[Orion742]

20 hours ago, DiamondbackFan said:

The press release for all of the new additions was Thursday August 15th last year.  I wouldn't be surprised if they put out the press release on Thursday August 14th this year.

Six Flags Great America just announced their announcement for next Thursday. I expect other parks will do the same in the coming days.

[IndyGuy4KI]

1 hour ago, DonHelbig said:

Outside of using it for a Haunt maze, there were no plans to do anything big with the SOB station when the decision was made to demolish the ride. 

Why was that station not just taken down with the demo?

 

[Diamondback_Is_King]

5 minutes ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

Why was that station not just taken down with the demo?

 

Obviously for the ground-up RMC that is coming!

[disco2000]

36 minutes ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

Why was that station not just taken down with the demo?

 

Because they were going to use it as a Haunt Maze 

[DJSkyFoxx]

2 hours ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

Obviously for the ground-up RMC that is coming!

I know this is absolute sarcasm but man....I really wish that was something that was cooking up in the background.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

I think it would be a great fly-through element for an RMC! I once had an RMC concept that would've taken up the land from Timberwolf, The Bat, and the Son of Beast station with that fly-through element in mind. It wouldn't have been a SOB revival, instead playing off another defunct ride and being called "Demon Slayer". The track would be black with some red, orange, and yellow fire-like sections. 

It may be a pipe dream at this point, but if Kings Island is ever owned by a company that doesn't keep the park down in favor of Cedar Point then I think it could happen. 

 

I have a feeling Great America's new kids area will be a Camp Snoopy with a SSBR or SRR clone where their go karts are. It has me wondering if we'll see Looney Tunes be taken out of that park if the Peanuts gang comes in as well. 

[marineman]

On 7/24/2025 at 12:30 PM, Diamondback_Is_King said:

Obviously for the ground-up RMC that is coming!

Personally, I like the odds of us getting an RMC around the time the park has been ran into being on par with FunSpot Atlanta.

A bit cynical? Yes, a little sarcastically so, but I've had a bad gut feel from this CF/SF merger since day one. That vibe is going to stay until the business proves me wrong. So far, they are not proving me wrong. CF already had us pegged as Cedar Point's family park little brother, but at least we were a flagship park in a niche chain. Now, we're just a small-market park in a massive conglomerate.

[johnjniehaus]

On 7/24/2025 at 6:53 AM, DJSkyFoxx said:

Even though whatever 2026 attraction is absolutely not going anywhere the SoB station, I still often wonder why exactly the park chose to keep it. I can't see it being one of those things where they chose to do so because "man this old station would make a great Haunt!". I also can't imagine it would have been much more expensive to tear it down along with the rest of the structure at the time of its demise. 

I often wonder if they kept it because somewhere in the archives there were plans to do something big with it.

I will say that my hope isn't entirely lost on the possibility of it eventually being full of life again. Why? Because if BGW can reuse the old Drachen Fire station for a new coaster 27 years later, its not impossible for something else to eventually occupy SoB's station once again either. Granted, depending on which direction this merger really goes, it could be awhile longer. Or never. But I will remain optimistic that maybe some day some coaster train will roar through that station once again. 

If The Bat ever goes, it would be nice to reuse the SOB station since it's closer to the main main pathway 

[kirbias1]

There is a construction marker in the old Extreme Skyflier spot. It,'s been there for awhile, so my guess is that it's going there, if we get anything next year.

[DonHelbig]

33 minutes ago, kirbias1 said:

There is a construction marker in the old Extreme Skyflier spot. It,'s been there for awhile, so my guess is that it's going there, if we get anything next year.

Queue area for the new Haunt maze. 

[kirbias1]

10 hours ago, DonHelbig said:

Queue area for the new Haunt maze. 

Exciting!

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

With 2026 season passes set to go on sale the 31st and how much we're seeing some parks already teasing that date if that's when we'll see Six Flags roll out their 2026 capital plans. In recent years, that's what Cedar Fair did. 

Also worth mentioning that Great Adventure announced their planned 2026 record breaking coaster has been delayed. With not really much evidence/rumors at KI recently, I'm starting to wonder if KI will follow suit. I'm actually starting to hear rumblings that the crypt building is going to be a new Haunt along with the Blackout building (take with grain of salt as nothing has been announced/confirmed by the park yet and I don't know anything.) If that's true, I'm wondering if KI is going to get a ride from Six Flags America or if Boo Blasters is getting updated. Guessing we'll find out July 31st. 

[BeeastFarmer]

7 minutes ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

 

Also worth mentioning that Great Adventure announced their planned 2026 record breaking coaster has been delayed. With not really much evidence/rumors at KI recently, I'm starting to wonder if KI will follow suit. I'm actually starting to hear rumblings that the crypt building is going to be a new Haunt along with the Blackout building (take with grain of salt as nothing has been announced/confirmed by the park yet and I don't know anything.) 

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!:

Six Flags Entertainment Company to debut a worlds first record breaking family attraction at Kings Island:

Bankruptcy: The Ride!  This thrilling yet depressing attraction will spin in a downward spiral with record breaking speed!  Yet there will be scene stops that pay homage to what got the famed entertainment corporation to this point: Messy Kitchen Corner, Trash Tunnel, Broken Promise Bridge, No Caring Closet, and Removed Rides Room.  These scenes will rove and spread, overseen by Big DZ, Prince BW, and Greedy Sal.

Construction is set to begin in July 2027  in the area formerly occupied by The Vortex roller coaster.

[Diamondback_Is_King]

4 hours ago, BeeastFarmer said:

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!:

Six Flags Entertainment Company to debut a worlds first record breaking family attraction at Kings Island:

Bankruptcy: The Ride!  This thrilling yet depressing attraction will spin in a downward spiral with record breaking speed!  Yet there will be scene stops that pay homage to what got the famed entertainment corporation to this point: Messy Kitchen Corner, Trash Tunnel, Broken Promise Bridge, No Caring Closet, and Removed Rides Room.  These scenes will rove and spread, overseen by Big DZ, Prince BW, and Greedy Sal.

Construction is set to begin in July 2027  in the area formerly occupied by The Vortex roller coaster.

You forgot about No Ice Water Lake! 

And then when the ride is over and you exit through the gift shop (assuming it's open of course) you'll have a chance to buy your very own SIX stock!

[BeeastFarmer]

17 minutes ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

You forgot about No Ice Water Lake! 

And then when the ride is over and you exit through the gift shop (assuming it's open of course) you'll have a chance to buy your very own SIX stock!

Thanks for the correction. I also forgot a couple of others:

Spoiler

Stinky Swamp Butt: an ode to hot restrooms and Garbage Lounge, an area reserved exclusively for Prestige passholders where you pay to hang out by a dumpster, eat mulch and try to mop the restroom while the plebes do their thing by making watery messes!

 

[disco2000]

39 minutes ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

You forgot about No Ice Water Lake! 

And then when the ride is over and you exit through the gift shop (assuming it's open of course) you'll have a chance to buy your very own SIX stock!

You sure they aren't selling Six Axe's in the gift shop 

[Diamondback_Is_King]

52 minutes ago, disco2000 said:

You sure they aren't selling Six Axe's in the gift shop 

Nope because they decide the day of when to sell it and no one knows when they'll sell it! 

[BeeastFarmer]

[Tr0y]

[DonHelbig]

On 7/25/2025 at 9:17 PM, kirbias1 said:

There is a construction marker in the old Extreme Skyflier spot. It,'s been there for awhile, so my guess is that it's going there, if we get anything next year.

Queue area for a new Haunt maze. 

[MaestroJr]

I really can’t emphasize how much the park needs a good quality dark ride which hopefully we will be getting soon, it’s been such a long time since we’ve had one and it is such an under appreciated part of seasonal theme parks especially when everyone is focused on coasters 

[Beasttamer]

Was at the park last Wednesday. We stayed late for a beast night ride, Anyway, it was past 10 PM and as we were leaving, we cut through Rivertown and then through Planet Snoopy towards the exit. When we got to the Boo Blasters area, a security guard stopped us and said that we would have to go around because they were filming something at Boo Blasters. 

Now it is probably nothing, but with folks speculating about Boo Blaster's future, figured I'd see what you all thought.