Kings Island to add “family thrill” attraction in 2026

[BoddaH1994]

If you were hoping for something physically big for 2026…. well, I’ve got news for you.

https://investors.sixflags.com/news/press-releases/press-release-details/2024/Six-Flags-to-Invest-More-Than-1-Billion-Over-the-Next-Two-Years-to-Enhance-Guest-Experience/default.aspx

[disco2000]

Didn't the current park GM call Orion a family thrill ride lol

[Kenban]

I suspect this release is a response to the ride closures.  This will also fuel the fires around Kingda Ka being transformed into an LSM coaster, possibly with a longer layout.  
 

It least at Kings Island, that sounds like a flat ride of some kind.

[CedarPointer]

That's an addition that sure sounds friendly to the park's wallet!

[jbeast]

As a much younger person, I can remember when KI announced The Beast, The Bat and King Cobra.

It seemed like they were always trying to be on the forefront regarding new coaster installations back then. I am hoping for an incredible coaster in The Vortex old spot, but this news worries me regarding that.

[Timchat2]

It's a minor thing but the press release has the classic "King's" instead of "Kings" typo. I'm guessing this was written quickly.

[CedarPointer]

Gotta be quick when you're hoping to beat down criticism for ripping out popular attractions to save money.

[disco2000]

Parks not mentioned in the press release are subject to closure 

[johnjniehaus]

Yeah I'm not sure what "family thrill" means in this case... I see other parks getting "record breaking coasters" and so family thrill doesn't translate to Vortex replacement in my mind. 

[BoddaH1994]

I’m still holding out hope that it’s something like a Big Bear Mountain.

 My fear is that it’s another B+ “cheap but cheerful” experience like we’ve seen every year since 2019ish (yes, that includes Orion). 
 

[Imperial79]

You guys are on top of it! Now will it go in Rivertown, Coney Mall, Action Zone? Hmm

[disco2000]

2 minutes ago, Imperial79 said:

You guys are on top of it! Now will it go in Rivertown, Coney Mall, Action Zone? Hmm

Scene75 type attraction in the KillMart building 

[Kenban]

Six Flags Mexico lists, “family thrill boomerang coaster”.  It specifically lists the ride as a coaster.  Which I suspect means a Vekoma boomerang similar to Soapbox Racers or Good Gravy.

That Kings Island does not say coaster, and instead states attraction, immediately sets off alarm bells, that it is not a coaster.  Projects change, maybe it’s not actually firmly decided exactly what will be built.  But I would not expect a coaster and end up being disappointed.

[OverlandTaxis30]

6 minutes ago, Imperial79 said:

You guys are on top of it! Now will it go in Rivertown, Coney Mall, Action Zone? Hmm

Maybe something to finally go onto the old Tomb Raider site in Rivertown? 

[SmartCat7162]

Not going to lie I am super devastated waking up to this news this morning. I guess we always have 2027. I guess it does help stop the anticipation for getting something nice in 2026 which will help to curve speculation.

[ShedTreeBoi1]

10 minutes ago, johnjniehaus said:

Yeah I'm not sure what "family thrill" means in this case... I see other parks getting "record breaking coasters" and so family thrill doesn't translate to Vortex replacement in my mind. 

Well, the definition could be in what Six Flags Mexico is getting. If that ends up being a new super boomerang, I'll be pretty excited for 2026, if it ends up being a family boomerang... Eek. I'm not totally against another family-thrill coaster, but KI's lineup is full of them, and we just got SSBR. Which, imo, is more kiddie-family.

[johnjniehaus]

All I can pray for is the family thrill ride is a  vekoma madhouse in the Crypt building 

Not gonna rule out the possibility of a screaming swing or some other large flat addition 

[CedarPointer]

10 minutes ago, BoddaH1994 said:

I’m still holding out hope that it’s something like a Big Bear Mountain.

 My fear is that it’s another B+ “cheap but cheerful” experience like we’ve seen every year since 2019ish (yes, that includes Orion). 
 

I stand firm that the last good addition KI got was Mystic Timbers (which was also likely the last project Mr. Koontz wasn't involved in the planning for...).

[johnjniehaus]

Get those dang flying eagles back from Carowinds and nobody will care about not getting a new coaster. I'd describe a bisch-rocco flying scooter as "family thrill"

 

My question to Mike Koontz is "At what point does Kings Island have enough 'family' orientated rides and attractions?" You could argue that since the addition of Banshee and with the possible exception of Orion, the park has invested in rides that are geared towards kids and families. Sure mystic was great, antique autos was great, and while I enjoyed adventure port and camp Snoopy when is enough enough?

[johnjniehaus]

Just now, CedarPointer said:

Just now, CedarPointer said:

I stand firm that the last good addition KI got was Mystic Timbers (which was also likely the last project Mr. Koontz wasn't involved in the planning for...).

 

I personally think the antique autos was really solid but we all know Orion was a project we took from CGA and that adventure port was last minute and camp Snoopy while fun, just didn't deliver how most people had hoped it would. 

[SmartCat7162]

I personally think the antique autos was really solid but we all know Orion was a project we took from CGA and that adventure port was last minute and camp Snoopy while fun, just didn't deliver how most people had hoped it would. 

I feel like the overall park experience is more well rounded and important house keeping updates were made that isn’t noticed by people as much.

[johnjniehaus]

Just now, SmartCat7162 said:

I feel like the overall park experience is more well rounded and important house keeping updates were made that isn’t noticed by people as much.

I would agree that I think they have done a lot to improve our dining options. I would have never invested in a meal plan before coney BBQ and grain and grill were added. In terms of housekeeping, I still don't wanna know what is living in some of those bathrooms...

[Cedar Fair Fanboy]

You know what fits a bill for a family thrill attraction?  A Vekoma Madhouse.

[beastfan11]

Wishful thinking, but I’m hoping dark ride. 

[Orion-XL200]

2 hours ago, Timchat2 said:

It's a minor thing but the press release has the classic "King's" instead of "Kings" typo. I'm guessing this was written quickly.

That is what I immediately saw and cringed on….ugh.

2 hours ago, jbeast said:

As a much younger person, I can remember when KI announced The Beast, The Bat and King Cobra.

It seemed like they were always trying to be on the forefront regarding new coaster installations back then. I am hoping for an incredible coaster in The Vortex old spot, but this news worries me regarding that.

Even coasters through Mystic Timbers…since then, meh. 

2 hours ago, johnjniehaus said:

Yeah I'm not sure what "family thrill" means in this case... I see other parks getting "record breaking coasters" and so family thrill doesn't translate to Vortex replacement in my mind. 

2 hours ago, SmartCat7162 said:

Not going to lie I am super devastated waking up to this news this morning. I guess we always have 2027. I guess it does help stop the anticipation for getting something nice in 2026 which will help to curve speculation.

2 hours ago, johnjniehaus said:

My question to Mike Koontz is "At what point does Kings Island have enough 'family' orientated rides and attractions?" You could argue that since the addition of Banshee and with the possible exception of Orion, the park has invested in rides that are geared towards kids and families. Sure mystic was great, antique autos was great, and while I enjoyed adventure port and camp Snoopy when is enough enough?

Agreed with y’all. What happens when the kids of these families get tired of Mystic, Adventure Port, SSBR? What next level thrills do they have to go for outside of aging rides, that becomes their Firehawk and Vortex?
 

Firehawk and Vortex haven’t had worthy replacements in terms of thrill. I mean, I love Orion, however it didn’t replace the thrill factor of Firehawk.  

[johnjniehaus]

3 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

Firehawk and Vortex haven’t had worthy replacements in terms of thrill. I mean, I love Orion, however it didn’t replace the thrill factor of Firehawk.  

I think Orion is plenty thrilling enough but the park hasn't replaced Firehawk in terms of having a ride that unique. Losing Vortex was also a hard blow seeing as we are now short on inversion focused coasters and I'm sad to say I don't think Invertigo is going to survive the decade 

[Orion-XL200]

Just now, johnjniehaus said:

I think Orion is plenty thrilling enough but the park hasn't replaced Firehawk in terms of having a ride that unique. Losing Vortex was also a hard blow seeing as we are now short on inversion focused coasters and I'm sad to say I don't think Invertigo is going to survive the decade 

I guess I don’t consider Orion having the thrill factor because of how Mr. Koontz talked it up for being something families can ride together. 

[BeeastFarmer]

#someoneatthetopneedstoretire

#family

#familyGiGa

Cedar Fair was very good to Kings Island, righting many of the Paramount's Kings Island wrongs.

It looks like KI will be the Kings Dominion of the chain for the next ten years, like KD was from '11 to '22.

But ki will still sell passes and groups like bonkers and be a cash cow. It will take a serious decline for them to veer away from the family demographic. 

[johnjniehaus]

5 minutes ago, BeeastFarmer said:

#someoneatthetopneedstoretire

#family

#familyGiGa

Cedar Fair was very good to Kings Island, righting many of the Paramount's Kings Island wrongs.

It looks like KI will be the Kings Dominion of the chain for the next ten years, like KD was from '11 to '22.

But ki will still sell passes and groups like bonkers and be a cash cow. It will take a serious decline for them to veer away from the family demographic. 

Totally agree here. We got sort of spoiled under Cedar Fair being one of the top 3 flagship parks but with magic mountain and great adventure joining the chain, you can definitely expect us to get less exciting additions in the future. I think that rapterra is going to be the last big thing at Kings Dominion for quite some time as well unfortunately. 

 

6 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

I guess I don’t consider Orion having the thrill factor because of how Mr. Koontz talked it up for being something families can ride together. 

Yes he definitely did say that and in some ways Orion is more family friendly than other giga coasters (looking at you I-305 ). However, I think it's hard to say that only families benefited from that addition because many thrill seekers do enjoy Orion even if it wasn't a clone of Fury 325

In all reality isn't millennium Force actually the "family giga" because it's the only one with a 48" height requirement?

[WoodVengeance]

4 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

I guess I don’t consider Orion having the thrill factor because of how Mr. Koontz talked it up for being something families can ride together. 

I don't get how anyone can look at a coaster with a 300ft drop, goes 91mph and a 54" height requirement, then consider it a "family coaster".