Kings Island has been a place full of laughs, thrills, chills and spills since it opened in 1972. The park traces its roots back to the shores of the Ohio River in the 1880s as Coney Island of Ohio opened in Anderson Township. You have came to the right place to discover the history of how Coney’s success would lead to its eventual closure and the development of Kings Island some twenty miles north from the banks of the Ohio River.

Kings Island’s story begins in 1969 when plans for the yet-unnamed Kings Island were announced on March 28 by media conglomerate Taft Broadcasting and amusement park Coney Island. Ground broke for Kings Island on June 15 1970. The park received its name, a combination of Kings Mills (its location) and Coney Island (its predecessor), through a naming contest.

Throughout the years, many attractions have come and gone, many shows have come and gone, but one thing remains. Kings Island is a place to have fun, spend time with friends and families and create memories that last a lifetime.

  • Explore the past attractions of Kings Island on our Past Attractions Page that have created countless memories for thousands of people since 1972.

KICenral has a very extensive collection of photos from the start of Kings Island through today.

  • Explorer the KICentral Galleries and Photo Archives  to take you back to your favorites attractions.  You can simply find what you are looking for by searching by a ride name, manufacturer, area of the park, or year.
  • If you have a photo you would like to submit for the KICentral galleries Click here!

Over the years we have put a list of Historical facts that you may or many not have know. 

  • Test your knowledge and see if you know any of these facts about Kings Island on our Historical Facts page.

Since the opening of Kings Island until 2020 (park app only), the park has been handing out park maps and brochures for guests as they arrive to the park. 

Kings Island has had a pleather of shows that have debuted at Kings Island over the years and continue today. 

  • See how many you have watched by looking on our shows page.

Kings Island and Christmas go together like a mitten over your hand. In 1982, Kings Island opened Winterfest and transformed you into a winter wonderland. 

In October of 2000, Kings Island debuted Fear Fest. During Fear Fest, the park transformed at night to include several haunted houses, fog and roaming “monsters” throughout the park

Since opening Kings Island has had different owners and executives running the park.

Don Helbig has set world records while riding The Racer.  As of 2021, Don Helbig has taken a total of 12,038 rides on The Racer.

  •  Learn about Don’s experiences while setting world records on The Racer and listen to a podcast interview with him here.

The Brady Bunch filmed an episode of their hit show at Kings Island, in the summer of 1973 (Kings Island`s second season). The episode is #106 and is titled “The Cincinnati Kids.”

Known by many names over the years, Wild Animal Habitat Monorail Closed in 1993, but it is still around today and not to far from the park.