Kings Dominion Celebrating a Plethora of Anniversaries in 2023
Kyle Kruthoffer
|
Kings Dominion has been home to many fan-favorite attractions since the park first opened in 1975. Since then, many have come and gone, but some have stood the test of time.
1978 - The Kings Dominion Campground (now known today as Kings Dominion Camp Wilderness KOA Campground) is celebrating 45 years of operation, making guests’ stay more exciting and allowing them to extend their fun.
1983 - White Water Canyon is celebrating 40 years of wet and wild fun. This daring ride takes you through 1,800 feet of raging rapids as you try not to get drenched! The manmade river actually measures 18 to 36 inches in depth and 14 feet in width. The attraction first opened on March 19, 1983.
1988 - Reptilian (formerly known as Avalanche) is celebrating 35 years of taking riders through a bobsled-like course taking twists and turns. Designed by Mack Rides, the $3 million ride's trains were originally themed to Olympic bobsleds from five countries: the United States, Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland. The trains run freely through a 2,000-foot steel trough at 41 mph which is banked higher on the sides to resemble an authentic bobsled ride, featuring a 60-foot drop and three 360-degree helices. The attraction first opened to guests on March 26, 1988.
2003 - Drop Tower is celebrating 20 years of jaw (and body) dropping thrills. Originally opened as Drop Zone: Stunt Tower, the 305-foot tower plunges riders at 72 mph down a 272-foot freefall drop. The ride opened on March 22, 2003.
2008 - Dominator is celebrating 15 years of operating at Kings Dominion (though the coaster is actually 23 years old, originally known as Batman Knight Flight at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio). Still the world’s longest floorless coaster at 4,210 feet, riders will reach speeds up to 67 mph through five inversions on their two-minute, six-second journey. The ride also features one of the tallest loops on any roller coaster in the world! The ride opened at Kings Dominion on May 24, 2008.
2013 - Planet Snoopy was expanded with eight new attractions, making it the largest PEANUTS™-themed area in the world: Snoopy’s Junction, Linus Launcher, Snoopy’s Rocket Express, Woodstock Whirlybirds, Charlie Brown’s Wind Up, Snoopy’s Space Buggies, Flying Ace Balloon Race, and Lucy’s Tug Boat. These rides opened on March 29, 2013.
2018 - Twisted Timbers is celebrating five years, although it actually utilizes the structure and layout of a former ride - The Hurler. Notable roller coaster manufacturer Rocky Mountain Construction took on the transformation of turning a wooden coaster into a hybrid. At a track length of 3,351 feet, riders hurl through a barrel-roll down drop, a cutback inversion, and one other barrel roll. The ride first opened on March 24, 2018.
To celebrate on looking back, take a BACKseat ride on Twisted Timbers!
We also remember those attractions that are no longer with us but would be celebrating anniversaries this year: Days of Thunder / Action FX Theater (1993, 30 years) and Volcano: The Blast Coaster (1998, 25 years).