In 1972, five themed areas were highlighted. Today there are eight. The employment opportunities have changed dramatically as well. Where it once took 1,300 employees to operate the park on any given day during the season, it now requires approximately 5,000 to keep the 364-acre amusement and water park in operation. The changes have not been limited to the park itself. The area surrounding the park, once farmland, now thrives with commercial and retail businesses, as well as the incredibly increased population of homes.
An annual visit to Kings Island has become tradition for literally millions of people. More than 140 million visitors have experienced the park’s fun and thrills since 1972 making Kings Island one of the most celebrated amusement parks in the world.
Kings Island Year-by-Year:
1970: On June 15, 1970, the Taft Broadcasting Company broke ground and began the construction of Kings Island led by the Charles V. Maescher & Co. Construction firm. By the end of the year construction of the Eiffel Tower, Royal Fountains and Racer roller coaster was underway. The Park was dubbed Kings Island, after the town of Kings Mills in which the park was built and its famous predecessor on the Banks of the Ohio River, Coney Island. Only 150 of the 1600 acres purchased were utilized to begin building the park.
1971: Construction of the Eiffel Tower, Royal Fountain and Racer roller coaster was completed by early fall. By Thanksgiving, rides and attractions had been transported and installed from Coney Island, including the Dodgem, Scrambler, Monster, Rotor, Log Flume, Sky Ride, Tumblebug and Flying Scooters.
1972: After two years of construction, Kings Island opened to public April 29, 1972. The two flagship rides were the Racer and the Enchanted Voyage dark ride through Hanna-Barbera's cartoon land. The Racer was the first twin-track wooden coaster to be built in modern times and at speeds approaching 60 mph, it was the fastest, too. At $2 million, the dark ride was the most expensive attraction in the park. Other popular rides included: the Rotor, the Tumblebug, the Skyride, the Turnpike Cars, the Scooby-Doo roller coaster, the Monster, the Antique Cars, and the Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad.
1973: On April 18, 1973, the park announced the completion of a $6 million expansion project. Three rides were added - the Flying Dutchmen, the Bayern Kurve, and a second log flume - as well as a new games arcade, a 1/2-mile nature trail, and a sit down, fine-dining restaurant specializing in chicken dishes and sourdough bread. The Park gained national attention in January when The Partridge Family aired an episode shot entirely at the park in 1972 called, "I Left My Heart in Cincinnati." Not about to be outdone, the entire cast of The Brady Bunch visited the park in August to shoot their own episode.
1974: A fifth themed area was added this year - the 100-acre Lion Country Safari (later known as Wild Animal Habitat). During early stages of construction, developers decided to take the then popular drive-through nature park a step further. By adding a monorail ride, a new concept in animal preservation was born in the country. Grand opening guests this year witnessed a record-breaking high wire walk by 69-year-old Karl Wallenda.
1975: Daredevil Evel Knievel successfully jumped over 14 Greyhound buses on his motorcycle in the Kings Island parking lot on October 25 to set a new world's record. The jump was nationally televised by ABC-TV's "Wide World of Sports" and held the highest rating in the show’s history. Additions to the park included the Zodiac, one of only two double Ferris wheels in the United States at the time, and the world's largest floral hanging basket weighing in at approximately eight tons.
1976: Following the collapse of the park's air theatre from a heavy snowstorm, the imposing American Heritage Music Hall (now known as Kings Island Theater) was erected at a cost of $1.8 million.
1977: The park's major new attraction this year, the Screamin' Demon, was the first steel looping coaster in the United States to run both forward and backward. The entertainment program was expanded once again with the construction of the 1,700-seat outdoor International Showplace Theater which was officially dedicated by comedian Dick Van Dyke.
1978: The College Football Hall of Fame joined the Kings Island complex. At the park, a new Tower Gardens area was opened, an electronic shooting gallery was the new game, and the wildlife preserve became home for 15 black-footed penguins from Africa.
1979: The Beast, the “biggest, baddest, longest, fastest coaster in the world”, begins to terrify park guests. The monster of a ride is designed and built in-house. It includes underground tunnels, two lift-hills, and a frightening 540-degree helix finale. Season passes are introduced.