The theme park fully opened the previous month with 15 attractions; its Lion Country Safari area had opened in 1974. Planet Snoopy at Kings Dominion will feature 8 new rides (18 total), a newly expanded 1,100 square-foot Family Care Center, daily meet-and-greet opportunities with the PEANUTS characters, the Richmond-based self-serve frozen yogurt shop SweetFrog and more. Anaconda was also originally billed as having six loops,[17] but unlike Arrow's six-inversion coaster Drachen Fire that opened at Busch Gardens Williamsburg the following year, the Anaconda actually has only four inversions: a vertical loop, a sidewinder, and two consecutive corkscrews. Land of the Doozwas replaced by Smurf Mountain. Originally it featured the Monsoon Chutes (two pairs of free-fall body slides, at 70 and 50 feet (15m) high, respectively), the Torrential Twist (two enclosed body slides that wrapped around each other), the Pipeline (four open body slides), Cyclone (three enclosed body slides, the center of which was a free-fall), Tidal Wave (two open slides, which riders rode on inner tubes), Splash Island (an area for children with five water slides), and a lazy river.[19]. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area has a vintage, rustic theme marked by its wooded architecture and country-style decor. It was in the park for nine seasons before being relocated to Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City, Maryland, Alton Towers in England, and later to Hopi Hari in Brazil where it exists today as Katapul. The ride, which is themed to NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, was announced on August 20, 2009, and represents the park's largest-ever capital investment. This scream machine sends rider through five inversions at speeds up to 67 milers per hour on the longest floorless roller coaster in the world at4,210 feet. Themulti-sensory rideappeals to park visitors and coaster enthusiasts alike with its thrills and specialeffects. It's Here! By the end of the decade, in just five short years, Kings Dominion had established itself as a destination place for families seeking fun, thrills and adventure. He added, "At Kings Dominion, the suggestion of living miners left to die is meant to inject some enjoyable dramatic tension". Includes unlimited visits in 2023, free parking & more! In 2004, Kings Dominion added Scooby-Doo! Also new this year is Xtreme Skyflyer, an attraction that combines the elements of hang gliding and sky diving. [23] Nevertheless, Hypersonic XLC helped establish Kings Dominion's reputation as "the launched coaster capital of the world". We'll know more in three or four days, when we'll have a better idea of how well the mother is taking care of it.". Volcano was themed to the 1997 film Volcano; the other Paramount Parks added inverted or suspended roller coasters themed to Top Gun around the same time. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. The park added its third launched roller coaster, Hypersonic XLC, in 2001. In 2000, Nick Central opened, replacing Nick Splat City and part of Kidzville.[21]. Racing Rivers, featuring three different types of water slides (Torpedo, Splashdown and Riptide), was the new attraction this year. Another new roller coaster joined the park's lineup in 2006 in Italian Job:Stunt Track (now Backlot Stunt Coaster). [25] The sale was finalized on June 30, 2006 for $1.24 billion. Viacom purchases Paramount Communications. Jungle X-Pedition is set in the deep jungle, where explorers can visit base camp for a bite to eat the Outpost Caf and gear up at X-Plorer's Supplies. The theme park fully opened two years earlier with 15 attractions; its Lion Country Safari area had opened in 1974. Families raced down 12 hills on the Rebel Yell racing roller coaster, took a spin on the Carousel, viewed the musical revue "Give My Regards to Broadway" in the Mason Dixon Music Hall and observed the park atop a 315-foot-tall Eiffel Tower. It is the first baby to be born from some 60 eggs that were laid in January. 13,771 articles since August 2009. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion offering joint park pass, Seeking amusement? Advertisements for the attraction characterized it as "the worst coal mine accident in history," and the attraction featured depictions of dead miners' bodies that had been mangled by a mining disaster. A 740-acre (3.0km2) site was chosen in Doswell, Virginia, with construction beginning on October 1, 1972. Drop Zone Stunt Tower became Drop Tower Scream Zone and The Italian Job: Turbo Coaster became Backlot Stunt Coaster. Hypersonic XLC, a Thrust Air 2000 air-launched coaster made by S&S Power, launched riders from 0 to 80 miles per hour (130km/h) in 1.5 seconds, taking them up an 87-degree incline and down an 87-degree drop. Can't disagree with you to be honest COS. Today, the park offers more than 60 rides, shows and attractions as well as a water park. [36] Hurler closed permanently at the end of the season on November 1, 2015. It's that time of year where come together as ONE Team and become KD Proud. On October 15, 2016, Kings Dominion announced that the Hurler wooden coaster would be permanently closed.[37]. Green slime was the rage of the summerfor Kings Dominion's20th anniversary seasonwith the addition of Nickelodeon Splat City. This May 1977 image shows a busy day at Kings Dominion in Doswell, with its trademark Eiffel Tower in the background it is one-third the size of the Paris landmark. They also returned the Rebel Yell roller coaster to its original red and blue colors. All in all, "Lost World" is a fine addition to Kings Dominion, and . The animatronic Singing Mushrooms, popular decades ago, was redeveloped with newer technology and placed back on display. On the business side, KECO reorganized so that the company owned and managed Kings Dominion, Carowinds, as well as the entertainment and design division, Kings Productions. The Grizzly roller coaster was retracked this year, providing riders with a smoother, more enjoyable ride experience. [11] They thought that if students were not able to attend school in August, then more families would spend money at Kings Dominion, and more teenagers would be able to provide a low-cost workforce to the amusement park. Media related to Kings Dominion at Wikimedia Commons. Time Shaft, Journey to the Land of Dooz) 1980 - Haunted River . Kings Dominion is Virginias only destination with two parks in one! This May 1979 image shows the interior of the new Time Shaft ride at the Kings Dominion theme park in Doswell. The 17-story Lost World mountain was the new attraction this year, featuring three separate rides:Journey To Atlantis,Land of the Doozand the Time Shaft. In May 1979, the Lost World mountain opened at the Kings Dominion theme park in Doswell. The $7 million, 17-story attraction contained three components: the Journey to Atlantis flume ride (soon renamed the Haunted River), the Land of the Dooz childrens mine train and the Time Shaft rotor. Kids can experience AMAZING fall fun at The Great Pumpkin Fest and as the park descends into darkness, fear rises as hundreds of monsters take over the park at Halloween Haunt. Formally. 1975: Grand opening, Eiffel Tower, Rebel Yell (wooden coaster), and Galaxie (steel coaster), 1976: Apple Turnover (Enterprise flat ride), 1979: Lost World (Themed area) featuring Journey to Atlantis, Land of the Dooz and Time Shaft, 1980: Haunted River replaced Journey to Atlantis, 1983: White Water Canyon; Galaxie coaster closed, 1984: Berserker; Smurf Mountain replaced Land of the Dooz, 1985: Diamond Falls and Scooby's Play Park, 1993: Days of Thunder; Smurf Mountain removed, 1995: Nickelodeon Splat City; The Time Shaft and The Haunted River are removed, leaving The Lost World completely empty, 1997: Taxi Jam; Hanna-Barbera Land renamed KidZville, 1999: Expansion of Hurricane Reef to WaterWorks, 2000: Nickelodeon Central; Pipeline Peak added to WaterWorks. They and other entertainment businesses convinced Virginia to make it illegal for schools to start classes before the Labor Day holiday in early September. [33], For the 2013 season, Planet Snoopy merged with KidZville during a 7-acre (2.8ha) expansion to form the largest Planet Snoopy in the Cedar Fair chain. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Standing 305 feet at its highest point, riders race down a 300-foot first drop and through high-speed twists and turns at speeds over 90 miles per hour. A few small elements are still missing, but many key components are there. In April 1974, the Lion Country Safari drive-thru animal park at Kings Dominion in Doswell was ready to open, featuring several hundred animals antelope, elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes and more. Kings Dominion's commitment to providing its guests with world-class thrills, fun and family entertainment continues into this decade. It didn't take long for King Dominion to be recognized as the perfect family destination location in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Eiffel Tower at the amusement park, which would open the following year, is in the background. For the 2022 season, the area was rethemed to Jungle X-Pedition, which includes new immersive theming elements, dining, shopping, and a new roller coaster, Tumbili.[50]. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Kings Dominion added its fourth roller coaster, a Schwarzkopf shuttle loop known as the King Kobra, in 1977. In 1993, a motion simulator ride featuring the Days of Thunder film, debuted. A campground was completed in time for the 1978 season and the park's well-known Lost World mountain debuted in 1979. The Rebirth of The Grizzly Part 3 - The Forces of Gravity. As part of the major water park expansion, the area was renamed Soak City. Formerly known as Triple Spin from (2002-2013). Time Shaft, a rotor flat ride pinning guests with centrifugal . Kings Dominion added to its lineup of world-class thrills by introducing its 14th roller coaster this year, Dominator. In 2016 Kings Dominion introduces the all new gravity defying thrill ride, DELIRIUM! [citation needed] Kings Dominion expanded WaterWorks for the 2007 season, adding a second wave pool called Tidal Wave Bay, a four-person family raft slide called Zoom Flume, and a ProSlide Tornado.[27]. Here, the first visitors paid their admission fee. In 2002, the park opened its new wild mouse roller coaster, Ricochet (Now known as Apple Zapple), Carowinds also installed its Ricochet in 2002. As for when it was removed, it doesn't mention it, but it must have been before 1998 because that was when they introduced "Volcano: The Blast Coaster. DOSWELL, Va. -- After more than 20 years of erupting in Doswell, Kings Dominion has decided to remove Volcano: The Blast Coaster. KD's Scrambler motor is located behind the operator's panel, and drives the ride via a long drive shaft in a plate-covered trough to the ride center. The interest in the new ride helped drive attendance over the 2 million mark for the first time in park history. The Showplace re-opened as the Kingswood Amphitheatre. Watch the park go from scary to merry as the park transforms into a winter wonderland full of enchantment and holiday cheer with millions of lights, festive shows, and more during WinterFest. A circular flat ride on which riders lay face down and swing in a circle. Paramount Action FXTheater becomes the new name for the Days of Thunder motion simulator theater, featuring a new film:James Bond 007:ALicense to Thrill. The park unveils its 12th roller coaster in Ricochet, which features a series of unexpected twists, turns and a 50-foot drop. Anew light show, Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular, was added in 2011. Features five, four-seated passenger trucks. 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