New Roller Coaster Rolls Into Kings Island: Mystic Timbers
An all new wooden roller coaster is coming to Kings Island!
There has been a ton of speculation since April about what exactly the #KIProject2017 would be for Kings Island. Many guests and members of the news media speculated that the project would turn out to be a new roller coaster, and last night, they found out just what that new attraction is going to be… starting with the video teaser shown below.
Much like the announcement for their last roller coaster, Banshee, Kings Island made the major announcement at a big media-style event held in the Rivertown area of the park. Although we were invited as media guests, this event wasn’t exclusive to media only, it was open to the public for anyone to attend. There, they revealed that the park’s new 2017 attraction will be a wooden roller coaster built by Great Coasters International (often referred to as GCI). The track layout shown below looks incredibly fun! (click here to watch the full announcement event)
Themed to an area surrounding a lumber company becoming overrun by a mysterious medusa-like overgrowth of vines as nature reclaims its land, Mystic Timbers will be 3,265 feet in length, reach 109 feet in height and weave along steep cliffs, down ravines, cross over water and go through an extreme S-turn, among a forest of trees, at speeds up to 53 mph. While 53 mph may not sound fast, you have to keep in mind that this is a low to the ground rolling coaster. If this is anything similar to White Lightning in Florida (which GCI also built), it will indeed be very intense.. AND FUN! Check out this section that crosses over the pond!
So, just how much will this new ride cost the park? In an interesting interview, Park GM Greg Scheid said that the park will no longer release cost amounts of specific projects. In the past, cost has never been a secret. Although he didn’t reveal the cost, what he did say is this:
“Mystic Timbers is naturally exciting because of its setting in a densely wooded area,” Kings Island’s vice-president and general manager Greg Scheid said. “The natural rugged terrain and tunnel ensures a unique and memorable ride experience. Everyone who enjoys the fun and thrills of riding a roller coaster will want to experience this attraction”.
Mystic Timbers is custom designed and built for the topography of Kings Island by Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCI) of Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Three trains will accommodate 24 passengers each (four riders per car and six cars per train) with a capacity of 1,200 riders per hour. Guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride. The ride experience will last more than two minutes.
The ride will feature a total of 16 airtime hills, a mid-course tunnel, and will interact with parts of the Kings Island, Miami Valley Railroad, and White Water Canyon attractions.
Fast Facts:
- Length: 3,265 feet
- Height 109 feet
- Max Height: 109 feet
- Top Speed: 53 mph
- Airtime Hills: 16
- (3) 24 passenger Trains
- 1,275 riders per hour
- Ride length over 2 min
- Brings Kings Island’s coaster tally to 16
- Brings Kings Island to 18,804 feet of wood track in the park
- What’s in the shed is unknown
- Ride cost is unknown
Mystic Timbers will debut in the spring of 2017 and become Kings Island’s 16th roller coaster, as well as its fourth wood coaster. With the addition of Mystic Timbers, Kings Island’s wooden roller coasters will combine to measure 18,804 feet of track, which will be the most at any amusement or theme park in the world. Construction is already underway on the new mystical lumber-jack themed wooden coaster.
Too excited to wait until spring? TAKE A VIRTUAL RIDE NOW!
Something we didn’t see during the announcement was the inside of the barns or sheds the track runs through. All the photos and video clips left us with the big question… #WhatsInTheShed?
Kings Island is among the best at keeping new attractions a secret while throwing out hints and clues, so of course, no announcement would be complete without creating anticipation for the another. They left coaster fans with a BIG QUESTION! “What’s in the Shed”?
On July 27 Don Helbig, Kings Island’s PR Manager, tweeted out the above photo. It’s a splinter cat.. or so we think.. So, immediately following the big announcement, we caught up with Don and asked him about the cat.. Could this be the first hint of what’s inside the shed!??! See what he had to say…
Fans can get updates and follow the construction progress via live webcams on the parks website by clicking here!
After the big announcement, the park debuted these awesome Mystic Timbers branded tee shirts, which are on sale now! As days go on, expect to see a full lineup of Mystical themed merchandise for the new wooden coaster.
Are you excited for the new wooden coaster at Kings Island? What do you think is in the shed? Give us your comments below on your thoughts and join in the conversation on our social media accounts!
For tickets and more information, visit the official Kings Island website by clicking here.
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