originally posted on 3/15/2022
Photo: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.
Tumbili (Swahili for “monkey”) is Kings Dominion’s newest coaster and an anchor point in the renamed and upgraded area now called Jungle X-pedition. As the first 4D Free Spin coaster in the region, it replaces the long-standing, inverted flat ride named Crypt that closed in 2019 after 14 seasons. Tumbili renews the excitement by spinning riders upside down while traveling at 34 mph down a stunning green track, seemingly held up by bamboo-like supports.
Photo: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.
After journeying through the Candy Apple Grove or Planet Snoopy portions of the Doswell, Virginia, park, guests approach Jungle X-pedition. Numerous restaurants such as Jungle Market Eatery and Outpost Café, restrooms and retail shops line the pathway to Tumbili and two other rides rethemed to match the jungle aesthetic. Kings Dominion’s classic bobsled-style coaster, Avalanche, is now known as Reptilian. The coaster sports a vibrant and scaly entrance logo, while freshly coated cars showcase menacing teeth. Originally white, the track has been repainted to an orange-brown color and sits adjacent to the now-defunct mountain that housed the various rides inside it over the three-plus decades it stood.
Photo: Corey Brown. View full-sized image.
Across the midway (and past the old queue that sat in front of the now defunct Volcano: The Blast Coaster) sits the other newly updated ride, Arachnidia, a spider-themed Scrambler that has been painted the same shade as Reptilian. Rounding out the area are other thematic elements including maps, expedition gear and jungle trees.
Tumbili stands at 112 feet tall, with a height requirement of only 48 inches, easily allowing families to enjoy this unique ride together. Trains include over-the-shoulder restraints, grouped together in fours on each wing for a total of eight passengers per train. Soon-to-be riders queue in a line that includes motifs, while a drum beat rhythmically booms whenever a train leaves the station and travels up the lift hill. As the train nears the peak, additional sounds enfold riders into a jungle, including a shrieking monkey that lets riders know they’re ready to go. A quick glance out at the beautifully themed area is interrupted by sudden dips and dramatic turns before gently reaching the bottom to disembark.
The whole ride lasts under a minute, but the quick and satisfying nature of a unique experience within the Mid-Atlantic will surely give this ride a long shelf life in pleasing guests. Older teens and adults will enjoy the thrill of freely spinning around, while the younger crowd will get a rush from tackling the ride’s erratic but not too intimidating nature.
Photo: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.
The handful of changes and updates to Jungle X-pedition are a welcome addition, as the area is one of the oldest in the park, dating back to Kings Dominion’s opening when it was used as a part of Lion Country Safari, one of Kings Dominion’s earliest attractions. Kings Dominion has continued to develop and strategize this section of the park so that future generations can gain exciting experiences every year.
Tumbili and Jungle X-pedition officially debuted on March 12, 2022, with a first rider preview happening an hour before the park opened to the general public.
— Corey Brown, ACE Member
American Coaster Enthusiasts is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, appreciation and safe enjoyment of roller coasters. With 6,000 members worldwide, ACE is the largest and longest-running enthusiast organization in the world. Members of ACE receive exclusive park benefits, newsletters, magazines and the opportunity to attend national, local and even international tours at parks. You can enjoy the benefits of members today! Join at join.aceonline.org.
Photo: Corey Brown. View full-sized image.
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