originally posted on 3/31/2025
Photo: Shawn Montano. View full-sized image.
Kings Dominion (Doswell, Virginia) has unveiled its newest roller coaster, Rapterra, a record-breaking launched wing coaster that offers high-speed thrills and breathtaking elements. The ride coincides with the park’s 50th anniversary and is already generating buzz among coaster enthusiasts and theme park visitors.
To celebrate the park’s 50th anniversary, Kings Dominion has installed Rapterra to bring its coaster count to 13.
Photo: Shawn Montano. View full-sized image.
Photo: courtesy Kings Dominion. View full-sized image.
Aaron Haynes, a member of American Coaster Enthusiasts, was among the first riders to experience Rapterra and praised its smooth and exhilarating design. “It’s exactly what this park needed. It’s a big, smooth, people-pleasing ride,” Haynes said.
Smooth-but-dramatic maneuvers are hallmarks of B&M coasters and are qualities sought by the park for its newest ride.
Photo: courtesy Kings Dominion. View full-sized image.
Photo: courtesy Kings Dominion. View full-sized image.
Bridgette Bywater, vice president and general manager of Kings Dominion, described Rapterra as a fitting addition to the park’s milestone celebration. “Oh my gosh, it’s just exciting because it’s celebrating our 50th anniversary, and it’s a birthday gift to the park,” Bywater said.
With its acceleration to 65 mph, Rapterra is the fastest launched wing coaster in the country.
Photo: Shawn Montano. View full-sized image.
Designed by the Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), Rapterra stretches 3,086 feet and reaches a towering height of 145 feet. Riders launch from zero to 65 mph in just four seconds, making it the fastest launched wing coaster in the United States. The ride’s layout was custom designed for Kings Dominion, featuring multiple inversions and unique elements such as a wingover, dive loop, S-turn and the signature 360-degree raptor roll.
Rapterra’s layout includes a total of three inversions.
Photo: Justin Barlow. View full-sized image.
Sophia Bolliger, president of B&M, attended the opening and spoke about the design vision behind the coaster. “For this one, Kings Dominion really wanted a record-breaking coaster,” Bolliger said.
Occupying real estate once dominated by Volcano: The Blast Coaster, Rapterra’s installation is elaborate and detailed.
Photo: Will Rook. View full-sized image.
Photo: Will Rook. View full-sized image.
Rapterra now occupies the space once home to the iconic Volcano: The Blast Coaster, which was removed in 2019. For many parkgoers, the new ride is a tribute to its legendary predecessor. “A launch coaster in this area is super appropriate and pays a lot of homage to it,” Haynes said. “And also, the theming here is incredible. Like, words don’t do it justice. The caldera, the temple — that’s all in ruins — it’s amazing.”
Rapterra expands the park’s Jungle X-Pedition section, which includes Tumbili in the background.
Photo: Justin Barlow. View full-sized image.
With elements such as a 145-foot wingover, a breathtaking dive loop and a powerful airtime hill, Rapterra is quickly becoming a must-ride attraction. “My favorite elements, I think, are the wing-over and then also the dive loop,” Haynes said.
The ride delivers a variety of sensations, from weightless airtime to high-speed inversions.
For Bywater, Rapterra’s debut marks the culmination of years of planning and construction. “It’s been a long time coming, watching the construction go on all through the summer last year and into the fall,” she said.
Announced in 2024, enthusiasts and the public alike will be thrilled to discover Rapterra was worth the wait.
Photo: courtesy Kings Dominion. View full-sized image.
Photo: courtesy Kings Dominion. View full-sized image.
For Haynes, Rapterra is more than just a thrilling new coaster — it’s a way to relive the excitement that Volcano once brought to the park. His wife, Hannah Haynes, has seen firsthand how much this moment means to him. “I’ve heard him talk about Volcano ever since the tragic day when it went away,” she said. “So he’s so excited. And we’re both excited to have a new ride here to experience.”
Now officially open to the public, Rapterra is impressing guests with its high-speed launch, breathtaking elements and immersive theming. Whether visitors are lifelong coaster enthusiasts or first-time thrill seekers, Rapterra delivers an unforgettable experience.
In addition to Rapterra merchandise, the park has created many items to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Photos: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.
With its cutting-edge design and record-breaking elements, Rapterra is set to be a flagship attraction at Kings Dominion for years to come. ACEers attending the May Spring Conference will have a chance to discover it themselves.
— Shawn Montano, Visual Content Producer
#ACENews