originally posted on 8/25/2019
Photo: Courtesy Kings Island. View full-sized image.
It was speculated for some time. Secrets are hard to keep nowadays, but the rumors have been confirmed. Kings Island (Mason, Ohio) will debut its third Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M) coaster next spring. Orion will be the tallest, longest and fastest steel coaster at the park.
Using real estate vacated by the defunct Firehawk, Orion will be the high-profile attraction in a newly named area called Area 72, a clever play on the fabled Area 51 and Kings Island’s opening year of 1972. According to Kings Island: “The area around Orion is themed after a secret research facility that has been studying the effects of flight on man. The ride’s back-story goes: 'Scientists are in a race against time to develop technology capable of weaving transport vehicles through a coming meteor storm and traveling to a new planet within the Orion constellation. For the program to be successful, it needs volunteers to help with testing.'”
Photo: Courtesy Kings Island. View full-sized image.
Photo: Courtesy Kings Island. View full-sized image.
Situated next to Flight of Fear and The Racer, an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, Orion will extend into area once occupied by Dinosaurs Alive! and Firehawk — and beyond! In all, there are eight hills on the ride and some high-speed turns and curves. The coaster will tower over the north side of the park, making for a new expansive backdrop. It will probably be its most dramatic as guests approach the park.
Taking the records for Kings Island steel, how does Orion stack up against its Cedar Fair B&M giga brethren? Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughan, Ontario) was the first B&M to exceed 300 feet. Fury 325 at Carowinds (Charlotte, North Carolina) opened three years later and has garnered awards, including the Golden Ticket Award for Best Steel Coaster.
| Leviathan (2012) |
Height: 306 feet |
Drop: 306 feet |
Length: 5,486 feet |
Speed: 92 mph |
| Fury 325 (2015) |
Height: 325 feet |
Drop: 320 feet |
Length: 6,602 feet |
Speed: 95 mph |
| Orion (2020) |
Height: 287 feet |
Drop: 300 feet |
Length: 5,321 feet |
Speed: 91 mph |
Photo: Courtesy Kings Island. View full-sized image.
Photo: Courtesy Kings Island. View full-sized image.
Those fans inclined to nitpick are sure to point out the stats are slightly less than the new coaster’s siblings. But seriously, isn’t being any monster B&M amazing? Orion is sure to be a must-do in 2020. Crowds will be flocking to the largest coaster announced for 2020 — so far at least.
Following Mako at SeaWorld San Diego (California) and Candymonium at Hersheypark (Hershey, Pennsylvania), Orion is the third B&M announced for North America for 2020, a stat this continent has not seen in some time.
— Tim Baldwin
ACE News Editor
Take a virtual ride on Orion:
Video: Courtesy Kings Island.
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