originally posted on 1/7/2022 1:00:11 AM
Photo: Courtesy of Kings Island. View full-sized image.
To the surprise of many enthusiasts, news has surfaced of Kings Island (Mason, Ohio) making significant improvements to The Beast, the legendary woodie built in 1979. This investment has prompted the removal of large sections of the ride to be rebuilt with more reliable durability.
The Gravity Group, which made tremendous improvements on The Racer last year, has been contracted to do the refurbishment.
The most notable change is that the first drop will actually be steeper. Of note, don’t expect anything outlandish such as wood-to-steel conversions seen in the past decade. The change is still in line with what The Beast has always offered. The 45-degree first drop was always one of the least steep drops in the coaster world, so the new angle of 53 degrees isn’t going to be anything statistically earth-shattering.
According to the park, the change wasn’t prompted by making it more thrilling.
“This change isn’t being made to add more speed or thrill element to The Beast, but to come in lower in the tunnel to provide the proper parabolic arcs due to reprofiling of the track in that area of the ride,” Don Helbig, area manager, said. “This change, along with The Gravity Group’s vertical track design, will deliver a butter-smooth transition through the tunnel and onto the second drop.”
Photo: Courtesy of Kings Island. View full-sized image.
The first drop isn’t the only thing undergoing reconstruction. Part of the helix is receiving track work to help strengthen the bents that support the upper and lower track in the circular layout. The forces through the structure will be more evenly distributed to the foundation. During this process, a large section of structure has been completely removed.
In addition to the reconstruction by The Gravity Group, Kings Island’s carpenters are retracking approximately 1,090 feet of track in other sections, according to Helbig.
The Beast gained fame instantaneously when it opened in 1979. Records come and go in the marketing lollapalooza of roller coasters, but the terrain woodie has pulled off the impressive feat of remaining the longest wooden coaster in the world for more than three decades. Stats alone won’t always place a ride on fans’ Top Ten lists, but The Beast has such considerable clout that no matter the opinion of any individual, the behemoth commands respect. It was designated an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark in 2004.
Kings Island’s dedication to this remarkable attraction is worthy of considerable praise.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
Photo: Courtesy of Kings Island. View full-sized image.
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