Orion (roller coaster)

Orion is an upcoming steel roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. It is a Hyper Coaster model from manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, which will become the seventh giga coaster in the world and the largest investment in park history, costing an estimated $30 million.[2][3] Orion will stand 287 feet (87 m), feature a 300-foot drop (91 m), and reach a maximum speed of 91 mph (146 km/h).[2][3] Its track will stretch 5,321 feet (1,622 m) on a site formerly occupied by Firehawk, located in the Area 72 section of the park.[4]

Orion
Kings Island
LocationKings Island
Park sectionConey Mall - X-Base
Coordinates39°20′33.84″N 84°15′45.82″W
StatusUnder construction
Opening date2020 (2020)
Cost$30 Million
ReplacedFirehawk
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelHyper Coaster
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height287 ft (87 m)
Drop300 ft (91 m)
Length5,321 ft (1,622 m)
Speed91 mph (146 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration3:00
Max vertical angle85[1]°
Capacity1,650 riders per hour
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
Orion at RCDB
Pictures of Orion at RCDB

History

In early 2019, Kings Island submitted construction blueprints to the City of Mason for approval.[5] Dennis Speigel, co-founder and previous employee of Kings Island, stated that plans indicated a new roller coaster was being built, with a likely height estimate of at least 300 feet (91 m) that would qualify it as a giga coaster.[5] The plans were approved on April 24, 2019.[5] Cedar Fair also applied for national trademarks for the names Orion and Polaris as a marketing teaser tactic to keep enthusiasts guessing between the two.[5] On August 15, 2019, Kings Island held an evening event open to both the media and public that officially announced the new coaster as Orion.[4] It was confirmed to have a 300-foot drop (91 m), making it the seventh giga coaster in the world.[2][3] The announcement also stated that the unofficial X-Base section of the park will be renamed Area 72 in 2020.[4]

In November 2019, Orion's train design was revealed at the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Amusement Expo in Orlando.[6][7] Unlike previous train configurations from B&M that feature staggered, two-seat rows, Orion's trains were designed to seat four across in a straight line.[6][7]

In February 2020, Orion successfully completed its first test run.[8] It was originally scheduled to open on April 11, 2020, but the opening was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

References
  1. "Kings Island's new giga coaster uses rolling terrain to its advantage". daytondailynews. October 8, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  2. Glaser, Susan (August 15, 2019). "Kings Island announces new space-themed coaster Orion, with 300-foot first hill". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved August 16, 2019. Koontz said the coaster represented “the single largest investment in Kings Island history.”
  3. Mitchell, Madeline (August 15, 2019). "Kings Island announces newest roller coaster, Orion, park's largest and longest coaster". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  4. "Orion: Kings Island". Kings Island. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  5. Matarese, John (May 9, 2019). "Kings Island files blueprints for new coaster". wcpo.com. WCPO Cincinnati. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  6. Ozana, Rus (November 21, 2019). "Kings Island Orion Train Cars Revealed". ACE Online. American Coaster Enthusiasts. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  7. MacDonald, Brady (November 19, 2019). "11 best roller coaster and thrill ride reveals at massive Florida theme park expo". The Orange County Register. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  8. King's Island PR [@KingsIslandPR] (22 February 2020). "After months of construction, Orion completed its first test run at 5:29 p.m. today. Video just released from park officials shows one of the ride's three trains climbing the lift hill and plummeting down the 300-foot first drop" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 February 2020 – via Twitter.
  9. Schwartzberg, Eric (March 20, 2020). "Kings Island postpones opening day for more than a month". Journal-News. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
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