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Kings Island debuts record-breaking Banshee coaster

Rachel Richardson
rrichardson@cincinnati.com
An aerial view of Kings Island's Banshee roller coaster from the Eiffel Tower.

MASON When Kings Island commissioned a $24 million world record-breaking coaster, park officials knew it would generate huge crowds and ticket sales.

Still, as the park's opening day approached, Kings Island spokesman Don Helbig couldn't help but worry.

"There's a vibe about this ride that we really haven't seen since The Beast," he said. "When you have that much interest and excitement, you always worry about when you throw open the curtain and let people ride, will it live up to the hype?"

Helbig needn't have worried. Riders who got an early preview of the Banshee roller coaster agree: It's a shrieking success.

The Mason amusement park on Thursday invited 1,000-plus coaster fans and members of the media to ride the highly anticipated attraction ahead of the coaster's grand opening Friday for the general public.

More than 200 media representatives and hundreds of coaster enthusiasts from 28 states, two Canadian provinces and Great Britain attended the event, which saw many fans lining up at 4 a.m. ahead of the 5:30 a.m. start time.

Kings Island Vice President Greg Scheid told the crowd that Thursday marked the park's largest preview day and possibly the largest media outreach in the history of Cedar Fair, which owns Kings Island and 10 other amusement parks nationwide.

"Based on the feedback we're getting, it's a true winner," he said.

For nearly nine months, the purple and blue steel of Banshee, the world's longest inverted steel roller coaster and the park's largest single investment in its 42-year history, has ascended into the Kings Island skyline.

The park's 15th roller coaster is themed after a ghostly female spirit with flowing tresses and fiery eyes, whose mournful nighttime wailing was believed to foretell the death of a family member, according to Irish folklore.

Riders will hear a Banshee shriek as they crest over the first 150-foot drop, which is quickly drowned out by their own screams as they're hurtled through 4,124 feet of track and seven stomach-churning inversions at speeds of up to 68 miles per hour during the two-minute, 40-second ride.

The coaster is manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard, or B&M. The Swiss firm also created Diamondback, the park's most recent roller coaster, which opened in 2009.

It's the fastest B&M coaster in the nation, surpassing the previous record of 67 mph held by Busch Garden-Williamsburg's Alpengeist, said Helbig.

Kings Island doesn't release attendance figures, but Helbig said the "phenomenal" response to Banshee so far suggests the park will be a top destination for coaster fans worldwide this year.

"This part of Ohio will be a popular place this summer," he said with a laugh.

Here's what early riders are saying about Banshee:

Mark Davidson

I think it's really, really awesome and such a good fit for the park. There's a lot of surprises in it -- the inversions just keep getting bigger and faster. It's a very intense ride. This is probably the best of the inverted models B&M has ever done. It's going to be such a hit.

Mark Davidson, 54, Wildwood, N.J.






Nicole Woodard

I loved it. It's definitely my favorite inverted coaster. It was worth the drive and more. It's better than Gatekeeper. It's longer and more intense.

Nicole Woodard, 25, Toledo








Lauren Adams

I loved how long it was -- it lasted longer than I thought it would. I love all the twists and turns, especially the part where you come up off the seat -- awesome. Cedar Point has a coaster I really like, but Banshee is one of my top favorites.

Lauren Adams, 33, Anderson Twp.







John Brown

I drove four and a half hours to ride Banshee. It's a completely different ride from the front to the back. I rode the front the first time and it was very smooth, but that back is crazy. The back was definitely better. It's probably the best inverted coaster I've ever ridden.

John Brown, 30, Pittsburgh, Pa.






Mykl Hicks


I loved all the elements, the speed and the zero G roll, especially. It lived up to the hype, absolutely. Two thumbs up.

Mykl Hicks, 22, Portsmouth






Kevin Wong


I was interested since they first announced it. The speed especially at the bottom of the valley, it's a great ride. My favorite part was the last maneuver, the roll at the end. This is definitely my favorite inverted coaster in the world.

Kevin Wong, 23, West Chester Township






john patterson

I was really excited for this coaster. It's a beautiful ride. I really liked how it dives down into the train. It picks up speed very quickly and there's a lot of G-forces at the bottom. When you near the ground, you're really feeling the speed on your body. It has a lot of inversions, but it also has terrain, so it's very well-rounded. Overall, a great ride and not a short ride.

John Patterson, 33, Cleveland






melinda soliz

I love it. It's my favorite. It's smooth, the seats are comfortable, the harness is great. I love it all.

Melinda, Soliz, 56, Fairfield







Enquirer staff reviews:

Sharon Coolidge

The Banshee lived up to the hype. It was fast, smooth and you felt like you were flying. I can't wait for summer. There might be a wait, but it will be worth it. In addition, I'm a veteran of Cedar Point and Universal Studios and this was the best coaster I've been on.

Sherry Coolidge, reporter








Jessica Cohen



I'm happy to say the Banshee totally exceeded my expectations. The first time was literally breathtaking. We sat near the middle of the coaster and riding up the first hill, the anticipation -- amplified by some intense music -- was electric. But that was nothing compared to the second ride, when we sat in the front.

The twists, turns, flips and upside-down spins were thrilling, exhilarating, invigorating -- everything you'd expect from a coaster called Banshee.

Jessica Cohen, copy editor





Ally Marotti

Banshee makes you lose track of which way is up. The corkscrews, inversions and drop-offs -- one right after another as you fly at 68 mph -- throw off your equilibrium and take your breath away, but not enough to prevent you from screaming. The front row is the best, as with most coasters, but with Banshee it's supreme. It feels like you're hurtling straight toward the ground as you fly over the first hill. Your feet dangle, and you'll be kicking and screaming the whole way. Clearly the Banshee lived up to its name.

Ally Marotti, reporter