MasonBuzz.com

A major winter storm that dumped heavy snow across the region overnight didn’t stop work crews at Kings Island as the Mason theme park gears up for its 41st season.

Crews spent Wednesday morning shoveling and removing snow from rides to continue off-season maintenance work.

A crew of about 50 mechanics, carpenters and welders work year round to conduct testing and maintenance of the park’s 46 rides.  The bulk of the work takes place in the park’s off-season months of November through late April.

“I think a lot of people think that you just swing the gates shut when the park closes and swing them open when it’s time to open.  It’s completely different than that.  This is our busiest time of the year.  We’re working right up to park opening,” said Tom Dillingham, the park’s manager of rides and mechanical maintenance.

Kings Island opens for the 2013 season on April 27.

Posted in: Kings Island, News |

Tags: Tags: amusement park, crews, kings island, maintenance, mason, mechanics, off-season, photos, snow, the racer, theme park, tom dillingham, winter

Gary Coleman, pictured front right, of Monfort Heights, celebrates his 7,000th ride on Kings Island’s Diamondback roller coaster on July 4, 2012. Photo provided/Kings Island

Kings Island capped off a successful year that saw the park’s rides and attractions give a combined 25,371,572 rides during the park’s 40th anniversary season, the park reported.

Five attractions gave more than 1 million rides: Diamondback (1,812,311), The Racer (1,372,948), The Beast (1,130,830), Vortex (1,120,052) and the K.I. & Miami Valley Railroad (1,046,644).

The K.I. & Miami Valley Railroad surpassed its 50 million mark in rides given this year. It’s the second-most in park history to The Racer at 97,825, 493.

More than 1.25 billion rides — 1,254,044,426 to be exact — have been given since the park opened in 1972.  The Enchanted Voyage (47,380,374) and Kenton County Keelboat Canal (40,069,518) top the list of retired rides.

The Vortex is expected to give its 40 millionth ride in 2013, Dodgem its 30 millionth and Flight Deck is 20 millionth.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Kings Island |

Tags: Tags: amusement park, diamondback, dodgem, enchanted voyage, flight deck, k.i. & miami valley railroad, kings island, mason, retired rides, rides, the beast, the racer, theme park, vortex

Kings Island held its annual Coasting for Kids event Sunday as part of a national fundraising campaign at 11 Cedar Fair parks.

Now in its third year at the Mason amusement park, volunteers secure pledges to marathon-ride the Racer roller coaster.  Proceeds benefit Give Kids the World Village, a Central Florida non-profit resort that provides cost-free, weeklong vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

Kings Island officials designate a special car specifically for the Coasting for Kids group, who are allowed to ride it continuously without waiting in line.

Sixty riders participated in Kings Island’s event.  The Cedar Fair campaign has helped raise more than $110,000, including more than $13,000 at Kings Island.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Community, Kings Island, News |

Tags: Tags: cedar fair, charity, coasting for kids, fundraiser, give kids the world village, kings island, mason, roller coaster, the racer