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Kings Island's Son of Beast roller coaster will remain closed this spring
When it opened 10 years ago, Son of Beast was the world's tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster. Today, it has an infamous reputation for causing injury and requiring costly repairs.Kings Island has poured a reported $30 million into Son of Beast, but the theme park's General Manager Greg Scheid says the wooden coaster will not be operating when the park opens for the season on April 17.
In July 2006, 28 people were injured on Son of Beast when a car on the coaster hit a "bump" caused by a broken wooden timber. The accident led to a yearlong closure of the ride, and renovations that included lighter ride trains and the removal of the coaster's famous inverted loop.
Then last June, Son of Beast was closed yet again, after a woman told the state she suffered a head injury while riding. A Cincinnati Enquirer report last summer showed that since the wooden coaster opened in 2000, it has had more injury investigations than any other ride in the state of Ohio.
"We have smoothed out the ride. Most people will say they enjoy the ride right now. I am not comfortable with the ride," Scheid told the Business Courier of Cincinnati.
Scheid says the massive Son of Beast may reopen someday, but he was not specific about what improvements would need to be made before it rolls again.
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Filed under: North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David S. Mar 21st 2010 3:10PM
Eh......28 people injured last year, and how many rode it? Tens of thousands, no doubt. But I can see why they will keep it closed -- fear of lawsuits.
gangakris Mar 21st 2010 3:45PM
You know, back in the early days of coasters, the more people got injured, the longer the line. And if someone died, well people would come from around the world to ride it. Oh how times have changed. Not that it's a bad thing. You know here in Vegas, The Stratosphere is working on a new attraction where people jump off the top of the tower attached to a guide wire. Gonna cost over $100 a jump. Wonder how long that will last before being closed due to a death.
Trixie Mar 21st 2010 4:18PM
These rides ARE very dangerous. How many injuries and deaths will it take for amusement parks to tone these things down?
Michael Mar 21st 2010 5:02PM
I rode Son of Beast back when it first opened. It was a good ride, the loop was fun, but I have been on better. The original Beast coaster is still my favorite, it makes good use of the terrain and set marks for highest, longest and fastest wooden coaster. King's Island had one there called Vortex, steel coaster with 6 inversions. That was a fun ride too.
Mike Mar 21st 2010 5:22PM
Cars are "rides" they are dangerous, airplains are "rides" they too kill. Any mechanical conveyance is a potential for danger and or death. RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK!! I love roller coasters, carnival rides etc. I'll always ride them, and to die on one what a fitting way to go out!
Brian Abruzzi Mar 21st 2010 6:22PM
Awesome philosophy!!! :)
JAMES D. Mar 21st 2010 6:26PM
Seems the son of the Beast turned out to be a REAL S.O.B
johnbgoode Mar 21st 2010 6:36PM
They made the trains lighter? Okay, that's cool, but to remove the inverted loop, well that just takes the fun out of ride all together! The more scarier, the better...
summerof69 Mar 21st 2010 7:05PM
People are just too greedy these days with their lawsuits and slime bag lawyers just chomping at the bit to sue somebody. The days of thrill rides are over.
Erica Gravett Mar 21st 2010 7:14PM
I will say this I would only ride that coaster once a summer. That ride is so rough it isn't funny. Kings Island really needs to get rid of it. The ride is an eye sore. The Beast it's daddy coaster is not even nearly as rough. Diamondback that was introduced last year to the park is a way better ride and runs alot smoother.
Bill May 24th 2010 12:32AM
I pried myself in knowing that I rode it the first day it opened. Taking away the loop pretty much destroyed what the ride was all about to begin with. I'm glad I got to enjoy it's wildness while it was still intact and fresh. It'll be sad to see it go but even if it does remain and open up once again, it will never be the same.....
Dave Jun 7th 2010 10:50AM
Lighter trains ok but bigger, roomier trains may likely be more helpful. These trains were the tightest I had ever ridden and I would venture to say the close quarters on the ride cause many of the injuries. I look forward to the day this ride re-opens and am hopeful they can get a long-term fix without ruining the intent and integrity of the ride.