[go: up one dir, main page]
Wikipedia

Banshee (roller coaster)

Banshee is an inverted roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio, United States. Designed and manufactured by Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened to the public on April 18, 2014, and is the longest inverted coaster in the world, featuring a track length of 4,124 feet (1,257 m).[1] Banshee was also the most expensive project in Kings Island's history at the time, costing the park $24 million to construct. The ride includes seven inversions and travels up to a maximum speed of 68 mph (109 km/h). It operates with three trains, each with eight cars, producing an hourly capacity of 1,650 riders.

Banshee
Banshee's Logo (Top) Banshee's Lift Hill, First Drop, Dive Loop, First Vertical Loop, and Zero-G Roll (Bottom)
Kings Island
LocationKings Island
Park sectionAction Zone
Coordinates39°20′44.39″N 84°15′55.70″W / 39.3456639°N 84.2654722°W / 39.3456639; -84.2654722
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 18, 2014 (2014-04-18)
Cost$24 million
ReplacedSon of Beast
Thunder Alley
General statistics
TypeSteel – Inverted
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelInverted Coaster
Track layoutTerrain
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height167 ft (51 m)
Drop150 ft (46 m)
Length4,124 ft (1,257 m)
Speed68 mph (109 km/h)
Inversions7
Duration2:40
Capacity1,650 riders per hour
Height restriction52–78 in (132–198 cm)
Trains3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Banshee at RCDB

Banshee was built at the former location of a short-lived, record-breaking wooden coaster, Son of Beast, as well as the Thunder Alley go-kart attraction. The ride was officially announced on August 8, 2013, although its name "Banshee" had been trademarked earlier in April 2013. Construction took place from August 2013 through January 2014. When Banshee opened, it was well-received, accommodating over one million riders in less than three months. It has also consistently ranked among the top 50 steel roller coasters worldwide in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today.

History

edit
 
Banshee replaced Son of Beast (pictured), which closed in 2009 before being demolished three years later

Banshee was built at the former location of Son of Beast, a wooden roller coaster plagued with issues and demolished in 2012, and the Thunder Alley go-kart attraction that was removed the same year. A memorial for Son of Beast is in the queue line of Banshee. Following their removal, it was not immediately clear what would replace the attractions.[2]

Construction

edit

Construction on a new attraction began on April 22, 2013,[3] and a trademark for the name "Banshee" was filed the next day.[4][5] Owner Cedar Fair had previously considered using the name for a stand-up roller coaster at Cedar Point, though Cedar Point's coaster was ultimately named Mantis.[6][7] Kings Island began teasing the new attraction on the first day of the 2013 season. Along the perimeter of the former Thunder Alley go-kart track, a fence was set up with a sign that read, "Due to the increasing occurrence of mysterious and bone-chilling screams, it has become necessary to close this section of the park until the cause of this evil phenomenon can be identified." During the course of the summer, several clues about the attraction were set up around the construction site.[8] On June 10, 2013, the park launched their social media campaign by posting a photo showing the construction site with the caption, "Field of Dreams".[9] The campaign continued with five scarecrows around the construction site and several Twitter posts about the future attraction.[10][11] Then, at the beginning of July 2013, recordings of someone screaming could be heard by park guests near the construction area.[12] Two weeks later, farm owls were placed in nearby trees.[13]

On July 31, 2013, Kings Island detailed plans to reveal a new world record-breaking attraction at 10 p.m. on August 8. Media packages containing a silver comb, artificial hair, and a tag were sent out to media outlets to notify them of the upcoming announcement.[14][15] A limited number of tickets were also made available to the public giving access to a tour of the construction site prior to the revealing and reserved seats at the event, with net proceeds being donated to breast cancer research.[16][17] Blueprints for the project were leaked to the public on August 1, 2013.[18] One week later, on August 8, Kings Island officially announced that it was constructing Banshee, the world's longest inverted roller coaster.[19][20] Banshee would feature seven inversions, including a pretzel knot inversion[20] and a vertical loop around the lift hill.[21] Banshee would be the second coaster constructed at Kings Island by Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard (after Diamondback, which opened in 2009),[22] as well as the park's 14th operating roller coaster.[23]

The foundation work for the supports was done by R.E. Middleton, and the rest of the ride's construction was performed by Adena Corporation.[24] The first pieces of track and supports were delivered to the park from Clermont Steel Fabricators on August 16, 2013;[7][25] the first track piece was erected on August 27, 2013.[26] The lift hill was completed on September 29, 2013,[27] and by the end of October, other elements such as the first drop, dive loop, and vertical loop were installed.[28][29] Work on the station commenced that November,[29] and the ride was 40 percent complete by the next month.[30] The final piece of track was installed on January 23, 2014.[31][32] Workers began installing the ride's trains that February,[33] and testing began on March 15.[34][35][36]

Operation

edit

Kings Island hosted a preview event for Banshee on April 17, 2014. Several hundred journalists and members of the public, coming from 28 U.S. states as well as Canada and the UK, gathered at the park at as early as 4:00 a.m.[37] The ride officially opened to the public the next day, April 18, 2014.[38][39] At a cost of $24 million, the ride was the single biggest investment in Kings Island's history at the time.[37][40][41] Banshee's opening coincided with increased ticket sales at Kings Island, which opened for the season on the same day. Kings Island officials reported that more people visited the park during the weekend of April 18–20, 2014, than on any other opening weekend in the park's 43-year history.[41]

Banshee had attracted one million riders by July 10, 2014, less than three months after its opening.[42][43] On that day, Kings Island gave the ride's millionth guest a gift package and a commemorative sign.[44] At the time, Banshee was projected to be Kings Island's most popular new ride in 25 years; by comparison, Vortex had given 2,183,642 rides the year after it opened in 1987.[44] The ride recorded its two-millionth rider on November 2, 2014.[45]

Characteristics

edit

Banshee stands 167 feet (51 m) tall and features a first drop of 150 feet (46 m).[46][47] With a length of 4,124 feet (1,257 m), the ride became the longest inverted roller coaster in the world when it opened in 2014.[48][1][49] The ride includes seven inversions: two vertical loops, a dive loop, a zero-g roll, a pretzel knot, and an inline twist.[46] It is also tied with Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa for achieving the most inversions on any inverted coaster.[50] Riders experience speeds of up to 68 miles per hour (109 km/h) on the ride, which lasts two minutes and forty seconds.[46] Due to the terrain underneath Banshee, the highest point of the lift hill is 208 feet (63 m) above the lowest point of the ride, which is at the bottom of the pretzel knot.[3][29] As a result, Banshee reaches its maximum speed approximately halfway through the layout, rather than after the first drop, as is the case in most roller coasters.[3][47]

 
A view of Banshee from the Eiffel Tower

Banshee operates with three trains made of steel and fiberglass with eight cars per train. In each car, riders are seated four across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.[46] The configuration has a theoretical capacity of 1,650 riders per hour.[29][46] Riders are secured by flexible, over-the-shoulder restraints and interlocking seat belts, known as vest restraints, similar to those used on Bolliger & Mabillard's Wing Coaster models.[51] Each train is painted a different color: blue, green, or purple.[24]

Banshee's tubular steel track was manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia, Ohio.[52] The first vertical loop on Banshee wraps around the lift hill. This element can be found on two other Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters, which are The Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa.[53] At night, the ride is illuminated and features fog effects.[54]

As the name suggests, the ride is themed after the mythological female spirit of the same name. The ride's backstory details sightings and screams of the banshee dating back to when the construction of Kings Island began in 1970.[55] The ride features its own plaza area, with its station being themed appropriately.[56]

Ride experience

edit
 
The station of Banshee

After departing from the station, the train makes a left turn towards the 167-foot (51 m) chain lift hill.[46] After reaching the top, the sound of a banshee screaming is played as the train drops into a heavily banked right turn. After reaching the bottom of the drop, riders enter a dive loop immediately followed by a vertical loop around the lift hill. Continuing down the valley, the train enters the third inversion, a zero-gravity roll, where riders experience the feeling of weightlessness. Next, the train makes an upward left-hand turn into a "pretzel knot" (an element where the train enters a dive loop, followed by an Immelmann loop). Upon exiting the pretzel knot, the train enters a second vertical loop before making a right turn into an inline twist. Following a downward left hand helix, the train makes a final banked right turn into the final brake run leading back to the station.[57]

Incidents

edit
Main article: Incidents at Six Flags parks § Kings Island

On June 19, 2024, a 38-year-old man from Wilmington, Ohio, was critically injured after he entered a restricted area and was struck by a moving train.[58] He was rushed to a nearby hospital,[58] where he died two days later on June 21.[59]

Reception

edit

Following the announcement of Banshee, Screamscape amusement park enthusiast Lance Hart called the new roller coaster "The perfect addition to an already great coaster line-up" at Kings Island.[60] Brian Krosnick from Theme Park Tourist said that though he was excited for Banshee, he questioned why the park did not choose to add additional theming throughout the layout of the ride.[61] In a poll conducted by CoasterRadio.com, respondents ranked Banshee as the best new roller coaster for 2014.[62] The same year, Banshee received a Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride from Amusement Today magazine,[63] as well as a Golden Ticket Award for being the 16th best steel roller coaster worldwide.[64][65]

Golden Ticket Awards: Best New Ride for 2014
Ranking
2[63]
Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024
Ranking 16[65] 20[66] 13[67] 22[68] 29[69] 33[70] 37[71] 37[72] 41 (tie)[73] 38[74]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Record Holders  (Statistic: Length; Design: Inverted)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  2. ^ McClelland, Justin (July 27, 2012). "Kings Island to tear down Son of Beast". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Tan, Lot (August 8, 2013). "Kings Island to offer new coaster for 2014". WHIO-TV. Cox Media Group. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  4. ^ "Banshee". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  5. ^ Richardson, Rachel (August 2, 2013). "Kings Island wants record breaker to replace Son of Beast". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on August 4, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  6. ^ "Cedar Point changes coaster's name". The Bryan Times. September 14, 1995. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Haidet, Ryan (November 3, 2013). "Kings Island: Banshee roller coaster rises". WKYC. Retrieved December 29, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ "Kings Island to announce 'record-breaking' attraction next week". WLWT. July 31, 2013. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  9. ^ "Field of Dreams". Kings Island. June 10, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  10. ^ "You Want Me On That Wall". Kings Island. June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  11. ^ "Nothing To See From Up There". Kings Island. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  12. ^ "Shhh! … Did you hear that?". Kings Island. July 1, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  13. ^ "Owl Pacino". Kings Island. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  14. ^ "Kings Island to announce "world record-breaking" attraction". Mason Buzz. July 31, 2013. Archived from the original on August 2, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  15. ^ "Kings Island will unveil a new attraction". WHIO-TV. August 1, 2012. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  16. ^ "For The Cure". Kings Island. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  17. ^ "KI For The Cure". Kings Island. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  18. ^ Jackie, Congedo (August 1, 2013). "Kings Island new attraction appears to be a coaster". WLWT. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  19. ^ "Kings Island unleashes Banshee, world's longest inverted coaster". Amusement Today. April 17, 2014. Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  20. ^ a b Richardson, Rachel (August 9, 2013). "Kings Island unveils plans for world record-breaking coaster Banshee". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  21. ^ Stevenson, John (October 30, 2013). "Banshee Loops Around its Lift Hill". Coaster101. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  22. ^ "Kings Island unveils Banshee roller coaster". The Advocate. Gannett Company. August 8, 2013. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  23. ^ Marden, Duane. " (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  24. ^ a b Helbig, Don (December 3, 2013). "Don Speaks Live" (Interview). Interviewed by Christopher.
  25. ^ "Track Pieces For Banshee Arrive". Kings Island. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  26. ^ "First Piece of Track Installed on Banshee". Kings Island. August 28, 2013. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  27. ^ "Lift hill columns and track up on Banshee". Kings Island. September 29, 2013. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  28. ^ "Banshee construction progress". Kings Island. October 31, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  29. ^ a b c d Haidet, Ryan C (November 3, 2013). "Kings Island: Banshee roller coaster rises". wkyc.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  30. ^ Seltz, Amanda (December 8, 2013). "Coaster fans get Banshee sneak peek". Springfield News-Sun. p. 18. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  31. ^ "Kings Island completes work on Banshee". Dayton Daily News. January 24, 2014. p. 15. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  32. ^ "Track done on Kings Island's Banshee roller coaster". INDY. January 23, 2014. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  33. ^ "Banshee coaster on track for debut at KI". The Journal News. February 15, 2014. p. 9. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  34. ^ Haidet, Ryan (March 17, 2014). "Kings Island begins testing Banshee". WKYC. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  35. ^ "Banshee Passes First Test Run". ABC 22. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  36. ^ "Banshee makes first test run at Kings Island". WHIO. March 15, 2014. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  37. ^ a b Richardson, Rachel (April 18, 2014). "Riders: Banshee Is a Screaming Success". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A17, A19. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  38. ^ Schwartzberg, Eric (April 18, 2014). "Record-breaking Banshee roller coaster debuts at Kings Island". The Journal-News. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  39. ^ "'Theme park trifecta' causes long lines at Kings Island Friday". WLWT. February 26, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  40. ^ Drury, Jill (August 8, 2013). "Kings Island unveils the Banshee". WDTN. LIN Media. Archived from the original on August 11, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  41. ^ a b Levingston, Chelsey (May 17, 2014). "Kings Island exceeds mark". The Journal News. p. 9. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  42. ^ "Banshee gives 1 millionth ride at Kings Island". The Journal-News. July 11, 2014. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  43. ^ "Banshee gives 1 millionth ride at Kings Island". Dayton Daily News. July 11, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  44. ^ a b Richardson, Rachel (July 28, 2014). "Kings Island: Racer coaster tallies its 100 millionth rider". IndyStar. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  45. ^ Molski, Henry (November 3, 2014). "Banshee gives its 2 millionth ride". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  46. ^ a b c d e f Marden, Duane. "Banshee  (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  47. ^ a b Schwartzberg, Eric (April 18, 2014). "Coaster debuts at Kings Island". Dayton Daily News. p. 17. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  48. ^ Haidet, Ryan C (April 18, 2014). "Banshee brings haunting screams to Kings Island". wkyc.com. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  49. ^ Clark, Michael D. (April 9, 2022). "Kings Island has led the way in thrilling firsts for amusement parks". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  50. ^ "Throwback coaster coming to Ohio's Kings Island". Los Angeles Times. March 1, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  51. ^ "The one with Banshee". The Coaster Crew. August 12, 2013. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  52. ^ Dailey, Alyssa (August 9, 2013). "Coaster war? Is King's Island competing with Cedar Point for the most coasters?". WEWS-TV. Archived from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  53. ^ Stilwell, Andrew (March 17, 2014). "A-Z Coaster of the Week: Kumba". Coaster101. Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  54. ^ Schwartzberg, Eric (April 18, 2014). "Record-breaking Banshee roller coaster debuts at Kings Island". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  55. ^ "Legend of the Banshee". Kings Island. August 8, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  56. ^ "Ride Renderings". Kings Island. August 8, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  57. ^ "KI Banshee POV". Kings Island. YouTube. August 8, 2013. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  58. ^ a b "Police: 38-year-old man critically injured after being hit by Banshee at Kings Island". WCPO 9 Cincinnati. June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  59. ^ "Kings Island guest hit by Banshee roller coaster dies, coroner's office says". Fox 19 Cincinnati. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  60. ^ Hart, Lance. "Kings Island". Screamscape. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  61. ^ Krosnick, Brian (August 9, 2013). "Preview: Banshee roller coaster at Kings Island". Theme Park Tourist. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  62. ^ "Kings Island home to best new attraction". Springfield News-Sun. December 27, 2014. p. 10. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  63. ^ a b "Park and ride winners". Amusement Today. September 2014. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  64. ^ "Kings Island receives top honors at 2014 Golden Ticket Awards". WLWT. October 8, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  65. ^ a b "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  66. ^ "2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 49–50. September 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  67. ^ "2016 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  68. ^ "2017 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  69. ^ "2018 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  70. ^ "2019 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  71. ^ "2021 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2021. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  72. ^ "2022 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  73. ^ "2023 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Amusement Today. 27 (6.2): 66–70. September 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  74. ^ "2024 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2024. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Banshee (roller coaster).
Preceded by World's longest inverted roller coaster
April 2014–present 		Current holder
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banshee_(roller_coaster)&oldid=1246061882"