Son of Beast

Last updated

Son of Beast
PKI-Son of Beast.jpg
Son of Beast's track layout with the loop
Kings Island
Location Kings Island
Park section Action Zone
Coordinates 39°20′46″N84°15′53″W / 39.346101°N 84.264686°W / 39.346101; -84.264686
StatusRemoved
Opening dateApril 28, 2000 (2000-04-28)
Closing dateJune 16, 2009 (2009-06-16)
Cost$20.5 million
Replaced by Banshee
General statistics
Type Wood
Manufacturer Roller Coaster Corporation of America
Designer Werner Stengel
Track layout Terrain roller coaster
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height218 ft (66 m)
Drop214 ft (65 m)
Length7,032 ft (2,143 m)
Speed78.4 mph (126.2 km/h)
Inversions 1 (2000–2006)
0 (2007–2009)
Duration2:20
Max vertical angle55.7°
Capacity1600 riders per hour
G-force 4.5
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Son of Beast at RCDB

Son of Beast was a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, United States. Built and designed by the now-defunct Roller Coaster Corporation of America (RCCA), the ride opened as the tallest and fastest wooden coaster in the world on April 28, 2000. Its record-setting height of 218 feet (66 m) made it the first wooden hypercoaster – a height class of 200 feet (61 m) or more. It was also the first wooden coaster in the modern era to feature a vertical loop and reached a record-breaking maximum speed of 78 mph (126 km/h). Son of Beast was marketed and themed as a sequel to The Beast roller coaster, one of the park's signature attractions that was built in 1979.

Contents

Son of Beast met an early demise following two non-fatal but serious incidents, with the first occurring in 2006 and the second occurring in 2009. There were also issues with the ride's construction affecting its reliability and longevity. After sitting idle for years, the roller coaster was eventually demolished in 2012. A new steel coaster, Banshee, was built in its place and opened in 2014. The height and speed records once held by Son of Beast remain unbroken.

History

The Roller Coaster Corporation of America (RCCA) discussed the idea of building the world's first wooden hypercoaster with Kings Island in 1997. [1] On May 11, 1999, the park held a public event within the park near a large, covered crate placed along a footpath. [2] Beastly growling and snarling noises came from inside as it shook violently on occasion. [2] Montel Williams, acting as Director of Thrills, announced that a record-breaking wooden coaster named Son of Beast would open for the 2000 season. [2] During the announcement, the tarp covering was removed, revealing a chained crate with holes throughout its framework. [2] A scale model of the roller coaster was displayed to the audience, as well as a list of seven world records that would be set by the new coaster. [2]

Construction

The Roller Coaster Company of Ohio was officially recorded as the ride's designer, [3] an affiliate of RCCA. [4] The primary structural engineer was Wooden Structures Inc. of Georgia, while the lumber was manufactured by Universal Forest Products of Hamilton, Ohio. [3] Problems plagued the ride from the beginning, and Paramount Parks – who owned and operated Kings Island at the time – made the decision to fire RCCA before construction was complete. [5]

The broken crate signage at the ride's entrance KI SOB Entrance.jpg
The broken crate signage at the ride's entrance

On January 11, 2000, a portion of the ride was damaged due to a strong gust of wind. It was later revealed that the second hill had collapsed by itself. The wooden structure was being held in place by a temporary ribbon support system and had been constructed only a day earlier. [6] The ride was planned to open on April 14, 2000, but construction was halted due to rainy weather. As a result, the coaster's opening had to be delayed. [7] In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Paramount $110,000 in February 2000 after discovering 18 safety violations during two inspections, including 11 that were deemed "serious". [8]

Operation

Son of Beast officially opened to the public on April 28, 2000. [9] The sign at the ride's entrance featured a large wooden crate covered with chains, rope, and metal straps, resembling the one on display during the public reveal in 1999. The front was ripped open with the name "Son of Beast" centered on the inside. [10]

The day after the ride opened, officials discovered defects in a 15-foot-long (4.6 m) section of track. [11] [12] Son of Beast closed soon afterward, [13] undergoing three weeks of repairs. [11] [12] It reopened on May 26, 2000, [11] [14] although heavy rains delayed the reopening by nearly six hours. [15] The park ultimately had to make several design corrections during Son of Beast's inaugural year. [5] Kings Island filed a lawsuit in November 2000 against the three companies involved in the design and manufacture of the roller coaster, claiming defects that delayed the initial opening and resulted in multiple closures. [3] [16] In 2005, a federal court ruled that the Roller Coaster Company of Ohio's insurer, Admiral Insurance, had to pay Kings Island $20 million in damages in relation to the lawsuit. [17] [18] However, the ruling was overturned by an appeals court in 2008. [18]

The ride experienced its first major incident on July 9, 2006, during which a train passed over a structural track failure that severely jolted riders. [19] Son of Beast closed for the remainder of the 2006 season while repairs were made, and Kings Island decided to replace the original trains with lighter models. [20] The three original trains were designed by Premier Rides, each consisting of six cars for a total capacity of 36. [21] Kings Island purchased two Gerstlauer-designed trains from the demolished Hurricane: Category 5 coaster at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion to serve as lighter replacements. [22] The lighter trains were shorter, each consisting of five cars that held 24 riders, and were used to reduce the overall load on the wooden structure. [21] [23] [24]

To help the lighter trains complete the circuit, the loop was removed in January 2007 and recycled for scrap. [25] [26] The park claimed that the changes helped make the ride more comfortable, [21] [23] and Son of Beast eventually reopened on July 4, 2007. [24] [27] Despite the loss of the vertical loop, the coaster continued to hold the record as tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world. [28]

Closure and demolition

Another major incident occurred in May 2009 involving a non-contact head injury, and Kings Island voluntarily closed the ride two weeks later upon hearing feedback from the injured rider. [29] The coaster did not reopen for the 2009 season. [30] [31] Kings Island officials received three proposals to repair Son of Beast, one of which they rejected outright. References to Son of Beast were removed from the park's website and map in early 2010. [32] All signage, including the box at the entrance, was also removed. [32] [33] At the time, the ride had accommodated an estimated 7 million guests throughout its history. [34]

The tombstone decoration in Banshee's line queue Banshee Son of Beast grave.jpg
The tombstone decoration in Banshee's line queue

In March 2010, Kings Island's general manager, Greg Scheid, stated that the park had spent nearly $30 million on the ride to date and that it would not reopen for the 2010 season. [32] [35] Another Kings Island spokesperson, Don Helbig, announced the following year that the ride would again be closed for the 2011 season, adding, "No decision has been made concerning the ride's future. It would be inappropriate to speculate on when a decision might be made. There's nothing else to talk about." [36] The coaster remained closed at the beginning of the 2012 season. [37]

By late July 2012, following a thorough evaluation of the roller coaster, Kings Island announced that Son of Beast would be removed from the park to make room for future expansion. [38] [39] Demolition began that following September. [40] [41] During the demolition of Son of Beast, Kings Island sold plaques with a piece of the ride's track for $99.99. Park officials offered pieces of the wood structure for $49.99 and structural bolts for $24.99. [42] On November 20, 2012, one of the last remaining parts of the structure, the lift hill, was demolished. [43]

A new roller coaster called Banshee, which opened in April 2014, was constructed in its place. [44] A tombstone with a plaque honoring Son of Beast was placed in a mockup graveyard near Banshee's line queue entrance. [45]

During Son of Beast's closure, its station was used for a haunted house attraction called Wolf Pack beginning in 2010. Even after the ride's demolition, the station was left behind and continued to be used for Wolf Pack until the attraction was retired in 2019. [46]

In 2018, Kings Island released posters that referenced Son of Beast's station, Outpost 5, leading some to speculate that a possible revival might be announced by the park. However, the rumors were never confirmed. [47]

Layout

After loading the train, riders left the station making a 51-foot (16 m) left-hand drop into a series of short hops before turning into the 218-foot-tall (66 m) lift hill. At the crest of the lift hill, the track made a left-hand turn over to the first drop, where it dropped 214 feet (65 m) to the ground followed by a 70-degree banked turn to the right. Riders then descended 164 feet (50 m) down a second drop into a left-hand double helix. Coming out of the helix, the train passed through a mid-course brake run dropping into a straight section of track (where the vertical loop was prior to its removal), before entering a right-hand double helix nestled into the structure of the lift hill and the turn to the first drop. After leaving the helix, trains crossed over a smaller hill, then made a three quarter right hand turn before diving under the previous drop and rising up into the final brake run. [48] [49] One cycle of the ride lasted about 2 minutes and 20 seconds. [22]

The superstructure of the roller coaster used yellow pine, [50] while the track piles were made of Douglas fir. [51] Son of Beast was supported by 2,414 footers, which extended 11 feet (3.4 m) into the ground. In addition, 225,000 21-inch (530 mm) steel bolts and over 22 short tons (20,000 kg) of nails were used to secure the roller coaster's superstructure. [52] Before the loop was removed in December 2006, it had a steel structure and a wooden track. [50] About 2,500,000 board feet (5,900 m3) of timber were used in Son of Beast's construction, [51] and the ride itself covered 12 acres (4.9 ha). [52]

World records

At the time of its introduction in 2000, Son of Beast was the only wooden roller coaster nationally ranked in the top 10 for track height, track length, drop height, and speed. It set several world records becoming the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, as well as becoming the second longest following its predecessor, The Beast. [53] In addition, when it opened, Son of Beast was the only wooden roller coaster to feature a vertical loop. [54] The loop was removed prior to the 2007 season. [21] [55] Its records for height, speed, and drop length remain unbroken. [a]

Son of Beast's track layout after the loop was removed KI SOB Layout.JPG
Son of Beast's track layout after the loop was removed

The seven world records held at its introduction were:

  1. Tallest wooden roller coaster [59]
  2. Longest wooden roller coaster drop [59]
  3. Fastest wooden roller coaster [59]
  4. Only looping wooden roller coaster (2000–2006) [60]
  5. Longest looping roller coaster (2000–2006) [61]
  6. Most wooden coaster track at one park (22,612 feet or 6,892 meters) [62]
  7. First and only wooden hypercoaster in the world (over 200 feet or 61 meters high) [63]

Incidents

From 2000 to 2009, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) recorded six incidents in which people were injured after riding Son of Beast. [64] [65] Son of Beast recorded more incidents than any other ride in Ohio during that period, when ODA recorded 65 such incidents on amusement rides across the state. [64]

Only one of the six incidents recorded on Son of Beast, the derailment in 2006, was caused by structural issues with the ride itself. [64] Of the other five incidents, two riders broke their necks within a four-week period in 2001; both riders had ankylosing spondylitis, a rare condition of arthritis in the spine. [65] [66] A third rider suffered fractured vertebrae after riding Son of Beast in 2003, but ODA officials were unable to determine whether the rider had a preexisting medical condition because she refused to be interviewed. [65] In 2007, a fourth rider died one day after riding Son of Beast after complaining of back pain. [65] [66] The fifth incident, in 2009, resulted in the ride's permanent closure. [65]

2006

In the evening of July 9, 2006, a structural failure in the 'Rose Bowl' section of the ride formed a "slight dip" in the track that created a "pothole effect". [67] A train running on the track passed over the area severely jolting riders. After the train returned to the station and riders complained of injuries, the next train ascending the lift hill was halted. There were 27 sent to the hospital, many reporting head, and neck injuries, with all but two being released the same day. [19] None of the injuries were life-threatening. After an inspection the following day, the park stated that the accident was caused by a crack or split in the wood. [68] The ride was shut down for an extended period of time, while the park worked with the State of Ohio to complete a full investigation. The park completed repairs of the ride but the state asked for extensive testing to be done to ensure it would not happen again. The park indicated that the ride would not reopen until the 2007 season. [69] [67]

Son of Beast's Gerstlauer trains (2007-2009) SOB with G-trains.jpg
Son of Beast's Gerstlauer trains (2007–2009)

After the 2006 incident, the trains were replaced with lighter models before the ride reopened the following season. The loop was also removed during this time. [21] The riders injured in the 2006 incident filed five lawsuits, four of which were settled out-of-court. [70] In the fifth lawsuit, a judge ruled that Kings Island had to pay over $76,000 in compensatory damages. [70] [31] [71] Forensic investigator Rick Schmizze testified that Kings Island had known since 2000 that the ride had major issues with swaying, but that park officials had not done enough to fix the problem. [71] Kings Island settled the last lawsuit in 2011. [70]

2009

On June 16, 2009, a woman claimed to have suffered a head injury from riding Son of Beast during her visit to the park on May 31, 2009. She did not report the incident to Kings Island officials before June 16. She claimed to have suffered from a burst blood vessel in her brain, after riding Son of Beast, that required admission to an intensive care unit at a nearby hospital. "The first we heard of this was on June 16. Her visit was on May 31 and there's no record of going to first aid for anything here at the park," said Don Helbig, public relations manager for Kings Island. Helbig also pointed out that there were no other reports of injuries on the ride that year. Son of Beast was shut down as a precaution, however, during the investigation. "At this point, it would be inappropriate to speculate on an exact date when the ride may reopen. We're going to do a thorough maintenance review. We're going to work with the state of Ohio on that," said Helbig. [72]

An investigation followed, and no irregularities were found with the ride. A summary of that investigation was released later, on July 29. [73] [64] Despite the vindicating findings, the roller coaster never reopened. [39] [74]

Rankings

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year200120022003200420052006
Ranking46 [75] 38 [76] 37 (tie) [77] 36 (tie) [78] 31 [79] 48 [80]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ As of 2022, the current height, drop distance, and speed records are as follows: The corresponding statistics for Son of Beast were: [22]
    • Height: 218 feet (66 m)
    • Drop distance: 214 feet (65 m)
    • Speed: 78 miles per hour (126 km/h)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings Island</span> Amusement park in Ohio

Kings Island is a 364-acre (147 ha) amusement park located 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio, United States. Owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the park was built by Taft Broadcasting and opened in 1972. It was part of a larger effort to move and expand Coney Island, a popular resort destination along the banks of the Ohio River that was prone to frequent flooding. After more than $300 million in capital investments over the years, the park has grown to feature over a hundred attractions including fifteen roller coasters and a 33-acre (13 ha) water park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wooden roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

A wooden roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its wooden track, which consists of running rails made of flat steel strips mounted on laminated wood. The support structure is also typically made of wood, but may also be made of steel lattice or truss, which has no bearing on a wooden coaster's classification. The type of wood often selected in the construction of wooden coasters worldwide is southern yellow pine, which grows abundantly in the southern United States, due to its density and adherence to different forms of pressure treatment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertical loop</span> Roller coaster inversion

The generic roller coaster vertical loop, also known as a Loop-the-loop, or a Loop-de-loop, where a section of track causes the riders to complete a 360 degree turn, is the most basic of roller coaster inversions. At the top of the loop, riders are completely inverted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roller coaster inversion</span> Roller coaster element

A roller coaster inversion is a roller coaster element in which the track turns riders upside-down and then returns them to an upright position. Early forms of inversions were circular in nature and date back to 1848 on the Centrifugal railway in Paris. These vertical loops produced massive g-force that was often dangerous to riders. As a result, the element eventually became non-existent with the last rides to feature the looping inversions being dismantled during the Great Depression. In 1975, designers from Arrow Development created the corkscrew, reviving interest in the inversion during the modern age of steel roller coasters. Elements have since evolved from simple corkscrews and vertical loops to more complex inversions such as Immelmann loops and cobra rolls. The Smiler at Alton Towers holds the world record for the number of inversions on a roller coaster with 14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beast (roller coaster)</span> Wooden roller coaster at Kings Island

The Beast is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio, United States. Designed and manufactured in-house for approximately $3 million, the ride opened in 1979 as the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in the world. Decades later, it is still the longest, spanning 7,361 feet (2,244 m) across 35 acres (14 ha) of hilly terrain. Two lift hills contribute to the ride's duration of more than four minutes, which also ranks as one of the longest among roller coasters. A refurbishment in 2022 increased the angle of the first drop and lengthened the ride by 2 feet (0.61 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steel Vengeance</span> Roller coaster at Cedar Point

Steel Vengeance, formerly known as Mean Streak, is a steel roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The roller coaster, originally constructed by Dinn Corporation as a wooden roller coaster, was rebuilt by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) and opened to the public on May 5, 2018. It is a hybrid coaster, using RMC's steel I-Box track and a significant portion of Mean Streak's former support structure. Upon completion, Steel Vengeance set 10 world records, including those for the tallest, fastest, and longest hybrid roller coaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominator (roller coaster)</span> Floorless roller coaster

Dominator is a floorless roller coaster located at Kings Dominion amusement park in Doswell, Virginia. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard, it originally opened in 2000 as Batman: Knight Flight at Six Flags Ohio, in Aurora, Ohio. It was given its current name when Cedar Fair purchased the Ohio park in 2004. However, following Six Flags Ohio ’s eventual permanent closure in 2007, the coaster was relocated to Kings Dominion, where it reopened on May 24, 2008. Dominator is located fairly close to the park’s main entry plaza, in the area known as International Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bat (Kings Island; opened 1981)</span> Defunct roller coaster at Kings Island

The Bat was a suspended roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. Designed by Arrow Development, it was billed as the "first of its kind" in the world when it opened to the public on April 26, 1981. The suspended coaster concept was a radical departure from traditional roller coaster design, where guests ride below the track instead of above. Previous attempts to build coasters that hang from the track were unsuccessful and date as far back as the early 20th century. Arrow solved issues by utilizing modern technology in the design, including its tubular steel track developed in 1959 for Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vortex (Kings Island)</span> Defunct roller coaster

Vortex was a steel roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio, United States. Designed and manufactured by Arrow Dynamics at a cost of $4 million, the ride officially opened to the public on April 11, 1987. Vortex debuted as the tallest, full-circuit roller coaster in the world with a height of 148 feet (45 m). It was also the first coaster to feature six inversions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Racer (Kings Island)</span> Amusement ride

The Racer is a wooden, racing roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. It was designed by John C. Allen, well-known for his contributions to roller coasters during the mid-twentieth century, and debuted at the park's grand opening in 1972. It was thrust into the national spotlight after being featured in an episode of the popular TV sitcom The Brady Bunch in 1973 and is often recognized for playing a vital role in the roller coaster renaissance of the 1970s. The Racer inspired similar designs in other roller coasters, such as Racer 75 at Kings Dominion and the now-defunct Thunder Road at Carowinds. The Racer is also one of the few original Kings Island attractions still in operation today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bat (Kings Island; opened 1993)</span> Suspended roller coaster at Kings Island

The Bat is a suspended roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, United States. Built by Arrow Dynamics, the roller coaster originally opened as Top Gun in 1993, themed to the 1986 film Top Gun. It is the second suspended coaster to open at the park following an earlier prototype from Arrow Development — also called The Bat – that briefly operated at Kings Island from 1981 to 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grizzly (Kings Dominion)</span> Wooden roller coaster in Virginia

Grizzly is a wooden roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. The grounds of the ride are densely forested, with the intended thrills heightened from the illusion of inadequate clearance between the track and trees. The attraction opened in 1982, and the double-figure-eight layout is based closely on the defunct Coney Island Wildcat. A similar version of this ride operates at Canada's Wonderland as Wilde Beast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Cobra (roller coaster)</span> Defunct roller coaster

King Cobra was a stand-up roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Manufactured by TOGO, the roller coaster operated from 1984 to 2001, and it was the first in the world to be designed from the ground up as a stand-up configuration. Other stand-up coasters that preceded King Cobra were sit-down models later modified to accommodate stand-up trains.

Curtis D. Summers was an American engineer and roller coaster designer credited for designing or providing structural engineering on 25 wooden roller coasters around the world. He earned a degree in Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University and was a registered engineer in 40 states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flight of Fear</span> Enclosed launched roller coaster

Flight of Fear is the name of two identical enclosed roller coasters located at Kings Island and Kings Dominion amusement parks. Built and designed by Premier Rides, they were the world's first launched roller coasters to feature linear induction motor (LIM) technology. Both locations opened as The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear on June 18, 1996, originally themed after The Outer Limits TV series that began airing in 1995 as a revival of the original 1960s series. Paramount's licensing rights to the TV show eventually expired without renewal, and all references to The Outer Limits were removed from the ride and its name in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banshee (roller coaster)</span> Inverted roller coaster at Kings Island

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). 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roller Coaster Corporation of America</span> Defunct amusement ride manufacturer

Roller Coaster Corporation of America (RCCA) was an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. The company's first major project was the Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 1992, while their most famous coaster was the Son of Beast at Kings Island, the world's tallest and second looping wooden coaster when it opened in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mystic Timbers</span> Wooden roller coaster at Kings Island

Mystic Timbers is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Constructed by Great Coasters International and designed by Skyline Design, the roller coaster opened in the Rivertown section of the park on April 15, 2017. The ride's fictional theme is set to the site of an abandoned logging company where unexplained events are taking place. During its marketing campaign, the finale element in an enclosed shed was not revealed to the public until opening day.

References

  1. ↑ "Archive of RCCA Site - History". Archived from the original on February 24, 2006. Retrieved March 4, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Flaharty, Sean (May 11, 1999). "Son Of Beast announcement – (Paramount's Kings Island -May 1999)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "Kings Island sues three firms over coaster". The Akron Beacon Journal. November 24, 2000. p. 18. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  4. ↑ Dwyer, Amanda (March 4, 2016). "Inside the Demise of the Record-Breaking Roller Coaster that Went Too Far". Theme Park Tourist. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Tan, Lot (August 8, 2013). "Kings Island introduces roller coaster for 2014". Middletown Journal . Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Wind Gusts Cause Minor Damage To Son Of Beast". Ultimate Rollercoaster. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Son of Beast coaster opening is delayed". The Akron Beacon Journal. April 15, 2000. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "OSHA hits park with big fines". Springfield News-Sun. February 6, 2000. p. 17. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ Aldridge, Kevin (April 29, 2000). "Thrill-seekers award Son thumbs-up". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  10. ↑ Fudge, Mike (August 12, 2007). "Son of Beast | Flickr – Photo Sharing!". Flickr. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 "Son of Beast gets set to roll again". Dayton Daily News. May 27, 2000. p. 8. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Aldridge, Kevin (May 26, 2000). "Coaster cleared to reopen". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 45. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  13. ↑ Winston, Earnest (May 2, 2000). "Son of Beast takes a breather". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Kings Island reopens coaster". The News-Messenger. May 27, 2000. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  15. ↑ Stevenson, John (November 16, 2009). "Will Son of Beast ever reopen?". Coaster101. Archived from the original on June 13, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Paramount's Kings Island Files Suit Over Roller Coaster". UltimateRollercoaster.com. November 26, 2000. Archived from the original on March 15, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  17. ↑ Horn, Dan; Kelley, Eileen (July 11, 2006). "Son of Beast coaster had early problems". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 6. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Morse, Janice (March 26, 2008). "Kings Island loses $20M case". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 21. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  19. 1 2 Barry, Lance (July 10, 2006). "Official: Cracked Wood May Have Caused Coaster Accident". WCPO-TV. Archived from the original on July 20, 2006. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Kings Island Removing Loop From Son Of Beast". Ultimate Rollercoaster. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Schwartzberg, Eric (July 2, 2009). "Son of Beast's history rough for park riders". The Oxford Press. Archived from the original on July 5, 2009.
  22. 1 2 3 Marden, Duane. "Son Of Beast  (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  23. 1 2 Brown, Jessica (February 6, 2007). "Coaster won't reopen on time". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 13. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  24. 1 2 McLaughlin, Sheila (July 5, 2007). "Son of Beast, minus loop, back in service". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Loop taken off Son of Beast". The Cincinnati Enquirer. January 9, 2007. p. 13. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  26. ↑ Wells, Daniel (January 10, 2007). "Loop removed from Kings Island's Son of Beast roller coaster". Dayton Daily News. p. 6. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Son of Beast Reopens Today". Local12.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Tallest Roller Coaster in the World". Coastergrotto.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  29. ↑ Schwartzberg, Eric (June 23, 2009). "Son of Beast shut down". The Journal News. p. 11. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  30. ↑ "'Son Of Beast' To Remain Closed, Possibly For Good – Cincinnati News Story". WLWT Cincinnati. August 10, 2009. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  31. 1 2 Bradley, Eric (November 26, 2009). "'Son of Beast' May Have Taken Last Ride". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. 157, 158. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  32. 1 2 3 Bradley, Eric (March 19, 2010). "Son of Beast closed for season". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 23. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  33. ↑ John (April 26, 2010). "Son of Beast Signage Gone". Coaster101. Archived from the original on January 29, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Banshee most expensive project in KI's history". Dayton Daily News. August 10, 2013. p. 14. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Son of Beast a no-go for 2010". Business Courier. March 15, 2010. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  36. ↑ "What's next for Son of Beast". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on April 27, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Kings Island looking new at 40". Cincinnati.com. April 24, 2012. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  38. ↑ 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 July 27, 2012.
  39. 1 2 "Son of Beast roller coaster to be removed to make room for future park expansion". Kings Island. July 27, 2012. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  40. ↑ McClelland, Justin (October 4, 2012). "Dismantling begins on Son of Beast". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  41. ↑ Richardson, Rachel (October 5, 2012). "Want a piece of Son of Beast? KI answers question". Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Kings Island selling parts of Son of Beast". October 9, 2012. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  43. ↑ Richardson, Rachel (November 20, 2012). "Final section of Son of Beast comes down". Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  44. ↑ Tan, Lot (August 9, 2013). "Kings Island to offer new coaster for 2014". Dayton Daily News. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Kings Island's Banshee Ridership Numbers Are In..." Coaster Nation. March 8, 2015. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  46. ↑ "Son Of Beast". kicentral.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  47. ↑ Matarese, John (August 9, 2018). "Kings Island making 2019 season announcement; teases new coaster may be coming". Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Son Of Beast POV". YouTube. December 20, 2006. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  49. ↑ "Son of Beast Fact Sheet". Ultimate Rollercoaster. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  50. 1 2 "Son of Beast Layout & Stats". Home.fuse.net. July 15, 1999. Archived from the original on December 6, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  51. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Paramount's Kings Island Fact Sheet: Son of Beast". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  52. 1 2 "Son of Beast". 2001. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  53. ↑ Condie, Todd (April 2004). "Records". Cincinnati Magazine. 37 (7). Emmis Communications: 168. ISSN   0746-8210. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  54. ↑ Oehmke, Ted (June 20, 1999). "The Way We Live Now: 6-20-99: The Science of: Roller Coasters; High Rollers". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  55. ↑ "Son of Beast – Review". Coaster Grotto. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  56. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Height". Roller Coaster DataBase. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  57. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Drop". Roller Coaster DataBase. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  58. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Speed". Roller Coaster DataBase. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  59. 1 2 3 "Roller Coaster History Timeline | Significant Milestones". Ultimate Rollercoaster. 2005. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  60. ↑ "Extreme Rides and Wooden Roller Coasters Reviews". Zuko. June 18, 2007. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  61. ↑ "Disney Top 10 Disneyland Unique Rides". Disney Top 10. 2011. Archived from the original on March 3, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  62. ↑ "Son of Beast Article". COASTER-net. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  63. ↑ "Kings Island: A Leader in New Ideas for Years". COASTER-net.com. December 29, 2010. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  64. 1 2 3 4 Schwartzberg, Eric (July 30, 2009). "Son of Beast coaster passes inspection". Springfield News-Sun. p. 18. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  65. 1 2 3 4 5 "State inspectors called six times to the Son of Beast". The News-Messenger. July 25, 2009. pp. A8. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  66. 1 2 Schwartzberg, Eric (May 7, 2012). "Son of Beast's history rough for park riders". Springfield News-Sun. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  67. 1 2 Latta, Tiffany Y. (December 13, 2006). "State: Son of Beast accident caused by design flaw". Middletown Journal. Archived from the original on December 16, 2006. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  68. ↑ Niles, Robert (July 9, 2006). "Son of Beast coaster accident sends dozens to hospitals". Theme Park Insider. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  69. ↑ "Ohio roller coaster mishap injures 27 riders". NBC News. July 9, 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  70. 1 2 3 Morse, Janice (March 22, 2011). "Kings Island settles Son of Beast suit". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 15. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  71. 1 2 Callahan, Denise G. (November 9, 2009). "Coaster checker deemed it risky". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 27. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  72. ↑ "'Son Of The Beast' Closed After Injury Complaint". WLWT. June 22, 2009. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011.
  73. ↑ Whitaker, Carrie (July 29, 2009). "Report Clears SOB". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  74. ↑ "Kings Island won't reopen Son of Beast this year". Columbus Dispatch. August 10, 2009. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  75. ↑ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 6B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  76. ↑ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 6B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  77. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  78. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007.
  79. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  80. ↑ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.