Second annual Kings Island Employee Reunion September 5-6

Kings Island wants all of its past employees back at the park. They won’t have to check lap bars on the Racer or Beast, serve blue ice cream, sell cotton candy, operate a game, sweep, clean, park cars, sing or dance.

On Labor Day weekend, Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, Kings Island will host its second annual employee reunion, a two-day event for all of its past employees who worked seasonally or full-time at the 364-acre amusement park. Families of past employees are also invited to attend.

Kings Island has employed more than 150,000 associates since the park opened in 1972. Many of the park’s employees developed friendships with their co-workers that have extended beyond their seasons at the park. Some met their future spouse while working at Kings Island. Others went on to become Miss America (Susan Perkins, 1978), Miss Ohio (Susan Kay Johnson, 1987) or currently enjoy a career as an actor or actress in movies and television shows such as Lisa Akey, Carmen Electra and Gigi Rice.

Special activities for reunion participants include early ride times on Diamondback and Beast roller coasters, a Kings Island scavenger hunt to win prizes, a group photo, behind the scenes tour of the Beast, evening reception in the International Restaurant, and much more!

To attend Kings Island’s employee reunion, past employees must purchase their tickets online at www.visitkingsisland.com/reunion. Tickets are $22.99 for past employees and family members.

Former employees who are Kings Island season pass holders will be able to attend the event for free but are asked to register online at www.visitkingsisland.com/reunion.

Kings Island featured in documentary

A television documentary chronicles the development and evolution of Kings Island.

http://www.cetconnect.org/KingsIsland/

Coaster Kid takes 1,000th ride on Diamondback

A jubilant Andrew Klenk (front seat, left) took his 1,000th ride on Kings Island’s new Diamondback roller coaster on Monday here, accompanied by his father, Tim Klenk. The 13-year-old Lebanon, Ohio native has made 65 trips to Kings Island this season, averaging 15.4 rides per visit on the $22 million steel coaster. He became the second person to complete 1,000 rides on Diamondback in as many days. Yesterday, 67-year-old Gary Coleman of Monfort Heights, Ohio accrued his 1,000th ride.

UC Bearcats visit Kings Island

The defending Big East Conference champion University of Cincinnati football team signed autographs and posed for photographs with park visitors Sunday at Kings Island.

Meet the University of Cincinnati football team Sunday at Kings Island

This Sunday, August 23, University of Cincinnati head football coach Brian Kelly and the defending BIG EAST Conference champions make their annual visit to Kings Island. Coach Kelly and the 2009 team will take part in a program on the International Street Bandstand located in front of the Eiffel Tower at 1:00pm. Following the program, student-athletes will take part in a meet-and-greet and autograph session with park visitors until 3:00pm.

The Bearcats posted a school-record 11 victories in 2008, while recording back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history. UC also won the school’s first outright conference championship since 1964, and earned the first berth in a Bowl Championship Series game, playing Virginia Tech in the 75th FedEx Orange Bowl.

UC finished the regular season with its best-ever rankings, earning the No. 12 spot in the Associated Press poll, USA Today Coaches poll, and the BCS standings entering the Orange Bowl. Cincinnati held a postseason ranking of No. 17 in both polls after the bowl game, matching the top ranking in school history and marking the first time the school has ranked in the end-of-season polls in the program’s history.

The meet-and-greet and autograph session is included free with park admission and season pass.

The UC men’s soccer team will visit the park on August 30 and the men and women’s basketball teams on October 4.

Blue Jackets Breakaway coming to Kings Island

The Columbus Blue Jackets are bringing the fun and excitement of the National Hockey League (NHL) to Kings Island with the Blue Jackets Breakaway Street Hockey Tour Saturday, August 22, from noon to 6:00pm.

Blue Jackets Breakaway is a family experience that offers something for sports fans of all ages. The “hockey carnival” includes a border patrol rink for street hockey games, Blue Jackets inflatable, Hockey-to-Go truck and giveaway items including t-shirts, posters and yearbooks. Park visitors will also have the opportunity to register to win prizes such as autographed merchandise and a grand prize package consisting of four Time Warner Cable HD Lounge lower bowl seats (including dinner for four) to the Blue Jackets 2009-2010 Opening Night game October 3 versus the Minnesota Wild and an autographed Rick Nash 2009 NHL Western Conference All-Star jersey.

The Blue Jackets Breakaway Tour stop at Kings Island will also include question and answer shows hosted by Blue Jackets broadcaster Bill Davidge at 1:00pm and 3:00pm in the Kings Island Theater.

Reds take ride on Diamondback

Cincinnati Reds players Paul Janish and Jay Bruce (front row, left to right), Chris Dickerson (third row, left), Nick Masset (fourth row, right) and Adam Rosales (fifth row, left) take a ride on the new Diamondback roller coaster at Kings Island on Monday.

The inaugural Run Kings Island 2009 race took place Sunday morning at Kings Island. More than 1,200 runners from 17 states and Canada participated in the run, which included a 10k, 5k and kids race.

King of the high-wire

Acrobat Nik Wallenda completed a spectacular high-wire walk Saturday at Kings Island, walking a distance of 801 feet, on a cable about the diameter of a nickel suspended 262 feet in the air, from outside the front gate to the Eiffel Tower.

Rockin' out on Diamondback

Musician Tommy Lee (front seat), founding member and drummer of the hard rock band Motley Crue, enjoyed a ride on the new Diamondback roller coaster Thursday at Kings Island.

262 feet in the air. Distance of 801 feet on a cable the diameter of a nickel. Can he do it?

This Saturday on August 15th, the master of gravity-defying thrills, Nik Wallenda, will perform an amazing hire-wire walk stretched 801 feet from outside the Front Gate to the Eiffel Tower at Kings Island…with no safety nets or harness…on a cable about the diameter of a nickel. The walk will take place at a height the 30-year-old Sarasota, Florida native has never dared attempt before, a dizzying 262 feet in the air. That’s higher than even the massive new Diamondback!

Advance tickets are just $32.99, so there’s no reason not to witness this history-making feat! Get your tickets online at www.visitkingsisland.com or at your local Kroger or Meijer store.

WHEN YOU GO
What: Nik Wallenda walks from a height of 262 feet in the air on a cable the diameter of a nickel from outside the Front Gate to the Eiffel Tower (distance of 801 feet).
Where: Kings Island, Exit 24 off Interstate 71.
When: 7pm. Saturday, August 15; park open 10am – 10pm.
Cost: Free with park admission or season pass. Advance tickets just $32.99 online at www.visitkingsisland.com or your local Kroger and Meijer stores.
Best Place to Watch: International Street.
Meet & Greet Opportunity: Meet Nik Wallenda and receive an autograph following his history-making walk at the Eiffel Tower.
Information: 800-288-0808.

World-class entertainment on tap August 15-18 at Kings Island

Clear your schedule and cancel all your appointments, because beginning August 15, Kings Island has a four-day stretch of world-class entertainment you won’t want to miss.

Starting Saturday the 15th, watch in awe as acrobat Nik Wallenda walks a high-wire suspended 262-feet in the air a distance of 801 feet on a cable about the diameter of a nickel, from outside the Front Gate to the Eiffel Tower. After Wallenda’s walk, how about a run?

Sunday the 16th is the first-ever RUN KI…this is your chance to run a full 5k or 10k inside Kings Island! Following the inaugural run, enjoy a full day of more than 80 world-class rides and attractions, including the new Diamondback – the tallest, fastest and meanest roller coaster to ever strike Kings Island!

Monday the 17th is a sure hit during Cincinnati Reds Day…meet favorites including Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips and more! Reds Day includes question and answer shows in the International Showplace Theatre at 1:00pm and 3:00pm.

But if you want to make it a grand slam, come out Tuesday the 18th, as Nat and Alex Wolff wrap up these four amazing days with a rockin’ concert, featuring songs from their hit TV show, the Naked Brothers Band.

The best part is, no matter which days you visit, you can always ride the Diamondback and the legendary Beast – celebrating 30 years of terror in 2009! – and save big when you buy your tickets online at www.visitkingsisland.com. So, we’ll see you August 15th through the 18th, for four consecutive days of summer adventure at Kings Island. Where else?

Visit Kings Island for just $32.99 when you purchase your tickets online - that's a savings of $16 off the gate price! Or, visit the park after 5pm and pay only $24.99 with our popular Starlight admission ticket, available online or at the front gate!

GOCC going to Kings Island

The Great Ohio Coaster Club (GOCC) will visit Kings Island August 22 for a day of world-class thrills and chills on the park's more than 80 rides, shows and attractions. The club's Mid-Summer Scream event includes exclusive ride time on the new Diamondback roller coaster, a behind-the-scenes tour of the legendary Beast and picnic.

Wallenda on the air Tuesday

Acrobat Nik Wallenda will be on the following radio stations Tuesday to talk about his high-wire walk this Saturday. Be sure to listen!

7:30am - WLW (700 AM)

8:35am - WEBN (102.7 FM)

8:50am - WGRR (103.5 FM)

6:30pm - WLW (700 AM)

Wallenda will walk a distance of 801 feet on a cable about the diameter of a nickel from outside the front gate to the Eiffel Tower (walking over the Royal Fountains), from a height of 262 feet in the air! No safety nets or harness will be used during the stunt.

The height of 262 feet is the highest the two-time Guinness World Record Book holder has ever gone before in his career. He'll be 32 feet higher than the new massive Diamondback roller coaster!!!

Saturday's walk is scheduled for 7:00pm and is included free with park admission or season pass. You don't want to miss it!

Major League Eating returns to Kings Island on Labor Day

“Humble” Bob Shoudt achieved Skyline Chili spaghetti immortality last year at Kings Island, outdueling his rival Joey “Jaws” Chestnut in a epic eating contest that pushed both gluttonous gladiators to the brink.

In a classic Labor Day battle that tested the very depths of their distended stomachs, the Royersford, Pennsylvania native downed 13.50 pounds of chili spaghetti to Chestnut’s 13.25 in 10 minutes to be crowned champion in the first-ever Skyline Chili Spaghetti Eating Contest.

Shouldt will return to Kings Island to defend his title against a field of competitive eaters that includes Chestnut on Labor Day.

Kings Island keeps memories and excitement of old steam trains alive

Many people today have never been on a train. And still fewer people have been on a real steam train. That’s why Kings Island’s re-creation of the railroad of the late 1800’s appeals to guests of all ages.

Kings Island’s two locomotives have been at the park since it opened in 1972 and are full scale replicas of the famous 1800’s locomotive known as The General, which was the subject of the Great Locomotive Chase of the American Civil War (The General is preserved at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia). Although Kings Island’s engines are fired by propane rather than coal, they are in fact real authentic steam engines. The only thing Kings Island’s railroad lacks is the coal smoke and soot. The 400-gallon boilers on each engine make them real steam-spitting locomotives.

Each of the two engines pulls six coaches and when both trains are filled to capacity, 960 guests can be on rail at one time. More than 5,400 guests may ride on the train each hour.

Soon after the trains pull out of the “old” depot on the 36-inch gauge track, they pass over a 65-foot natural ravine on a steel and wood trestle. The track winds around through several fields, stopping at Boomerang Bay. After dropping off and pickup up guests at the 15-acre waterpark, the trains then loop around through woods and back into the depot. A round trip on the train covers 1¼ miles of track.

Today is G.I. Joe Day

Save money on an admission ticket to Kings Island and help support our troops on G.I. Joe Day today at Kings Island.

Bring a donation to the park for care packages that will be sent to U.S. troops overseas and you will save $10.00 off the regular gate admission price. Items needed are twin sheets, flannel or microfiber blankets, white boot socks in men’s and women’s sizes, beef jerky, hand warmers and vitamin single serve drink mixes.

G.I. Joe Day at the park is in conjunction with the upcoming release of the newest blockbuster movie of the summer, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, featuring heart-pounding action between the G.I. Joe Team and the Cobra Organization. The movie is set to release August 7.

Kings Island will be open until Midnight tonight! A Rozzi Fireworks show presented Marathon will take place at 10:00 p.m.