Beast at Kings Island | Roller Coaster Reviews
Once again, I traveled westward for another much hyped woodie. This time I was in search of the Beast at Kings Island. For nearly three decades it’s been the longest wooden roller coaster in the world. I’ve been looking forward to riding it for a decade. Between expensive Cincinnati airfare and that fateful April day in ’05 when Kings Island closed for SNOW!, it’s taken me years to make it to Kings Island and the Beast.
The Pre-Ride Experience
As I neared the section of the park where the Beast lurked I found a pretty cool sign and a
Coaster Landmark plaque from the American Coaster Enthusiasts. The sign also helps people find the Beast as the station is tucked away in a corner of the park and only parts of the ride’s track can be seen from other lift hills. Part of the mystique of the Beast is its location in 35 wooded acres in the back of Kings Island. The station was a lightly themed saw mill. I was pleased to find an excited station with a skinny, speckled DJ with the gift of gab. He kept the station abuzz with excitement as trains filled with happy riders entered and exited. Through my travels I’ve found that a lively station is a trademark of world-class roller coaster and the Beast is no different.
An Unforgettable Night Ride
After hearing, “Enjoy your 4 minute and 50 second ride” we were off. The train took a smooth right turn out of the station and we approached the lift hill. As always, the lift hill built the anticipation of the drop to come, but on this particular ride there was an additional
treat. A large pink moon hung over the dark wilderness. It lightly illuminated the forest below. Riders were awe-stricken by the beautiful sight and now we were about to be treated to an unforgettable night ride on the Beast.
We plunged down the opening 135-foot drop and immediately into the rocky mouth of an underground tunnel. The train flew out of the tunnel and banked to the left and our journey through the Ohioan wilderness had officially begun. The second drop was a memorable airtime hill that hugged the rolling terrain. At night the barely visible trees were accented with fireflies. This was one of the most remarkable sights I’ve ever experienced on a coaster. The cool air in the woods was a welcomed relief from the humid stickiness of the packed station.
Next the train banked to the right and stormed through the long, flat covered section. After a right turn and a small dip the train charged into the second tunnel. This tunnel was much longer than the first and at times was pitch black, especially at night. After exiting the second tunnel there were a few more turns that set us up for the second lift hill. The real strength of the first half of the ride was the speed, just a touch of airtime on hill #2 and the sheer distance covered in an unusual atmosphere. For the second act the Beast really lived up to his name.
The Beast’s Famous Helix Finale
On coasters like Big Bad Wolf, the second lift hill really steals the moment of the ride. Because most coasters would be over by this point I didn’t mind the break in action. I had already been given a satisfying ride, the rest was like a bonus. Atop the lift the train turned to the left and began a long (141 feet), but very gradual 18-degree drop. It couldn’t look more tame in pictures, but I had heard such great things about the mighty Beast’s helix. And I wasn’t disappointed.
At first, the train gradually gained speed, but before we knew it we were barreling towards what appeared to be a black dead end in the mouth of the first helix tunnel. Somehow the train stayed on the track and we experienced some vicious lateral g-forces. It’s complete mayhem in the helix tunnels, but for some reason even after 28 years its not a rough or painful experience. After surviving the first covered helix the train marches around the downward helix and plows through another covered helix. Then, finally, the Beast released his grip on us. We
coasted for a while back to the station where we passed over a dispatching train set to embark on the same 4 minute and 50 second adventure we had just experienced. The Beast gave me three amazing rides and it lands at number 6 on my Top Ten Coasters. Final Rating – 10.0 (Superior)
What’s Your Take?
Got a comment or question about Beast? Leave a comment below. Photos 2-4 courtesy of CoasterImage.
May 31, 2010 at 21:08
Hey, I have a question. What coaster company built the Beast? I've looked all over, and I can't find the answer.
August 8, 2010 at 23:19
the Beast was built and designed by Kings Island employees along with a consultant here in Cincinnati.
June 24, 2011 at 04:48
THIS RIDE IS CALLED THE BEAST AND IT IS AT KINGS ISLAND THAT HAS ROLLER COASTERS.
THE RIDE HAS AGED BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.
THE RIDE WILL BEAT YOU TO THE DEATH IT IS ROUGH. THERE IS NO AIR FEEL AND IT SLAMS YOU TO THE SIDE. NOT A BIG LINE ANYMORE ON IT BECAUSE THERE IS NOBODY IN THE LINE. ITS NOT POPULAR ANYMORE IT WILL BEET YOU TO THE DEATH.
ITS NOT AS BAD AS THE SON OF THE BEASTE
THE RACER IS THE BEST WOODIN RIDE IN ISLAND BY FAR LOTS OF AUIR FEELS ON IT.
I LIKE THE SITE AND I NEED TO READ THE WORDS YOU GOT HERE I AM TEH MIKEDOG13 AND I RIDE THE RIDES
THANKS GUYS AND GOD BLESS
May 11, 2012 at 02:33
i ride backseat on the beast every time i ride to get the full force and i never had any issues…
June 27, 2011 at 16:03
I was wondering on a scale from one to ten, what would you rate this out of awesomeness?
July 7, 2011 at 21:00
I rode this the year that it opened and thought it was beyond amazing.
I rode it again this spring and found it OK. Four trim brakes took a lot from the ride. Both of the drops (first and second hills) have trim brakes that were substantial. I didn't get any "airtime" at all in the back seat. I guess the best "airtime" at Kings Island is reserved for Diamondback (and Delirium). I rode "305" last year with the trim brakes and I didn't find the brake took much from the ride, although I didn't experience it without the brake on the drop.
I also rode Voyage for the first time this spring (a week before riding The Beast). Voyage was an order of magnitude better than The Beast. It's the best wooden coaster I've been on (I have not been on El Toro).
The Beast was fun, but I wouldn't give it a 10.
I never rode Son of Beast, but from all of the reviews I guess I didn't miss much (other than pain), except for the few lucky people who had nice rides on it.
May 11, 2012 at 02:39
This rollercoaster is by far the best wooden rollercoaster, its a shame they replaced the original skid brakes for magnetic brakes because they are more prevelent… This ride isnt generally rough at least to me, depending on you sit for a more calm ride move to the front or middle and for the full force of the beast ride the very back. (very back is my favorite spot) if you do end up thinking its too rough then dont ride it anymore and dont complain because its not worth losing a legendary rollercoaster because some people cant handle it.
June 12, 2012 at 20:13
I love the Beast. It is definitely my favorite woodie. I grew up within an hour of Cedar Point and moved to the Cincinnati area in my early 20s. My first wooden coasters were the Blue Streak at Cedar Point and another one in a park named Myers Lake in the Canton area. For sheer variety and volume of coasters, I still prefer Cedar Point. But my favorite coaster is the Beast – and I've been on all of the coasters at CP.
July 1, 2012 at 21:10
I got to ride The Beast last week, and unfortunately to me it's the Millennium Force of wooden coasters, at least during the day. If it wasn't for the amazing helix at the end (which makes the entire ride worth it), I would have been extremely disappointed. Don't let the very gradual decline fool you, the train absolutely screams into the helix. Trims slow down the train at numerous points in the first half, and I wasn't a big fan of the straightaway portions. The whole experience seemed very tame and not all that thrilling. With that said, this completely changes at night. Since the ride is almost completely in the woods, riders are immersed in complete darkness which makes the ride much much better. The brakes are still annoying, but not nearly as much as they are during the day. During the day, The Beast provides a very average ride, but at night it truly becomes an amazing coaster.
July 26, 2012 at 19:33
First rode the Beast in 81'. Back before they drained the lake, when there were Beast paw prints along the line and the spooky growls for music. Back when the line was 3 hours long. Back when it went 75-81 MPH depending on the weather. I rode it today and am sad to say it's been de-clawed. Brakes added all over to slow it down have really tamed the proverbial Beast. The Helix still rules and it's still fun at night, but I doubt it hits 50 MPH these days. It's also much smoother than it's been in years as there are extensive parts of the coaters that have been totally rebuilt. Still an all time classic and I'm proud to say I rode her in her prime.
August 2, 2012 at 18:03
I, too, remember the Beast in it's heyday (I heard they added the trim brakes in 2009). Although I agree that the night ride in pitch darkness is amazing, my favorite time to ride was late afternoon, after a day's worth of sun and 80+ degree temperatures had heated the tracks and melted all the grease. THEN the coaster really felt like the fastest woody in the world. Have not ridden it in years (since I moved away from Cincy) — don't want to spoil the memories! One fun one was the angle that you enter the tunnel into the helix — it took a brave and experienced rider not to pull her/his hands down going through — the roof looks low enough to take your fingers right off.