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» kings dominion

  • Kings Dominion’s Intimidator 305 Construction

    Written by The Coaster Critic 7 Comments
    Last Updated: February 27, 2010
    Kings Dominion’s Intimidator 305 Construction
    Intimidator 305: Intimidating Indeed King’s Dominion’s massive Giga coaster is nearing completion. Images on the official mini site (Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion.com) show the red steel track reaching 305 feet into the sky. Even with all of the images in photo gallery, it’s hard to conceive just how tall 300 feet is. I saw Intimidator at Carowinds in person last month and I was...
    • Avalanche @ Kings Dominion | Coaster Reviews

      Written by The Coaster Critic 8 Comments
      Last Updated: December 27, 2009
      Avalanche @ Kings Dominion | Coaster Reviews
      Avalanche @ Kings Dominion | Coaster Reviews The Avalanche at Kings Dominion is located in the Congo area (oddly enough) at Kings Dominion next to Volcano mountain. It’s a fun family coaster and one of the few bobsled roller coasters around. Bobsled coasters feature chutes or half pipes without fixed tracks like most roller coasters. This allows the bobsleigh-like cars to move freely as if ...
      • Spongebob vs Snoopy – What’s Your Take?

        Written by The Coaster Critic 32 Comments
        Last Updated: October 22, 2009
        Spongebob vs Snoopy – What’s Your Take?
        Several Cedar Fair Theme Parks Are Switching from Nickelodeon to Peanuts Themed Areas in 2010 In 2010, the former Paramount Parks now run by Cedar Fair, will be getting re-branded kids areas and attractions. California’s Great America, Kings Dominion, Kings Island, Carowinds, and Canada’s Wonderland will be dropping their Nickelodeon-themed areas for a nod to everyone’s favorite ...
        • Intimidator 305 Coming to Kings Dominion in 2010

          Written by The Coaster Critic 53 Comments
          Last Updated: August 20, 2009
          Intimidator 305 Coming to Kings Dominion in 2010
          Intimidator 305 To Tower over Kings Dominion in 2010 Today, Kings Dominion (Doswell, VA) finally revealed the details of their 2010 roller coaster. It will be called Intimidator 305. It’s a fitting name because it will be more than 30 stories tall at 305′. Furthermore, the Intimidator 305 name reflects the ride’s NASCAR theming as its name is borrowed from “the most beloved...
          • Kings Dominion to Get a Giga Coaster in 2010

            Written by The Coaster Critic 41 Comments
            Last Updated: June 22, 2009
            Kings Dominion to Get a Giga Coaster in 2010
            UPDATE – 8/20 Intimidator 305 Giga Coaster Announced Kings Dominion has finally announced details of their massive new 2010 Giga Coaster: Intimidator 305. Visit this post for all the details, a video, images and early reactions from commenters and myself. Kings Dominion’s 2010 Coaster Could Reach Rarefied Air | Intamin Giga Coaster for 2010? Ever since the land clearing began in the ba...
            • Volcano Coaster Causes UFO Over Kings Dominion

              Written by The Coaster Critic 10 Comments
              Last Updated: June 20, 2009
              Volcano Coaster Causes UFO Over Kings Dominion
              Volcano Coaster Produces UFO & Garners National Attention I’m a little late on this one, but recently a UFO was spotted hovering over Kings Dominion near Doswell (rhymes with Roswell), Virginia. The ring shaped figure hovered over the park for about ten minutes. The UFO sighting received national attention and it was even featured on CNN. The park and many regulars to the park have expla...
              • Kings Dominion & Carowinds 2010 Roller Coasters

                Written by The Coaster Critic 242 Comments
                Last Updated: April 28, 2009
                Kings Dominion & Carowinds 2010 Roller Coasters
                Let the speculation begin! Two Cedar Fair owned parks have been clearing land. Every year, bulldozers and hard hats cause roller coaster enthusiasts to salivate as we begin the guessing game of what new attraction the theme parks in question are going to build. Official announcements aren’t likely to be made for several months, but that won’t stop the rumor mill. So far, both parks are...
                • Your First Roller Coaster Ride

                  Written by The Coaster Critic 28 Comments
                  Last Updated: February 28, 2009
                  Your First Roller Coaster Ride
                  Tomorrow it will be March, the month when theme parks across the country kick off their seasons. In honor of the start of the season I thought it’d be fun for everyone to share their first roller coaster ride. Believe it or not, I’m not 100% sure what my first roller coaster was. Growing up in Virginia, I went to Kings Dominion often and I’m pretty sure that the Scooby Doo coaste...
                  • Kings Dominion’s Two New Rides for 2009

                    Written by The Coaster Critic 6 Comments
                    Last Updated: January 12, 2009
                    Kings Dominion’s Two New Rides for 2009
                    Kings Dominion Gets Two New Flat Rides for 2009 Last year, Kings Dominion received the B&M floorless coaster Dominator from the defunct Ohio park Geauga Lake. Now, Kings Dominion will get two new-ish flat rides for 2009. Cedar Fair is harvesting the Americana Ferris wheel and a swinging pendulum ride called El Dorado from Geauga Lake. Some think that it’s hard to believe that this is Ki...
                    • Volcano’s Powerful Rolling Launch | Coaster Moments

                      Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                      Last Updated: November 25, 2008
                      Volcano’s Powerful Rolling Launch | Coaster Moments
                      Volcano’s Blast Off – Memorable Coaster Moments Volcano: The Blast Coaster’s a pretty memorable coaster for a number of reasons. It’s an inverted launch coaster built in a themed mountain at Kings Dominion. The majority of launch coasters catapult their trains from a dead stop, Volcano’s launch happens on the move. To me, the rolling launch added to the intense level ...
                      • Fright Fest, Halloween Haunt, & More

                        Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                        Last Updated: August 31, 2008
                        Fright Fest, Halloween Haunt, & More
                        Theme Parks Gear Up for Halloween 2008 TransformationsThis month, theme parks across the country will begin their transformation for Halloween-themed events like Six Flags’ popular Fright Fests. Typically on weekends in the month of October, parks will take on a whole new look with spooky decorations, haunted houses, fog, and strange and disturbing performers roaming around the park. Hallowe...
                        • What is a Stand-Up Roller Coaster?

                          Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                          Last Updated: August 25, 2008
                          What is a Stand-Up Roller Coaster?
                          What is a Stand-Up Roller Coaster? Stand-up roller coasters are steel roller coasters designed so that the riders stand during the course of the ride. Riders straddle a bicycle-like seat that adjusts for the riders height and are restrained by over-the-shoulder restraints. They are very similar to seated looping coasters and some roller coasters designed for sit-down trains have also added stand-u...
                          • What is a Bobsled Roller Coaster?

                            Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                            Last Updated: July 28, 2008
                            What is a Bobsled Roller Coaster?
                            What is a Bobsled Roller Coaster?Bobsled roller coasters feature trackless chutes that are essentially a pipe with the top half removed. The half pipes do not have fixed tracks so the bobsleigh-like cars move freely on the tracks as if they were sliding on ice like in a real bobsled course. Today, most bobsled coasters are made of steel, but originally they were made of wood and known as Flying Tu...
                            • Dominator Opens at Kings Dominion

                              Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
                              Last Updated: May 20, 2008
                              Dominator Opens at Kings Dominion
                              Dominator Reigns Over Kings DominionRecently Dominator opened at Kings Dominion. ThemeParkReview has a message board thread with photos from media day. Check out the photos here. I’m glad Dominator found a new home at my old home park. All those Northern Virginians that I couldn’t convince to travel the extra hour south to Busch Gardens will finally get to experience some B&M great...
                              • What’s In A Name? Part Two

                                Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                                Last Updated: March 29, 2008
                                What’s In A Name? Part Two
                                The Name Game: The Latest Coaster Name Changes Happening in 2008 Former Paramount Parks Lose Movie Licensed Names, ThemingDon’t be surprised if you return to your park this summer and find that the names of a few attractions have changed. The five former Paramount Parks that have been purchased by Cedar Fair went into the final stage of their acquisition which meant the renaming of rides nam...
                                • Dominator Construction Photos | Kings Dominion

                                  Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
                                  Last Updated: March 11, 2008
                                  Dominator Construction Photos | Kings Dominion
                                  Exclusive Shot of Dominator Progress at Kings DominionLast weekend, I happened to be in the Doswell, Virginia area so I took a few shots of Dominator. As you can see, the lift, drop, and world’s largest loop are all complete. I’ll leave the up-close, professional shots to the experts at sites like CoasterCrew and KDConnection. Plus, I didn’t want to get in trouble. I didn’t...
                                  • Dominator @ Kings Dominion | New Coaster for 2008

                                    Written by The Coaster Critic 32 Comments
                                    Last Updated: October 23, 2007
                                    Dominator @ Kings Dominion | New Coaster for 2008
                                    Kings Dominion Adds Dominator for 2008Another Geauga Lake orphan has found a new home. Today, the official announcement was made that the B&M floorless coaster Dominator will dominate the Kings Dominion skyline next year. An Inviting Concrete SettingIn true Kings Dominion fashion the ride will be located on top of the existing park instead of in the acres and acres of untouched wilderness surr...
                                    • Geauga Lake Loses More Roller Coasters

                                      Written by The Coaster Critic 5 Comments
                                      Last Updated: September 1, 2007
                                      Geauga Lake Loses More Roller Coasters
                                      Is Cedar Fair Drying up the Lake?I have to give the Coasterdom podcast credit. Their last two shows have been jam-packed with juicy tidbits. Geauga Lake is a medium-sized amusement park located in Eastern Ohio and owned by Cedar Fair. Cedar Fair also owns Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH) and acquired Kings Island (Cincinnati, OH) last year. Maybe Cedar Fair thinks that Ohio’s a bit too crowded. La...
                                      • Top 3 Family Roller Coasters

                                        Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                                        Last Updated: August 9, 2007
                                        Top 3 Family Roller Coasters
                                        Top 3 Family Roller CoastersThis week’s Top 3 is fun for all ages. Not all roller coasters push the limits of human g-force tolerance like Kingda Ka. Family roller coasters are crowd-pleasers that are usually pretty tame. Italian Job Stunt Coaster at Kings IslandSeveral former Paramount parks (Kings Island, Kings Dominion and Canada’s Wonderland) are home to launch coasters with Mini ...
                                        • What is a Shuttle Roller Coaster?

                                          Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
                                          Last Updated: July 27, 2007
                                          What is a Shuttle Roller Coaster?
                                          What is a Shuttle Roller Coaster? A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster which does not make a complete circuit, but instead reverses and travels the track backwards. Some of the first shuttle coasters were the King Kobra at Kings Dominion (1977 – 1986) and Black Widow at Riverside Park (1977 – 1999). Early shuttle coasters featured a solo vertical loop. Because of their size a...
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