Kings Island postpones opening day for more than a month

Kings Island’s opening day is postponed for at least five weeks beyond its originally scheduled April 11 opening.

Park officials are “continuously monitoring and following regional and national health directives related to COVID-19,” according to spokesman Chad Showalter.

“Currently, it is our hope to open Kings Island mid-May or as soon thereafter as possible,” Showalter said today. “We believe this decision is in the best interest of our associates, our guests, and our community.”

MORE: Construction of giga coaster Orion a ‘huge jump’ for Kings Island

Kings Island’s new season will include the first chance to ride Orion, Kings Island’s new giga coaster, which is one of just seven in the world, according to park officials.

Orion, after its initial ascent, plummets down a 300-foot-tall drop. Diamondback, the park's next-tallest roller coaster, has a 215-foot drop and a top speed of 80 mph.

Riders sit four across on a 32-passenger train traveling a high-speed journey of eight hills and 5,321 feet of track. With a top of speed of 91 mph, it is the 10th-fastest roller coaster in the world.

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