Why the Kings Island Coaster Misses the Mark

The Beast frequently shows up on coaster fans’ top-10 lists. It is also one of the world’s most famous wooden roller coasters. However, many believe that The Beast at Kings Island is the single most overrated roller coaster on the planet. Here’s why.

• Type of coaster: Wooden Terrain
• Height: 110 feet
• First drop: 135 feet
• Second lift hill drop: 141 feet
• Top speed: 65 mph
  • The Beast is one of the top 10 fastest wooden roller coasters.
• Track length: 7359 feet
• Height requirement: 48 inches
• Ride time: 4:10 minutes (the longest wooden coaster in the world)
• Reviewed in: 2009

The Beast has Been De-Clawed

At one time, The Beast may have deserved its legendary status. Debuting in 1979, it featured several innovative and unique elements. With its 7,359 feet, it still holds the record for the world’s longest wooden coaster. Moreover, its twin lift hills distinctly set it apart from other coasters. The second lift hill sends riders diving into a 540-degree helix, largely in the dark, buried deep in the woods of Mason, Ohio, making The Beast a true terrain coaster, careening along its expansive, tree-lined course hidden from the Kings Island midway.

With some tender loving care, the coaster would likely be capable of delivering a wild and woolly ride. Its army of ardent supporters, who seem to indicate that it once did just that, likely enjoyed its thrills for many years. However, somewhere along the way (we rode the coaster in 2009), Kings Island de-clawed The Beast by installing trim brakes.

Rather than completely stopping the coaster trains, trim brakes are implemented to slow them down. Parks commonly use them during the ride to mitigate wear and tear, consequently saving on maintenance costs. With 7,359 feet of track, The Beast has plenty to maintain, and now features an ample amount of trim brakes.

This wooden coaster is among a small group of thrill machines that apply brakes on the first drop. Rather than offering an exhilarating, high-speed release that most coasters deliver, The Beast noticeably slows during its initial 135-foot drop. To many, this is inexcusable and sets a disappointing tone at the start of the ride.

The Beast has Been Trimmed

Furthermore, the trim brakes diminish the excitement of the 141-foot drop following the second lift hill. The beastly brakes impact the speed at various points as well. Consequently, these trim brakes likely contribute to another disheartening characteristic: The Beast has virtually no airtime. For a wooden coaster, that clocks in at over four minutes, this is quite peculiar—and nearly incomprehensible.

The absence of free-floating, butterflies-in-your-stomach negative Gs, along with the lack of more intense ejector air, contradicts what one would expect from a wooden coaster. However, passengers on The Beast rarely leave their seats (at least based on our experience). With no airtime and with trim brakes dampening its acceleration and speed, The Beast comes across as more of a rickety ride through the woods than a thrilling coaster.

If you’re seeking a more classic wooden coaster experience with plenty of airtime, consider heading over to The Racer at Kings Island. For those wanting a modern wooden coaster loaded with airtime, Mystic Timbers is an excellent choice. For an exceptionally transcendent ride experience, opt for the hypercoaster, Diamondback. You won’t believe the floater airtime it delivers.

That said, The Beast does have its redeeming qualities. After the second lift hill, the revolution-and-a-half helix may be impacted by the trim brakes, although it remains enjoyable. Additionally, a wooden canopy creates a tunnel that envelops most of the long and winding helix, leading to a disorienting, lights-out journey into the lair of the namesake Beast. And while it may be odd to remain glued to a coaster’s seat, the thrill of racing through the woods at relatively high speeds continues to elicit excitement.

Moreover, there’s a palpable sense of nostalgia surrounding The Beast. Instead of building tension, the cheesy, “suspenseful,” lookout-for-The-Beast! music that plays as the train crests the first lift hill often generates a chuckle of recognition. The metal-on-metal screeching, paired with the distinctive aroma of grease used to lubricate the ride, serve as additional sensory reminders of its glory days.

Despite this, people still flock to the popular ride. They want to love it (and, indeed, we wanted to love it). Some undoubtedly do. Nonetheless, the lackluster experience passengers receive today likely falls short of what acclaimed coaster builder Charlie Dinn envisioned when he unleashed The Beast during the Carter presidency. Ultimately, maybe Kings Island should consider a comprehensive overhaul. By introducing new trains, performing some re-tracking, and removing the trim brakes, we believe that this Beast could roar back to life.