Kings Island still owned 773 acres (313 ha) of that purchase as of 2005. In July 1969, Taft Broadcasting Company purchased Coney Island for $6.5 million and soon after purchased 1,600 acres (650 ha) in Warren County, Ohio, for $3.2 million. Taft, the president of Taft Broadcasting Company, a business interested in promoting its recently acquired Hanna-Barbera division, to discuss a possible merger. The announcement highlighted the need for change and gave Wachs' proposal credibility within the organization. It wasn't taken seriously until 1968 when actor Fess Parker announced plans to build a theme park in Northern Kentucky – well within Coney Island's primary market that extended as far south as Louisville. Some board members opposed relocating, including significant stockholder Charles Sawyer. After years of research and traveling abroad, he presented ideas for a new theme park to the company's board of directors. He decided it was time to relocate the park to stay competitive. Leading the way was Gary Wachs, son of Coney Island president Ralph Wachs, who with friends and family owned a majority of stock. Faced with already-limited space for expansion and parking, the event triggered discussions within the organization about relocating the park. Although occasional flooding was common at the successful park, the flood in 1964 was the fourth highest on record and caused considerable damage.
Kings Island was conceived as early as 1964 when Coney Island, a popular amusement park 10 miles (16 km) east of downtown Cincinnati on the banks of the Ohio River, suffered from a major flood that submerged the area in over 14 feet (4.3 m) of water. In addition, Kings Island has won Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today for having the "Best Kids' Area" in the world for eighteen consecutive years (2001–2018) as well as "Best New Ride" in 2017 for Mystic Timbers. In 2019, Kings Island had an estimated 3.52 million guests, ranking second in attendance among seasonal amusement parks in the US and third overall in North America, behind Canada's Wonderland and Cedar Point. Kings Island is divided into several themed sections and operates seasonally from early spring through the fall, partially reopening for Winterfest during the holiday season. The park has also suffered through times of negative publicity, particularly surrounding the early demise of roller coasters The Bat and Son of Beast. The largest investment in park history is Orion, a giga coaster that opened in 2020. Others, such as The Beast and Banshee, have set several world records, some of which remain standing. One of the park's most well-known attractions, The Racer, is often credited with reviving worldwide interest in roller coasters during the 1970s. After more than $300 million in capital investments, the park features over 100 attractions including fourteen roller coasters and a 33-acre (13 ha) water park.Įarly in its history, Kings Island appeared in popular sitcoms and received widespread recognition for its record-breaking attractions and events. It was part of a larger effort to move and expand Coney Island, a popular resort destination along the banks of the Ohio River that was prone to frequent flooding. Owned and operated by Cedar Fair, the park first opened in 1972 by the Taft Broadcasting Company. Kings Island is a 364-acre (147 ha) amusement park located 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio, United States.
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