Kings Island begins construction on roller coaster

UPDATE@1:08 p.m. (Aug. 29):

The first set of bents were placed on the new Mystic Timbers roller coaster Monday at Kings Island, according to a press release.

The wooden roller coaster will be 3,265 feet long, reach 109 feet high, and weave along steep cliffs, down ravines, cross over water and go through an extreme S-turn, among a forest of trees, at speeds up to 53 mph.

Mystic Timbers will feature 16 airtime hills, a mid-course tunnel and interact with parts of the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad and White Water Canyon attractions.

The ride will debut in the spring of 2017 and become Kings Island’s 16th roller coaster and its four wooden.

UPDATE @ 11:04 a.m.

Kings Island will be bringing back Winterfest in 2017, said Greg Scheid, vice president and general manager at Kings Island. Golden platinum holders will get Winterfest for free.

This is the first return of Winterfest since the early 1990s.

The amusement park will also add a new overall amenity package for Surf City water park. The water park will be expanding and a new smokehouse restaurant opening.

FIRST REPORT

Kings Island is scheduled to make a major announcement today.

Last month, Kings Island announced it was building a new wooden roller coaster for 2017, Mystic Timbers.

Park officials — in announcing the new ride — also said there would be a second major announcement coming regarding the 2017 season.

Kings Island will make that second announcement at 11 a.m. today at the 364-acre amusement and waterpark.

We will be there live to cover the event.

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