Kings Dominion’s mystery roller coaster is no longer a secret. On Wednesday, the Hanover County amusement park announced it is building a launched wing coaster on the park’s eastern edge, on the plot that once held its most popular ride.
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Rapterra will reach a height of 145 feet and flip riders upside down three times.
Kings Dominion
Kings Dominion's director of communications, Geoff Zindren, stands on the site where the park is building its newest roller coaster.
AKASH PAMARTHY, TIMES-DISPATCH
Rapterra's first inversion is called a dive loop. The train rotates upside down then plunges toward the ground.
Kings Dominion
In April 1974, the Lion Country Safari opened as the first part of the Kings Dominion amusement complex near Doswell. The next year, the park installed a monorail that guests used instead of driving their cars among the several hundred animals, which included lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes and other jungle dwellers. Here, the first visitors paid their admission fee. From left are driver Ken Lion, Lora Becraft and Larry and Mary Tropea.
- Masaaki Okada
In April 1974, the Lion Country Safari drive-thru animal park at Kings Dominion in Doswell was ready to open, featuring several hundred animals – antelope, elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes and more. The Eiffel Tower at the amusement park, which would open the following year, is in the background.
- P.A. Gormus Jr
In September 1976, a camera crew set up by the log flume at Kings Dominion in Doswell as filming continued on “Rollercoaster.” The movie, starring George Segal (in boat) as a ride inspector, was filmed at several amusement parks and is about an extortionist who demands $1 million to end his bombing campaign at parks. Extras and crew assembled at 7 a.m., but it was 2:15 p.m. before everything was ready so this scene could be shot.
- Amir Pishdad
In June 1975, the band Ice Water performed in the Flintstone Follies Theater at Kings Dominion in Doswell. The theme park fully opened the previous month with 15 attractions; its Lion Country Safari area had opened in 1974. Today, the park offers more than 60 rides, shows and attractions as well as a water park.
- Gary Burns
In October 1980, Blevins Gibbs (front), Henry McClellan and Larry Daylight, all Native Americans from Oklahoma, visited the Kings Dominion theme park in Doswell as part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. The show, based out of California, traveled the world and featured as many as 80 performers, though only 11 were at the local stop. Its focus was on entertainment, but it also aimed for authenticity and education.
- Don Long
Drawing a crowd - a 17-story man-made mountain, housing three rides, opened yesterday at Kings Dominion theme park on Interstate 95. STart-up problems plagued two of the rides, but many fun-seekers were willing to wait for two hours in line to try out the Time Shaft.
- Rich Crawford
A little bundle of love. A 40- to 60-pound hippopotamus was born at Lion Country Safari in Hanover County Thursday evening. Both mother and baby seem to be doing fine, said Larry Mather, zoological manager, though he added that the baby's chance of survival "is not 100 per cent. We'll know more in three or four days, when we'll have a better idea of how well the mother is taking care of it."
- Wallace Clark
From big eggs... This three-pound ostrich was born this week at King's Dominion near Ashland, but the only mother it knows for now is Ms. Loris Tauer, an animal management specialist at the amusement park. It is the first baby to be born from some 60 eggs that were laid in January. The egg was incubated for 40 days. This 10-inch ostrich will grow to 8 feet and weight more than 300 pounds when it reaches maturity in three to four years.
- P.A. Gormus
Kings Dominion from the archives
Crews started construction of Kings Dominion in October 1972. The park officially opened on May 3, 1975.
In April 1974, the Lion Country Safari opened as the first part of the Kings Dominion amusement complex near Doswell. The next year, the park installed a monorail that guests used instead of driving their cars among the several hundred animals, which included lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes and other jungle dwellers. Here, the first visitors paid their admission fee. From left are driver Ken Lion, Lora Becraft and Larry and Mary Tropea.
- Masaaki Okada
In April 1974, the Lion Country Safari drive-thru animal park at Kings Dominion in Doswell was ready to open, featuring several hundred animals – antelope, elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes and more. The Eiffel Tower at the amusement park, which would open the following year, is in the background.
- P.A. Gormus Jr
The Avalanche Bobsled, a new ride at Kings Dominion that resembles a bobsled run, won favorable reviews from those who ought to know - roller coaster buffs and the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team.
- Alexa Welch Edlund
'The Lost World' manmade mountain hold three fantasy-adventure rides. The complex cost $7 million to construct and can accommodate 6,800 persons an hour.
- Tim Wright
Doswell's Dominion - Kings Dominion and other theme marks seem to be gaining in popularity. (from 1-19-1992 story)
- Don Pennell
In September 1976, a camera crew set up by the log flume at Kings Dominion in Doswell as filming continued on “Rollercoaster.” The movie, starring George Segal (in boat) as a ride inspector, was filmed at several amusement parks and is about an extortionist who demands $1 million to end his bombing campaign at parks. Extras and crew assembled at 7 a.m., but it was 2:15 p.m. before everything was ready so this scene could be shot.
- Amir Pishdad
'Time Shaft' floor drops out. Centrifugal force holds passengers against wall.
- Tim Wright
In June 1975, the band Ice Water performed in the Flintstone Follies Theater at Kings Dominion in Doswell. The theme park fully opened the previous month with 15 attractions; its Lion Country Safari area had opened in 1974. Today, the park offers more than 60 rides, shows and attractions as well as a water park.
- Gary Burns
In October 1980, Blevins Gibbs (front), Henry McClellan and Larry Daylight, all Native Americans from Oklahoma, visited the Kings Dominion theme park in Doswell as part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. The show, based out of California, traveled the world and featured as many as 80 performers, though only 11 were at the local stop. Its focus was on entertainment, but it also aimed for authenticity and education.
- Don Long
In late April 1975, landscape workers prepared gardens in front of the Eiffel Tower replica at Kings Dominion in Doswell. The theme park opened days later on May 3.
- Gary Burns
Curtis Peatross tells visitor how to operate tape player. Recorded message identified animals in various areas of preserve. Lion Country Safari.
- Gary Burns
Drawing a crowd - a 17-story man-made mountain, housing three rides, opened yesterday at Kings Dominion theme park on Interstate 95. STart-up problems plagued two of the rides, but many fun-seekers were willing to wait for two hours in line to try out the Time Shaft.
- Rich Crawford
Lion Country theater, monorail station & monorail cars coming in from Lion Country.
- Times-Dispatch
A little bundle of love. A 40- to 60-pound hippopotamus was born at Lion Country Safari in Hanover County Thursday evening. Both mother and baby seem to be doing fine, said Larry Mather, zoological manager, though he added that the baby's chance of survival "is not 100 per cent. We'll know more in three or four days, when we'll have a better idea of how well the mother is taking care of it."
- Wallace Clark
Rangers manned a lookout tower at Kings Dominion Lion Country Safari Park, waiting for calls for assistance.
- P.A. Gormus, Jr.
From big eggs... This three-pound ostrich was born this week at King's Dominion near Ashland, but the only mother it knows for now is Ms. Loris Tauer, an animal management specialist at the amusement park. It is the first baby to be born from some 60 eggs that were laid in January. The egg was incubated for 40 days. This 10-inch ostrich will grow to 8 feet and weight more than 300 pounds when it reaches maturity in three to four years.
- P.A. Gormus
Rangers manned a lookout tower at Kings Dominion Lion Country Safari Park, waiting for calls for assistance.
- P.A. Gormus, Jr.
Mike Gabay works as trainer with some of young pachyderms in 'Lion Country' elephant herd.
- Gary Burns
Splashy Cole Porter 'Anything Goes' number is one of the features.
- Gary Burns
Skeletal pirate captain. One of 60 in park's ride, Haunted River
- Tommy Price
