Kings Dominion later expanded Old Virginia with the addition of the park's second wooden roller coaster, the Grizzly, in 1982 and a river rapids ride called White Water Canyon in 1983. Only a year later in 1980, the flume ride was rethemed Haunted River. Originally, the Lost World featured three rides: a flume ride called Voyage to Atlantis, a children's attraction mine ride known as Land of the Dooz, and a rotor called Time Shaft. The replica Eiffel Tower at Kings DominionĪ campground was completed in time for the 1978 season and the park's well-known Lost World mountain debuted in 1979.
Also in 1977, Kings Dominion was one of several amusement parks used as a set for the film Rollercoaster. It was in the park for nine seasons before being relocated to Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City, Maryland and later to Hopi Hari in Brazil where it exists today as Katapul. The King Kobra featured a 50-ton counter weight drop launch and was the park's first launched roller coaster. Kings Dominion added their fourth roller coaster, a Schwarzkopf shuttle loop known as the King Kobra, in 1977. Original themed areas included The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera, International Street, Lion Country Safari, Old Virginia, and Coney Island.
In addition, Kings Dominion's 1/3-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower and the International Street Fountain greet visitors near the main entrance to the park. Also present at the opening was a log flume, steam train, a collection of flat rides and a cable-car sky ride that transported visitors between Old Virginia and The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera. Kings Dominion officially opened on offering fifteen attractions including the Rebel Yell, the Lion Country Safari Monorail, Galaxie, and a junior wooden roller coaster known as Scooby Doo. The new park was designed with Kings Island in mind as the blueprint using similar themes, rides, and activities. A 400-acre site was chosen in Doswell, Virginia in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic, and construction began in the summer of 1973. The park entrance as seen from the observation deck of the replica Eiffel Towerįollowing the success of Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, Family Leisure Centers (a partnership formed between Taft Broadcasting Company and Top Value Enterprises) decided to expand into a new region of the country by opening a second park. History Early history as Kings Dominion (1973-83) File:PKDEntrance.jpg
However, the most unique attraction is the Underground Mine Tour Experience. The park has lots of children’s rides and the Lost Reef area is filled with twisting/turning flat rides. Gold Reef City offers everything you’d expect from a decent theme park. Trip reports and photos from theme parks across the globe