Banshee (roller coaster)
Banshee is an inverted roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. Designed and manufactured by Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, the roller coaster opened on April 18, 2014. Banshee cost $24 million to build, making it the most expensive project in Kings Island's history at the time. With 4,124 feet (1,257 m) of track, Banshee was the longest inverted roller coaster in the world when it opened. The ride includes seven inversions and travels at up to 68 miles per hour (109 km/h). Banshee operates with three trains, each with eight cars, giving it an hourly capacity of 1,650 riders.
| Banshee | |
|---|---|
Banshee's Logo (Top) Banshee's Lift Hill, First Drop, Dive Loop, First Vertical Loop, and Zero-G Roll (Bottom) | |
| Kings Island | |
| Location | Kings Island |
| Park section | Action Zone |
| Coordinates | 39°20′44.39″N 84°15′55.70″W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | April 18, 2014 |
| Cost | $24 million |
| Replaced | Son of Beast Thunder Alley |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Inverted |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Model | Inverted Coaster |
| Track layout | Terrain |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Drop | 150 ft (46 m) |
| Length | 4,124 ft (1,257 m) |
| Speed | 68 mph (109 km/h) |
| Inversions | 7 |
| Duration | 2:40 |
| Capacity | 1,650 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 52–78 in (132–198 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train. |
Fast Lane available | |
| Banshee at RCDB | |
Banshee was built at the former location of a wooden roller coaster named Son of Beast, as well as the Thunder Alley go-kart attraction. The ride was officially announced on August 8, 2013, although the "Banshee" name had been trademarked that April. The first track pieces were installed on August 27, 2013, and work continued through the following January. When Banshee opened, it was well-received, accommodating one million riders in less than three months. Amusement Today's annual Golden Ticket Awards has consistently ranked Banshee among the top 50 steel roller coasters in the world.