MASON, OH (WCMH) — After 33 seasons, Kings Island has decided to retire the Vortex roller coaster.
Since it opened in April of 1987, the Vortex has been one of Kings Island’s most popular roller coasters.
But all good things must come to an end, and according to Kings Island, the ride has reached the end of its service life.
The Vortex was designed exclusively for Kings Island by Arrow Dynamics and its features had never been incorporated into one steel coaster before, including:
- a 148-foot high lift and drop of 138 feet at a 55-degree angle
- two vertical loops
- one corkscrew
- one boomerang turn
- a 360-degree helix turn at the end
- a top speed of 55 mph
At a cost of $4 million, Vortex set a world record when it opened as the tallest, full-circuit roller coaster with the highest drop in the world. 
Since its debut, more than 45 million guests have ridden Vortex, the seventh-most on Kings Island’s all-time rides given list. 
Most coasters of this type typically last 25-30 years. Vortex is currently in its 33rd season and has simply reached the end of its service life. 
The Vortex reaches speeds of up to 55 m.p.h. and lasts 2 minutes 55 seconds. 
The Vortex was designed for Kings Island by Arrow Dynamics, one of the leading manufacturers in the industry at the time. 
The Vortex debuted on April 11, 1987 and helped Kings Island surpass 3 million guests for the first time in its history. 
The Vortex was the first coaster in the world to send riders upside-down a total of six times. 
Vortex’s Final Rides Begin 9/27/2019 when Halloween Haunt Opens at 6pm. Gold & Platinum Passholders get early ride time on Saturdays & Sundays for the rest of the fall season.
The Vortex was the first roller coaster in the world to send riders through six inversions on a continuous circuit. Overall, riders have been flipped upside down more than 275,000,000 times while riding Vortex.
Final rides on Vortex will begin Friday when Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt opens at 6pm. The last day to ride the Vortex will take place October 27.
