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Banshee
Banshee in 2017
Kings Island
Location Mason, Ohio, USA
Coordinates 39°20′44″N 84°15′56″W / 39.345662°N 84.265478°W / 39.345662; -84.265478
Status Operating since April 18, 2014
Cost $24,000,000 USD
Rider height
  • Minimum: 52 inch
  • Maximum: 78 inch
Replaced Son of Beast
Thunder Alley
Statistics
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Product Custom Inverted Coaster
Type Steel - Inverted
Riders per train 32
Hourly capacity 1,650
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 167 feet
Drop 150 feet
Top speed 68 mph
Length 4124 feet
Inversions 7
Duration 2:40
HELP

Banshee is a steel inverted roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, USA. It is the first inverted roller coaster built by Bolliger & Mabillard in the United States since Patriot at Worlds of Fun opened in 2006.

History

In 1995, Cedar Point originally intended to use the name "Banshee" on Mantis, the Bolliger & Mabillard stand up roller coaster, but the name was changed once the park realized the negative connotations of the word.[1]

Banshee is partially located on the site of the former Son of Beast wooden roller coaster and the Thunder Alley go-kart track. After remaining standing but not operating for three years, Son of Beast was demolished in 2012.[2]

Banshee was announced on August 8, 2013 at 10 PM, Ohio time.[3] Construction began that month with the installation of the first track piece.[4] In September 2013, the lift hill was topped off.[5] The ride was completed in January 2014.[6] Testing of the ride began on March 15, 2014.[7]

On April 18, 2014, Banshee opened to the public.[8]

Design

Elements

The lift hill threads the vertical loop, just like Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa. Banshee ties with Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa for most inversions on an inverted coaster, with seven.[9]

Ride experience

As the train leaves the station, it makes a left turn and climbs the 167 foot lift hill. At the top, the banshee scream is heard and the train descends 150 feet, reaching 68 mph. The train flips into a 125 foot tall dive loop, followed by a 113 foot tall vertical loop. The train then goes into a 100 foot tall zero-g roll. Following that is an 88 foot tall pretzel knot. The train goes into a second vertical loop at 72 feet, spiral right and goes into an in-line twist at 35 feet. After the helix, the train hits the final brake run and returns into the station.

Color scheme

Banshee has a raspberry track color and blue supports.

Trains

3 trains with 8 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 4 across in a single row, for a total of 32 riders per train. This is the first B&M invert to utilize vest harnesses, instead of the traditional over-the-shoulder harnesses that all other B&M inverts have.

Incident

A 38-year-old man was struck and killed by the roller coaster in June 2024 after entering a restricted area.[10]

Images

Construction

Queue line

Exterior

Layout

References

  1. "Cedar Point plans most costly coaster ever". News Herald. September 9, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  2. "Demolition completed for Son of Beast".
  3. "Kings Island unveils plans for world record-breaking coaster Banshee". USA Today.
  4. "Banshee Watch: Construction begins on KI's new coaster".
  5. "Kings Island Tops Off Banshee". NewsPlusNotes.
  6. "Track done on Kings Island's Banshee roller coaster".
  7. "Banshee screams thru first test run at King's Island!".
  8. "'Theme park trifecta' causes long lines at Kings Island Friday".
  9. "Throwback coaster coming to Ohio's Kings Island".
  10. Bentley, Quinlan (2024-06-28). "Inspectors find Banshee operating in 'satisfactory' manner after man fatally struck". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved 2024-08-02.

External links

The category Banshee contains additional media.
  • Banshee on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
Longest inverted roller coaster
April 18, 2014 – present
Preceded by
Pyrenees
Longest inverted roller coaster
April 18, 2014 – present
Succeeded by
None
Articles on Kings Island