Kentucky Kingdom
2014 - present
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
1998 - 2009
Kentucky Kingdom
1987 - 1998
Kentucky Kingdom
Amusement park in Kentucky, USA
More actions
Status
Opened
May 23, 1987
Owner
Kentucky State Fair Board
Operator
Website
History
History
2021 - present
Ed Hart and various investors
2014 - 2020
1998 - 2009
Ed Hart and various investors
1990 - 1997
Kentucky Kingdom is an amusement park in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. It originally opened in 1987 and was operated by Six Flags from 1998 to 2009. It is currently operated by Herschend Family Entertainment under a lease from the Kentucky State Fair Board.
History
Kentucky Kingdom originally opened on May 23, 1987 as an expansion for the Kentucky State Fair. The park closed in October after low attendance and financial problems.[1] Many of the original rides were removed from the park, and Kentucky Kingdom did not reopen until June 1990.[2]
On September 26, 1997, the purchase of Kentucky Kingdom for $64 million by Premier Parks was announced. Premier Parks took on Kentucky Kingdom's debt of around $52 million and the remaining amount was paid out to local investors as Premier Parks shares.[3]
It was rebranded to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in 1998 after Premier Parks bought the Six Flags chain from Time Warner.
As part of a wider restructuring of the company following its bankruptcy, Six Flags exercised its right to renegotiate its contract with the Kentucky State Fair Board, who own the land on which the park sits. On February 4, 2010, Six Flags announced that it was pulling out of negotiations with the Board and that it would not reopen Kentucky Kingdom.[4][5]
On July 23, 2010, the dispute was settled in a deal that saw Six Flags hand over to the Board all the land and equipment it owned and all rides other than the Road Runner Express roller coaster, which Six Flags would retain as part of the settlement. The Board paid Six Flags $2.35 million and wrote off a tax debt of $2.5 million. Additionally, the Board cancelled $2.8 million in rent payments. [6]
In 2012, the Koch family, owners of Holiday World, announced that they would reopen the park under the name "Bluegrass Boardwalk" in May 2013.[7] These plans were eventually cancelled in June of that year.
The park reopened on May 24, 2014.[8]
On February 23, 2021, Herschend Family Entertainment announced that it had acquired Kentucky Kingdom.[9]
Roller coasters
Present
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Flyer | Gravity Group | Wooden Hybrid |
April 28, 2019 | Operating |
| Lightning Run | Chance Rides | Sit-Down | May 24, 2014 | Operating |
| Hollyhock and Roll | Vekoma | Sit-Down | April 15, 1994 | Operating |
| Wind Chaser | Rocky Mountain Construction | Sit-Down | April 30, 2016 | Operating |
| Woodland Run | Dinn Corporation | Wooden | August 1990 | Operating |
Past
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Opened | Closed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chang | Bolliger & Mabillard | Stand-Up | 1997 | 2009 | Relocated to Six Flags Great Adventure |
| Greezed Lightnin' | Schwarzkopf | Launched Shuttle |
2003 | 2009 | Scrapped |
| Road Runner Express | Maurer AG | Wild Mouse | 2000 | 2009 | Relocated to Six Flags New England |
| Starchaser | Schwarzkopf | Enclosed | 1987 | 1995 | Relocated to Darien Lake |
| T3 | Vekoma | Inverted | April 8, 1995 | 2022 | Unknown |
| Twisted Twins | Custom Coasters International | Wooden Hybrid Twin |
June 20, 1998 | 2007 | Scrapped, structure and supports used for Storm Chaser |
| Vampire | Vekoma | Shuttle | 1990 | 1999 | Relocated to Six Flags New England |
Attractions
Under construction
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Opening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland Express[10] | Unknown | Miniature Railway | 2025 |
| Scout's Squirrel Race[10] | Unknown | Jump Around | 2025 |
| Redbird Racer[10] | Unknown | Junior Suspended Whip | 2025 |
Operating
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlutterFly | Zamperla | Magic Bikes | 2015 |
| Garden Carousel | Unknown | Carousel | 2024 or earlier |
| Giant Wheel | Vekoma | Ferris Wheel | 1992 |
| Himalaya | Reverchon | Superbob/Musik Express | 1990 |
| Honeybee Buzzers | Larson International | Flying Scooters | 2014 |
| Mile High Falls | O.D. Hopkins Associates | Shoot The Chute | 1994 |
| Musical Carousel | Zamperla | Roundabout | 1990 |
| Nature's Bounty | HUSS | Pirate Ship | 1990 |
| Rock-A-Bye Swings | Zamperla | Happy Swing | 2014 |
| Scream Extreme | Zamperla | Endeavour | 2018 |
| Seed Spinner | HUSS | Breakdance | 1990 |
| Skycatcher | A.R.M. (USA) | Star Flyer | 2015 |
| Spring Fling | Intamin | Flying Dutchman | 1991 |
| Tin Lizzies | Arrow Dynamics | Antique Cars | 1990 |
| Treetop Drop | Larson International & A.R.M. (USA) | Drop Tower | 2014 |
| Zeppelin | Zamperla | Balloon Race | 1992 |
Closed
References
- ↑ Shafer, Sheldon (1988-08-17). "Three groups bid to reopen Kentucky Kingdom". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ↑ "Kentucky Kingdom reopens". Messenger-Inquirer. 1990-06-15. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ↑ Goetze, David (1997-09-27). "Kentucky Kingdom park sold". The Courier-Journal. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ↑ "Kentucky Kingdom Rejects Lease". Six Flags. 2010-02-04. Archived from the original on 2010-02-06.
- ↑ "Six Flags theme park Kentucky Kingdom is closing". Hartford Business Journal. 2010-02-05.
- ↑ Karman, John R. (2010-07-23). "Fair board strikes deal for Kentucky Kingdom property Read more: Fair board strikes deal for Kentucky Kingdom property". Business First.
- ↑ "Kentucky Kingdom reopening as Bluegrass Boardwalk in May 2013". Wave3. 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ↑ "Kentucky Kingdom set to reopen this weekend". The Lane Report. 2014-05-19.
- ↑ Otts, Chris (February 23, 2021). "New owner pledges to take Kentucky Kingdom to 'next level'". WDRB. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Kentucky Kingdom announces new rides, family-themed land" (PDF). Amusement Today. 2025-02-01. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
External links
- Kentucky Kingdom on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
Amusement parks operated by Six Flags
Amusement parks operated by Six Flags
Current Theme Parks
California's Great AmericaCanada's WonderlandCarowindsCedar PointDorney ParkFrontier CityKings DominionKings IslandKnott's Berry FarmLa RondeMichigan's AdventureSix Flags AmericaSix Flags Darien LakeSix Flags Discovery KingdomSix Flags Fiesta TexasSix Flags Great AdventureSix Flags Great AmericaSix Flags Great EscapeSix Flags Magic MountainSix Flags MexicoSix Flags New EnglandSix Flags Over GeorgiaSix Flags Over TexasSix Flags QiddiyaSix Flags St. LouisValleyfairWorlds of Fun
Current Water Parks (Within Park Grounds)
Carolina HarborOceans of FunSix Flags Hurricane Harbor (Great Escape)Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (Over Georgia)Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (St. Louis)Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Darien LakeSix Flags Hurricane Harbor MarylandSix Flags Hurricane Harbor New EnglandSouth Bay ShoresSplash WorksSoak City (Kings Dominion)Soak City (Kings Island)Soak City (Valleyfair)WildWater AdventureWildwater KingdomWild West Water Works
Current Water Parks (Separate Admission or Standalone)
Aquarabia Qiddiya CityCastaway BayCedar Point ShoresKnott's Soak CitySchlitterbahn GalvestonSchlitterbahn New BraunfelsSix Flags Hurricane Harbor ArlingtonSix Flags Hurricane Harbor ChicagoSix Flags Hurricane Harbor ConcordSix Flags Hurricane Harbor Los AngelesSix Flags Hurricane Harbor New JerseySix Flags Hurricane Harbor PhoenixSix Flags Hurricane Harbor OaxtepecSix Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma CitySix Flags Hurricane Harbor RockfordSix Flags Hurricane Harbor San AntonioSix Flags Hurricane Harbor SplashTownSix Flags White WaterWhite Water Bay
Former Properties (Theme Parks)
American AdventuresBellewaerde ParkSix Flags AstroWorldSix Flags AutoWorldSix Flags BelgiumSix Flags Elitch GardensSix Flags HollandSix Flags Kentucky KingdomSix Flags New OrleansSix Flags Worlds of AdventureWalibi AquitaineWalibi LorraineWalibi Rhône-AlpesWarner Bros. Movie World GermanyWarner Bros. Park MadridWild Waves and Enchanted VillageWyandot Lake
Former Properties (Water Parks)