Kings Dominion
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| Slogan | Thrills Connect |
|---|---|
| Location | Doswell, Virginia, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 37°50′24″N 77°26′42″W / 37.840°N 77.445°WCoordinates: 37°50′24″N 77°26′42″W / 37.840°N 77.445°W |
| Owner | Cedar Fair Entertainment Company |
| General Manager | Gary Chadwick |
| Opened | May 3, 1975, 42 years ago |
| Previous names | Paramount's Kings Dominion - 1993 to 2006 |
| Operating season | Late March/Early April-Late October/Early November |
| Area | 400 acres (1.6 km2) |
| Rides | |
| Total | 60 |
| Roller coasters | 12 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Website | kingsdominion.com |
Kings Dominion is a theme park in Doswell, Virginia 20 miles (30 km) north of Richmond and 75 miles (120 km) south of Washington, D.C., off Interstate 95.
The 400-acre (1.6 km2) park opened on May 3, 1975, and is currently owned by Cedar Fair and offers over 60 rides, shows and attractions including 13 roller coasters and a 20-acre (81,000 m2) water park. The name given to the park is derived from the name of its sister park, Kings Island, and the nickname for the state of Virginia, "Old Dominion".
Following the success of Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, northeast of Cincinnati, 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. A 400-acre (1.6 km2) site was chosen in Doswell, Virginia, north of Richmond in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic, and construction began on October 1, 1972. The new park was designed with Kings Island in mind as the blueprint using similar themes, rides, and activities.
Kings Dominion officially opened on May 3, 1975, offering fifteen attractions including the Rebel Yell, the Lion Country Safari Monorail, Galaxie, and a junior wooden roller coaster known as Scooby Doo. 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. 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. Original themed areas included The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera, International Street, Lion Country Safari, Old Virginia, and Coney Island. Daily admission price in 1975 was $7.50, and a dollar for parking.
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