Advertised before its completion as “the biggest, baddest, longest, fastest wooden roller coaster in the world,” The Beast certainly lived up to its name when it opened in 1979.
Forty-five years on, while it is no longer the tallest or fastest, it retains its status as the world’s longest wooden roller coaster.
A Legacy of Thrills
Located at Kings Island theme park in Ohio, USA, The Beast’s total length stretches to an impressive 2,224 meters (7,361 feet), spanning 35 acres of hilly terrain. The ride lasts an exhilarating four minutes and 10 seconds, reaching a top speed of 104.25 km/h (64.78 mph).
Innovative In-House Creation
The Beast was designed and constructed in-house at Kings Island for approximately $3.5 million, a figure that would balloon to over $20 million today. Lead engineers Al Collins and Jeff Gramke, in consultation with renowned roller coaster architect John C. Allen, spearheaded the project. Over two years, they painstakingly calculated tens of thousands of formulas without the aid of computers or scientific calculators. “Everything had to be calculated by hand,” Gramke recalled in a 2014 interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“We didn’t just design it here, we built it here. That didn’t happen in the industry anywhere. This is probably the first park where a coaster was designed and built in-house by the owner of the company.”
Seamlessly Integrated with Nature
The engineers chose to construct The Beast in a wooded area of the park featuring naturally occurring cliffs, hills, and ravines, incorporating the landscape into the design rather than levelling it. This decision not only saved money but also added unique elements to the ride. They worked around the topography by going underground, resulting in the creation of three pitch-black tunnels. “It turned out to be a great element of the ride, [but] it was more a necessity to make the ride work,” Gramke said.
The first tunnel is at the bottom of a 137-foot (41.8-meter) drop, while the third tunnel features a 540-degree helix.
The Beast’s Construction
In total, 650,000 board feet of lumber were used to construct the coaster, along with 37,500 pounds of nails; 82,480 bolts and washers; and 2,432 square yards of concrete. The name “The Beast” was coined by the theme park’s public relations manager, Ruth Voss, who frequently heard builders referring to it as “a beast of a project.”
A Crowd-Pulling Attraction
When The Beast first opened, the queues were equally beastly, with crowds waiting in line for up to five hours. Its popularity quickly soared, attracting roller coaster fans from around the world. The American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) recognized The Beast’s significance, awarding it the Roller Coaster Landmark designation in 2004.
Enduring Popularity
The Beast remains one of the most popular rides at Kings Island, having accommodated over 54 million riders and counting. Remarkably, each of The Beast’s three trains has traveled more than 900,000 miles, equivalent to over 35 times around the world.
Celebrating 45 Years
As The Beast celebrates its 45th anniversary, it continues to be a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of its designers and builders. Its enduring appeal and thrilling ride experience ensure that it will remain a beloved icon in the world of roller coasters for many years to come.
The Beast stands not just as a roller coaster, but as a symbol of the innovation and passion that drive the amusement park industry, captivating new generations of thrill-seekers and maintaining its legendary status in the world of wooden roller coasters.
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