Kings Dominion Park, Part IV: Big Guns of Kings Dominion Park

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Slideshow | Lightbox (178) Tags: amusement-park parks virginia washington-dc Posted: June 27, 2011 by Shekn

Not a secret, some people come to Kings Dominion park mostly for the sake of a thrill from various adventurous rides offered. In fact, they associate amusement parks mostly with such rides rating their experience according to the amount of the adrenaline they managed to pump into their blood. But even if this is not true, most intensive rides are always special at parks like Kings Dominion. Consequently, it would be only fair to dedicate a separate page describing high thrill rides at Kings Dominion.

This photo opens "big guns" section of the photo gallery dedicated to Kings Dominion park. This ride is called Xtreme SkyFlyer and it provides a combined experience of gliding and sky diving. It is one of few in the park which is called pay-per-experience meaning that you will have to pay a fee to use it.	Xtreme SkyFlyer ride is rated as "aggressive thrill" rides (category 5) with min height of 48 inches. The photo shows the harness area - and you will need one to catch you when dropped into a free fall from about 200 feet. It nay be subjective but I think Xtreme SkyFlyer is the most thrilling ride that Kings Dominion park has to offer.	Kings Dominion park - this ride is called Rebel Yell. It is made of wood and nowadays somewhat unusual with its two trains on twin tracks (one side runs backwards). Rebel Yell was built more than 30 years ago and is rated today as "high thrill" (category 4) falling behind several significantly more aggressive rides. One of the good things about Rebel Yell is a short waiting time due to its 2 tracks and 2 trains for each.	This one is called Hurler - yet another wooden coaster in Kings Dominion park. It is rather old (since 1994). As the Rebel Yell, it is rated only as "high thrill" (category 4); its min height required is 48 inches.
Hurler (Kings Dominion park) is rather long - about 3200 feet and 83 feet high with max speed of 50 mile per hour. It has a steep first drop followed by curves and a series of bunny hills providing several decent air-time moments. However, Hurler is not something that can offer real (I mean real, real) thrill.	Hurler (Kings Dominion park) has 2 trains with 7 cars per train. Each car has two rows with two seats each; this gives the total of 4 riders per car and 28 riders per train.	The view on Drop Tower (Kings Dominion park), a 305-foot awe-inspiring construction offering 272-foot skydiving descent at 72 miles per hour.	The Drop Tower ride is rated as "aggressive thrill" ride (category 5). It has both, minimum and maximum height limitations: 48 inches and 80 inches respectively. This photo shows a large continuous ring with seats for riders. For many of them, the Drop Tower represents the most intense experience Kings Dominion park has to offer.

The Drop Tower in Kings Dominion park was designed and manufactured by Intamin Worldwide, a well-known company in the amusement park attractions industry with headquarters in Switzerland. This photo zooms in on the construction details of the circular gondola that is lifted first to the top of the tower and then dropped with brakes used to stop it before reaching the ground.	That is how the Drop Tower (Kings Dominion park) circular gondola with riders looks like from the ground before being dropped. You stare at it and just wonder how anyone could ride it.	You do not need to stay in line to the Drop Tower (Kings Dominion ride) to try one of tower's seats. It is right there, in front of the ride. Check it out to see if you fit into it.	Entrance to Anaconda, a steel roller coaster built by Arrow Dynamics and operated at Kings Dominion park since 1991.
Anaconda (Kings Dominion park) is 128 feet (39 m) high and has the length of 2,700 feet (820 m) with maximum speed 50 mph (80 km/h) and max G force of 5.1. In the photo you can the train climbing the lift hill from which it will take a twisting dive into an underwater tunnel.	Anaconda (Kings Dominion park) is a looping coaster with one vertical loop, a sidewinder, and two corkscrews. Not a surprise it is rates as "aggressive thrill" ride (category 5) and requires min height of 48 inches.	Anaconda (Kings Dominion park) is installed over Lake Charles which adds to the theming of the coaster. The second part of the ride (part of it is illustrated by the photo) involves some twists and turns resulting in a bit of head banging, shifting in your seat and the illusion of falling into the water.	Entrance to Volcano, The Blast Coaster, in Kings Dominion park
Volcano coaster was opened at Kings Dominion park in 1998. It has impressive specifications: height 155 feet (47 m), length 2,757 ft (840 m), max speed 70 mph (110 km/h), max G force 4. Volcano is one of few inverted coasters with trains beneath the track. Volcano is a strong "aggressive thrill" ride (category 5) requiring 54 inches of min height.	The Volcano coaster remains one of if not the most popular roller coasters in Kings Dominion park. Even with the new Intimidator 305 (we will cover it later), many riders think Volcano has a superior design which combines the intensity of the ride with its smoothness. The photo shows the view on Volcano from the Grove section of the park.	Volcano's theming (Kings Dominion park) is based on a volcanic eruption; the fireball effect adds to the atmosphere of the ride. The picture shows the train station entrance.	Volcano (Kings Dominion park) roller coaster has 3 trains with 4 cars per train. Each car can carry 4 riders arranged in 2 rows (total 16 riders per train).
One of the favorite elements of the Volcano coaster (Kings Dominion park) is its "roll-out" section which is more akin to aerobatic maneuvering: it starts with a vertical section followed by a loop to rotate the train upside down and ending with a half-corkscrew.	I cannot tell you how this element is called - whether it is an "inline twist" or "heartline roll" or something else the photo clearly illustrates the intensity of and the thrill of Volcano, The Blast Coaster at Kings Dominion park.	The entrance to the area of Kings Dominion park where Intimidator 305 is located is as impressive as the roller coaster itself. I guess such gate serves its purpose of preparing riders for the Voted Best New Roller Coaster of 2010.	Intimidator 305 is a steel roller coaster designed and built by Intamin Worldwide operated at Kings Dominion park since 2010. Its height is 305 feet (93 m); length is 5,100 feet (1,600 m) with max speed of 93 mph (150 km/h). I could not find any official data on max G forces, but they are clearly very high since riders experience grayouts and even blackouts (which resulted in modifying the coaster).
The photo with the display next to Intimidator entrance illustrating various elements of the coaster.	The general view of Intimidator 305 (Kings Dominion park) from the ground. Intimidator 305 is the most aggressive thrill ride (rated category 5 with min 54 inch height requirement) remarkable for high speeds and extended periods of high G-forces (both positive and negative). Park management warns that only guests in good physical and mental condition should attempt the ride.	Intimidator 305 (Kings Dominion park) - train station. The coaster has 2 trains with 8 cars per train. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 32 riders per train.	Intimidator 305 (Kings Dominion park) - the lift hill is 305 feet at its peak following by 300 feet, almost free fall descent at 85 degrees.
Intimidator 305 (Kings Dominion park) - the roller coaster loops are not as twisted as in some other coasters, but this does not make them less intense. Intimidator 305 is all about speed and G-forces, and you will have enough of both during its 3-minute ride.	Intimidator 305 (Kings Dominion park) - one of the sections of the roller coaster where riders experience airtime (the feeling of weightlessness or negative gravity force).	As its name suggests, Dominator is another "aggressive thrill" ride (category 5) roller coaster (min height 54 inches). The ride was originally built for Geauga Lake Wildwater Kingdom park Ohio in 2000. When the latter was transformed in a pure waterpark, the ride was relocated to Kings Dominion park in 2008.	The view on Dominator (Kings Dominion). It is 161 feet (49 m) high with 148 feet (45 m) drop. The length is 4,210 feet (1,280 m); max speed is 65 mph (105 km/h) with max G forces of 3.8.
Dominator roller coaster was opened at Kings Dominion park in the former bus parking lot. You can still feels that the space is a bit different from the rest of the park mostly because of the lack of trees.	Dominator (Kings Dominion) has 3 trains with 8 cars per train. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train. The coaster design includes 5 inversions (turning riders upside-down). Dominator's prominent elements include a vertical loop, a cobra roll (inversion in a shape of cobra's head) and interlocking corkscrews (corkscrews spinning around each other)	Dominator (Kings Dominion park) - the 161-foot tall lift hill. From its top, riders plunge down a 148-foot (45 m) drop (reaching the speed of 65 mph or 105 kmh) into one a vertical loop.	Dominator (Kings Dominion park) 135 feet tall vertical loop (the world's second tallest).
Interlocking corkscrew elements of Dominator (Kings Dominion park) roller coaster.	Dominator (Kings Dominion park) coaster is floorless. With this design trains ride above the track and allow the passengers' legs to dangle. Floorless design results in an unblocked view of the tracks below which in its turns allows for more intense experience from the more freedom perceived.	Tornado (opened 2007) is a 65-foot-tall slide which spits riders out into a large funnel. Both, the slide and the funnel are quite visible in the picture. Tornado is a very serious and intense ride; it is rated as "aggressive thrill" (category 5). Min height required is 48 inches.