The Bat

The Bat is a steel roller coaster at Kings Island, Ohio, where cars hang beneath the track and swing through tight turns and descents. The design brings riders close to the ground and to the lateral elements along the course.

The installation opened in 1993 and took the place of an earlier attraction, recalling a previous coaster from 1981. Today's design uses more advanced engineering than its predecessors.

The name connects to the fluttering motion of the cars beneath the track, a theme that has drawn guests to amusement parks for decades. Many riders return year after year to experience this style of coaster.

Passengers must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall to ride, and the coaster reaches speeds up to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) along a 2,352-foot (717 m) track. It is wise to secure loose items, as the swinging motion can dislodge them from pockets.

The orange track and charcoal support columns form a sharp contrast against the sky at dusk. Many visitors notice how the lighting highlights the lines of the course after sunset.