The Beast

The Beast is a wooden roller coaster at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio, running over 7,300 feet through wooded terrain. The track includes two lift hills and several tunnels, with much of the course surrounded by dense tree cover.

The ride opened in 1979 and became the longest wooden roller coaster in the world at that time. This record still stands today, making it one of the oldest operating coasters to hold such a title.

The name came from the intention to create something wild and unpredictable moving through the woods like a living creature. Visitors today experience a ride designed to work with the natural surroundings, becoming even more dramatic at night with minimal lighting along the course.

Riders need to be at least 48 inches tall to board, with the journey lasting around four minutes from start to finish. The station sits in the Rivertown area of the park and can be reached on foot from nearby attractions.

At the bottom of the first drop sits a 141-foot tunnel that takes riders through near-total darkness. Immediately after, the track descends another 125 feet at a 45-degree angle.