Paramount's Kings Dominion
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Paramount's Kings Dominion is located in Doswell, Virginia (25 miles north of Richmond, Virginia) on Interstate 95. The park is owned by Viacom and is part of the Paramount Parks chain.
Kings Dominion was opened in 1975 by Family Leisure Centers, a joint venture between Top Value Enterprises and Taft Broadcasting Company, both of Cincinnati, Ohio. The name derived from its Lion County Safari attraction which featured a small preserve of lions, ostrich, and other live exotic animals. Although the Lion Country Safari attraction was the first portion of the park to open, it was phased out by the late 1980s.
In 1993 Paramount purchased Kings Dominion and changed its name to Paramount's Kings Dominion.
Paramount's Kings Dominion has 12 roller coasters, the largest collection on the East coast, the oldest being the Rebel Yell and the junior coaster Scooby Doo.
In recent years, Paramount's Kings Dominion has added many new rides and attractions including a water park, the Hypersonic Xtreme Launch Coaster, and Drop Zone, the highest vertical drop ride in the U.S.
In addition to rides, Kings Dominion hosts many live concerts and performances. The park also has a private "Picnic Pavilion" for catered parties and company events.
Every year or so, schools visit the park for a "Science fieldtrip" where students study the physics of roller coasters first-hand.
Kings Dominion was one of the amusement parks featured in the 1977 movie Rollercoaster.
Ride/Attraction Timeline
- 2005: Tomb Raider Firefall (dark ride).
- 2004: Scooby Doo and the Haunted Mansion (flat ride).
- 2003: Drop Zone Stunt Tower (freefall ride)
- 2001: HyperSonic XLC (coaster).
- 1999: Expansion of Hurricane Reef water park to Waterworks.
- 1998: Volcano, The Blast Coaster (coaster).
- 1997: Taxi Jam (coaster).
- 1994: Hurler (coaster).
- 1992: Hurricane Reef water park.
- 1986: Shockwave (coaster).
- 1977: King Kobra (coaster), closed 1986.
- 1975: Rebel Yell (coaster).