The Beast
A legendary terrain-hugging wooden coaster that disappears deep into the woods for more than four minutes before building to one of the most intense finales at Kings Island.
Park
Kings Island
CoasterSchool Level
Level 4
Bigger Thrill Coasters
Type
Wooden Terrain Coaster
Minimum Height
48 in.
Should You Ride The Beast?
The Beast is a very different kind of Level 4 coaster. Its 110-foot lift hill is smaller than many modern thrill coasters, but the ride uses the surrounding terrain to create much larger drops, sustained speed, long tunnels, and more than four minutes of wooden-coaster movement.
There are no inversions or launches, and the first drop is not enormous by modern standards. Instead, The Beast gradually builds intensity as it travels farther into the woods before reaching its second lift hill and powerful final helix.
Riders who are comfortable with traditional wooden coasters like Racer but are ready for a much longer, faster, and more intense experience may be ready to face The Beast.
Best For
Riders who enjoy traditional wooden coasters and are ready for higher speeds, long stretches through wooded terrain, tunnels, stronger lateral forces, and a much longer ride.
Biggest Fear Factor
The final helix.
The Beast saves one of its strongest moments for the end, diving from the second lift into a tunnel before racing through an enclosed 540-degree helix with sustained speed and strong side-to-side forces.
CoasterSchool Take
The Beast creates its intensity through duration, terrain, speed, and increasingly powerful forces rather than extreme height or inversions. The experience gradually builds before reaching its famously intense finale.
That makes The Beast a distinctive Level 4 — Bigger Thrill Coaster and a significant step beyond Kings Island’s Level 3 wooden coasters.
Quick Facts
Key stats and ride details for The Beast at Kings Island.
Park
Kings Island
Location
Mason, Ohio
Manufacturer
Kings Island — Built In-House
Type
Wooden Terrain Coaster
Opened
1979
Height
110 ft
Speed
65 mph
Length
7,361 ft
Inversions
0
Ride Duration
About 4 min. 10 sec.
Minimum Height
48 in.
CoasterSchool Level
Level 4
DID YOU KNOW?
The Beast is still recognized as the longest wooden roller coaster in the world, with 7,361 feet of track.
When it opened on April 14, 1979, The Beast broke existing records for both the longest and fastest roller coaster in the world.
THE NIGHT RIDE
The Beast becomes an entirely different experience after dark.
Much of the coaster is hidden deep within Kings Island’s wooded terrain, so once daylight disappears riders can see very little of the track ahead.
The tunnels, long stretches through the woods, and enclosed final helix become dramatically darker, making the coaster feel faster and less predictable even though the ride itself has not changed.
What The Beast Feels Like
The Beast is less about individual elements and more about the experience of disappearing into the woods for an unusually long coaster journey that gradually becomes more intense.
The First Drop
The 110-foot lift hill leads into a terrain-assisted first drop of approximately 137 feet at 53 degrees.
It is not exceptionally steep by modern standards, but the drop immediately sends the train toward the first underground tunnel and begins the long journey away from the main park.
The Terrain and Speed
The Beast uses the natural terrain rather than a continuous series of large airtime hills.
Long straightaways, sweeping turns, tunnels, and changes in elevation allow the train to maintain speed while making riders feel increasingly removed from the rest of Kings Island.
The Second Lift Hill
Unlike most roller coasters, The Beast has a second lift hill late in the ride.
The slower climb creates a brief pause after the long first half, but it also gives riders time to realize that the coaster’s most intense section is still ahead.
The Final Helix
The second drop sends the train toward another tunnel before entering The Beast’s famous enclosed 540-degree helix.
The combination of speed, darkness, banking, wooden-coaster movement, and sustained lateral forces makes this finale noticeably more intense than much of the ride that comes before it.
COASTERSCHOOL RIDING TIPS
Tips for a Better Ride
Seat Choice
Seat choice can make a noticeable difference in how much wooden-coaster movement you feel on The Beast.
- Middle row of a three-row car: Usually a better choice for riders looking for a smoother first experience
- Back: Stronger pull over the drops and a more aggressive overall ride
Body & Restraint
Staying centered and properly secured can make the long wooden-coaster experience considerably more comfortable.
- Make sure the seat belt is comfortably snug before the lap bar is secured
- Stay centered in the seat through the turns and final helix instead of fighting the coaster’s side-to-side movement
During the Ride
The Beast builds toward its strongest section rather than delivering everything immediately after the first drop.
- Expect the first half to feel like a long, fast journey through the woods rather than a constant series of airtime hills
- After the second lift hill, be prepared for a noticeably more forceful drop, tunnel, and final helix
Watch The Beast Ride Preview
See The Beast from a rider’s perspective before getting in line. The Ride Preview will show the 110-foot lift, terrain-assisted first drop, tunnels, long wooded sections, second lift hill, and famous final helix so riders can understand why this coaster feels much more intense than its height alone suggests.
Where Do You Go From Here?
Coaster progression isn’t a checklist. Choose the next ride based on what felt comfortable, or what still felt intimidating.
Not Ready for The Beast Yet?
Racer — Level 3
Build confidence on a shorter traditional wooden coaster that introduces wooden-coaster movement, speed, and airtime without The Beast’s length, isolation, or intense final helix.
Try Racer →
Ready for a Bigger Challenge?
Diamondback — Level 4
Trade The Beast’s long wooded terrain experience for enormous height, 80 mph speed, exposed seating, and sustained floating airtime.
Explore Diamondback →