Kings Dominion’s new roller coaster ‘Rapterra’ opening in 2025
Kings Dominion will launch a new roller coaster, Rapterra, in 2025. Here’s what you need to know about the coaster ahead of its opening next year.
Virginia’s Kings Dominion amusement park is celebrating its 50th anniversary season with the unveiling of a brand-new ride, as announced July 31, 2024.
Bridgette Baywater, vice president and general manager of Kings Dominion, said, “We are excited to unveil Rapterra, the must-do ride of 2025 at Kings Dominion. This extraordinary addition promises new thrills for our guests, making it the perfect centerpiece for our 50th-anniversary celebration and reaffirming why Kings Dominion is the ultimate destination for unforgettable memories and exhilarating excitement.”
What to know about the Rapterra roller coaster at Kings Dominion
Billed as the “world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster,” Rapterra will simulate what it’s like to fly as a “legendary Jungle Hawk.” The Kings Dominion roller coaster promises “an intense initial launch, plunging dives, twisting maneuvers, and sweeping turns.” Fans of coaster construction can follow development and updates by connecting with Kings Dominion on Facebook, X, Instagram, or YouTube.
The immersive story of Rapterra is that it was once an ancient shrine built to honor the Jungle Hawk. The shrine was built at the base of a volcano, Mt. Inferno, and it was buried beneath volcanic rock when the magma chamber collapsed. Archeologists recently unearthed the Jungle Hawk shrine, and now visitors entering the shrine are linked to the powers and ability of the bird of prey. As the coaster launches at an acceleration of 65 miles per hour in four seconds, riders “fly” 145 feet into the air before steeply diving into the first of three total inversions.
Rapterra ride stats
Designed by manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, Rapterra will have two trains that accommodate up to 20 riders each. The track’s length is planned to be 3,086 feet, and the ride will last almost one and a half minutes. Potentially, the most exciting portion of the ride will be a 360-degree raptor roll, but riders will also appreciate an S-turn, a wing slide, a flat spin, and an airtime hill.
When will Rapterra open at Kings Dominion?
While the coaster will not officially open until 2025, construction is already underway. Rapterra is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024, and it will most certainly undergo safety testing and necessary finishing touches before it opens during the Kings Dominion 50th Anniversary celebration.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
No matter where you want to go, our trusted partner, MEI-Travel, will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. Visit MEI-Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
