Kings Dominion offers rides, amusement for the whole family

Kings Dominion is an amusement park located 20 miles north of Richmond and 75 miles south of Washington, D.C., off of Interstate 95.

The 400-acre park opened in 1975 and is currently owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company,

The Anaconda provides thrills for those bold enough to ride it.

which purchased Paramount Parks from CBS Corporation in 2006. It offers 60 rides, shows and attractions including 15 roller coasters and a 20-acre water park.

A campground was completed in time for the 1978 season and the park’s well-known Lost World Mountain debuted in 1979. Originally, the Lost World featured three rides: a flume ride called Voyage to Atlantis, a children’s attraction mine ride known as Land of the Dooz, and a rotor called Time Shaft.

A 20-acre water park addition called Hurricane Reef opened in 1992. Kings Dominion continued its growth when it became part of Paramount Parks in 1993 and switched its name to Paramount’s Kings Dominion.

In 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. announced that they were purchasing all five Paramount Parks. The park retained its Paramount’s Kings Dominion name through the end of the 2006 season and reverted to its original Kings Dominion name beginning in the 2007 season.

In 2007, Kings Dominion announced the Dominator, a floorless roller coaster, would be located in the International Street section. For the 2010 season, Kings Dominion installed Intimidator 305, a 305-foot-tall gigacoaster themed to the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt. For the 2012 season, Kings Dominion will install WindSeeker in the Grove section of the park next to Juke Box Diner and a second new attraction, Dinosaurs Alive will also debut.

For more information, go to www.kingsdominion.com.