The Beast — Attraction in Mason

I rode the Beast for the first time ever in July 2022. I heard lots of criticism from the coaster community saying how forceless and boring it was. I rode it on July 3rd and liked it but didn't love it. I gave it a couple days and planned on riding it at close July 5th. I was again thinking," It's cool because of it's historical significance but nothing special." Our train rolled into the station, the guest who rode prior cheering after the ride they had just experienced. I got chills. Me and my friend took the back row of the last car. I wanted to have a more intense ride so I took a wheel seat hoping for some intensity. Something was different that night. There was no clouds it was nearly eleven at night. The forest was pitch black. We had been waiting until the firework show ended. The air was heavy and the breeze was brisk but refreshing. My friend and I boarded the PTC train and waited to be dispatched. The ops hurried to check all the restraints and did so efficiently. I had ridden Voyage at Holiday World, three days before this. It put the Beast to shame. But my opinion of this 70s wooden coaster was about to change. The ops gave us the all clear. We ascended the absurdly slow lift hill. As the second train cleared the second lift we started to pickup speed. I knew about the track work that the Gravity Group had done to Beast over the offseason. When we rode it in the middle row of the back car the first day and I thought the 53 degree drop was lacking. But the very back delivered, with a solid dose of floater down most of the drop. We roared around the first turn and got gut punched by a trim before the second drop. Really sapped the ride of its speed but I was still hopeful. We took the next turn a bit faster than I remembered. I was getting excited again at this point. The midcourse was annoying but luckily didn't seem to hit as hard. The next two turns were substantially better than before. We rushed out of the second tunnel into the next three turns. This time getting actual laterals, the ride feeling a lot more alive. We got to the second lift and went further up than we had before. The blinding lights at the top and the dark woods surrounding us. The trees blended in seamlessly with the sky. I looked at my friend and said," Wow it's hauling right now!" But the best part was yet to come. We started to crest the second left, starting slowly into the drop towards the helix. It felt pretty much the same as before at first. My eyes made out the shape of the trim brake and saw the entrance to the tunnel ominously lit. I felt the trim hit the first two cars and thought," Ugh, REALLY!" But then, the trim stopped hitting. We picked up speed unbelievably faster than before. The train roared into the first half of the helix. The sense of speed was incredible and I felt the laterals and positive g's force me into my seat. We came out of the tunnel and I could see just how much faster we were going. The catwalk whizzing by unbelievably fast. The train thundered back into the second tunnel of the helix just as intense as the first half pinning me to the side of the car. We exited the final curve and dropped once more before rising into the brakes. At first I thought the Beast was gonna be cool but tame. But something about how the park runs it at night was different. It was the Beast I dreamed of as a kid. Overall, it became my second favorite coaster I had ridden on the trip. It was special. The Voyage is still my favorite coaster at the moment but the Beast resonated with me differently. It was this misunderstood coaster that people belittled but proved it's power that night. I came back the next night and got an equally intense ride on it. As I walked away I turned back to hear the cheers and screams of riders in the woods. I was feeling sad for how misunderstood the coaster was, regretting that I had thought so little of it and wishing that other enthusiasts could appreciate the Beast...

As a roller coaster enthusiast, I can confidently state that The Beast at Kings Island is a true gem in the world of roller coasters. It's not just a ride; it's an experience - a throwback to the golden era of wooden coasters that manages to deliver thrills that stand up to even the most modern steel giants.

As you approach The Beast, you're met with the iconic roar that wooden roller coasters are known for - a sound that instantly sets the heart racing. The aesthetic of the coaster is both rustic and intimidating, perfectly capturing the essence of its name.

Once you've strapped into the traditional trains, the anticipation builds as you slowly ascend the initial 110-foot lift hill. The view from the top is spectacular, but there's barely time to enjoy it as you're plunged into the first of many exhilarating drops.

The Beast is a masterclass in coaster design. It utilises the natural terrain to its advantage, weaving through the forest and hugging the ground to create an intense ride experience. At over 7,300 feet long, it's an incredibly lengthy ride by coaster standards, giving you more than four minutes of pure, adrenaline-fueled fun.

The two lift hills, a unique feature among roller coasters, only add to the excitement. Just when you think the ride might be coming to an end, you're taken up another hill and then released into a pitch-black tunnel, culminating in a heart-stopping helix that is undeniably the highlight of the ride.

Riding The Beast at night adds an entirely new level of thrill. The absence of light amplifies the sense of speed and unpredictability, making each twist, turn and drop feel even more intense. It's no wonder this ride is often considered one of the best night-time coaster experiences in the world.

However, The Beast is not just about raw speed and thrills. It also offers a remarkably smooth ride for a wooden roller coaster, thanks to Kings Island's commitment to regular maintenance and upkeep. This ensures that you can enjoy the raw, untamed power of The Beast without the uncomfortable jarring often associated with wooden coasters.

In conclusion, The Beast is a must-ride for any visitor to Kings Island. It embodies the spirit of classic coaster design, while still delivering a ride experience that is thrilling, unforgettable, and stands up to the best of modern coasters. Whether you're a seasoned coaster enthusiast or new to the thrill ride scene, you're sure to appreciate the unique, adrenaline-pumping journey that The...

The Beast is my personal favorite wooden coaster. Beast isn't for everyone, but it certainly IS for me. Without much airtime or even elements to speak of, Beast isn't really about the forces it exerts on you. It's more about the wild, high speed journey through the woods. The first drop goes into a tunnel, and the second drop goes into a ravine and deeper into the forest. After that, you slow down before a long dark tunnel, and when you emerge you're going much faster. You don't realize you're going slightly downhill, so the acceleration as you race through the trees is unexpected and exhilarating. The best moment happens when you tilt steeper downhill and race to the fastest moment of the ride before turning back up at the last second. This part of the ride isn't forceful, but it is fast, scenic, exhilarating, a bit rough, and maybe even scary. The speed comes from nowhere and you have no clue where you are.

This ride is so huge that it needs a second lift hill to pull you out of the ravine and out of the forest, but once you're out you face one of the best finales to any coaster: Beast's double helix, half enclosed and have in the open. You race towards it from a slight incline and pick up speed scarily in the same way you did in the woods, and the tunnel looks way too small. When you go into the tunnel you immediately hard bank left and get awesome lateral and positive g forces. You emerge and the forces let up until you turn back around and shoot right back into the tunnel, this time even smaller as you're under the track section you were just on. You emerge and slowly pull into the final brake run with barely any speed left and the ride ends.

This should go without saying but you should absolutely ride this in the front, at night, or both.

Beast is incredibly long, and is the ultimate terrain forest coaster, and it's absolutely deserving of its reputation as a beloved classic. It's absolutely the star attraction of Kings Island. No matter how much modern standards for thrills change, Beast should stay around, as there are no roller coasters in the world with its kind of thrill, and very few come close. Beast is one of a kind and it should...