Kings Island to Remove Firehawk

Kings Island today announced that it will close the Firehawk flying coaster at the end of October.

R.I.P. Firehawk. Final rides will begin this weekend, with its last days of operation occurring during the final weekend of Halloween Haunt and The Great Pumpkin Fest, October 26-28. #FirehawkFinalFlights #KIFirehawk pic.twitter.com/XmQO7ajsiF

— Kings Island (@KingsIslandPR) September 27, 2018

In a post on the park’s official blog, Don Helbig, area manager of digital marketing at Kings Island, said:

Firehawk has been a guest favorite throughout its 12 seasons at Kings Island, which is why the announcement was made now so fans of the coaster can get in their final rides before it closes in five weeks. Although it remains popular, the ride has reached the end of its service life.

Firehawk stands 115 feet tall and reaches a top speed of 50 mph along its 3,340 feet of track, which includes five inversions. The Vekoma “Flying Dutchman” model first opened at Geauga Lake (then Six Flags Worlds of Adventure) in Aurora, Ohio, in 2001.

After being seated, guests are reclined into a laying down position before departing the station in reverse. This differs from manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard’s flying coaster, which tilts riders up so that they are facing forward and looking down as they dispatch.

Firehawk’s final days of operation will be October 26-28, 2018, during the final weekend of Halloween Haunt and The Great Pumpkin Fest.

Firehawk’s closure (assuming it is not relocated) will leave only two Flying Dutchman coasters in operation: Nighthawk at Carowinds and Batwing at Six Flags America.

Batwing at Six Flags America (L) and Nighthawk at Carowinds (R)

While Kings Island has not revealed what will replace Firehawk, we’ve speculated that Kings Island may be home to one of three B&M 200+ feet-tall coasters coming in 2020.

Time will tell.