The Not-So-Hidden Details of Jungle X-Pedition at Kings Dominion

Until recently, the former Safari Village at Kings Dominion was facing a bit of an identity crisis. Over the years, the land had originally featured an actual Safari (that opened in 1974, prior to Kings Dominion’s official opening date in 1975), and later was renamed Congo, then back to Safari Village. Fortunately, when Kings Dominion announced that the area would become Jungle X-Pedition in 2022, not only were there “Expeditions” on the Horizon, but there was new life for one of the park’s areas on the horizon as well.

During a recent visit to the park, we explored some of everything that “Jungle X” had to offer. The attractions, the new theming, the food, the new story. We left no stone unturned. On the surface, it might seem like there wasn’t a major overhaul to the area — but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Join us on a photo X-ploration through “Jungle X.” (sorry, we won’t do this again.)

Entering Jungle X

Upon entering Jungle X-Pedition, park guests are faced with a “Park Map” that feels a little bit like “Amusement Park” meets “National Geographic.” The area was creatively depicted as more of a hand-drawn jungle explorer’s map than traditional “here’s where you’ll find the roller coaster and bathrooms.” The map, along with other art in the land, were designed by Orlando-based artist Emory Alvarado, and she managed to include some great details in the map. That “far off mountain range” top center looks a lot like Intimidator 305’s first drop, doesn’t it?

The theming in “Jungle X” is focused on “temples” that are devoted to different animals. According to this map, there are six planned temples in the area. Currently, there are three established temples in Jungle X-Pedition — one each for Monkeys (Tumbili), Crocodiles (Reptilian), and Spiders (Arachnidia). The fourth temple, dedicated to serpents, is somewhat self-explanatory — and most-likely (a guess) will be focused around Anaconda. The other two future temples are certain to drive theme park fans nuts for the immediate future — one dedicated to Bird/Avian/Hawk, and one devoted to some sort of Jungle Cat. Currently, there are no other attractions in the immediate area currently themed to birds or felines, so this will be something to keep an eye on.

Near the bathrooms at the entrance to Jungle X-Pedition are six more posters that were designed by Alvardo. Three are themed to the new and newly-rethemed attractions in the area – Tumbili, Arachnidia, and Reptilian – while the others are themed to attractions from Kings Dominion’s past, featuring NatGeo-esque depictions of Diamond Falls (chute the shoots where Backlot Stunt Coaster Currently resides), Land of the Dooz, and the former mountain that housed a number of attractions – described as Kings Peak.

Safari Village’s former Coca-Cola Refresh Station has been flipped, and a more theme-park-esque (while still keeping theming) map is also to be seen right at the entrance of Jungle X-Pedition.

Flat Rock

Formerly housing one of those near-impossible “toss the wiffle ball in a basket” games, this area of midway has been removed and made way for the labyrinth stage known as Flat Rock, where a show will take place later this season. The new stage features the phases of the moon, and the six animal temple symbols mentioned earlier — Monkeys, Crocodiles, Spiders, Snakes, Birds, Jungle Cats.

Sensing a little bit of a theme here, right? In talking to the park, everyone is very excited about this show, and it will feature a very large (for theme park standards) cast! More details to come on that soon, we suppose!

The Rides

When this area was Safari Village, the rides in the greater area felt like a bit of a hodge-podge of random attractions with little-to-no cohesive theming. There was Avalanche, themed to Olympic Bobsledding, the generic “The Crypt” Top Spin that was a generic version of a former Tomb Raider attractions, and the more generic Scrambler attraction, that seemed just plopped down in Safari Village with no rhyme or reason. However, the attractions in Jungle-X now all feature the consistent storyline surrounding the new land.

Theming has been added, and will continue to be added throughout Jungle X-Pedition. Tumbili’s Monkey-themed temple pays homage to primates with multiple thematic elements. Even the supports for the ride have been painted to resemble bamboo stalks, a consistent motif.

With Avalanche becoming Reptilian, the ride’s sign got a thematic facelift.

The coaster’s bobsled track and supports also got a refresh as part of the new theming, now mimicking the Crocodile-Alligator-Reptile sliding through a clay colored structure. No longer are the cars Olympic Bobsled themed, and instead sport a brown paint job with reptile scales along the back. While we couldn’t take photos, there was a good amount of theming added to Reptilian’s brake run, symbolizing explorers and their gear, discovering the temple of the Reptile.

Even the fencing around the supports and the post ride exit tunnel has received an update and refresh! Check out the cave paintings!

Theming is ongoing for Arachnidia, who also has a new icon sign. The icon signage for Tumbili had not yet been installed during our visit, but will adorn the 4-D Freespin coaster later this season.

It will look something like this.

Volcano: The Blast Coaster’s former station is still standing, and has been labeled as a research center. We can’t wait to “research” what will occupy this space next!

The Outpost Cafe

Formerly known as Outer Hanks, Livingston’s and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., the new Outpost Cafe features a hand-painted metal marquee. It is scheduled to open later this spring.

Work was still underway at the Tin Goose bar, named for Professor Winston Whey’s fictional plane, which is located adjacent to the Outpost Cafe.

On the subject of planes, guests will notice a large silver aircraft parked outside of the Outpost Cafe. While you might think it’s the Tin Goose, it’s actually not! (Fun Fact: This plane was actually found in North Carolina and brought to Kings Dominion to be part of the Jungle X-Pedition theming.)

This darker patch of painted asphalt is meant to resemble a “Landing Strip” for Explorers’ planes to land at “Base Camp.” More theming is scheduled to come later this season! The remaining asphalt that was formerly in Safari Village has now been replaced with brick pavers.

Elsewhere, Hungry Hippo has become the Jungle Market Eatery, and the scenery in front of the restaurant reflects its “Market” theme.

X-Plorers’ Supplies

Jungle X-Pedition’s retail outlet, X-Plorers’ Supplies is scheduled to open soon. We got a brief look inside (sorry, no photos!) and the new store will be a perfect outpost for park guests and X-Plorers alike to purchase their provisions. It looks amazing inside.

A look inside a display window for X-Plorers’ Supplies shows a huge amount of heavily themed artifacts, Tumbili merchandise, and in true Cedar Fair fashion, a few “Easter Eggs.” (In talking to Tony Turner, the park’s Head of Creative Services for Live Entertainment – who we interviewed on the Coaster101 podcast! – these details are intentional, and as a big theme park geek in his own right, he loves paying homage to other attractions!)

Fans of Kings Island and California’s Great America…notice anything interesting in these photos?!

Down to the Last Detail

Everywhere you turn in Kings Dominion’s Jungle X-Pedition, there is a ton of theming and detail that adds new life to the land.

The park brought in a number of palm trees to better fit the theme of jungle foliage.

Do you notice the bamboo light post? These were up-cycled from the Volcano queue line, another neat homage to a past attraction in the area.

This speaker? Yeah. Not actually connected to any form of audio, and according to Turner, was placed there because “it just looks cool.”

You may ask yourself. “Where did Kings Dominion buy all this theming?” The answer is obviously Crate & Barrel! … ba dum tissss.

As for mentions of birds and jungle cats, I guess we’ll just have to wait for the future to find out just what Kings Dominion has in store…

…though you could always ask the Dippin’ Dots guy. (in his thematically correct and refreshed stand.)


The best way to learn more about Jungle X-Pedition and what’s lurking in the jungle is to visit the park for yourself. Kings Dominion is open on weekends and holidays through Memorial Day, before beginning daily operation on Tuesday, May 31. For more information about Kings Dominion and Jungle X-Pedition without actually visiting the park — visit the park’s website, and follow Kings Dominion on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Until then: Always be Discovering!

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