CINCINNATI (WXIX) – Kings Island has announced the reimagining of a beloved ride from over 20 years ago, aiming to bring both laughs and scares to park visitors.
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Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare will be a comedic, fast-paced family adventure that will take riders through a dark and stormy night, through the reopening of the Phantom Theater as Maestro, the theater’s resident organist, plays and musical spirits wreak havoc on the theater, according to a news release from Kings Island.
Park visitors will use special spellbound flashlights to capture the ghosts with the help of usher, No Legs Larry, the release said.
The interactive experience will feature 26 scenes, including backstage areas, haunted hallways, dressing rooms and a fiery boiler room as visitors meet a cast of animatronics and returning characters.
The experience is an ode to the Phantom Theater, which was open from 1992 to 2002.
With the news that one of its iconic rides, which has lain dormant for more than 20 years, will shortly make a comeback in a redesigned form, Kings Island is poised to unite excitement and nostalgia.
The cherished attraction, which debuted decades ago and quickly became a fan favorite, is being resurrected with contemporary upgrades intended to excite a new generation of guests while preserving its original charm, the amusement park disclosed.
Park officials emphasized that the ride’s remaining will capture the spirit of the original while adding enhanced features, updated technology, and a refreshed theme. The objective is to engage younger visitors who have never been on the ride while also appealing to seasoned enthusiasts who have pleasant memories of it.
“Families who have visited Kings Island will remember how special the original Phantom Theater was, and they’ve always wanted it to return,” said Tony Carovillano, park manager of Kings Island. “While paying homage to the original ride, Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare’s modern and advanced features will help create new memories and stories for all who take their seat inside this amazing experience.”
The ride is set to replace Boo Blast, which the park announced its closure earlier this month.
Those looking to experience Boo Blast will have until Sept. 1, while Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare is setting its sights on an April 2026 opening.
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