Kings Dominion will Soar to New Heights and Roar Back in Time with Two New Attractions for 2012

RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kings Dominion will soar and roar into 2012 with the addition of two new attractions to the park's already world-class ride and attraction lineup.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110901/CL60963 )

WindSeeker, a towering 30-story-tall swing ride will rise almost as high as Kings Dominion's iconic Eiffel Tower, and park visitors can step back in time with Dinosaurs Alive!, a unique new interactive dinosaur exhibit.

WindSeeker features a 301-foot-tall tower that will spin riders nearly 30 stories above ground. Seated in two-person swings that will allow their feet to dangle, riders will slowly begin rotating in a circular motion as the swings ascend the tower. At the top, the swings will be reaching speeds between 25-30 mph, flaring out almost 45 degrees from the tower. WindSeeker will be able to accommodate 64 riders (32 swings) at one time.

"Spinning almost 300 feet above Kings Dominion and the adjacent countryside will be a very exciting ride experience for our guests," said Pat Jones, the vice president and general manager of Kings Dominion. "During the day, or at night when the ride will be illuminated with spectacular lighting, WindSeeker will provide riders with dramatic views of the park and surrounding attractions. I have no doubt it will be an extremely popular addition to Kings Dominion."

WindSeeker will be located near the present location of the Skyflier attraction and the Juke Box Diner. For comparison purposes, Windseeker riders will soar just above riders on the park's popular Drop Tower attraction. Wave Swinger, the park's original swing ride that opened in 1975, is 31 feet tall and has a top speed of 9 mph.  

Kings Dominion will also invite guests to step back in time to periods between 245 million and 65 million years ago as they walk through Dinosaurs Alive! the park's unique new six-acre animatronic dinosaur attraction. Thirty six life-sized dinosaurs are on display in Dinosaurs Alive!, including several animatronic models, in a spectacular outdoor Jurassic forest setting.

The multi-sensory and interactive dinosaur park brings inspiration, science and technology together at Kings Dominion where guests also hear the sounds and see the movements of 36 full-sized animatronic creations made to replicate nearly every feature of the dinosaurs. Each of the animatronic dinosaurs is hand-carved and covered with skin-like materials.

The Dinosaur Alive! entrance and exit will be located next to the Park's Grizzly rollercoaster entrance, and as guests walk through the attraction they will see and experience what the dinosaurs ate, when and where they lived, how they protected themselves, and how they adapted to their prehistoric world.

Highlights of Dinosaurs Alive! include the vicious-looking Irritator and its cousins the Baryonyx and the Spinosaurus, the lizard-like Stegosaurus, the meat eating Tyrannosaurus Rex, the three horned Triceratops and the flying Pteranodon. Several of the dinosaurs have interactive consoles that allow guests to guide dinosaur movement so they can see how scientists believe each dinosaur moved its arms, tail, mouth and eyes. There is also an excavation site replica, a kids' paleontological dig site where visitors can uncover prehistoric fossils, and a dinosaur-themed gift shop.

"Dinosaurs Alive! is a first of a kind attraction for Kings Dominion and reflects our commitment to providing our guests with world-class fun and family entertainment," Kings Dominion vice president and general manager Pat Jones said. "The sights, sounds and movements of the life-like dinosaurs will excite and educate guests of all ages."

Dinosaurs Alive! at Kings Dominion will be open daily. The dinosaur park is not included with general park admission or season pass. A separate admission ticket is required for this attraction.

Kings Dominion is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FUN."  In addition to Kings Dominion, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, six water parks, one indoor water park resort, and five hotels.  Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, Calif. under a management contract.

SOURCE Kings Dominion