Volume 1, No. 5. April 6, 2001
It’s a junior coaster!
Paramount’s Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio, announces the arrival of the Rugrats Runaway Reptar, April 4, 2001 (1,129 feet long, 52 feet high, 25 mph fast). Delivered by Vekoma International.
Sure, it is a prototype: the world’s first inverted junior coaster. But the technology is so tried and true that when Reptar made its first test run, it did so during a snowfall. "And it ran without a hitch," said Kings Island General Manager Tim Fisher. "That was an omen, my friend! I felt good about that, and we have a good feeling about this year."
Especially when the media introduction to the ride Wednesday came on a splendid spring day. Nick Cannon from Nickelodeon’s SNICK House and Maralyn "Mad Dog" Hershey, an early exited contestant from Survivor II: The Australian Outback, along with more than 60 Boy and Girl Scouts helped cut the ribbon on Reptar and the park’s old flume ride, re-themed as The Wild Thornberrys River Adventure. The two rides, along with a Blue’s Clues meet-and-greet station, comprise a new Nickelodeon Central area, which replaces the Splat City attraction.
Though the park highlighted the Thornberrys River Adventure in the opening ceremony, with Hershey, Donnie Thornberry, and two scouts taking the first waterfall, it was Reptar’s first public runs which gave the day it’s distinction. Kings Island now boasts itself as the kiddie coaster capital of the world with four sub-adult tracks; notably, Reptar is the park’s first true inverted coaster on any level.
On its initial runs, in which Reptar showed unexpected giddyap winding through its multi-level helixes, the new coaster appealed to fans both junior and adult, including Cannon. The teen star has been riding coasters "since I was, like, 5," and counts visiting amusement parks as one of the highlights of his touring. Of Reptar, he said, "It was short, but definitely cool."
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