Saturday, June 10 will see the debut of Adventure Port at Kings Island, the park’s newest themed area and its big addition for the 2023 season.
Cargo Loco (Kings Island)
Located between the Coney Mall and Action Zone sections, Adventure Port will feature two new family flat rides: Cargo Loco, a spinner where guests sit in barrels instead of tea cups, and Sol Spin, an Enterprise ride that reaches a height of 60 feet and a top speed of 25 miles per hour.
Sol Spin (Kings Island)
The centerpiece of Adventure Port is a revamped Adventure Express roller coaster. The 1991 Arrow mine train now sports additional theming and a relocated queue.
New theming for Adventure Express (Kings Island)
The coaster’s new backstory about “a surprise treasure-hunting mine train expedition” ties into a larger theme for Adventure Port, which Kings Island calls a “hub for explorers searching for the lost city’s forbidden temple, fabled riches and mysterious wonders.”
“Over the past several months I’ve been truly amazed to see how this area of the park has been transformed into telling an immersive story of adventure and exploration,” Mike Koontz, vice president and general manager of Kings Island, said in a press release. “The rides we’ve added are a perfect complement to the park’s offerings, and we took advantage of the new area to continue to showcase the quality of our food and beverage offering.”
The area also features two revamped food and beverage options. Mercado Patio Bar replaced the former beer garden and Enrique’s restaurant is an update to the existing Hank’s Mexican Grill.
Adventure Port is one of several family-oriented, smaller-scale additions made across the Cedar Fair chain for 2023, with similar enhancements made at Cedar Point, Knott’s Berry Farm and Canada’s Wonderland. Kings Island’s last major thrill ride was 2020’s Orion roller coaster.