Kings Dominion is turning 50 in 2025. The Doswell amusement park has announced a number of special promotions for its anniversary season, including
Join us for a ride through Kings Dominion’s past.
An amusing history
Kings Dominion opened its gates on May 3, 1975. Its 740-acre site in Doswell was chosen for its proximity to Richmond and DC. Opening day attractions included the Rebel Yell roller coaster, Log Flume, and the signature Eiffel Tower.
Fun fact: KD’s Eiffel Tower is one-third the size of the real deal.
The sister park of Kings Island near Cincinnati, Kings Dominion got its name from Virginia’s moniker, Old Dominion.
The decades that followed would see the addition of legendary attractions. Wooden roller coaster the Grizzly opened in 1982, followed by the looping starship ride Berserker in 1984, stand-up coaster Shockwave in 1986, and the bobsled coaster Avalanche — now refurbished and called Reptilian — in 1987.
Kings Dominion debuted a six-acre waterpark called Hurricane Reef in 1992. It was expanded and renamed WaterWorks in 1999, then expanded and renamed again in 2015 as Soak City.
How KD is celebrating
There’s a lot on the agenda to ring in five decades at Kings Dominion. The park is planning a new nighttime musical performance with synchronized special effects, as well as displays with interactive artifacts. Guests can also expect to see some old food and drink favorites return to the menu, alongside new offerings.
The 2025 season will also feature the new attraction Rapterra, which is the world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster.
Want to get in on the fun? Season passes are on sale now.
Share your memories
Tell us your memories of Kings Dominion and you could be featured in a future newsletter.
Senior City Editor Robin here: I was very attached to Boo Boo’s Tree Swings as a young child, but I couldn’t quite take the thrills of the Scooby-Doo wooden roller coaster.
