When Kings Island opened its gates in 1972, the name felt like a perfect fit — a tribute to both its roots and its location. But the story behind the park’s iconic name offers a glimpse into the excitement surrounding its creation and the community’s role in shaping its identity.

The path to the name Kings Island began in 1970 when the management team of Cincinnati’s beloved Coney Island was planning a new amusement park in Mason, Ohio. Among the brainstorming sessions, ideas like “Kings World,” “Kings Mills Park,” and “Twin Oaks” emerged. But it was a “name the park” contest, launched later that year, that ultimately decided the park’s title.

On November 2, 1970, the winning name, Kings Island, was officially selected from over 100,000 entries. The name served as a nod to the park’s predecessor, Coney Island, and its new home in the Kings Mills area.

Rebecca Richards of Carroll, Ohio, submitted the winning entry and won a grand prize of a weeklong trip to Hollywood for up to four people. In addition to Richards’ win, 25 runners-up each received free tickets to Cincinnati’s Coney Island amusement park.

While other names like “Kings World” were considered, it’s hard to imagine the park being called anything other than Kings Island today. The name has become synonymous with family fun, record-breaking attractions, and a legacy that has spanned generations.

This fun piece of history is a reminder of how much anticipation surrounded the park’s opening, as the community’s imagination played a key role in creating a name that would resonate for decades to come.

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