The 2020 season at Kings Island was supposed to be a celebration. We had a brand-new roller coaster ready to debut, excitement was building, and I couldn’t wait to see the park buzzing with energy again. But like nearly everything that year, plans changed — and changed fast.
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, the park I had called home for nearly two decades faced a challenge unlike anything I’d ever experienced: how to safely reopen one of the Midwest’s most popular amusement parks while the world around us grappled with uncertainty, fear, and daily reminders of just how quickly life could change.
The plan was set — at least in theory. Kings Island was scheduled to open on April 11, 2020, with Orion, a $30 million giga coaster boasting a 300-foot first drop and speeds of up to 91 mph, as the centerpiece of the season. But by March, everything came to a halt. Ohio’s governor ordered shutdowns of non-essential businesses, amusement parks included. That mid-April opening date? It slipped to May… then to “TBD.”
Behind the scenes, Kings Island felt like a ghost town. International Street sat silent. The familiar sound of coasters cycling never echoed across the park. Instead, our work shifted entirely online. Days were spent bouncing from Microsoft Teams call to Teams call — troubleshooting, planning, and rethinking every aspect of how we operated. For me, one of the most meaningful parts of those quiet months was finding ways to stay connected with our fans. We kept the conversation going, sharing content across our owned and shared channels to remind people that the park they loved was still here — just waiting for the day we could welcome them back. Meanwhile, like everyone else, I was working from home, following stay-at-home orders, and watching the world adjust to a new, uneasy normal.
Through it all, Cedar Fair, our parent company, made one thing clear: health and safety came first. We wouldn’t reopen until we could do so safely.
On June 9, Kings Island finally announced its reopening plan. Passholders would be welcomed back starting July 2, followed by the general public on July 12. But this wasn’t going to be the Kings Island experience we all remembered.
The park introduced its “Welcoming You Back” guide, outlining sweeping new safety protocols. Daily attendance was capped at roughly one-third of normal capacity. Guests had to make advance reservations, select arrival times, complete health screenings online, and pass a contactless temperature check at the gate. Anyone registering above 100.4°F was turned away.
Masks were mandatory for all guests over the age of two, except when eating or inside designated “RelaxZones,” shaded areas offering a socially distanced break from face coverings.
The rules sparked plenty of debate. Social media lit up with heated discussions, petitions circulated, and some guests vowed not to return until restrictions were eased. But park leadership held firm, knowing the only path forward was through caution and responsibility.
Inside the park, operations looked completely different. Social distancing markers lined the queues. Hand sanitizer stations became as common as trash cans. Ride capacity was reduced to ensure spacing. Acrylic barriers separated employees from guests at food stands and games. Even printed park maps were removed — replaced by oversized posted versions to limit touchpoints.
But even with all the changes, the spirit of Kings Island remained. I’ll never forget standing along International Street that opening morning, watching families stroll toward the Royal Fountain. Kids tugged at their parents’ hands, eyes wide with excitement as the Eiffel Tower loomed ahead. It looked different, sure — masks, distancing, hand sanitizer everywhere — but the energy, the joy, the anticipation? That was still real.
Some experiences had to wait. Grand Carnivale, Summer Nights, and other large-scale events were postponed to 2021. Operating hours were trimmed, with most days running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. But for those willing to adapt, there were still memories to be made — even behind a face covering.
To ease frustrations over the shortened season, Cedar Fair extended all 2020 season passes through 2021. Still, some guests pushed for refunds, leading to legal battles. In 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court sided with the park, ruling that the pass extensions were a fair solution to an unprecedented situation.
Looking back, the 2020 season still feels surreal. It tested us — forced us to adapt, problem-solve, and protect the experience families have cherished for generations. Reopening wasn’t just about logistics. It was about preserving the escape, the tradition, the thrills — even in the face of a global crisis.
It wasn’t perfect. There were challenges along the way — guests who pushed back against the rules, moments when the park’s atmosphere felt unfamiliar under layers of masks and distancing. But then I’d hear the roar of the roller coasters, see families having fun together, and it was clear the effort was worth it.
And that new giga coaster? Well, Orion gave guests a reason to come back, masks and all.
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