Next year, Kings Island’s Soak City Water Park will debut two new attractions designed to delight families and thrill-seekers alike.
RiverRacers, the first and only dual-racing water coaster in Ohio, and Splash River Junction, a new kids’ play area featuring seven water slides, promise to bring fresh excitement to the water park. However, as impressive as these additions are, they may not be enough to draw serious water park enthusiasts from beyond the local market.
RiverRacers will offer a side-by-side racing experience, with rafts plunging down a 33-foot, 47-degree first drop at speeds of up to 30 mph. Riders will be propelled upward through an enclosed tunnel by powerful water jets, with special lighting effects enhancing the thrill. The ride concludes with a high-banking slingshot turn and a final mega drop. With a height of 48 feet and a length of 530 feet, RiverRacers is certainly a fun addition—but it pales in comparison to some of the water coasters just a short drive away.
Splash River Junction, the new kids’ area, will offer young guests gentle slopes and turns on seven water slides, along with Bluegill Lagoon, an old-fashioned swimming hole complete with a water tower. Hundreds of new loungers and chairs will be available around the area, offering seating options in both sun and shade.
I appreciate Kings Island’s effort to expand Soak City, but it’s hard not to feel that these new attractions fall short when compared to the world-class thrills available at nearby parks. Just three hours away, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, offers three water coasters that truly set the standard.
Take Mammoth, for example, a 1/3-mile water coaster that holds a Guinness World Record and won the 2023 Water Park Ride of the Year Golden Ticket Award from Amusement Today. Towering seven stories and covering more than three acres, Mammoth uses Linear Induction Motor (LIM) technology to propel six-passenger boats uphill after each breathtaking drop. With its round boats spinning riders in all directions—even backward and in the dark—Mammoth offers a unique, heart-pounding experience.
Wildebeest, another standout at Holiday World, held the title of World’s #1 Water Park Ride for over a decade before Mammoth took the crown. This 1/3-mile-long ride delivers two-and-a-half minutes of exhilarating drops, twists, and turns, also powered by LIMs. Its conveyor-style lift hill makes the ride accessible to a wide range of guests, and its top speed and multiple hills provide an unmatched thrill.
Holiday World’s Cheetah Chase, the world’s first launched water coaster, adds yet another layer of excitement with its water-powered flat launch and head-to-head racing elements. Unlike other water coasters, Cheetah Chase’s uphill sections are powered by water, creating a uniquely drenching experience. The ride’s dueling zones and tight, saucer-like turns offer thrills that are hard to find elsewhere.
While Kings Island’s new attractions will undoubtedly be a hit with many guests, they lack the groundbreaking innovation and intensity that could elevate Soak City to a must-visit destination for water park aficionados. For those looking for truly world-class water coaster experiences, a trip to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari remains a top recommendation.
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