Son Of Beast: World’s Tallest Wooden Roller Coaster To Be Dismantled

The tallest, fastest and second longest wooden roller coaster in the world, the “Son of Beast,” is to be torn down beginning this season.

Kings Island, a Mason, Ohio amusement park, initially made the announcement on its Facebook, and the news was confirmed via a statement provided to The Inquisitr by park spokesman Don Hellbig. The statement was brief.

“After a lengthy evaluation of all alternatives, Kings Island announced today the decision has been made to remove the Son of Beast roller coaster to make room for future park expansion. The dismantling of the ride, which last operated in 2009, will begin later this summer.”

The ride was shut down in 2009 after a women filed a lawsuit, claiming she was hurt on the ride.

“Son of Beast” opened in 2000 and has been standing but not operating since June of 2009. The ride was a sequel of sorts to world renowned “The Beast,” built in 1979. “Son of Beast” set out to crush nearly ever world record concerning wooden roller coasters, except one.

As “The Beast” held the record for world’s longest wooden roller coaster, the designers opted to keep “Son of Beast” shorter, allowing its predecessor to remain a record-holder. “Son of Beast” was also the first wooden coaster to include a loop, but the loop was removed following an accident in 2006.

At 218 feet, it is the world’s tallest wooden coaster. Its top speed of 78.4 miles per hour made it the fastest wooden coaster ever built as well.

The Cincinnati Enquirer attempted to learn Kings Island’s plans for the coaster in April of 2011, but the park said no decision had been made. In 1999 while writing about the new attraction, the Enquirer reported that a Kings Island official said, “We wanted to have the project of the millennium and I think we got it.”

The “Son of Beast” opened for one day before being shut down for the first of many times in its tumultuous life.

Kings Island is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.”