Fly with The Original Bat - 50th Anniversary Archives

Relive this legendary attraction with a never-before-seen on-ride POV of one of the very first test runs during construction in early 1981.
“On October 29, 1980, Kings Island announced their latest and greatest record-breaking attraction - The Bat, the world's first true suspended roller coaster. Originally located in the Coney Mall section of the park, The Bat would take riders for a flight up to 34 mph, swinging side-to-side at a maximum angle at 90 degrees. The ride opened in 1981 and took its last flights just two years later in 1983 due to it being a prototype ride, unfortunately plagued with mechanical issues. The legacy of The Bat has not been forgotten, however, as many other Arrow suspended roller coasters have been met with tremendous success thanks to learning from the ride. For the 2014 season, Kings Island re-themed and renamed Flight Deck (originally Top Gun) to The Bat, to honor its predecessor and Kings Island's coaster history.” #kingsisland #thebat #rollercoasters