This summer, I had the fantastic opportunity to go to an amusement park called Kings Island. Located in Mason, Ohio, the park opened in 1972 and is famous for its record-breaking roller coasters. I don’t consider myself a huge fan of roller coasters, and before I went to Kings Island, I hadn’t ridden one since I was nine. Thus, I approached Kings Island with some trepidation. What caused me to go was something my mom said. She said roller coasters can teach us something about overcoming fear, and they are proof of how far technology has come. Though coasters are scary, much is done to make sure the rides are safe. I am happy to say I enjoyed my time at Kings Island. I'm still thinking about the park two days later so I thought I would discuss four of the roller coasters my family and I rode.

Banshee

Banshee opened in 2014 and is the newest coaster in the park. It replaced Son of Beast, a wooden roller coaster that had many problems. Banshee is the longest inverted roller coaster in the world. For those who don’t know, an inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster where the cars hang from the tracks instead of traveling on top of them, as you can see in the below photo.

Banshee moves at 68 miles per hour (but it felt much faster), has a 150-foot drop, many loops and a zero-gravity roll.

This was the first roller coaster my family and I rode. I was terrified to go on Banshee and wasn’t sure if it was the best choice for my re-entry into the world of roller coasters. After all, the last roller coaster I rode was Journey to Atlantis at SeaWorld, which is relatively tame.

However, I agreed to ride Banshee with my mom and my brother. I made the mistake of not holding my head against the headrest, causing it to jerk around a lot. That made the ride incredibly uncomfortable, and afterward, I was very shaken. My brother said he had heard the people behind us yelling, “Get me off of this thing!” I would have to agree that those were my exact thoughts and could not wait for it to be over. All I had been able to hear was the scream of a banshee and feel the speed of the coaster take the breath right out of my mouth. I don’t know how the people behind us managed to talk.

If you are a roller coaster lover, you will probably have a great time on Banshee as the design is very well done. Though I personally didn't enjoy it, this roller coaster did teach me that I can get through hard times and I’m stronger than I realize.

Diamondback

This well-known roller coaster has a 215 feet drop, and at its fastest, travels at 80 miles per hour. It also features a splashdown, which is when a roller coaster makes contact with water. It is a very smooth ride, but the first drop (the 215 feet one) is very scary and feels like you’re falling through the air face-first. The train style was interesting as the seats were open to the air. I would probably go on it again, if I get the chance. Diamondback taught me that sometimes the anticipation is the worst part. Going up the 230-foot hill took what seemed like forever.

The Racer

The Racer is a classic wooden roller coaster and is one of the original Kings Island roller coasters, opening in 1972. We have The Racer to thank for renewing interest in roller coasters. Interestingly enough, it was featured in an episode of "The Brady Bunch" called “The Cincinnati Kids.” The idea behind this coaster is there are two sets of tracks and the trains race each other, reaching speeds of 53 miles per hour. Though it is a rickety ride, it is one of my favorites. It’s not as intense as Diamondback or Banshee, but it is still a lot of fun. It taught me that it helps to scream during the ride because it takes your mind off what is happening.

Firehawk

Firehawk is a flying roller coaster and upon its opening in 2001, it was the Midwest’s only flying roller coaster until 2003. The idea of it is to make one feel like they are a fighter pilot. I was intrigued by the concept but nervous about the coaster. I didn’t think I would like it, but I ended up loving it.

At speeds of 50 miles per hour, it is not incredibly fast. Riders wear a vest that locks them in, and there is a lap bar. At the roller coaster’s beginning, the seat reclines, so riders are lying down. The roller coaster then moves backward up a hill. After it crests the hill, it goes into a twist that flips the riders over so they are facing the ground. It feels like you’re flying! I had so much fun, screamed and shouted the entire time and would ride it again. The Firehawk taught me that it’s okay to be unique.

All in all, I had an excellent experience at Kings Island, and I'm glad I faced my fear of roller coasters. Roller coasters aren’t for everyone, but who knows — you might find one you like.