Despite the weather, Kings Island opened their doors for their 41st season and 40th anniversary today. The liveliness of the start of another park season has arrived in the southwestern Ohio region went without a hitch, though the weather sure didn't cooperate with early day thunderstorms, rain, wind, dark clouds, and sub-60 temperatures.

Guests will find several new items in store for the 2012 season. First, the park has upgraded and changed a large portion of their menu, including healthier food items such as all-beef never-frozen burgers, gluten-free pizza, fruit, salads, and more. Also new in food is the addition of cheesesteaks at Snake Pit (near Diamondback), and a new Mexican menu at Outer Hanks (in addition to their normal selections). Coke Freestyle machines (though absent on opening day), will be found at eateries across the park as well, providing nearly unlimited selections as to how guests can flavor their normal Coke or Sprite.

Also new this year is a new show line up. The Feasthaus in Oktoberfest will feature another show in addition to their American Country show, to be known as British Invasion, which will feature hits by English pop artists such as the Beatles, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, and Queen among others. The other new show of interest is Remember When: The 70's at International Showplace, with disco hits from the 1970's.

Fast Lane will be expanded this year to accommodate 24 rides, the list including the following- Diamondback, Beast, Delirium, Drop Tower, Firehawk, Flight of Fear, Invertigo, Racer, Vortex, Windseeker, Backlot Stunt Coaster, Zephyr, Monster, Adventure Express, Scrambler, Shake Rattle and Roll, Congo Falls, Viking Fury, Eiffel Tower, Dodgem, Boo Blasters on Boo Hill, Surf Dog, Race for Your Life Charlie Brown, and Flying Ace Aerial Chase. Dinosaurs Alive! also makes a return run, with the 3D movie now free with park admission.

Speaking of rides, a few changes in the line up are in store. Crypt was dismantled during the off season as the park stated it was at the end of its service life. Invertigo and Congo Falls in Action Zone recieved new paint with Invertigo undergoing a complete paint makeover, going from yellow and red to teal and blue. Son of Beast will remain closed this season, the park stating it hasn't come to a decision and they're looking over options in a recent story by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Finally, on May 26th, the park will unveil Soak City, the re-branding and expansion of the Boomerang Bay water park. The area doubles to 33 acres and becomes the largest water park in the region. A 2nd wave pool at 650,000 gallons has been built to supplement the original wave pool, also including bigger, more intense waves. The lazy river has been upgraded to the action packed Splash River, with more rapids and splash features along with easier-to-access 0-depth pools to enter it. There will be more cabanas and open, grassy areas for lounging, sand volleyball courts, repainted and renamed slides, a new indoor Subway location, and a new entrance accessible to all guests, whereas before it was only for gold and platinum pass holders. The water park will continue to be part of Kings Island admission.

With the park turning 40, a certain ride also deserves praise for making it this far. The double tracked Racer, the ride which is credited as starting the 2nd big coaster and park building boom in the US (also known as the 2nd Golden Age to enthusiasts). The ride itself has undergone an interesting history on its own as its waded through the years with the park. After the first year, the park and Racer were so popular that it had low capacity issues, so a 5th car was added to the trains in 1973. However, due to the increased length and weight, the train occasionally stalled before the big hill and before the final brakes, so chain drives were added to those locations and can still be seen though the chains are absent. In 1982 with the failing Bat in toe, the park turned the south side backwards, later to be put back to forwards in 2007, the park stating it wanted to put them running in their original form. In 1996, both the opening of Outer Limits Flight of Fear and new trains prompted a hill to be taken away to extend the brake run and provide a walkway to the new launch coaster.

Stay tuned to COASTER-net for the coverage of Soak City's opening and other major stories and announcements for this 2012 season!