Kings Island's New Giga Coaster - Orion - Drops In For 2020 Season

© Kings Island

The much speculated new coaster for Kings Island's 2020 season has been revealed to be Orion, according to the park it will be one of only 7 giga-coasters in the world.

Orion will be the centerpiece of the newly themed Area 72 section of the park, with a station located just behind Flight of Fear, where Firehawk once lived.  Orion will be Kings Island's longest, tallest and fastest steel roller coaster.

© Kings Island

The park has created a backstory for Orion, it seems that the coaster will feature a "prototype vehicle developed by the Project X initiative.  Scientists are in a race against time to develop technology capable of weaving transport vehicles through a coming meteor storm and traveling to a new planet within the Orion constellation.  For the program to be successful, it needs volunteers to help with testing."  Naturally the test riders will enjoy their soaring view of Kings Island as they do their part to protect human civilization.

© Kings Island

Orion will start with a lift hill that towers 287 feet over the park, followed by a 300 foot first drop that will give trains a top speed of 91 miles per hour.  The ride features a total of 8 hills, with the second being heavily banked to the left and standing 174 feet tall.  The ride's turnaround element stands an impressive 202 feet tall on its own.  The return trip back toward the station features several speed and air-time hills, along with a giant helix.

© Kings Island

Here is the full layout of Orion, like the other B&M giga coasters it will eliminate a traditional mid-course brake run by placing it at the end of the ride before the final brakes.  That allows the trains to zoom through the course without interruption.  Orion's total track length is 5,321 feet and the ride is planned to open next spring.

Here's a nice fly-by view of the ride in action, see more videos including a point of view ride on Orion at Kings Island's website.