Kings Dominion Amusement Park has the distinction of being one of the country's premier thrill parks. The park is located 25 miles north of Richmond, in Doswell, Virginia and has been a favorite vacation destination for families all over the mid Atlantic since its opening season in 1975. In those early days, many of us grew up riding the Apple Turnover and the Rebel Yell over and over again making ourselves sick with laughter.
Sadly, the Apple Turnover is gone but the Rebel Yell has been at Kings Dominion since the park opened in 1975 and it is still the sentimental favorite of patrons to the park. The Berserker, the park's upside down pirate ship, is still around too, surprising many first time visitors with its complete loop. Kings Dominion has many new thrill rides for older families. In 2008 Kings Dominion debuted its 14th roller coaster, Dominator. Dominator is the country's longest floorless coaster and hits speeds up to 65 miles per hour. The Shockwave was the nation's first stand up roller coaster, when it debuted at Kings Dominion in 1986 and it is operational as is the Rebel Yell which many of us grew up riding.
Thrill rides are better suited for older families but there are many rides for younger families at Kings Dominion. The park has devised its own rating system to advertise how much of a thrill each ride provides. A five star thrill ride is the highest rank, providing the ultimate thrill. Younger families, will want to visit the one or two star rides, classified as low thrill.
Low thrill doesn't mean less fun. Kings Dominion has outdone itself in the past few years making full sure that its younger patrons have the time of their lives. The old Hanna Barbera section of the park we grew up frequenting had a facelift in 1997 and was renamed Kidsville. This part of the park is mostly frequented by families with young children and Kidsville is one of the reasons why Kings Dominion has remained a great vacation destination for families. Kidsville hosts Nickelodeon Central, with Nickelodeon themed rides and attractions such as Slime Zone and Rugrats Toonpike. Kids can meet their favorite Nickelodeon characters such as Dora and Spongebob Squarepants. Scooby Doo also frequents Kidsville with his own rides and attractions.
Kings Dominion has a unique service available to parents of young children which parents have come to really appreciate. Parent Swap is available upon request when entering the park. This pass allows parents with small children to take turns standing in line so that younger children don't have to stay standing in long lines, becoming exhausted and overheated. Most ride lines, but not all, are eligible for Parent Swap.
Water Works, Kings Dominion's water theme park, is a recent 20 acre addition to the park. It is great for all types of families. Lil' Barefoot Beach and Surf City Splash House are geared towards younger kids who can't yet ride water slides. For older kids and adults Water Works has many slides, tube rides and a wave pool to cool down during Virginia's humid summer days.
Accommodating families doesn't stop inside of King's Dominion's park. The park has a family friendly campground for vacationing families and there are several hotels in and around Doswell, such as the Best Western King's Quarters that offer free shuttle service to the park.
Strollers and lockers are available for rent when you visit the park and smoking is limited to special areas around the park. These are just a few other ways that Kings Dominion caters to parents. Kings Dominion is open weekends starting in April of 2009 and opens June 1st for the season and remains open through Labor Day. Ticket prices have yet to be announced for the 2009 season but there are many types of season passes available for as low as $64.99. Most other parks charge higher admission prices with fewer attractions; however, Kings Dominion has always had a long standing tradition as being budget friendly, remaining affordable even throughout their numerous expensive expansions.