I rode it the day it opened. It was cool riding a brand new record breaking coaster. Because the wood was so freshly cut, it actually smelled good. I remember standing in line hearing songs like "Heart of Glass" and "Do you think I'm sexy" and other disco songs. They advertised it as "the biggest, badest, longest, fastest coaster in the world." One great and unique thing about this coaster is that it's secluded in a beautiful wooded and hilly area.
Hands down, best wooden roller coaster of all time. This was my daughter's first big coaster and after riding several others, it's still her favorite. Thanks for posting this.
THIS IS THE WORLD'S BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL COASTER! I was one of the very first lucky riders many years ago, and have ridden it hundreds of times in all kinds of weather and all times of day and night. This is the BEST POV front-seat video ever...I know...I have tried to video tape many times myself! LOL!!
Best wooden coaster ever.Ive rode this coaster about 60 or more times since I was 8yrs old.This ride accually leaves the park and then comes back, nothing but trees and track. This may not be ranked America's #1 coaster but ill bet it is at night.
From Cedar Point to Orlando to Cali. The Beast is and will always be one of my favorite coaster. I miss it. Have to get back up to my home state of Ohio and take my kids for a ride.
I got on this yesterday!! It was amazing! I had the best time on this ride. It ran pretty smooth though!! I LOVED it! The view of the woods/forest was absolutely beautiful!!
Now, THIS is THE RIDE I remember! I haven't been on this sucker in over ten yrs yet watching a "recent" vid of the beast I quickly realized the major difference in speed and the overall ride and no need to mention the rush you got from THE ORIGINAL BEAST! SMH.... Sad to see that the next generation will probably never get to experience that moment. A legend has officially died. What will they #$@! up next?
Many have said this is the best "wooden" roller coaster ever in the world, but I believe that you could make an arguement that this is THE best OVERALL coaster in the world too. The speed, danger, setting, drama that it builds on that second hill, and even while waiting in line. Just the best. If you go to KI, please right this once at night.
My daughter was 5 years old when she rode this. She barely made height req. she laughed the whole way. Every one cheered her at the exit. One of the best memories of my life! THANK YOU LINGS ISLAND!
agreed there were fireworks going off one time when i rode this. overall this is the most fun i have ever had on a roller coaster. its so old school and majestic. love it
30 years and still going strong. One thing i do every year is go on the beast first ,what a better way to celebrate a coaster that shares the same age as you.
I love this ride. When you're going down the second big hill, where it's kind of a spiral, and you go through the second tunnel on it, it feels like you're going so fast your head is going to fly off.
This is an awesome coaster!!!!! Its very fast and its so cool that its hidden in the woods!!!! THIS IS NOT ONLY THE LONGEST WOODEN COASTER, BUT THE BEST WOODEN COASTER!!!! Here are some rides that I LOVE at Kings Island: The Beast Flight of Fear Vortex
I grew up in Dayton. Back in the day, the covered stretch before the second tunnel didn't use hydraulic brakes to slow the train. You would fly around that corner into the tunnel. Memories.
Sometimes these videos do injustice because it makes the ride seem slower. This one and Gwazi (BG Tampa) are my favorite wooden coasters and this one is such a blast at night. Love the double helix or whatever its called.
"MaccBeast" here! I live in Detroit and I love Kings Island & Cedar Point.The Beast is simply a Beast,rode it 116 times and counting.Remember iam from MI so thats pretty good 4 a out of towner. "Smuck it" Imma call myself the king of Kings Island of Michigan.
What I love about this coaster is the long accelerating runs: you keep picking up speed as you roll along, with no dramatic hills. The two lift hills, and sheer length of the ride make it unique. I enjoyed Son- but heard they cut the loop out: sans the loop I'd imagine its pretty ho-hum.
Mean Streak at Cedar Point is one of the greatest Wooden Rollercoasters I ever been on but this one looks like it might actually be a little bit better cause of the way its built and you can really get a sense of the speed by just watching it. Mean Streak is clocked at 65 mph and the first drop on it is 161 feet high and is 2 minutes and 45 seconds long. Nothing like getting jerked around like a rag doll on the mean streak one of my favorite rollercoasters ever.
After the second major life hill, is it that first tunnel, or the second tunnel where the track tilts you almost sideways? I was just there on Saturday for the first time, and rode it twice, but I still can't remember. Anyway, it was my second-favorite behind the Diamondback, it packs one killer punch for it's age! I'm certainly going back someday!
Man, I miss King's Island :) My favorite thing about this coaster is just the fact that it's SO big, yet you cna rarely see it while you're in the park because it's so hidden!
Huge wimp here as well, love everything about a coaster exept for the drop (that's why i love the backlot stunt coaster) is this an okay ride to go on if you have a coaster crazy family...?
One of my favorite wooden coasters! The trims are harsh though. I think they're more painful to hit than any part of the ride was before they were installed.
This is the best wooden roller coaster in the world. The only exception is that it is not made for people over 6 feet tall. The cars are tiny and when it goes around corners it roughs you up. It is also awesome if you can ride it at dusk before the park closes. When it goes back into the woods it gets really dark and you don't see some of the turns.
Is it in the first tunnel of the helix, or the second tunnel where the track suddenly banks to the left. I can't make it out in either of the videos, but I know it certainly tips in one of the tunnels, I just can't remember which one. I loved my 2011 visit to King's Island! And this & Diamondback were my 2 favorite rides there.
There's just something about The Beast (yes, with a "The") that makes it so awesome. I don't seem to really know what "it" is, but "it's" what makes this coaster so amazing. Like if you take away even just ONE part of The Beast away and replace it with anything else, you take "it" away from the ride, and it seems less interesting. Anyway, this ride is so awesome the way it is, and I don't want ANY bit of the ride experience as it is now to be changed at all.
The first platform on the second lift hill is always a good indicator of how the ride is running. Here in this video it gets just a little past it, which it still regularly does today. I miss the inconsistency & gradual slowing of the old sled brakes but the ride still runs the same speeds it always has.
2:04-2:12 (that long dark tunnel) is KICK ASS. And after 3:29 there are just no words to describe the speed on that thing. The Beast always has been, and always will be, my favorite wooden coaster.
the reason this looks faster is because it is, yes they did reduce chain lift speed on first hill and then the brakes on here is before they changed out to trim brakes, instead they had an old styled Skid brake (those wooden looken pieces that go down and before you get to the hills and those were much less effective.
very fun ride! i always save this for last when its dark outside, there is nothing like front row on the beast in pitch black! i'm tellin ya try it sometime you wont regret it!
@PandemoniacSarah Well top thrill dragster is a completely different thing than the Beast. The Beast is wooden and TTD is steel, and a completely different type of coaster
This was the first roller coaster my friend ever went on. We went on it like 3 years ago and she was like: This is the longest rollercoaster ever!! Were like not even in the park anymore!!! I'm gonna miss Beast. R.I.P Beast!
@woodcoasterdude Again, look up a video called "Testing the Beast". It shows the ride the spring before it opened in 1979 (the tunnels around the helix haven't been built yet) and it shows how heavily the brakes were applied then. The trims are on the first drop, the first left hand turn, the brake shed, and the second drop. The brake sheds are applied he heaviest, as they always were. The first drop isn't applied as much, but the turn is applied more. Same average speed.
Do you mean airtime? That might apply on other woodies, but the Beast is designed more for speed than for airtime. Also, you can have a very safe lapbar without sacrificing airtime (ex. Ride of Steeel, Darien Lake, NY).
I was 17 when they opened the Beast! I was there the first day it opened and waited 5 hours to ride it. Still the Best wooden coaster there is. However there is a way to ride this Beast without bruises and a sore neck. When ever I go to Kings Island and there is someone in line that has never be on it, I give them this information so they won't get hurt on the first Helix. Best ride out there.This ride beats all the metal coasters out there.
Just rode this last night after dark. I've yet to ride a roller coaster that beats The Beast after dark. The best part is after the second assisted hill climb, coming around and down at an angle so fast into the tunnel. Just after dusk, you can barely make out details, pretty much just the tree line.
well im not sure what you just said since half of it doesnt make sense.. but.. there is a sign that says to "keep hands inside the vehicle".. and why would you have your hands up in a tunnel!?
The Beast/SOB are both great wooden coasters, and extremely fast rides(love them) but I must say that El Toro at SFGA is by far the best wooden coaster out there right now. And, I agree about The Rattler at Fiesta Texas...sad that the original drop was reprofiled, it was insane and miss it so much, but still a great coaster!!!
the other pov i've seen of this makes it look much, much slower. did they apply more brakes to it and reduce the chain lift speeds taking you to the top of both drops?
The Beast is one of the best coasters at King's Island. The speed makes up for the lack of loops and corkscrews. I'm serious...it's FAST. And the ride time isn't short like some of the other coasters.
Still my favorite rollercoaster. But what is with all of the trim brakes? They didn't use to be there, it definitely takes an element of excitement away from the ride.
@rustlerbadass I hope you get to ride next time. Riding at night is the best. I love Diamondback a lot of airtime on that ride. Drop Tower scares me so bad, but I ride it anyway,LOL. Son Of Beast was a good but rough ride. Miss the loop it had. It's a shame they didn't build Son Of Beast correctly from the beginning. I hope you had fun.
@eightintheblock the ride was built to follow the landscape rather then the norm of as many hills and turns as possible to yank riders around. one cool fact about this ride was they didint hire some big coaster company to build it. the designers actualy got there careeres started after makeing this one.
Why wasn't everything between the 1st drop & the 2nd lift hill filled with lots of small airtime hills, which would add to the fun? Also one reason the ride takes so long is that it takes 40 seconds to reach the base of the 1st lift hill & the lift hill take a combined 1:27 to reach the top. That's a little over 2 minutes where ther's no excitement.
This was the 3rd coaster ive ever rode (racer and Flight deck were before that), and i have to say, best coaster ever so far. better for first time riders than Racer in my mind. So so harsh on the drops like on Racer. But so much fun.
@Chrisgottschalk2 i was on the ride a couple weeks ago. this video doesnt show how much the brakes are applied. there are three times were it gets slowed to near stops along the circuit
Looks very fast plus a little shaky. Just the way I like it. That's what makes wooden coasters worth riding and keeps the dispute of Wood vs. Steel going.
The Beast is an incredible ride. Ride it at night. When you hit the second part of the ride after the second lift hill, you will feel like you have to hold on for dear life to keep from being thrown from the train. At night the Beast truly does ROAR.
I agree. i'll 30 in November and the Beast is still my favorite wooden coaster in my whole life. Especially at night time =)
This video makes it look like the Beast goes about 150 mph lol
#1 rollercoaster all time. Everyone needs to ride and smell The Beast.
I rode it the day it opened. It was cool riding a brand new record breaking coaster. Because the wood was so freshly cut, it actually smelled good. I remember standing in line hearing songs like "Heart of Glass" and "Do you think I'm sexy" and other disco songs. They advertised it as "the biggest, badest, longest, fastest coaster in the world." One great and unique thing about this coaster is that it's secluded in a beautiful wooded and hilly area.
Absolutely the best. The fact that it goes on and on and on makes it awesome!!! No waiting in line forever for a 45 second ride!!!
Hands down, best wooden roller coaster of all time. This was my daughter's first big coaster and after riding several others, it's still her favorite.
Thanks for posting this.
THIS IS THE WORLD'S BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL COASTER! I was one of the very first lucky riders many years ago, and have ridden it hundreds of times in all kinds of weather and all times of day and night. This is the BEST POV front-seat video ever...I know...I have tried to video tape many times myself! LOL!!
Nothing beats the sounds, feel and dynamics of a GOOD wooden coaster. THe Beast is definately the BEST
STILL THE BEST COASTER OF ALL TIME...PERIOD!!!!!
This is the best coaster ever built-absolutely brilliant!!
Best wooden coaster ever.Ive rode this coaster about 60 or more times since I was 8yrs old.This ride accually leaves the park and then comes back, nothing but trees and track. This may not be ranked America's #1 coaster but ill bet it is at night.
From Cedar Point to Orlando to Cali. The Beast is and will always be one of my favorite coaster. I miss it. Have to get back up to my home state of Ohio and take my kids for a ride.
This is my favorite wooden coaster ever, and were I to judge by nostalgia, it would be my favorite coaster PERIOD.
I got on this yesterday!! It was amazing! I had the best time on this ride. It ran pretty smooth though!! I LOVED it! The view of the woods/forest was absolutely beautiful!!
my all time favorite roller coaster, ridden too many times to count, thank you!!!!!!!!!
Now, THIS is THE RIDE I remember! I haven't been on this sucker in over ten yrs yet watching a "recent" vid of the beast I quickly realized the major difference in speed and the overall ride and no need to mention the rush you got from THE ORIGINAL BEAST! SMH.... Sad to see that the next generation will probably never get to experience that moment. A legend has officially died. What will they #$@! up next?
Many have said this is the best "wooden" roller coaster ever in the world, but I believe that you could make an arguement that this is THE best OVERALL coaster in the world too. The speed, danger, setting, drama that it builds on that second hill, and even while waiting in line. Just the best. If you go to KI, please right this once at night.
This absolutely the best roller coaster in the world! My personal favorite!
Love this ride...... One of the best rides ever!!!!
my favorite ride. i love the double decker tunnel at the end.
My daughter was 5 years old when she rode this. She barely made height req. she laughed the whole way. Every one cheered her at the exit. One of the best memories of my life! THANK YOU LINGS ISLAND!
This ride was UNBELIEVABLY fast and SOOO MUCH FUN!!!! I LOVE IT!!! :P
i see this rollercoaster as a train, because its like, you just keep on going non-stop
agreed
there were fireworks going off one time when i rode this. overall this is the most fun i have ever had on a roller coaster. its so old school and majestic. love it
30 years and still going strong. One thing i do every year is go on the beast first ,what a better way to celebrate a coaster that shares the same age as you.
I love this ride. When you're going down the second big hill, where it's kind of a spiral, and you go through the second tunnel on it, it feels like you're going so fast your head is going to fly off.
this is the best ride that ive ever been on in my life.
im glad i live close!!!
This ride never gets old!!
This is an awesome coaster!!!!! Its very fast and its so cool that its hidden in the woods!!!! THIS IS NOT ONLY THE LONGEST WOODEN COASTER, BUT THE BEST WOODEN COASTER!!!! Here are some rides that I LOVE at Kings Island:
The Beast
Flight of Fear
Vortex
being a huge coaster fan whose ridden thirty coasters this is one must ride i have yet to conquer
I grew up in Dayton. Back in the day, the covered stretch before the second tunnel didn't use hydraulic brakes to slow the train. You would fly around that corner into the tunnel. Memories.
Sometimes these videos do injustice because it makes the ride seem slower. This one and Gwazi (BG Tampa) are my favorite wooden coasters and this one is such a blast at night. Love the double helix or whatever its called.
The speed just radiates off of this roller coaster like heat!
"MaccBeast" here! I live in Detroit and I love Kings Island & Cedar Point.The Beast is simply a Beast,rode it 116 times and counting.Remember iam from MI so thats pretty good 4 a out of towner. "Smuck it" Imma call myself the king of Kings Island of Michigan.
What I love about this coaster is the long accelerating runs: you keep picking up speed as you roll along, with no dramatic hills. The two lift hills, and sheer length of the ride make it unique.
I enjoyed Son- but heard they cut the loop out: sans the loop I'd imagine its pretty ho-hum.
Mean Streak at Cedar Point is one of the greatest Wooden Rollercoasters I ever been on but this one looks like it might actually be a little bit better cause of the way its built and you can really get a sense of the speed by just watching it. Mean Streak is clocked at 65 mph and the first drop on it is 161 feet high and is 2 minutes and 45 seconds long. Nothing like getting jerked around like a rag doll on the mean streak one of my favorite rollercoasters ever.
After the second major life hill, is it that first tunnel, or the second tunnel where the track tilts you almost sideways? I was just there on Saturday for the first time, and rode it twice, but I still can't remember. Anyway, it was my second-favorite behind the Diamondback, it packs one killer punch for it's age! I'm certainly going back someday!
Man, I miss King's Island :) My favorite thing about this coaster is just the fact that it's SO big, yet you cna rarely see it while you're in the park because it's so hidden!
Woah what a ride! i would love to ride this and the drop after the second lift hill looks nuts!
wow.... that second drop is awesome. i can't wait till i ride the beast this summer :D
The Beast my personal favorate wooden coaster, and one of my favorite rollercoasters overall. The Beast Pwns!
Huge wimp here as well, love everything about a coaster exept for the drop (that's why i love the backlot stunt coaster) is this an okay ride to go on if you have a coaster crazy family...?
I love this roller coaster. The Beast just seems to keep heading downhill!
One of my favorite wooden coasters! The trims are harsh though. I think they're more painful to hit than any part of the ride was before they were installed.
This is the best wooden roller coaster in the world. The only exception is that it is not made for people over 6 feet tall. The cars are tiny and when it goes around corners it roughs you up. It is also awesome if you can ride it at dusk before the park closes. When it goes back into the woods it gets really dark and you don't see some of the turns.
3:30 looks like when you forget to change the track tilt back to normal on roller coaster tycoon XD
Is it in the first tunnel of the helix, or the second tunnel where the track suddenly banks to the left. I can't make it out in either of the videos, but I know it certainly tips in one of the tunnels, I just can't remember which one. I loved my 2011 visit to King's Island! And this & Diamondback were my 2 favorite rides there.
There's just something about The Beast (yes, with a "The") that makes it so awesome. I don't seem to really know what "it" is, but "it's" what makes this coaster so amazing. Like if you take away even just ONE part of The Beast away and replace it with anything else, you take "it" away from the ride, and it seems less interesting. Anyway, this ride is so awesome the way it is, and I don't want ANY bit of the ride experience as it is now to be changed at all.
Oh man... that looks awesome. Looks like a beautiful ride, I'll have to try that one.
This proves how much Cedar Fair has trimmed the ridd
The first platform on the second lift hill is always a good indicator of how the ride is running. Here in this video it gets just a little past it, which it still regularly does today. I miss the inconsistency & gradual slowing of the old sled brakes but the ride still runs the same speeds it always has.
2:04-2:12 (that long dark tunnel) is KICK ASS. And after 3:29 there are just no words to describe the speed on that thing. The Beast always has been, and always will be, my favorite wooden coaster.
Riding this at night is a TOTALLY different experience! It's truly, I think, the greatest ride in the world at night, no joke!
30+ years later this is still the one I remember the most.
Man.. this was the best ride ever.
that 2nd hill going into the double helix and tunnel is so intense, it kicks so much ass!
this will always be the best wooden coaster in history, once the tallest and fastest, and still the longest
i love how this ride uses the terrain to it's advantage
the reason this looks faster is because it is, yes they did reduce chain lift speed on first hill and then the brakes on here is before they changed out to trim brakes, instead they had an old styled Skid brake (those wooden looken pieces that go down and before you get to the hills and those were much less effective.
very fun ride! i always save this for last when its dark outside, there is nothing like front row on the beast in pitch black! i'm tellin ya try it sometime you wont regret it!
this is the greatest wooden coaster ever made!!!
@PandemoniacSarah Well top thrill dragster is a completely different thing than the Beast. The Beast is wooden and TTD is steel, and a completely different type of coaster
This is one of the best rides in the WORLD!!!
It's great at night!
i love the beast...it was my favorite ride
This was the first roller coaster my friend ever went on. We went on it like 3 years ago and she was like: This is the longest rollercoaster ever!! Were like not even in the park anymore!!! I'm gonna miss Beast.
R.I.P Beast!
whats your favorite roller coaster? replay me back. mine is volcano at kings dominion va
@woodcoasterdude
Again, look up a video called "Testing the Beast". It shows the ride the spring before it opened in 1979 (the tunnels around the helix haven't been built yet) and it shows how heavily the brakes were applied then.
The trims are on the first drop, the first left hand turn, the brake shed, and the second drop. The brake sheds are applied he heaviest, as they always were. The first drop isn't applied as much, but the turn is applied more. Same average speed.
100 percent agree this ride is insane
Do you mean airtime? That might apply on other woodies, but the Beast is designed more for speed than for airtime.
Also, you can have a very safe lapbar without sacrificing airtime (ex. Ride of Steeel, Darien Lake, NY).
Probably the best wooden coaster ever
riding this front seat at night is still one of the coolest experiences ive ever had.
I was 17 when they opened the Beast! I was there the first day it opened and waited 5 hours to ride it. Still the Best wooden coaster there is. However there is a way to ride this Beast without bruises and a sore neck. When ever I go to Kings Island and there is someone in line that has never be on it, I give them this information so they won't get hurt on the first Helix. Best ride out there.This ride beats all the metal coasters out there.
how longs the line normally for this ride?
i LOVE the beast so much
this roller coastrer is the best at night! it actually is scary because of the dark tunnels and the noise and how it shakes you around.
Just rode this last night after dark. I've yet to ride a roller coaster that beats The Beast after dark. The best part is after the second assisted hill climb, coming around and down at an angle so fast into the tunnel. Just after dusk, you can barely make out details, pretty much just the tree line.
well im not sure what you just said since half of it doesnt make sense.. but.. there is a sign that says to "keep hands inside the vehicle".. and why would you have your hands up in a tunnel!?
The Beast/SOB are both great wooden coasters, and extremely fast rides(love them) but I must say that El Toro at SFGA is by far the best wooden coaster out there right now. And, I agree about The Rattler at Fiesta Texas...sad that the original drop was reprofiled, it was insane and miss it so much, but still a great coaster!!!
the other pov i've seen of this makes it look much, much slower. did they apply more brakes to it and reduce the chain lift speeds taking you to the top of both drops?
amazingly smooth woodie
this is my dad's favorite, he is 55 years old and still rides coasters =)
The Beast is one of the best coasters at King's Island. The speed makes up for the lack of loops and corkscrews. I'm serious...it's FAST. And the ride time isn't short like some of the other coasters.
I want to ride this ride SO BAD. So awesome.
Probably the best roller coaster at the park, and almost 10 times better at night.
this ride is the shit even if its old as hell. i could ride it all day.
Still my favorite rollercoaster. But what is with all of the trim brakes? They didn't use to be there, it definitely takes an element of excitement away from the ride.
That is THE most intense, shakiest ride I've ever been on. The helix was bumpy as hell. It was like riding a race horse during an earthquake.
@rustlerbadass I hope you get to ride next time. Riding at night is the best. I love Diamondback a lot of airtime on that ride. Drop Tower scares me so bad, but I ride it anyway,LOL. Son Of Beast was a good but rough ride. Miss the loop it had. It's a shame they didn't build Son Of Beast correctly from the beginning. I hope you had fun.
@eightintheblock the ride was built to follow the landscape rather then the norm of as many hills and turns as possible to yank riders around. one cool fact about this ride was they didint hire some big coaster company to build it. the designers actualy got there careeres started after makeing this one.
This thing is the greatest wooden coaster ever!
Why wasn't everything between the 1st drop & the 2nd lift hill filled with lots of small airtime hills, which would add to the fun?
Also one reason the ride takes so long is that it takes 40 seconds to reach the base of the 1st lift hill & the lift hill take a combined 1:27 to reach the top. That's a little over 2 minutes where ther's no excitement.
If I ride the racer, will i be able to ride this w/out fear if i like racer? please respond. :)
This was the 3rd coaster ive ever rode (racer and Flight deck were before that), and i have to say, best coaster ever so far. better for first time riders than Racer in my mind. So so harsh on the drops like on Racer. But so much fun.
Looks like a long fun ride!
3:32 ....BEST PART OF THAT RIDE!
Looks amazing.
@Chrisgottschalk2 i was on the ride a couple weeks ago. this video doesnt show how much the brakes are applied. there are three times were it gets slowed to near stops along the circuit
One of the best woodies in the whole world!
Damn...are you kidding me? Is this coaster really that long? I had heard about this ride, but I had no idea.
Looks very fast plus a little shaky. Just the way I like it. That's what makes wooden coasters worth riding and keeps the dispute of Wood vs. Steel going.
The Beast is an incredible ride. Ride it at night. When you hit the second part of the ride after the second lift hill, you will feel like you have to hold on for dear life to keep from being thrown from the train. At night the Beast truly does ROAR.