DOSWELL, Va. — Calling all thrill seekers, get ready to take flight! Kings Dominion, the popular amusement park outside of Richmond, announced on Wednesday their plans to open an all-new record-breaking roller coaster for the 2025 season.
Rapterra will be the world's tallest and longest launched wing coaster. Standing at 145 feet tall, launching at speeds of 65 mph, and stretching more than 3,000 feet, this incredible attraction promises an unforgettable experience filled with thrilling heights, speed, and exhilarating maneuvers for all park-goers.
The name Rapterra is inspired by the powerful Jungle Hawk and park officials say it will offer riders the sensation of flight. Manufactured by popular Swiss coaster manufacturer Bolliger and Mabillard, B&M as coaster enthusiasts often refer to them, the seats of the roller coaster extend out over the sides of the track, offering an immersive, floorless experience that simulates flying through the jungle.
Riders brave enough to take flight on Rapterra will begin their journey with a powerful 65-mile-per-hour launch in just four seconds before ascending to its highest point of 145 feet over the park’s Jungle X-Pedition midway. The ride then plummets into a dive loop followed by navigating a series of aerial maneuvers, including an S-turn, a wing slide, a flat spin, and a 360-degree raptor roll, before completing its thrilling 89-second run and returning to the station.
Construction on Rapterra is already in progress on the grounds where the former Volcano: The Blast Coaster once stood. Expecting to be completed by this fall. The coaster will officially open in 2025, coinciding with Kings Dominion’s milestone 50th anniversary season.
“We are excited to unveil Rapterra, the must-do ride of 2025, at Kings Dominion,” said vice president and general manager of Kings Dominion, Bridgette Bywater. “This extraordinary addition promises new thrills for our guests making it the perfect centerpiece for our 50th anniversary celebration and reaffirming why Kings Dominion is the ultimate destination for unforgettable memories and exhilarating excitement.”
This is the first new coaster to be announced at the park following the merger between Kings Dominion’s parent company Cedar Fair and Six Flags was approved and went into effect on July 1. As part of the announcement of Rapterra, Kings Dominion posted a series of videos online of what the new ride will look and sound like. You can check them out below.
