WindSeeker finally opens to thrill of riders

By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 1:34 PM Tuesday, June 21, 2011

MASON — Christy Hawley emerged — practically ran — out of the shiny metallic gates surrounding the WindSeeker at Kings Island on Tuesday morning, her arms raised in triumph.

“That was the best ride I’ve ever been on,” she shouted, loud enough for all to hear.

The Miamisburg mom is admittedly afraid of heights but served as her family’s “guinea pig,” riding with 11-year-old daughter on the WindSeeker, her legs dangling and exposed in the open air at close to 284 feet while younger children, Elizabeth and Johnathon watched below to see if their mom would survive.

“I just felt like I was floating in the air,” Hawley said, “I’ve never been on anything quite like it.”

After nearly two months of delays, the WindSeeker, Kings Island’s newest thrill ride finally opened Tuesday, earning rave reviews from park faithful.

On the WindSeeker, riders — 64 at a time — are seated in pairs of open air double seats and slowly spun up and around a 301-foot spire — only slightly shorter than the park’s famed Eiffel Tower replica, which stands at 315 feet. At the top, they spin outwards at 45-degree angles, giving a view of the park previously only available to birds or perhaps low flying aircraft. The ride lasts about three minutes in total, although depending on your feelings about heights it may feel significantly shorter or longer.

The WindSeeker’s rise to prominence was delayed by this spring’s rainy days that repeatedly slowed the construction and the testing processes.

“People were certainly excited about it and disappointed it wasn’t happening on opening day, but for the most part they understood it was out of our control,” said park spokesman Don Helbig.

Helbig said reaction to the newly opened ride had already been positive.

“It provides a different kind of thrill than a roller coaster but is still very exciting for all the riders,” Helbig said.

Brandon Winkle, 16 and good friend Cody Mont, 15, both of Lebanon, ran through the park as soon as the gates opened at 9:30 to grab seats on the inaugural ride. By 10:15 a.m., they had already ridden the WindSeeker twice.

‘You get a nice breeze at the top,” Brandon said. “It’s cool coming down and looking out at everything.”

“You could see all of the Beast,” noted Cody of the park’s biggest wooden roller coaster, which is famously hidden in woods from ground level.

“We’re going back on and see what else we can see,” Brandon said.

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