Mystic Timbers shatters expectations

Editor's note: Justin Dietz represents a Cedar Point food blog, (CPFoodBlog.com, @CPFoodBlog on Twitter). He recently visited Cedar Point's sister park, Kings Island, near Cincinnati, to ride the new roller coaster Mystic Timbers.MASON — The time has come. The time is now. You no longer need to wait until May when Cedar Point opens to get your roller coaster fix.That's because Cedar Point's sister park Kings Island, in Mason, Ohio, is now open for the 2017 season, and you do not want to miss this year.Back in February, we gave you an exclusive, behind-the-scenes peek into Kings Island's brand new roller coaster, Mystic Timbers. This weekend is Mystic Timbers world premiere, and we got to ride this amazing new coaster.The Mystic Timbers experience begins the minute you get into the Rivertown area of Kings Island. Eerie music plays outside the queue area, where guests are greeted with the Mystic Timbers billboard and the Miami River Lumber Co. truck crashed into a pole. Mysterious things have been happening in the area and the abandoned lumber company is all that remains, with warnings to not go into the shed (#WhatsInTheShed).Mystic Timbers becomes the 16th roller coaster at Kings Island and the park's fourth made of wood. The addition gives Kings Island a combined total of 18,804 feet of wooden coaster track – the most at any amusement or theme park in the world. The music and theme continues into the queue area, where television screens show security footage of mysterious sightings in the woods.Once on the ride, the roller coaster traverses 16 airtime hills through wooded terrain and over water along a 3,265-foot-long track at 53 mph. To say this ride is fast is an understatement. As it twists and turns through the woods, leaping you over hills, the speed is incredible and a huge thrill.The ride was designed and built by Pennsylvania-based Great Coasters International, Inc., which also created popular wooden roller coasters at many Cedar Fair parks, including Gold Striker at California's Great America in Santa Clara, Calif., Renegade at Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minn., and Prowler at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Mo.As you ride Mystic Timbers, you can definitely tell that some of the best features from the installs at other Cedar Fair parks were incorporated into the roller coaster.Three trains with the lead car design based on a 1960s pickup truck will accommodate 24 passengers, each with a capacity of 1,200 riders per hour. Guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride.Mystic Timbers becomes the 16th roller coaster at Kings Island and the park's fourth made of wood. The addition gives Kings Island a combined total of 18,804 feet of wooden coaster track – the most at any amusement or theme park in the world. Mystic Timbers was built for families. Both my son and I rode Mystic Timbers as many as 18 times, and it is now a fan favorite."Mystic Timbers is a story-driven attraction offering a ride experience that is fun, thrilling and memorable for our guests," Kings Island's vice president and general manager Mike Koontz said. "It's everything a modern day wooden roller coaster should be, and more."Mystic Timbers becomes the 16th roller coaster at Kings Island and the park's fourth made of wood. The addition gives Kings Island a combined total of 18,804 feet of wooden coaster track – the most at any amusement or theme park in the world.The roller coaster culminates in the shed, where guests are warned to not enter, however, there is no going back! Once inside the shed, guests encounter varying scenes that wrap up the storyline. If you survive the shed, make sure to ride again, and again, because you never know which scene you will experience.Cedar Point pass perksFor Cedar Point guests with a platinum season pass, one of the greatest benefits you should be capitalizing on is visiting the other amusement parks within the Cedar Fair corporate family. Cedar Fair is the parent company of Cedar Point, Kings Islands and nine other entities scattered across North America.A platinum pass entitles patrons to free admission, and free parking, to Kings Island all season. That includes entrance into its version of HalloWeekends, called Haunt, and the debut of Winterfest during select nights in November and December.Mystic Timbers becomes the 16th roller coaster at Kings Island and the park's fourth made of wood. The addition gives Kings Island a combined total of 18,804 feet of wooden coaster track – the most at any amusement or theme park in the world. Mystic Timbers becomes the 16th roller coaster at Kings Island and the park's fourth made of wood. The addition gives Kings Island a combined total of 18,804 feet of wooden coaster track – the most at any amusement or theme park in the world.