The Long-Awaited Launch Coaster: Rapterra

25 Aug

The Golden Months of Kings Dominion

The year is 2018 and Kings Dominion unveiled their brand new thrill ride, Twisted Timbers, to the world. The exciting re-imagination of the not-so-missed Hurler into an airtime focused hybrid coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction was exactly what the park needed to round out their offering of thrill rides. A delightful compliment to the other steel coasters in the park, including the uber-intense Intimidator 305, the visually impressive multi-looping Dominator, and the one-of-a-kind launched ride experience, Volcano: The Blast Coaster.

However, that sweet spot in time was only a brief moment, as Volcano would close partway through the season with no signs of reopening. Then in February 2019, Kings Dominion announced the difficult decision to remove Volcano, leaving the land that once was the spot of a one of a kind launch coaster was now an empty field.

With the ride experience of Volcano gone, there were questions about what could possibly be built next to replace the iconic roller coaster. For six years, speculation about what could be placed on that plot of land had been on the minds of both enthusiasts and fans of Kings Dominion alike. With so much space, the land appeared to be a prime location for a large roller coaster that people hoped could match the energy Volcano gave. The answer would come to everyone in 2024 with the announcement of a brand new roller coaster that would be the successor to Volcano and next phase of a newly themed area of the park, Rapterra.

The History of the Volcano

Before discussing Rapterra itself, let’s briefly delve into what Volcano was and what made it unique. In 1979, just 4 years after Kings Dominion first opened, a large, multi-attraction expansion was introduced in a 15-story man-made mountain. Known as The Lost World, the mountain would serve as the home for three attractions: a log flume (Voyage to Atlantis), a rotor (Time Shaft), and a dark ride (Journey to the Land of Dooz). With a budget of $7 Million, the man-made mountain at the time was impressive for a seasonal park and would cover roughly two acres of land, instantly becoming an icon for Kings Dominion.

The mountain would exist as an area for guests to explore until the mid 1990’s when the attractions and the mountain were closed. Faced with the challenge on what would be the next steps for the mountain, Kings Dominion chose to radically change the purpose of the structure. Rather than making it the home of multiple attractions, the decision was made to build a large scale roller coaster within the mountain. The outcome was to convert the mountain into a volcano and in 1997 Kings Dominion announced the construction of Volcano: The Blast Coaster, the world’s first full circuit launched inverted roller coaster.

Concept art for Volcano: The Blast Coaster. Credit: Parklore.com

Volcano was designed to be a world-class roller coaster with the intention of providing a one-of-a-kind ride experience not able to be done anywhere else. With the idea that riders will experience the power of a volcanic eruption, the top of the mountain was to be opened up into a crater where riders would quickly be launched through the heart of the volcano and emerge at the top inverted with flame effects. Followed by a series of aerial rolls and turns around the slopes before one last dive into a cave to conclude the experience. It was a short roller coaster, but the thrill of experiencing two launches and soaring around the original mountain was unmatched.

Along with the intense ride experience, Volcano claimed two world records upon opening, it was the world’s fastest inverted coaster with a top speed of 112.6 kmh (70 mph) and its signature roll over out of the crater stood as the world’s tallest inversion at 47.2 meters (155 feet).

While those records have since been surpassed, the impact Volcano had on Kings Dominion spoke volumes. For over a decade it was the largest attraction on the left side of the park, creating an impressive visual for onlookers to just watch (especially with the fire effect at the top of the ride!).

Volcano twisting through its first barrel roll. Credit: PA-Community.com

Unfortunately, after nearly 20 full seasons of operation, the once active roller coaster would sit dormant prior to being fully removed in 2019. Kings Dominion stated the decision for removal was due to the attraction not meeting the park’s standard for uptime, maintenance, throughput and guest standards.

Alongside the decision to close the coaster came a commitment to move forward to create a new experience to improve the guest’s experience, becoming the start of a brand new project for not just the area Volcano was, but the entire land it resided in.

Crafting a New Story: Jungle X-Pedition

In 2022, Kings Dominion announced a new area that would serve as a multi-year revitalization for the left side of the park, Jungle X-Pedition. The area is a re-imagining of the former Safari Village area of the park with the goal to create a consistent themed experience of an archaeological expedition in the jungle. This area would contain a total of 7 rides, including a new roller coaster, two re-themed rides, and four previously existing rides.

2022 Map of Jungle X-Pedition detailing the land and the six temples. Source: KDFans.com

On opening day, Kings Dominion showed their guests what they had done and the bar was set high. Jungle X-Pedition breathed life into the park and initial impressions showed the commitment for the project. The area is grounded in the story of Professor Gerald Winston Whey, an archeologist who frequented expeditions to the jungle to locate the ruins of an ancient temple complex known as “X.” Multiple temples were located and it was believed that they were built to celebrate and connect with the creatures of the jungle. Since then, a base camp was formed and guests are welcomed to explore the camp as well as the discovered temples. The area reflects this with detailed theming connecting the area together into one cohesive land.

The new area was a welcomed change considering the original Safari Village had been losing its focus with multiple themes clashing against one another. The solution was using the rides in the area to represent the temples, six of them to be specific. Each temple served as a theme to the following animals: Monkey, Spider, Crocodile, Serpent, Bird and Feline and on opening day in 2022 four of these six temples had a ride connected to them. The most significant was the all-new Tumbili, a S&S 4D Free Spin, which would serve as the temple dedicated to the monkey.

The temples of the spider and crocodile were achieved via rethemes of the existing Scrambler and Avalanche rides, being re-named to Arachnidia and Reptilian respectively. Finally, the serpent was to be represented by Anaconda which remained mostly unchanged for the 2022 season.

Tumbili opened alongside Jungle X-Pedition as the first ride designed for the area!

With four of the six proposed temple themes having a representative, it left two unaccounted for, the bird and feline. With both the missing temple themes and the three untouched rides, it was clear that 2022 was just the first phase for the new area. Coaster fans have also been wondering what would become of the land formerly the home of Volcano, speculating on what large coaster will take its place.

Signs of a change were made clear on opening day of 2024 with work walls across the area and Intimidator 305 seeing a temporary rename to Project 305. Park visitors saw signs of a large new ride shaping up in the land where Volcano was and it was just a matter of time until the ride was announced. Finally, in July 2024, Kings Dominion announced Rapterra, a record-breaking Wing Coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard. It would be the world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster and serves as the temple dedicated to the bird in Jungle X-Pedition.

The Mighty Jungle Hawk: Rapterra

To put some perspective on the timeline for the project, Volcano closed in 2018 and Rapterra would open in 2025, a seven year gap between when a ride last operated in this plot of land. While Rapterra itself most likely did not take the entire seven years to design, it is clear Kings Dominion wanted to build a ride that would not just replace Volcano, but improve upon those areas of weakness that lead to the decision to close it. From the start park officials knew that the ride had to not just be world-class, but also a unique experience for visitors, just like Volcano was.

The manufacturer of choice was Bolliger & Mabillard, who were tasked to design not just a roller coaster that could fit in the space provided, but also elevate the energy of Jungle X-Pedition and deeply integrate the ride into the land. With the attraction being themed to a mythical Jungle Hawk, Kings Dominion chose a wing coaster design to create the sensation of flight and introduce a unique ride design to the region.

Rapterra soaring over it’s tallest point.

Before entering the park, Rapterra’s impact on Jungle X-Pedition can be seen in the skyline. Both the wingover and the dive loop stand tall over the nearby attractions and with the wide trains soaring over them every few minutes, the ride has a powerful draw. Upon entering Jungle X-Pedition, the presence of the ride is immediate.

Unlike Volcano, which had an isolated layout, Rapterra is built directly above the midway and all throughout the queue. The spectacle a wing coaster brings to any park is unique in the way there is something mesmerizing about watching a ride vehicle that large gracefully swoop through the sky. As a result, riders on Rapterra are also treated to a more thrilling experience with the rolls and dives over onlookers, sometimes getting within 7-10 meters (20-30 feet). The goal to bring another level of energy to the land was accomplished and the thematics of the attraction bring the presentation to a new level.

Rapterra’s theme is consistent with the other Jungle X-Pedition themed attractions with it being a temple to honor a Jungle Hawk. The story is a long time ago, an ancient civilization built a temple with those who enter briefly are linked and gain the power and abilities of the Jungle Hawk. The location of the temple was at the base of the volcano Mt. Inferna, which would experience a collapse and bury the temple underground. Centuries later, archeologists of the Whey Foundation would discover ruins of the temple, with the power of the Jungle Hawk remaining present for visitors to take the opportunity to experience.

The queue is detailed with custom built ruins, including the centerpiece of a large Jungle Hawk statue in two pieces that all guests have the opportunity to walk through. A caldera can be found in the center of the queue, marking the spot where a volcano had collapsed, serving as a callback to the ride of the same name (for hawk eyed guests you can even see foundations from Volcano: The Blast Coaster within it!). With the theme and the ride’s layout surrounding the queue, Rapterra’s presentation is among the best in the park. The theme continues into the station with more ruins on either side and the appearance of being an active dig-site.

Once the gates open, 20 riders board one of Rapterra's two trains, colored red and orange. Each rider is secured by a harness consisting of a lap bar, a flexible vest over their shoulders, and a seatbelt. The train then takes a slight right turn out of the station into the launch track surrounded by ruins. Accompanied by launch audio, the train is launched to 65 mph in 4 seconds via Linear Synchronous Motors (LSMs) into the 48.3 meter (145 foot) wingover above the entrance. It then dives back to the ground and rises into a 39.6 meter (119 foot) dive loop next to the queue before soaring over a large S-hill back over the plaza. A low sweeping turn follows and rises into a sideways drop, flowing into a corkscrew. The flight path then takes an airtime hill over the ruins and glides into the signature element called the Raptor Roll, which is a fast pace barrel roll merged with a heavily banked turn leading to the end of the ride.

Overall, the ride experience is one of the shorter experiences at Kings Dominion, being less than a minute from dispatch to brakes. However, the speed and flow of elements makes Rapterra one of the best paced wing coasters in the country. At no point does the ride lose significant speed nor have any uninteresting aspects, which has been a point of criticism for other rides of this type. Once the train has returned to the station, riders walk directly alongside the launch and are directed to the exit building, which was repurposed from Volcano.

The question now stands, did Kings Dominion accomplish their goals with the project? To replace a ride as significant as Volcano is no easy task, especially in an industry where innovation in ride design is constantly evolving. With all of the options available, a wing coaster at Kings Dominion is a wonderful compliment to the existing roller coaster collection. Rapterra’s ride experience is graceful and exciting while also providing a new thrill to visitors.

Inherent to the design of wing coasters, each side of the ride creates a unique experience with different elements taking advantage of different sides of the vehicle. With the vision of theming it to a Jungle Hawk in mind, the dynamic nature of the wing coaster is a great match. Rapterra is a ride long overdue for the park and its presence makes Jungle X-Pedition feel more complete. Additionally, as of 2025 only four launched wing coasters are currently in operation around the globe, so while it may not be as unique as Volcano was, Rapterra is one of only a handful of rides where riders can experience a launch with almost nothing surrounding you.

A Perspective of Rapterra

I had the opportunity to experience Rapterra as well as the new updates to Jungle X-Pedition. To coincide with the new coaster, two other coasters in the area saw changes to fit Flight of Fear and the former Project 305 into the land. Flight of Fear did not see much of a change within the ride itself, but the exterior received a fresh coat of paint to match the theme of the area.

However, Project 305 saw an overhaul in theme and appearance to become Pantherian. Now themed to what is the temple of the panther the ride received a brand new coat of paint, trading the iconic red and yellow for an orange and black color scheme, and new theming elements. The portal to the plaza is now detailed to appear like the ruins at Rapterra with imagery of panthers present throughout the area. What used to be the home of a race car now are five statues of panthers and the photo booth is now designed to be a research center. Most aspects of the ride experience remain unchanged, having the same reputation it has had for the past 15 years. The key difference is anytime a train is about to go up the lift, the audio of a panther and an upbeat drum sound effect can be heard across the entire area, creating an atmosphere that has been gone in the area for some years.

For Rapterra, I was overall a fan of the ride and enjoy what it brings to the table. I am a general enjoyer of wing coasters, with most of the ones I have ridden being great rides that I have no issue experiencing multiple times. From the day it was announced I was looking forward to seeing how this ride would stack up to the other wing coasters I have experienced. After a few cycles, I found myself liking Rapterra for what it was able to do. The ride looks great in Jungle X-Pedition, the theme of the ride is fun and the layout is well done! I was particularly surprised by how intense the course was for a wing coaster, with each element having an impact on the experience and flowing well in between each moment. Even though the ride was short, it did not leave me wishing the ride needed to be any longer than it was. Which unfortunately leads to the one thing I found to hold the ride back from being great, the way it rides.

Before anything else, this is solely from my experience with the ride and it was not anything that was necessarily uncomfortable to me. Many people like the ride and I spoke to and overheard various people who expressed their enjoyment of Rapterra.

That being said, this is not a smooth roller coaster. From the launch until the brakes there is a constant bouncing and shaking throughout the entire train and it is present on every element of the ride. Perhaps most unfortunate is the nature of the trains exacerbates the sensations due to how far away riders are positioned from the track. While I greatly enjoyed the layout and intensity of the ride, it was always accompanied by being shaken up in my seat.

Rapterra launching to its top speed. Credit: Vacationeers Podcast

No other wing coaster I have experienced has rode like Rapterra and it frankly is a bit much. My first ride was with a friend who said they had no interest in riding it again for the remainder of their visit due to the shaky nature. Even for me, after each ride I walked away with my head slightly throbbing. If the ride continued for another element or two, I fully believe that I would have gotten a headache every time. It is a shame as Kings Dominion and Bolliger & Mabillard created what is a great ride and that ride is in there. Everything is that makes a good ride is present and alongside the vision it should have been one of, if not the, best wing coaster in the country.

While I do not have the answer, I am confident there is a way to resolve this issue and make Rapterra a more comfortable ride for everyone. If the shakiness is able to be reduced, the improvement to the ride experience would improve.

The question now stands, have you had the opportunity to take flight on Rapterra? If so we would love to hear your thoughts on Kings Dominion’s newest thrill ride. It will also be curious to see what is next for the story of Jungle X-Pedition with the recently removed Anaconda, opening a potential spot for either Flight of Fear or Backlot Stunt Coaster seeing a re-theme or a new ride to fill in the land. With the commitment to maintaining the standard for the theme of Whey Foundations research seen across rides both new and old, it is exciting to see what the creative minds at Kings Dominion will do next!

- Andrew

Andrew H.