Kings Island to retire Vortex roller coaster this weekend

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

All good things must come to an end.

This weekend is the last chance to take a ride on King’s Island’s Vortex roller coaster during the final weekend of Halloween events.

>> Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt to end this weekend

Kings Island announced Sept. 27 that following the end of this fall season, it will close the Vortex roller coaster for good.

The coaster has been a staple at Kings Island for more than three decades.

>> PHOTOS: The Vortex at Kings Island through the years

This is the final weekend for the fall season, with Halloween Haunt taking place Friday and Saturday evening’s and the kid-friendly Great Pumpkin Fest taking place Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Kings Island officials said the reason the Vortex will close is simply old age. While most coasters of this type typically last between 25 and 30 years, the Vortex is currently in its 33rd season, starting its service life in 1987, officials said.

>>Kings Island latest local employer to raise wages

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

When the Vortex first opened, Kings Island said, it was the tallest full-circuit roller coaster with the highest drop in the world, as well as the first coaster in the world with six inversions.

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