At the mention of roller coasters, visions of funnel cakes appear. Fear not, they’re still in the mix, and more accessible than ever in the new International Street Funnel Cake Store, where instead of just walking up to a window, you can request whipped cream, chocolate sauce and more toppings individually in a serving line, Chipotle-style.
“Once the fireworks happen, this is always one of the most popular spots in the park,” said Dan Helbig, park spokesman.
And whether you’re shuffling kids between the thrilling Banshee ride and the new Snoopy’s Space Buggy ride, you can find your caffeine fix at the newly moved and renovated Starbucks. It was moved across International Street into the former Thrill Seekers merchandise store. At 3,360 square feet with seating capacity for 219 customers, it is now the biggest Starbucks in the tristate area and one of the top five biggest branches in the country, Helbig said.
“You always had the overflow of the line going out to International Street, and we wanted to make it a better experience for our guests,” he continued.
Guests who accidentally find themselves at the former Starbucks location are still in for a treat though, as a new frozen yogurt shop, Yogurt Plus, will offer 15 flavors and a variety of toppings for a cool-down. Next door, construction has been booming at the Sweet Spot, where 100 bulk candy bins and rows of colorful treats tempt children and adults alike. This season, watch over 15 flavors of fudge be made in-store, including dreamy Creamsicle and dark chocolate caramel, and grab a chocolate covered strawberry or caramel apple hand-dipped before your eyes.
Of course, sugary sweets won’t provide the stamina needed for a full day in the park, but a new Jack Daniel’s burger and home run buffalo chicken dip will fill you up at the Reds Hall of Fame Grille, and Hank’s Burrito Shack at the back of the Christian Moerlein bar now offers Tex-Mex-style tacos, with freshly made salsas and meats seasoned in-house. The taco bar was the brainchild of park executive chef Nathan Gushulak.
“Before when we had the back bar, they had a lot of American-style food, so we wanted to make overall a better experience with quality, great tasting food,” he said.
Providing their guests with a variety of dietary options is a priority, Gushulak said. Coney Potato Works is now entirely gluten-free, from corn dogs, to ice cream cones, to beer, for the entire family to indulge in. The new Coca-Cola Marketplace provides a variety of healthy snacks à la carte, including carrot and celery sticks, fruit cups, gluten-free chips, and — okay, maybe not completely healthy — a free-standing Coca-Cola machine.
“Gluten-free is something we have to work with, and make products available to our guests,” Gushulak said. “We want to make sure that we’re taking care of those guests and that they have safe food to eat.”
From funnel cakes and fudge to fresh tacos and fruit, be assured that there will be enough food options to please the whole family for your next King’s Island outing this season.
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