Bavarian Beetle

Opening on the park’s debut day in 1972, the Bavarian Beetle was the only steel roller coaster in the park’s inaugural lineup. Originally operating as Galaxi at Cincinnati’s Coney Island from 1970 to 1971, it was relocated to the Oktoberfest section of Kings Island and given a festive Bavarian theme, complete with a jovial figure atop its mountain-themed facade. This SDC “Galaxi” model was a compact, family-friendly thrill ride standing 45 feet tall, featuring a series of sharp helices and quick dips across 800 feet of track. Despite its popularity as the park’s primary steel attraction in the early 70s, it was closed midway through the 1978 season and removed shortly thereafter to make room for future expansion. The site remained empty for a few years until the construction of the Festhaus in 1982, which now stands on the coaster’s former footprint.