Kings Island finally revealed the long-awaited fate of the Boo Blasters on Boo Hill space.
Guests will be ushered into a “new but familiar” chapter in the Mason amusement park’s history, as Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, is set to make its debut next spring, Tony Clark, regional manager of public relations, said in an Aug. 28 press release.
“Families who have visited Kings Island will remember how special the original Phantom Theater was, and they’ve always wanted it to return,” Tony Carovillano, park manager of Kings Island, said. “While paying homage to the original ride, Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare’s modern and advanced features will help create new memories and stories for all who take their seat inside this amazing experience.”
The news comes just weeks after Kings Island announced the Boo Blasters ride would be retired, with guests having until Sept. 1 to take their final rides.
What happened to Kings Island’s Phantom Theater?
Kings Island’s Phantom Theater, which opened in April 1992, cost approximately $3.5 million to build. Like Disney’s Haunted Mansion attraction, the dark ride took guests through a 1920s-style abandoned theater that featured 38 “ghost-like” images and other animated figures, per a Kings Island fan site.
The Phantom Theater operated through 2002, before it became Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle. The ride later changed to Boo Blasters in 2010.
However, fans of the Phantom Theater ride have still been able to enjoy a performance based on the Maestro and his “troupe of ghoulish thespians.” The Mason amusement park hosts a “Phantom Theater Encore!” stage production featuring music, comedy and “mystifying illusions” at the Kings Island Theater.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What is replacing Boo Blasters? Kings Island announces plans for historic space
Reporting by Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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