(CNN) — It’s pretty much a yearly occurrence these days — some amusement park is setting a new roller coaster record. Maybe it’s for speed. Maybe it’s for a special design feature.
The Beast apparently isn’t going to rest on its laurels though. The park announced in a news release Wednesday that it’s going to extend the track by 2 feet, solidifying its grip on the record by 24 inches.
How long is The Beast exactly?
Refurbishment of The Beast started in November.
Kings Island/Cedar Fair Entertainment
The Beast had been a length of 7,359 feet (or 2,243 meters). But when it opens in May, riders will enjoy those 2 extra feet — for a new official length of 7,361 feet — because of “offseason retracking and reprofiling work,” the release said.
Obviously, those 2 extra feet (.6 meters) are going to fly by pretty darn fast. Perhaps more important and more noticeable to the thrill-seekers on the ride will be a steeper first drop.
Kings Island said it “has been reprofiled from 45 degrees to 53 degrees so that it can come into the tunnel lower and deliver a buttery-smooth transition through the first tunnel and onto the second drop.”
Crews began refurbishing 2,000 feet (610 meters) of the coaster’s track back in November.
Other features of the coaster
The Beast features two pretty serious drops of 137 feet and 141 feet.
Kings Island/Cedar Fair Entertainment
So how much time will it take to cover the new 3,761-foot track? That’s four minutes and 10 seconds of ride time. Some other hair-raising, yell-inducing Beast stats from Kings Island:
• Vertical drops of 137 feet (41.8 meters) and 141 feet. That latter drop is at an 18-degree angle.
• An underground tunnel at the bottom of that 137-foot drop is 125 feet long.
• That’s just the first tunnel — there are two more.
• Eight banked turns and a 540-degree helix tunnel near the end.
• Speeds up to 64.77 miles per hour (about 105 kmh).
Kings Island said it cost $3.5 million to build The Beast from 1977 to 1979 and that it would cost more than $20 million to recreate it today.
What it’s like riding The Beast
The Beast has earned its name according to Martin Lewison (aka Professor Roller Coaster).
Kings Island/Cedar Fair Entertainment
Martin Lewison, an associate professor of business management at Farmingdale State College on Long Island in New York, is known as “Professor Roller Coaster.” He schooled CNN Travel on Wednesday evening on what it’s like to ride The Beast.
“I’ve ridden it many times. It’s definitely a must-ride if you go to Kings Island. It’s iconic,” Lewison said.
“For years and years, it was my No. 1 wooden coaster. It’s really an experience.”
Lewison said the design makes it a ride like no other coaster.
“It practically has chapters…
Source: The Beast, world’s longest wooden roller coaster, is getting longer
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