Vacationeers Theme Parks & more

Kings Dominion launches Rapterra, the world’s tallest & longest launched wing coaster, on March 29! Get ready for an exhilarating 50th-anniversary celebration.

Kings Dominion, in Doswell, VA, will officially launch its newest attraction as Rapterra takes flight on the park’s opening day, March 29. At 145 feet tall and 3,086 feet long, Rapterra stands as the tallest and longest launched wing coaster in the world and headlines the park’s 50^th anniversary celebration season in 2025.

“Rapterra is the perfect centerpiece for our 50^th anniversary celebration and promises to bring a captivating and exhilarating set of thrills to a brand-new generation of guests,” said Bridgette Bywater, vice president and general manager of Kings Dominion. “Cutting-edge attractions, family-friendly thrills and developing rich, immersive experiences are what has made Kings Dominion the premier Virginia destination for 50 years. We carry on that tradition with the introduction of Rapterra.”  

Rapterra Ride Experience at Kings Dominion

Rapterra was inspired by the flight of the mythical creature, the “jungle hawk.” The journey begins as riders choose to soar on the hawk’s left or right “wing,” and board a seat suspended on either side of the track with nothing above or below them. With tension mounting, Rapterra takes flight and riders are launched from 0 to 65 miles per hour in just four seconds. The ride then ascends to its zenith over the Jungle X-Pedition midway.

Rapterra’s aerial maneuvers and inversions include:

• Overbanked turn 145 feet above the midway and the ride’s highest point
• Dramatic “dive loop” ─ the ride’s first inversion
• Nimble S-turn with quick directional changes
• “Wing slide” that creates a sideways sliding motion, unique to wing coasters
• “Flat spin” ─ a tight corkscrew, the second inversion
• “Airtime” hill delivering negative gravity
• 360-degree “raptor roll” ─ a barrel roll, the third inversion

The nearly minute-and-a-half adventure includes eight breathtaking moments before Rapterra glides back into the station.

Opening Day at Kings Dominion

Rapterra will open to the public when the park opens on March 29. The park remains open every day through April 6 for spring break. For more information on Rapterra, season passes and the robust lineup of events during the park’s 50^th anniversary season at Kings Dominion, visit www.kingsdominion.com

For more theme park-related information and news, visit our website and our YouTube channel.