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New attraction, gigantic dinosaur coming to Kings Island

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer 5:43 PM Thursday, September 1, 2011

MASON — A new visitor will be noticeable to all who visit Kings Island in the waning days of its 2011 season, but this special guest may be the first in history to tower over the actual roller coasters.

The Ruyang Yellow River dinosaur — the largest animatronic dinosaur ever constructed — will make its home among the ranks of Kings Island’s Dinosaurs Alive! spectacle starting this weekend.

Park officials also said they will be announcing the park’s major new attraction for 2012 at a 2 p.m. Friday news conference.

Dinosaurs Alive! is a park-within-the park that features more than 60 life-sized moving dinosaurs on display in a 12/5-acre wooded area behind the Racer roller coaster.

When the exhibit was announced earlier this year, the Ruyang Yellow River dinosaur was one of the focal points due to its enormous size, measuring 72 feet long, 12 feet wide and 40 feet high.

However, tragedy struck when the dinosaur caught fire days before the exhibit was set to open, possibly the worst event to happen to dinosaurs in 65 million years.

The fire did not cause the overall attraction to go extinct and Dinosaurs Alive! opened on schedule in May, minus one large beast.

A replacement from the dinosaur’s makers in China has finally been built and is now set to open in the park.

Kings Island will be open Friday through Monday over the Labor Day weekend. The Dinosaurs Alive! exhibit is an extra $5 on top of park admission.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.

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