Diamondback is a steel roller coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, United States. The ride is located in Rivertown just behind International Street and the Eiffel Tower. When built in 2009, it was the first hypercoaster to feature a splashdown and the first Bolliger & Mabillard roller coaster at Kings Island. Diamondback was previously the biggest investment in Kings Island’s history at $22 million (ahead of The Crypt and Son of Beast, each of which cost $20 million) until surpassed in 2014 by Banshee, an investment of $24 million. The coaster has a 230ft lift hill with a 215 ft-drop, featuring 10 total drops and a top speed of about 80mi/h. It is similar to Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland in statistics, layout, and seating.HistoryConstruction of Diamondback began on October 11, 2007, with the removal of a tree. Swan Lake was drained and filled with concrete before opening day in 2008; this turned out to be the location for the splashdown element. Kings Island started teasing visitors during the Fourth of July weekend in 2008 with signs saying, "Ride sally ride" and "Steep incline ahead." Diamondback was announced on August 6, 2008 as the largest investment in Kings Island history. The ride was topped off with the 230ft lift hill on October 30. The last piece of track was installed on January 26, 2009. Diamondback started testing about a month later on February 26. Diamondback officially opened on April 18, 2009. The 1,000,000th rider was on July 20, 2009. On July 21, 2014, Diamondback gave its 10,000,000th ride. The rider, Mike Brogan, was given a Diamondback gift package including T-shirts, hats, keychains, coffee mugs, shotglasses, and a large sign proclaiming his ride.
