In the spring of 2019, guests and fans of Kings Dominion received devastating news — Volcano: The Blast Coaster would be closing permanently. In the years following, many speculated about what would eventually take its place. Fast forward to the summer of 2024, and we would finally have our answer. Rising from Volcano’s ashes: Rapterra, the world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster!

Review by Nathan Hart, our State Ambassador for Virginia

The Scene

Nestled in the heart of the Jungle X-Pedition area of the park, Rapterra dominates the midway, towering over the walkways with its patina green track. As guests walk into the ride’s entrance, they are greeted with artifacts from an archaeological dig site. Several items pay homage to the former attractions that once occupied Mt. Kilimanjaro, now the current Rapterra site. Guests will notice nods to The Lost World, The Haunted River, Smurf Mountain, and of course, Volcano: The Blast Coaster.

Further down the queue, waiting riders will come across a large crater from a volcanic eruption surrounded by lava, debris, and ash. A prominent stone gateway stands over the queue path, featuring two jungle hawks standing guard. Closer to the station, riders will choose which side of the train they wish to ride: left or right. Once in the station, the mythical Rapterra bird perches menacingly above the train below. Upon exiting the ride, guests are guided through a gift shop in a building that was once part of the Mt. Kilimanjaro structure. Various merchandise, including T-shirts, drinkware, souvenirs, and on-ride photos, are available for purchase.

Kings Dominion went above and beyond with Rapterra’s theming, paying respect to the past while being creative in the present. Rapterra and its theming are an exquisite centerpiece to Jungle X-Pedition.

The Experience

Designed and built by renowned Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, Rapterra features a masterfully composed sequence of thrilling elements. The train has two-abreast seating on each side of the track. There are six rows of seats, totaling 24 riders per cycle. Riders are restrained by a comfortable over-the-shoulder harness, secured with a latching seat belt.

As the train is cleared from the station, the vehicle creeps through a slow right-hand turn as riders stare down the launch track, covered by stone arches. The train rapidly accelerates, reaching a speed of 65 miles per hour in just 4 seconds. The pull-out from the launch delivers strong positive gravitational forces as the train rises into the 145-foot tall Wingover turn. The train crests the coaster’s highest point, with riders staring down at the jungle floor below. The vehicle races back to the ground, only to quickly re-ascend into the ride’s first inversion, a 119-foot Dive Loop, which reverses the train’s direction before hurdling downward. The Dive Loop provides smooth, yet robust positive g-forces through the inversion.

Next, the train speeds into a 90-foot S-turn, where riders will experience both generous airtime and lateral forces. After the S-turn, riders will encounter a Wing Slide, a sideways turn that gracefully transitions into the second inversion, a Flat Spin Corkscrew. This element creates a sustained moment of hang-time, dropping the rider’s body completely out of their seat.

The train continues its momentum into an airtime hill, lifting riders gently from their seats as they traverse. Finally, riders will approach the coaster’s signature element, the 360-degree Raptor Roll, a lengthy, drawn-out inversion providing intense positive g-forces and prolonged hang-time. Exiting the Raptor Roll, the train pulls through a final banked turn into the brake-run, completing its 90-second, 3,086-foot journey through the ruins of Jungle X-Pedition.

Rapterra’s layout is flawlessly executed with precision and agility. Every element is strategically placed to deliver a smooth, but forceful ride. Because there are seats on either side of the track, each seat delivers a slightly different experience from the others. Guests will certainly be eager to get right back in line after experiencing their first ride, as it is quite a re-rideable coaster.

What to Expect

Rapterra perfectly rounds out Kings Dominion’s already stellar lineup of roller coasters and thrill rides, and is a formidable successor to the beloved Volcano: The Blast Coaster.

This brilliant new ride will open to the public on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Riders must be a minimum of 48 inches tall in order to experience the ride. Guests of a larger size may be better accommodated in Row 3, which features a slightly longer seat belt. Rapterra does have a test seat at the entrance to ensure a safe fit into the restraint. Bags and other large items are not permitted on the ride’s platform and will have to be stored in a locker or left with a non-rider. Smaller loose articles, such as phones and glasses, may be placed in the article bins located adjacent to the ride vehicle.

Special thanks to Kings Dominion for hosting the media event, allowing us to experience and review Rapterra. The ride will be a fantastic start to the 50th Anniversary season at the park.

Photos courtesy of Kings Dominion.