CINCINNATI — Kings Island is officially 50-years-old and celebrated Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony with leaders of the park from the past and present, and of course, cake.
The first family that entered through the gates 50 years ago also joined in on the fun and walked down memory lane.
What You Need To Know
- Sisters Tamara, Taryn and Heather became the first guests at Kings Island when it opened in 1972
- Now, 50 years later, they’re at the park celebrating its 50th birthday
- The women said being the park’s first guests has been a huge part of their lives and family history
- Now, they’re glad to pass on the tradition to children and grandkids
Sisters Heather, Taryn, and Tamara returned to the park this year, but to them, it wasn’t just another day.
“Oh, this was so much fun!” Tamara said. “It was a lot more fun than I ever imagined!”
It’s the 50th anniversary for the park, and these sisters were there five decades before.
“We have pictures of us kids from the back of these cars, looking through the back,” Hitson said.
They actually were the first guests through the gates at Kings Island in 1972. Taryn Harrison, the middle sister, said it was entirely by accident.
“It was a fluke,” Taryn said. “My dad didn’t like crowds. We got here early, and so we got here way too early, and a car pulled up and asked us if we’re the first family, and we said ‘yeah, we’re the first family!’”
And now, they along with thousands of others, get to celebrate. The sisters cut the ribbon, and special guests made appearances. Officials with the park said this celebration is even better because of the last two years and finally being able to operate normally.
“For them, it’s back to normal. They feel like it,” said Chad Showalter, Kings Island’s director of communications. “From the park perspective, that’s what it looks like to us too. We’re seeing similar numbers to what we saw before the pandemic, and we expect that to continue throughout the entire summer.”
And for the sisters, that’s the best part: getting to see how much the park has changed over 50 years.
“Look how many roller coasters!” Hitson said. “They got faster and bigger! Because there was only the racer at that time.”
They are continuing the tradition with their kids and grandkids in tow.
“You think about the millions of people that come, and it started when we walked through that gate,” Taryn said. “It was amazing.”
“Being the first family, coming here and having my dad cut the ribbon, that it’s part of our family history,” Hitson said. “We’ve always talked about it, known about it. Kings Island is like a part of our integral self, and to have our kids here going through this, it’s almost like we’re passing something on of our family history.”
