Mystic Timbers is a thrilling wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 2017, this ride quickly garnered attention for its intense airtime, rapid speed, and mysterious theme centered around an abandoned logging company. Designed by Great Coasters International (GCI), Mystic Timbers is a perfect blend of old-school wooden coaster excitement with modern design and theming, making it one of the top attractions at Kings Island.
Design and Features
Mystic Timbers is a wooden coaster spanning 3,265 feet of track and reaches a height of 109 feet. It features a drop of 97 feet and hits a top speed of 53 miles per hour. What sets Mystic Timbers apart from traditional wooden coasters is its combination of swift directional changes, high-banked turns, and smooth airtime hills, making for a relentless and exhilarating ride. The coaster’s design emphasizes maintaining speed through a series of rapid-fire elements, including 16 airtime hills, delivering a fast-paced experience from start to finish.
The ride's duration is about 2 minutes and 30 seconds, offering plenty of thrills packed into a relatively short ride. Mystic Timbers is known for its smoothness, a quality often rare among wooden coasters, which can be attributed to GCI’s innovative design and technology. The coaster’s layout, which winds its way through the dense forests around the Kings Island property, provides a feeling of isolation and enhances its mysterious theme.
The Theme and Backstory
Mystic Timbers is set around the fictional "Miami River Lumber Company," an abandoned logging facility deep within the woods. Guests are lured into the storyline by various signs warning them to stay away and the repeated question, “What’s in the shed?” This mystery builds throughout the ride, adding suspense and excitement as riders speed through the dense forest and around the decrepit structures of the logging company.
The ride begins with a slow climb up the lift hill, where guests catch glimpses of the surrounding park before plunging into the woods. The theme elements, such as the eerie warnings and abandoned lumber equipment, create an immersive experience that makes riders feel as if they are trespassing on forbidden grounds.
The Shed Reveal
Perhaps the most talked-about feature of Mystic Timbers is its infamous “shed.” After the high-speed thrills of the coaster itself, riders enter a dark shed for the finale. Prior to the ride’s debut, Kings Island teased the question, “What’s in the shed?” generating significant buzz and speculation.
Upon entering the shed, the train stops, and riders are treated to a short show sequence involving projections and lighting effects. The shed has three randomized endings featuring different animations of creatures—bats, snakes, or a tree monster—accompanied by audio effects and music. While the shed’s reveal was initially met with mixed reactions, it has become a quirky and unique feature that adds to the ride’s overall mysterious charm.
Ride Experience
From the moment the train leaves the station, Mystic Timbers is action-packed. After the initial lift hill, the ride’s first drop provides a strong burst of speed, sending riders hurtling through the dense forest. The layout, filled with quick transitions, sudden turns, and rapid drops, ensures there is never a dull moment. The coaster’s layout hugs the terrain, weaving between trees and offering a sensation of flying through the woods.
The airtime hills, a signature of GCI designs, keep riders lifted out of their seats, while the banked curves add an extra level of intensity. Mystic Timbers is known for maintaining its speed throughout the ride, ensuring a continuous rush of adrenaline until the train enters the mysterious shed.
Reception and Awards
Since its opening, Mystic Timbers has been praised by coaster enthusiasts and the general public alike. It won the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride in 2017 and has consistently ranked as one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world. The ride’s smoothness, combined with its rapid pace and thematic elements, has made it a favorite among Kings Island guests.
The coaster’s popularity is evident in its consistently long lines, with guests eager to take a ride and discover “What’s in the shed?”—even if they’ve already experienced it before. Mystic Timbers has become a modern classic, combining the best elements of traditional wooden coasters with an engaging theme and high-quality design.
Mystic Timbers is a must-ride attraction at Kings Island for both thrill-seekers and fans of themed experiences. Its combination of fast-paced wooden coaster elements, unique theming, and the intrigue of the shed make it a standout among the park’s impressive lineup of roller coasters. Whether you’re visiting for the adrenaline rush or to satisfy your curiosity about the shed, Mystic Timbers offers an unforgettable adventure through the woods that will leave you wanting more.
Mystic Timbers is a thrilling wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 2017, this ride quickly garnered attention for its intense airtime, rapid speed, and mysterious theme centered around an abandoned logging company.