Cincinnati, Wednesday, 3 September 2025.
Kings Island’s decision to tie Halloween Haunt directly into its coaster roster signals a deliberate shift: using marquee rides as primary scare-stage assets to extend shoulder-season revenue. Announced last Wednesday, the program layers walkthroughs and scare zones adjacent to high-capacity coasters, extends operating hours, and introduces coaster-adjacent safety protocols and night staffing. For retail and F&B teams this creates activation opportunities—coaster-themed IP assortments, timed F&B drops, and premium Haunted Attractions Express passes—that can materially raise capture rates during evenings. Operationally expect increased complexity in throughput management, temporary infrastructure spend, training, and updated risk assessments; suppliers should prepare for an RFP window for props, themed retail, and night-shift labor. Key KPIs to track include nightly throughput variance, incremental per-capita F&B and retail spend, and guest satisfaction for ride-integrated scares. Most intriguing: the explicit use of roller coasters as programmed scare platforms, a direct lever to monetize peak assets outside peak season.