The ride
The Bat is a steel suspended roller coaster built by Arrow Development at Kings Island in Coney Mall, Ohio, having opened to the public in 1981. After 45 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Kings Island midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 100 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. Trains reach a top speed of 34.0 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. In total the track stretches 245 ft, giving the experience a distinctly long-form feel rather than the punchy one-and-done character of many modern compact coasters. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from Arrow Development have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Arrow Development installations will pick up on the same DNA in The Bat's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear.
Plan to ride The Bat early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Kings Island typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Kings Island, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day. broader coaster community archives
In CoasterVault's ranking tables, The Bat currently appears in our 195th position for tallest coasters lists, reflecting where its core stats place it among operating coasters in the United States. These rankings move whenever a new installation opens, so the position should be read as a snapshot rather than a permanent record.