Two new rides for kids will debut this season at Paramount's Kings Island in Mason.

        The Wild Thornberrys River Adventure and Rugrats Runaway Reptar roller coaster will anchor a new Nickelodeon Central area this spring, park officials said Thursday.

        The Wild Thornberrys River Adventure, based on the popular Nickelodeon TV series The Wild Thornberrys, seats riders in dugouts — log-shaped boats — and casts them off on a wet and surprise-filled excursion through the wilderness that includes a plunge down a 40-foot waterfall.

Paramount's Kings Island's new 7th Portal ride combines 3-D animation and motion simulation to give riders a five-minute virtual adventure. (Paramount's Kings Island photo) | ZOOM |

        The Rugrats Runaway Reptar, the world's first inverted kiddie coaster, suspends riders from the track ski-lift style, and sends them racing along 1,129 feet of track at about 25 mph. The 52-foot-tall steel coaster is Kings Island's fourth kiddie coaster — the most at any amusement park in the world.

        Kings Island's third new addition in 2001 is a three-dimensional superhero adventure ride developed by Stan Lee Media Inc. called The 7th Portal. Located in the park's James Bond 007 action theater, it combines 3-D computer animation and motion simulation technology to transport riders across cyberspace to the dangerous universe of Darkmoor.

        Riders, with 3-D glasses and strapped into motion-based seats that move with action on the movie screen, embark on a five-minute digital adventure to save the Earth from evil Mongorr and his vicious Nullifiers.
       

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