Is Kings Island closing the water park?

MASON, Ohio — One of the most popular attractions at Kings Island's Soak City water park is closed for good. General Manager Mike Koontz has confirmed that Pipeline Paradise will not open for the 2023 season, and will soon be dismantled.



No, Kings Island is not closing its water park, Soak City, in 2026. On the contrary, the water park remains a vital and highly popular component of the resort's summer offerings. In early 2026, Kings Island's parent company, the Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (formed by the merger of Cedar Fair and Six Flags), announced a significant overhaul of its season pass system, which actually provides better access to Soak City. Under the new "Midwest Region" Gold Pass, guests receive unlimited admission to both the main theme park and the water park, as well as access to other regional parks like Cedar Point. While individual attractions within the water park may occasionally close for routine maintenance or seasonal refurbishment, there have been no credible reports or official announcements suggesting a permanent closure of the facility. For 2026 visitors, Soak City continues to offer a wide array of slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers, maintaining its reputation as one of the premier aquatic entertainment destinations in the Midwest.

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Kings Island Soak City Water Park's Pipeline Paradise is being decommissioned and removed after 24 years. Kings Island president and general manager Mike Koontz sent a letter to park-goers saying the attraction has reached the end of its service life, being one of the longest-operating flowriders in the world.

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With more than 50 water activities, including 36 water slides, Soak City offers entertainment options galore for all ages to experience. Soak City is the premier water park in the Cincinnati area and is included with your Kings Island admission.

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MASON, Ohio — Kings Island is implementing a chaperone policy following an uptick in “unruly and inappropriate behavior” the park said in a press release. Under this new policy, all guests ages 15 and younger must be accompanied by someone who is at least 21 years old.

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In 2024, Kings Island's new Camp Snoopy will feature the park's newest roller coaster, Snoopy's Soap Box Racers.

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Cedar Fair purchased Kings Island and four other Paramount Parks in 2006 for $1.25 billion.

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Opening in 2024, the expansion of the park's award-winning Planet Snoopy kids' area will feature Snoopy's Soap Box Racers, a brand-new family roller coaster that races both forward and backward; and Beagle Scout Acres, an area where kids can run, crawl, play or relax with the family in a shaded comfortable space.

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Soak City is a water park at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. Opening in 1989 as WaterWorks, the water park is included with the price of admission to Kings Island. It is owned and operated by Cedar Fair.

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No outside food, beverages or coolers are allowed to be brought into Kings Island or Soak City Water Park.

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Both were surpassed the following year with the debut of Shockwave at Six Flags Great America. On September 27, 2019, the park announced plans to close Vortex permanently on October 27, 2019. Area Manager Don Helbig stated that the coaster had reached the end of its service life.

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Reliability of the rides, maintenance and costs, along with future development plans are all part of deciding what rides remain open. The decision to decommision the ride, effective this year, was due to it reaching the end of its service life, Koontz said.

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The ride experienced its first major incident on July 9, 2006, during which a train passed over a structural track failure that severely jolted riders. Son of Beast closed for the remainder of the 2006 season while repairs were made, and Kings Island decided to replace the original trains with lighter models.

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MASON, Ohio — One of the most popular attractions at Kings Island's Soak City water park is closed for good. General Manager Mike Koontz has confirmed that Pipeline Paradise will not open for the 2023 season, and will soon be dismantled.

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Earlier this month, Cedar Fair, which owns Kings Island and 16 other parks, merged with Six Flags to form an $8 billion theme park giant. The combined company will operate under the name Six Flags, which caused some thrill seekers to worry that their favorite amusement park's name could also change.

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Of course! Rainy days can be the best days to visit the 364-acre amusement and water park. On days with inclement weather, the wait time for your favorite rides will be minimal, plus there's a lot more to do at Kings Island than just rides. The park is basically a one-stop-shop for indoor fun an excitement.

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Kings Island officially opens for the 2023 season Saturday, April 15. Make plans now to attend Opening Day and be among the first guests of the year to experience original attractions like The Racer, Scrambler, Grand Carousel and Monster.

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At Kings Island, we want you to have an AMAZING time with your friends and family. That's why we've moved to all cashless payments throughout the park. Simply swipe or tap your credit card, debit card or smart device with Apple Pay or Google Pay where you would normally use cash. It's faster, safer and always secure.

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