Tomb Raider: the Ride opened at Paramount's Kings Island in Kings Mill, Ohio in April, 2002 as a unique combination between spinning ride and dark ride - the newest hybrid-type attraction to land in the theme park world. Themed to Paramount's movie Tomb Raider of the previous year, the Ride takes adventurers through the chambers of an ancient temple before boarding a 70-foot tall spinning Giant Top Spin from Manufacturer Huss Rides and experiencing the heels-over-head action of the thrill ride half of Tomb Raider. In late 2001, Paramount's Kings Island's Kenton's Cove Kellboat Canal, one of two log flumes, was closed and kicked off the Island, and TR:tR began to take KCKC's spot as the framework for the attraction's 80-foot tall building rose up. Tomb Raider comes as PKI's third enclosed themed 
ride, following the Phantom Theatre dark ride (now Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle) and 1996's Flight of Fear LIM-driven spaghetti-bowl steel coaster. Before boarding, King Island guests travel through a queue line that provides half of the Tom Raider experience, passing by heavy theming including actual props from the film during the twenty-minute-long experience.
Visitors to Paramount's Kings Island venture to the back of the park into the far reaches of the midways and into the wooden area also home to the legendary Beast before catching sight of the entrance to Tomb Raider. 
Entering into the queue line, future riders are taken into the building through a cave-like entrance and into the first of three themed pre-ride chambers. Guests move past debris of failed past expeditions and archaeological equipment in the first room, and then move onto the Antechamber. Traveling towards the heart of the temple, the line winds past stone monkeys, ancient idols and mysterious symbols lining the walls. In the next chamber, guests learn the story behind the experience before entering the final portion of the building containing the ride portion of Tomb Raider. Upon entering the ride enclosure, passengers load onto the 3-row, 77-passenger rider vehicle, securing shoulder restraints as they board. The spinning and flipping action begins as riders are carried towards a ceiling of ice stalactites jutting down precariously towards the vehicle, then inverted over a floor of lava. Tomb riders are whipped around and around, climbing 70 feet and spiraling back down for the next two minutes but finally, Tomb Raider: the Ride comes to an end and riders exit out of the building.
Written by Devin Olson
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