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Kings Island's New Phantom Theater Opens Saturday

The revival anchors the season launch with nostalgia fused to new interactive tech.

Overview

  • Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare opens to all guests Saturday, April 18, following Thursday’s media preview and a Season Passholder preview on Friday.
  • Riders board “enchanted opera boxes” and use color-coded flashlights to capture roaming “ghost notes,” with a new projection system that removes the need to pull a trigger.
  • The attraction spans 26 built scenes with wind and sound effects and features animatronic performers like Houdelini, The Great Garbanzo, Hilda Bovine, Lionel Burymore, and new character Arpeggio.
  • Early reviews from the preview praise a fun, family-friendly tone and the balance of gameplay with story, while noting minor tuning on sound levels and point scoring.
  • The ride headlines a 2026 slate that includes Soak City’s May 23 reopening, a Food & Wine Festival May 29–June 21, Star-Spangled Night on July 4, Grand Carnivale July 18–Aug. 2, and the Grand Carousel’s 100th year.