Kings Dominion

A collection of photographs from one of America's most famous amusement parks, Kings Dominion, and the iconic attractions that make up the park.

Kings Dominion officially opened in 1975 on a 400-acre site between Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Modeled on sister park Kings Island in Ohio, it debuted with several iconic attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, Rebel Yell, and Lion Country Safari. Over the decades, ownership has changed several times, yet the park continues to grow and remain popular, even "starring" in the 1977 film Rollercoaster. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, it has evolved into one of North America's premier regional theme parks and is currently home to an impressive assortment of attractions and live entertainment. The park also boasts a formidable arsenal of roller coasters (14), including four of the wooden variety, three LIM-launched coasters, and the 30-story-tall Intimidator (I-305) giga coaster.

Scott N. Rutherford is a writer, photographer, and historian specializing in amusement and theme parks. A charter member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), he has penned numerous titles on parks and roller coasters. Since 1997, he has also served as staff writer and photographer for the trade publication Amusement Today. The majority of the images used are from Kings Dominion and the author's personal collection.