All-New Roller Coaster, Flying Fox, Takes Flight At Kentucky Kingdom
May 28, 2026
New coaster marks latest milestone in Herschend's multi-year investment in Kentucky’s largest theme & water park
LOUISVILLE, KY (May 28, 2026) – Today, Kentucky Kingdom opened Flying Fox, an all-new roller coaster that expands the park’s lineup to six coasters, the most in the state of Kentucky. Blending immersive storytelling, Kentucky-inspired theming, and family-friendly thrills, Flying Fox represents the latest addition in a period of significant growth for Kentucky Kingdom as Herschend continues investing in new rides, seasonal events, entertainment, and guest experiences across the park.
Flying Fox invites riders to join the daring adventures of Jeb Fox, a local legend and crop-dusting pilot, as they soar over a vibrant Kentucky farmland setting before diving underground and back again. Every detail of the attraction was designed by Herschend Creative Studios, the company's in-house creative team, with theming that celebrates Kentucky's agricultural heritage through a red barn-inspired queue, hand-painted murals, and playful audio featuring Jeb himself. The Vekoma-manufactured Flying Fox stands at 1,380 feet of track, a top speed of 37 mph, and a max height of 65 feet, creating family-friendly thrills accessible to riders 38 inches and taller.
“Today is another exciting milestone in Kentucky Kingdom's story and a reflection of what we believe at Herschend,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend. “When we became stewards of this park in 2021, we made a promise to invest in Kentucky Kingdom and in Louisville. Flying Fox is the latest example of that promise in action, as we continue to create new experiences that bring families from Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Southern Indiana, and beyond together.”
Flying Fox represents the next chapter of a three-year, $33 million investment in the park. The journey began with the introduction of Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom in 2022 and continued with the $8 million debut of Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom in 2024, turning the park into a sparkling Christmas destination complete with more than 1.5 million lights, 300+ Christmas trees, and the state's largest snow tubing hill. In 2025, the park opened Discovery Meadow, an $11 million fully reimagined land featuring new rides, attractions, and dining that set a new standard for immersive, family-friendly experiences. Now, the $14 million investment in Flying Fox cements Kentucky Kingdom's place as the region's premier family entertainment destination.
"Flying Fox is everything we hoped it would be, bold and uniquely Kentucky," said Sarah Worrell, General Manager of Kentucky Kingdom. "We're so grateful for our guests, our hosts, and the community for the enthusiasm and support that made today possible. With Discovery Meadow, Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom, Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom, and now Flying Fox, we've built something this city can be proud of and where families can create memories worth repeating.”
The First Riders Auction gave fans the opportunity to bid for a chance to be among the very first to ride Flying Fox, raising $1,675 for the Kentucky 4-H Foundation. Kentucky 4-H supports more than 200,000 young Kentuckians through hands-on programming in agriculture, science, leadership, and community service, a fitting partner for a coaster rooted in Kentucky's agricultural story.
The 2026 season also features five new live entertainment shows running throughout the summer, new dining menu options, cashless payments parkwide, and mobile ordering at select dining locations. Season passes are on sale now until June 14 with options as low as $89.99 and include access to signature seasonal events including Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom and Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom later this year.
For more information on tickets, event hours, and season passes, visit www.kentuckykingdom.com.
About Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom Theme and Water Park is Kentucky’s largest amusement and water park in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky. Spanning 67 acres, it offers family-friendly entertainment with over 70 rides and attractions – including one of the region's largest selections of children’s rides (King Louie’s Playland), five world-class roller coasters, and two giant wave pools. Learn more at kentuckykingdom.com.
About Herschend
Kentucky Kingdom is part of Herschend’s family of brands. Herschend is the world’s largest family-held themed attractions company, with a portfolio of more than four dozen properties, including destinations, resorts, theme parks, water parks, immersive experiences, and content enjoyed by audiences worldwide. While each brand is unique, all are united by a shared purpose: Bringing Families Closer Together by Creating Memories Worth Repeating®. Together, we love in all we do, every day—caring for one another, welcoming our guests with warmth, and making a positive difference in our communities. For more information, visit www.herschendenterprises.com.
About Vekoma
Vekoma Rides is one of the largest manufacturers in the world of roller coasters & attractions and a market leader in the industry with a presence in over 40 countries. Known for its quality and innovation as reflected in the many installed family & thrill coasters and special attractions that meet the most stringent standards for safety, quality and comfort. Our passion for the pure joy of the ride is reflected in the game changing attractions designed and built by the 300+ experts that work in this group. We have everything under one roof with the world’s largest in-house expertise centrum - from Sales, R&D, Engineering, Production, Project Management to Parts & Services. It’s where cutting-edge engineering meets creative design and imaginative storytelling to create an experience like no other!
###