Amusement Park News

With a $25 million investment to be spread over the next two seasons, Kentucky Kingdom is opening a new land called Discovery Meadow in May 2025. With rides, attractions, and re-themed food and beverage options, the new land represents the first part of the Louisville, KY park's new monetary commitment, $11 million worth.

Based on “the beauty and spirit of the Bluegrass with a Kentucky twist” per the park, the new land will be family friendly, and feature three brand new rides, ten re-themed rides, two revamped eateries, and the new addition of a 4800-square-foot playground for kids.

According to the park's GM, Sarah Worrell, the new land represents a celebration of the park's roots in Kentucky – along with new guest experiences. She stresses that this new addition is just the beginning with “even more on the way for Kentucky Kingdom soon.”

As the largest amusement and waterpark in the state, Kentucky Kingdom already boasts over 70 attractions and rides. Included among them are five thrilling coasters, a large contingent of kid's rides, and in the waterpark section, two large-scale wave pools.

The park is owned by Herschend Amusements, which also includes Dollywood and Silver Dollar City in its entertainment quiver. It's worth noting that Silver Dollar City is also expanding, with a ten-year allocation of some $500 million, including a new hotel that is already in construction.

At Kentucky Kingdom, new rides for the new land will include a train ride experience called Cumberland Express that passes through a wooded wilderness, while riders keep an eye and an ear out for fun animal friends on an excursion that features the sights and sounds of woodland creatures. Also new will be a squirrel-themed ride, Scout's Squirrel Race, positioned in a new garden area, and a swing ride called Redbird Racer, with an oval course, plenty of exciting turns, and boasting as its inspiration a bird native to Kentucky.



The Squirrel Race is described by the park as highlighting “one of nature's most diligent and resourceful foragers” and suggests that riders will “bounce around” as part of the experience.

Worrell notes that “families are going to love these new rides and our brand-new land that celebrates Kentucky.” According to her, the decision to make the new land themed to the state of Kentucky itself was the outgrowth of an intentional look-ahead to the future of the park. "We really wanted to figure out what the identity of the park was going to be for the future," she relates, "It felt like a really smart idea to lean into the 'Kentucky' of Kentucky Kingdom and celebrate all the great things that happen in our state."

Worrell adds that the new land “is just the first of many exciting announcements we have planned for this year. We can't wait to share more thrilling news with our community…” But in the meantime, she believes that park guests will be excited to see how the new land creates the Kentucky theme, describing it as offering “new twists and turns” that will make it “special for future generations."

Kentucky Kingdom already debuted one new attraction this year outside of the upcoming new Kentucky-themed land. It was a seasonal fest -- the park's first Christmas celebration. The event, which opened November 29th and ran through January 4th, 2025, featured a large display of over a million holiday lights, Christmas tunes, seasonally-themed attractions, and holiday foods.

Among the most popular attraction was Blizzard Bluff, described by the park's sales and marketing director Carly Uglow as “the newest and largest snow tubing hill in the state of Kentucky.”

There were 25 holiday rides in all, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 5D Movie, Tin Lizzie's Starlight Speedway, Kentucky Flyer, and the aforementioned Blizzard Bluff.

The special family holiday celebration cost a cool $8 million to create, but the event successfully extended the season for Kentucky Kingdom by a whopping 24 days.
The seasonal treat invited park guests to explore four Christmas zones at the park:  Classic Christmas, Holly Jolly Junction, Santa's Village and Snow Zone. Each featured their own separate holiday attractions. In Classic Christmas, the seasonally transformed Tin Lizzie ride featured cars each decorated for the season; while King Louie's Candyland, also in this area, featured mammoth sized candy canes, a candy throne, and a bench of gingerbread. Also on hand was a vibrantly illuminated Christmas tree and nativity.

At Holly Jolly Junction, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was joined by Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster for photo ops and meet-ups, while a Christmas tree maze and cookie decorating were also on the agenda. Santa's Village was the spot for Santa photos and pics, as well as passage through a 60-foot tunnel of lights, with synchronized patterns, as well as a “Countdown to Christmas.” And last but not least, there was Snow Zone, home to the 175-foot snow tubing hill of Blizzard Bluff as well as a snow play area with as much as three-feet of snow, fire pits, and a field replete with glowing, multi-colored balls. And, on New Year's Eve, a special countdown and fireworks show celebration was held, adding more family-driven fun to the seasonal event's debut.

Kentucky Kingdom season passes for 2025 start at $79.99 for silver tier, topping out at the $144.99 the Diamond Pass, which includes free Icees and early seating for shows at the park.