Grizzly Official POV - Roar Restored

No question, the Grizzly project was a challenging endeavor for such a beloved coaster. To accomplish the task, Kings Dominion worked with a group of passionate engineers who are the foremost experts in wooden rollercoaster technology, The Gravity Group.
The Gravity Group firm is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was founded in July 2002 by a group of veteran wooden coaster designers. Together, the engineers with The Gravity Group have more experience designing wooden rollercoasters than any other company in existence today anywhere in the world. As a result, the designs that The Gravity Group produces are consistently among the highest-rated wooden coasters in the industry. The core group of designers and engineers at The Gravity Group have backgrounds in civil, structural, and mechanical engineering. Their experience comes from working on over 40 different wooden roller coasters around the world.
Founding members of The Gravity Group include Korey Kiepert, Chad Miller, Michael Graham, and Lawrence Bill. The lead engineer for The Grizzly project is Brian Kosmac.
Most wooden roller coaster track is hand-cut onsite, sometimes at great heights and in difficult positions. This traditional construction method can present challenges and requires highly skilled carpenters to implement the ride design information into the final product.
The Gravity Group has created an alternative track system that is being utilized in the retracking of The Grizzly. The new track system from The Gravity Group is entirely made of wood - preserving the integrity of a wooden roller coaster. The newly engineered precut track is by design up to thirty times stronger than the traditional wooden roller coaster track. The track is precut at The Gravity Group facility by precision equipment to the exact shape determined by the ride design. The additional strength and precise shape ensure that the track will deliver smooth rides and indefinitely be maintenance friendly. Additionally, this engineered precut track is economical and easy to install in prefabricated pieces with predictable, excellent results.
Six hundred feet of this track was installed on Kings Island’s Racer in 2021. The Gravity Group also breathed new life into Kings Island’s “The Beast’s” first drop and through the first tunnel and turn towards the second drop and 540-degree helix tunnel. The park’s staff and guests have raved about the new ride experience from the engineered precut track. This new track allows The Gravity Group to refurbish classic rides and produce new ones in a way that preserves the experience and integrity of the beloved wooden roller coaster.
The Beast at Kings Island utilized Gravity Group's engineered precut track when the ride was refurbished in 2022
The Gravity Group was presented with Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Award for Innovation of the Year. To date, their innovative track has been added to eight different projects. In all, they have worked on forty different coasters all over the world.
The Grizzly is now open and once again thrilling riders in Old Virginia. #kingsdominion #amusementpark #rollercoaster

[@theunknown0887]

Glad to see this thing back in full force shout out to kings dominion for keeping their woodies in good shape 👏🏾

[@graysonh6548]

We just went on Friday and we just kept sitting on the coaster 4 times in a row because no one was in our row this is my personal fav at KD

[@mist5142]

Canadas wonderland needs to take notes

[@EoinGilroy-t3e]

@@mist5142 innit

[@thecalamitysanta6927]

You can REALLY feel how steep the 1st drop is, great job Gravity group!

[@andrewosborne4999]

I went to Kings Dominion for the 1st time last Thursday (LOVED IT). Personally, I like the drop more on Grizzly than on i305. The only part of the park that let me down was i305’s drop, the rest was perfect!! 😎

[@MrMoet]

@@andrewosborne4999how did the i305 drop lyd?

[@coreyysmithh]

@@andrewosborne4999man i absolutely love i305s drop

[@SophisticatedBean]

I went on it in the back and it had mad ejector

[@eelovfx9200]

@@MrMoet they must have just angled it wrong or something because the airtime on grizzlys drop is better than i305s

[@BananaMaster101]

Too good. Rode it 5 times. My dad absolutely loves this ride and he made me love it too. Good work KD!

[@grandjohn]

Amazing ride. Grizzly was one of my first "big" coasters that I rode. I'm so glad to see this staying!

[@TonyFromWiiSports3541]

See you in march

[@TheGrowingDead]

At around 2:04 they should put up some pictures of hunting relics, bear heads,claws or maybe the Grizzly logo sign or something similar on those boards, partial wall(s)that the train speeds past, always thought it would look cool.

[@lightningboat]

TRU

[@doog2281]

I agree! more theming please!!

[@scotthailey1556]

Excellent suggestion

[@OrangeJuiceExploring-r6k]

Just got over my fear and rode this😅

[@JDEverything]

The Beast of Virginia

[@BananaMaster101]

Fr tho

[@CoasterParadise12323]

yea

[@JDEverything]

Except the Beast is longer and more historic

[@kyereCat]

🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟

[@stephanieredden8861]

Yeah it is. I remember when they built it and how much rougher it was than the metal Rebel Yell. Not as rough as the Cyclone at Coney Island though. The Cyclone literally gave me a kidney punch.

[@nickdavis3035]

I thought they were removing it. I was so sad, but it's good to see that it's still there. This ride is underrated.

[@IsaacLikesGames]

This was the first roller coaster I ever rode, I was around 9 at the time, I’m 21 now. This ride is so nostalgic to me ❤

[@andrewb.9815]

I was 9 when I rode it in 1994 and it was OLD back then.

[@DaPeanutDude.]

I rode it a year ago and it was the first roller coaster I ever rode

[@F4billionyearzag0]

So basically this is the roller coaster that takes most of people's coaster virginity 🤔

[@mrcoasterswag]

The retracked bits are very good, they’re super smooth and pull great forces. I just hope they call Gravity Group back in to retrack the rest of it because those parts are still horrible

[@Whatchamawhozit]

The one thing I would recommend in KD have GG reprofile that first turn after the drop, bring it down by 12 " and you will see that thing pick up even more speed

[@bigevilshark1958]

Honestly I kind of love how violent this ride gets sometimes though

[@corvijord]

​@@bigevilshark1958 Really fits the theme. Feels like the rollercoaster approximation of being mauled by a bear 😆

[@mikewirth1709]

Tysm for not removing this ride ❤❤❤

[@csigamer90]

This was the biggest coaster in the park I was brave enough to go on when I went with some buddies here last year. An amazing and thrilling woodie, although I definitely came off it feeling like my bones were shaking, haha! Big kudos to Kings Dominion for keeping this old beast in tip top shape to continue to thrill park goers for years to come!

[@christinam1460]

Realigned my whole spine😂😂😂. Was just there yesterday. When I tell you I drooled and hollered so much. Loved it though. ❤

[@charmed2284]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I felt no noticeable difference in the roughness of the ride. It looks visually different but it does not feel smoother to me. Either way great work on the revision and im glad its being preserved ❤

[@acceleratorgaming]

I rode the ride once when I was little and I hated it. I never got on until the retrack and now I think it’s one of my favorites in the park

[@D0ma666]

I actually LOVE THIS RIDE and it is very bumpy but I STILL ENJOY IT, the beast of VA❤❤❤

[@plagueparodies6555]

This ride is terrifying from the standpoint that if you’re riding in the back car you can feel it lift off the track and additionally because you can feel the whole track flex under load from the car. Easily one of my favorite rides.

[@FeastablesPark]

I went on this ride on my trip to Kings Dominion in 2021, can’t wait to try it out again!

[@joshuawoodard6998]

I love this ride since the update. Great air time. Great visuals.

[@Patexer]

W. This was the roughest coaster to ever exist.

[@ChasinTracks]

It is rough but Skyliner at Lakemont is way rougher

[@Motogobro]

Dude, I knew I couldn't be the only one to think that. It really blows my mind that the vast majority of people online are singing it's praises. I really wanted to like it but when me and my wife gave it a chance, we couldn't wait to get off. It felt like it was coming apart. Even with the retrack.

[@Patexer]

@@ChasinTracks was*. I have a high pain tolerance and I enjoy it on coasters, I don’t wine like most enthusiasts lol. I can ride rough woodies and vekoma SLCs 10 times in a row and have no problem, but grizzly back when I rode it in 2019 was too much, had me screaming from shear pain.

[@Patexer]

@@Motogobro surely it’s gotten better after the retrack lol. Probably won’t go to KD for a long ass time, it’s a low tier park lol.

[@paganhobbit]

Thanks for giving it love and keeping it running!

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

Happy to keep this woodie alive! Wish they kept the trees tho..

[@FunkAndFluff]

The Gravity Group does phenomenal work! I hope we see ground-up coasters from them at Cedar Fair parks someday!

[@AshLuvsJonnyStew]

Just a good, classic woodie. For many Virginians this was our first “big” coaster growing up. So many memories ❤

[@tortured.poet.89]

The tunnel is super loud! love you kings dominion ❤❤❤

[@IrishEyes47]

Omg, I came across this video randomly and couldn't help but think of the torture I went through year after year growing up & riding this ride 😂 It was sooo rough! One particular ride, I vividly remember being jolted forward and hitting my nose on the lap bar....just painful! I'm still pretty local to KD and enjoy trips to take my kids to experience the wonder & joy of my youth....sans the face plant into the lap bar! Ride on....

[@Jacobsamusementparkadventures]

So story time me and my cousin went on this and we were going up the hill and her seatbelt came undone and I had to hold on to her but still… great ride I love how smooth the drop is great job kings dominion ❤❤❤

[@jamesthomas3556]

My seatbelt came undone on the racer 75

[@jacobmitton-c5q]

my seat belt came undone on steel force at dorney park

[@cltcoasters]

Super thankful they didn't go with titan track tbh

[@CoasterParadise12323]

I am going to Kings Dominion Tommorrow! I am super excited

[@TrueRaz]

Before the restoration, I had an experience where, in the final break run, my car ended up on top of the breaks instead of in them. When the breaks opened to let us into the station, the car fell an inch back onto the tracks. The love was needed.

[@scotthailey1556]

Rode this last year, 2022, and it was ROUGH. I can tell just by this video it's much smoother. Cant wait to ride it again.

[@JesusLivesOfficial]

But I grew up at this theme park and I’m trying to not have my fear of nights and roller coasters so I will have to ride this again. Live and love you kings dominion ❤❤❤

[@andrewb.9815]

Holy crap, this ride was OLD when I rode it as a kid in 1994.....riding it at night is scary af.

[@RebeccaBlazek]

This is one one of my favorite rides here it’s bumpy but that doesn’t stop me from having the best experance

[@xavierdomenico]

Looks so much smoother!

[@KevinStiff86]

This is a good early morning warm-up ride to get your body ready for the bigger coasters later in the day.

[@daganbarnes1561]

This looks way better than the one at CGA

[@nathanlopez5667]

This one is actually 4 years older I think it's a pretty similar layout

[@pjposton5001]

As the original TV ads said when Grizzly was first opened in 1982..... "There's a BEAR in the woods!" Sweet Ride!

[@DanielDenoted]

Fantastic job restoring it. It's a little faster but smoother. Still a little rough but way better than before. What u expect from this elderly Grizzly? But still to this day, top 3/5 in the park. It gets beat by some of the new ones but nothing beats nostalgia

[@markour-parkour1918]

A great beginner coaster

[@trish87563]

Funny--it's way shorter than I remember it being, but it's been about 30 years. Great coaster.

[@negan5986]

ROAR

[@FrostyLosty]

One of my favorites from back in the day

[@daisy0730]

This looks great!

[@JesusLivesOfficial]

The drop is steeper and bigger then it looks. From personal experience

[@VBaskin2010]

Old Man: Grizzly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lourdesfunes9323]

the first drop got me SCREAMIN

[@DRPEPPER999]

Can we just give how smooth it is and straight

[@OrangeJuiceExploring-r6k]

Just got over my fear and rode this😅

[@MrJello8bw]

I loved this one

[@Charlesgames256]

Looks a lot smoother from when I wrote it in the 80s 90s and early 2000s. Grizzlies one of the best roller coasters around but I remember it being very herky-jerky but luckily I always brought a neck brace after I wrote that ride😂😂

[@Thesussycrew]

Grizzly gets it so rough

[@MrDemimonde]

My alltime favorite coaster.

[@DKJawed40001]

This looks super similar to the ride “Tonnere de Zeus” in Parc Astérix in Plailly,France

[@Le_Forbidden_Jaguar]

Just went on it today

[@foxeh9238]

so much airtime in the back especially with ur hands up

[@ktpinnacle]

Beautiful wood work on this thing

[@iamb0nk3rs]

the airtime on this thing was unexpectedly insane

[@christina3609]

Back in the day, did they just copy roller coaster designs this reminds me of the Wilde Beast at Canada's Wonderland!

[@AnimeAdventures2034]

This one made my head hurt

[@DRPEPPER999]

Ty for the show bc tomorrow I'm going to king dominos

[@subaeruwrx]

sheesh bring back the beast to this form please

[@AntiPrimer-di7kv]

Best theme park in Virginia

[@JesusLivesOfficial]

Yup

[@helloimsomebody121]

my first ever ride 😇

[@Yikes_its_Psychs]

Please finish retracking the last part of the ride

[@tylerhudson1670]

I Ride This Coaster First Time Let Do It Again On Anytime

[@billybob33366]

Wilde Beaste at Canada's Wonderland is the before when compared to this because they are clones, essentially. I didnt feel like holding on for my life while watching this... not sure if I'd enjoy that! Wilde Beaste does hurt after riding it, definitely no hands up during its first drop!

[@kinga3755]

It was closed when I went so we rode the racer75 instead

[@matthewmiller7207]

#RestoreTheRoar

[@wolfpackgaming1383]

I have always wondered what is the reason for the chicken wire on the railing on the lift hill? Because most other Woody’s do not have that.

[@terrexcorbin]

The lift hill should move the coaster faster cause that first turnaround i thought it was going to get stuck there by how slow it was moving

[@miker4430]

Love that drop

[@quintinrice2733]

I will never understand how this ride is so great and the one we have is horrible. The one at CGA is slow, boring and short.

[@mistanoize7632]

It seems much slower

[@loppy6451]

The New version is MUCH better! Its much funner!!

[@manuelpineda8035]

Kings dominion Say Goodbye to The Beast

[@richardgreenjr4701]

It still beats the tar out of you

[@ChmodX]

The overall general management of this park in 2023 has been terrible.

[@D0ma666]

This video was made 8 days after I went to KD lol❤❤

[@DiamondbackOverOrion]

if the beast and mystic timbers had a boring baby

[@christainmarks106]

Is it bad i wanna see this coaster get the RMC treatment and turn it into the Iron Gwazi of KD

[@ev-x29284]

Grizzly at cga clone of this?

[@garrettbrooks6576]

A mirrored drawn out clone of this and Wilde Beast of Canada's Wonderland. All of these are essentially clones of Wildcat of Coney Island, which existed from 1927 to 1964

[@craftsandcoffeee]

Took long enough!

[@deirrikethesmurf3000]

Weak

[@Day12My]

kiddie coaster

[@FahrenheitFan97]

horizon locked povs suck and parks should stop making them

[@malakbryant1007]

Giant waste of wood.

[@ChasinTracks]

What you mean?

[@poisontg2577]

The ride is horrible

[@ChasinTracks]

Is it just to shaky?

[@poisontg2577]

@@ChasinTracks Around halfway in the ride I was violently rocked back and forth and it literally winded me and I started coughing

[@poisontg2577]

@@ChasinTracks It felt like someone was punching me in the back

[@poisontg2577]

@@ChasinTracks For me it was way worse than how bad it was for other people. I don’t know why it rocked specifically me back and fourth really badly and not anyone else in my family

[@rcoft]

SLOW AS HELL ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[@lamontcranston3185]

Thats pretty lame

[@capybaras22]

you’re pretty lame

[@Gamerboss40YT]

Been there with my friends

[@CubbyTech]

Anyone else see the title and wait for a Grizzly Roar in the tunnel? :D