Doswell, Va. – Kings Dominion announced Thursday that they will be retiring their stand-up roller coaster Shockwave on August 9th.
The Shockwave opened in 1986 and is the oldest currently operating stand-up roller coaster in North America.
Kings Dominion said it planned to shutdown the roller coaster in order to expand the Candy Apple Grove section of the theme park, according to WTVR.
“While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to one of our older coasters, we’re excited for what the future holds,” Pat Jones, Vice President and General Manager of Kings Dominion, said. “The park has evolved so much over the past 40 years and as Kings Dominion continues to grow, we’re committed to enhancing the overall experience for our guests. We’re happy that Shockwave was able to provide close to three decades of memories.”
The park said more than 22 million people have taken the two-minute ride on Shockwave.
