<P> Kentucky Kingdom opened on May 23, 1987, leasing 10 acres (4.0 ha) at the Kentucky Exposition Center property . The park was started by out - of - state Texas investors as an extension of the Kentucky State Fair . One of the original rides was a roller coaster named Starchaser . The park also had other rides such as bumper cars and a log flume . However, the 10 acre park closed and filed for bankruptcy after only one season . Most of the contractors and vendors were unpaid and most of the rides were auctioned off to other parks . Only a few rides stayed at the park . The park had four themed areas called "Carousel Plaza," "Old Louisville," "Kentucky Frontier," and "The Enchanted Forest ." The latter was a kiddie area which would later become "King Louie's Playground" and then "Looney Tunes Movie Town ." </P> <P> The park remained closed through 1989 after the rights to operate it were purchased by Ed Hart and a group of investors . Hart's first step was paying the 227 vendors and contractors that were unpaid before . Kentucky Kingdom reopened for the 1990 season with the new operators and management team . Despite the Starchaser being sold it had remained on - site at the amusement park allowing Hart to purchase it back . Additionally, new rides were added including Bluebeard's Bounty, The Enterprise, Whirling Dervish (later renamed Breakdance), and The Vampire roller coaster . The Tin Lizzies antique car ride reused the same track as the former car ride, Pontiac's Tin Lizzy Junction, while new antique cars were added in 1995 which were formerly used at Opryland USA in Tennessee . </P> <P> In 1992, the Kentucky Kingdom made a large expansion and opened the Hurricane Bay water park along with the 150 - foot - tall Giant Wheel . The following year a new slide complex opened in Hurricane Bay featuring four different slides . In 1994, the park opened Mile High Falls, the then world's tallest shoot - the - chute water ride . The children's roller coaster Roller Skater was also added that year . In 1995, T3 (formerly T2: Terror to the Second Power) was added . The ride was the first of its kind on the continent and the second only in the world, with the other being Condor at Walibi Holland in the Netherlands . Also in 1995, Hellevator, a 177 - foot - tall Intamin drop tower was added just in time for the park's annual Halloween event . In 1996, the upcharge attraction, Top Eliminator Dragsters opened . </P> <P> In 1997, the park made its biggest investment yet with the addition of Chang, a stand up Bolliger & Mabillard coaster that set the world records for stand up coasters in height, drop, length, speed, and number of inversions . Thrill Karts (also known as Kingdom Go Carts) were also added this year, but were an upcharge attraction . </P>

When does kentucky kingdom close for the year