Kentucky Kingdom Theme & Water Park has announced that their eagerly awaited Flying Fox roller coaster will open to the public on May, 28, 2026. The ride is a suspended family coaster by Vekoma that is similar to the highly successful Dragonflier at Dollywood. Flying Fox is inspired by Kentucky’s agricultural roots and aerial crop-dusters. The park’s website describes the experience of Flying Fox below and the theming on this ride looks great complete with a Kentucky farmland setting and a barn to house the ride queue. Kentucky Kingdom is also running a charity auction where winning bidders can be some of the first to ride Flying Fox!

Join the daring adventures of local legend and crop-dusting pilot, Jeb Fox, as Flying Fox sends riders soaring over a vibrant Kentucky farmland setting. The experience will begin at the red barn-inspired queue winding through hand-painted murals and playful audio featuring Jeb himself. The theming celebrates Kentucky’s agricultural heritage while adding a lighthearted twist aimed for families to enjoy. Get ready to soar through the skies, catching a bird’s eye view of Louisville, just before plunging down through an underground tunnel, providing a unique and thrilling ride experience!

https://www.kentuckykingdom.com/explore-the-park/attractions/kentucky-kingdom/flying-fox/

Kentucky Kindom is running an auction to “Be Among the First to Ride Flying Fox at Kentucky Kingdom” which will benefit Kentucky 4-H Foundation. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation supports state level 4-H programming; offers college scholarships; provides training and recognition to volunteers; travel to regional and national competitions; and seed funds to support new and expanding 4-H programs.  Each seat is up for bid individually in an online auction, so you can pick the seat you want to bid on. The auction has already started and is scheduled to run through May 20, 2026.

I was lucky enough to win a seat on a similar auction for ArieForce One at Fun Spot Atlanta several years ago and it was a very special experience. I won my seat on ArieForce Once for a bid of about $100. That opening day was so special and the energy on the auction train was amazing. Fun Spot also had other special perks for winners and I even got the opportunity to meet NASA astronaut Doug Hurley that day! It’s still early in the auction, but many of the high bids are currently as low as $25. This is a great opportunity that sounds like both a lot of fun and a way to support a great cause.

Flying Fox marks the debut of the first new roller coaster at Kentucky Kingdom since 2019. This $14 million custom coaster will be the park’s 6th roller coaster, the most of any theme park in Kentucky, and is phase two of Kentucky Kingdom’s $25 million expansion. The ride is located near the front entrance, so Flying Fox will be one of the first things guests see from the parking lot and when entering the park.

Flying Fox won’t blow you away with its specs (65 feet tall, 1,380 feet of track, 37 mph and 63 seconds long), but stats are not what this ride is about. Flying Fox is a family coaster with spectacular theming. However, it will still no doubt pack some thrills and fun like other recent Vekoma family coasters such as Dragonflier and Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood. Kentucky Kingdom has done a great job of building anticipation for Flying Fox with a great video series about its construction and now opening day is just around the corner. There’s tremendous anticipation for Flying Fox and, to borrow a baseball analogy from the park’s home city of Louisville, all signs point to Kentucky Kingdom having knocked it out of the park with this coaster!