Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare at Kings Island won the 2026 Best New Family Attraction “Golden Ticket” awarded by Amusement Today. On the attraction riders travel in enchanted opera boxes and use flashlights to catch ghost musical notes (using projection mapping and haptic vibration feedback to show success).  The ride replaced Boo Blasters on Boo Hill and is in homage to the beloved Phantom Theater Omnimover-style dark ride that operated on the site from 1992–2002. In between it operated as Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle from 2003–2009 and then Boo Blasters on Boo Hill from 2010–2025. Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare is a huge upgrade to Boo Blasters with 33 animatronics across 26 scenes with special effects like wind, scent changes, and shifting temperatures.

There was a lot of buzz about this one at IAAPA in 2025 in the Sally Dark Rides booth. Sally has had a run of some great dark rides recently including the well received Sponge Bob ride in Las Vegas. There was an unveil of the ride and then the animatronics entertained guests for the rest of the expo. It’s always great to see a concept from the show become reality.

Congrats to Kings Island, Six Flags and Sally Dark Rides on their big win. Some have even called Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare the 2nd best dark ride in the Six Flags chain behind Monster Mansion at Six Flags Over Georgia. Also, families have been the central focus of most of the new rides in the theme park industry these last few years, so having the best new family attraction is a big deal. Being indoors and family focused should allow Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare to serve Kings Island well for decades to come.