Kentucky Kingdom is getting ready for a big year, and it starts with a horse racing-themed headliner. Midnight Showdown, billed as the world’s largest indoor wooden roller coaster, is set to open in spring 2027. It’s the park’s seventh coaster and the star of Bluegrass Downs, a brand-new land that pays tribute to Kentucky’s horse racing heritage.
The Coaster
Midnight Showdown is built for families. It has 1,130 feet of all-wood track and stands over three stories tall. Two trains run on it, each seating 10 riders. The Gravity Group of Cincinnati is building it, and the ride sends you racing through the dark to the sound of thundering hooves and a booming “And they’re off!”
Bluegrass Downs
The coaster sits at the heart of Bluegrass Downs, where five existing rides get a fresh racing-inspired makeover. Expect white fences, towering spires, and bright jockey-silk colors that bring the feel of a Kentucky race day into the park.
Happy Valley Farm
The second new land, Happy Valley Farm, takes a sunnier, more laid-back approach to Kentucky farm life. It’s home to the Flying Fox coaster and eight reimagined rides, including Friendly Frogs, Loopy Lambs, and Country Cruisers. A barn anchors the land, surrounded by sunflowers and little farm outposts, with bluegrass music and red gingham banners setting the mood.
Five Years of Change
When guests arrive on Opening Day 2027, they’ll find a park that looks very different from the one they might remember. Herschend bought Kentucky Kingdom in 2021 and has put nearly $50 million into rebuilding it, the biggest transformation in the park’s history. Along the way, the company has added:
- Flying Fox, a suspended family coaster that debuted in May 2026
- Discovery Meadow, a new land with three new attractions and 24 reimagined rides and experiences
- Seasonal events like Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom and Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom, which stretch the park’s calendar
Midnight Showdown, Bluegrass Downs, and Happy Valley Farm will complete the theme park transformation.
Carly Uglow, the park’s Director of Sales and Marketing, says the team has been working toward this for years. She describes 2027 as the moment guests will see how far the park has come, with two new coasters, reimagined lands, refreshed rides, and new theming throughout. In her words, this is a very different Kentucky Kingdom from the one many visitors remember, and she’s inviting everyone to come see it.
Season Pass Deal
2027 season passes are on sale now at kentuckykingdom.com, starting at $69.99. The pass covers the entire 2027 season and also gets you into the rest of 2026 for free. That includes Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom, with more than 1.5 million lights, 300 Christmas trees, the largest snow tubing hill in Kentucky, holiday décor, themed entertainment, and food. Pricing and payment plan details are available on the website.
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83