‘Goosebumps’ author R.L. Stine once took readers on a spooky ride at Kings Island

Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer
·3 min read
Justin Long in an episode of the "Goosebumps" reboot.
Justin Long in an episode of the "Goosebumps" reboot.
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What better way to celebrate spooky season than with a little "Goosebumps"? And no, I don't mean the chills you get when you hear a bump in the night.

A television reboot based on Ohio native R.L. Stine's classic "Goosebumps" novels premiered Friday, Oct. 13, on Disney+, Hulu and Freeform.

According to USA TODAY, Stine's "Goosebumps" is one of the bestselling children's book series of all time, with more than 400 million books in print in 32 languages. The series has also inspired several television shows and movies, including the original "Goosebumps" series (1995-1998) and "The Haunting Hour: The Series" (2010-2014).

Stine has also written countless other scary stories for kids, including a 1994 novel based on a legendary Kings Island roller coaster: "The Beast."

Here's a look back at Cincinnati's frightening claim to fame, and more information about the famous Ohio author.

The Beast's logo at Kings Island, which R.L. Stine used on the cover of his book.
The Beast's logo at Kings Island, which R.L. Stine used on the cover of his book.

What is 'The Beast' by R.L. Stine about?

"The Beast" follows 12-year-old James Dickson and his cousin Ashley, who are transported back in time after taking a midnight ride on the legendary Beast roller coaster at Kings Island, per the book's Amazon description.

The two children reportedly heard that a ghost rides the roller coaster at night after the park closes, prompting them to stay in the park after dark to find out the truth behind the mysterious myth.

History of The Beast rollercoaster at Kings Island

The Beast, built for $3.5 million (which is approximately $15.7 million today), first opened in 1979 as the world's longest wooden roller coaster, according to the Guinness World Records website, and has held that title ever since.

As of 2019, The Beast had given over 48 million rides. The park announced in March 2022 that it would extend the track by 2 feet, breaking its own record.

The Beast first opened in 1979 as the world's longest wooden roller coaster, according to the Guinness World Record website, and has held that title ever since.
The Beast first opened in 1979 as the world's longest wooden roller coaster, according to the Guinness World Record website, and has held that title ever since.

This brought The Beast's length from 7,359 feet to 7,361 feet. Ride time for the 1.4-mile track is four minutes and 10 seconds.

The roller coaster also includes 137 feet and 141 feet of vertical drops, a 125-foot-long underground tunnel, eight banked turns and a 540-degree helix tunnel that speeds up to 64.77 mph.

Where can I buy "The Beast" book?

Kindle editions of "The Beast" are available on Amazon for $7.99. New and used paperback versions are also for sale via the online retailer, ranging in price from $2.94 to $94.76.

Robert Lawrence Stine was born Oct. 8, 1943, in Columbus but grew up in the suburb of Bexley, Ohio.
Robert Lawrence Stine was born Oct. 8, 1943, in Columbus but grew up in the suburb of Bexley, Ohio.

Readers can also download electronic versions of the novel for $9.99 through Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and the Google Play store.

Who is R.L. Stine?

Robert Lawrence Stine, a novelist, short story writer, television producer, screenwriter and executive editor, was born Oct. 8, 1943, in Columbus, but grew up in the suburb of Bexley, Ohio.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, when Stine was 9 or 10 years old, he took a trip to the Bexley Public Library, where he was introduced to the work of science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, which spawned his passion for writing.

After graduating from Ohio State University in 1965, Stine moved to New York and began writing children's joke books for Scholastic. In the 1980s, he switched to horror, creating the popular young adult series "Fear Street" in 1989.

The first book in the "Goosebumps" series, titled "Welcome to Dead House," released in July 1992. Now, there are over 330 titles within the collection, and it is the second best-selling book series in history behind "Harry Potter."

How many books has R.L. Stine written?

According to FictionDB.com, Stine has written approximately 492 titles.

How to watch "Goosebumps" (2023)

The first five episodes of the new "Goosebumps" series dropped Oct. 13, while the remaining five episodes will stream weekly on Disney+ and Hulu.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How ‘Goosebumps’ author R.L. Stine turned Kings Island spooky