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No Legs Larry and Maestro materialize for the first time as Kings Island and Sally Dark Rides unveil new animatronic characters for Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, coming in 2026
Kings Island, together with ride manufacturer Sally Dark Rides, today unveiled two animatronic characters coming to the park’s new Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare interactive dark ride in 2026. The reveal at the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Expo in Orlando introduced No Legs Larry, the Phantom Theater’s head usher and Maestro, the ride’s resident pipe organist. The new attraction is a nod to the original Phantom Theater dark ride that made its home at Kings Island from 1992 – 2002.
“Their quality, craftsmanship and dedication to telling great stories solidify our partnership with Sally Dark Rides as we work together to bring this fan favorite attraction to life,” said Tony Carovillano, park manager for Kings Island. “Seeing No Legs Larry and Maestro interact for the first time was really special. Sally Dark Rides’ attention to detail and their desire to honor the original ride is second to none. With this reveal at IAAPA, we’re another step closer to sharing Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare with our guests.”
“Bringing Phantom Theater back to life is incredibly exciting for us because it’s more than just a ride – it’s a beloved piece of theme park history,” added Lauren Weaver, vice president of marketing for Sally Dark Rides. “Our team believes in immersing park guests with the stories they love, and Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare allows us to introduce updated technologies in animatronics, projection mapping and interactive devices like the spellbound flashlight. Riders are going to love what both Sally Dark Rides and Kings Island have developed.”
The comedic and fast-paced family adventure begins with a dark and stormy night, setting the tone for the grand (and ghostly) re-opening of the haunted Phantom Theater. Inside, a long-awaited performance by Maestro is set to begin. During the storm, a lightning strike unleashes the ghost notes – mischievous musical spirits that wreak havoc across the theater – from Maestro’s mighty pipe organ.
With the help of No Legs Larry, guests will take the role as a member of his team and ride in “enchanted opera boxes,” utilizing special spellbound flashlights to capture and return the ghost notes to the organ so the performance can begin on time. Along the way, the enchanted opera boxes travel through fully built dimensional scenes, including backstage areas, haunted hallways, dressing rooms and a fiery boiler room as they meet other performers who are ready to take the stage.
In total, Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare’s 26 interactive scenes feature multi-sensory effects like wind and sound, hidden Easter eggs throughout and a grand on-stage musical finale with all of the ride’s cast member characters. Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare is scheduled to open in April. Guests looking to follow construction updates, exclusive interviews with the project team and behind-the-scenes first looks can visit Kings Island on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
