Hollywood star Elaine Hendrix is originally from east Tennesee, but she has childhood memories from Greater Cincinnati.
Hendrix, known for her roles as Meredith Blake in “The Parent Trap,” Lisa in “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” and Alexis Carrington in “Dynasty,” joined The Enquirer’s Cincinnati Chili Chats earlier this month and revealed her fond memories from visiting King Island while growing up.
“My grandparents lived in Kentucky − Elizabethtown. So, this was not a super far trip for us,” she said.
“It used to be called, at least I think it was originally, The Bat,” she said. “One of my biggest memories was that was, at least to my knowledge, one of the first roller coasters of that style (suspended under the track). At least back in the day when I was growing up, because I’m old. I remember we came here and it was closed. I was like, ‘No!'”
The original Bat at Kings Island was the first suspended roller coaster in the world in nearly a century. It had an extremely short lifespan – just three seasons, 1981-1983 – because mechanical difficulties attributed to design flaws led to frequent closures, and an overhaul was too expensive.
Another suspended coaster, Top Gun, debuted in 1993. It was renamed Flight Deck and finally, in 2014, The Bat to honor its predecessor.
To read our full conversation with Hendrix, click here.
