MASON, OHIO – Kings Island amusement park has had a very pop culture existence. It was featured on family sitcoms in the early 1970s, and later was the location of one of Evel Knievel’s motorcycle jumps. Now celebrating its 50th Anniversary, this park has become one of my favorite amusement parks in the country.

Recently, I made my second visit Kings Island, while visiting family that live three miles from the Mason, Ohio, amusement park. The first time I went to Kings Island with my wife and kids, back in 2006, I loved it. So, since I was in the area, on business, I had to visit again. It had been too long. Besides, my aunt and cousins have season passes.

The amusement park was first featured on The Partridge Family, who had filmed an episode at the park shortly after it opened in 1972. Not to be outdone, The Brady Bunch visited the park for an episode entitled “The Cincinnati Kids.” The Brady Bunch episode was filmed over a five-day period in August 1973.

Then Evel Knievel and Wide World of Sports introduced the nation to Kings Island.

Well, if you’re too young to remember, Knievel was a motorcycle daredevil who made a living flying his motorcycle through the air over long distances and not always landing safely. He reveled in the fact that he broke every bone in his body twice, whether it was true or not was debatable. Knievel was featured on Wide World of Sports on October 25, 1975, live from Kings Island, when he jumped 14 Greyhound buses, parked side by side. He landed on the safety deck above the 14th bus, but the jump was successful and totaled 133 feet.

If you’ve been reading this column for a while, you know I’m an amusement park fan, and have been to about a dozen around the country. Some I like because they hold sentimental memories of my childhood, but some I like because they are well laid out and have many types of rides to satisfy all ages. Kings Island is one of the latter.

This year, Kings Island is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary, and honestly, with the addition of many new roller coasters since my last time visit, it doesn’t look a day over 20 years. There are events planned throughout the summer to celebrate the anniversary, including nightly fireworks shows.

One of my favorite rides is a smaller sized roller coaster that used to be called “The Italian Job,” named after the movie remake that came out in 2003. My son and I went on it twice back in 2006. We loved it.

The ride is now called Backlot Stunt Coaster. I had to go on it again this visit, and it was as I remembered; a lot of fun!

My little cousins went on the bigger rollercoasters; Orion and The Racer, but not me. Those thrill-seeking days are behind me, literally. I don’t think my back could take it anymore.

For the young kids, the “Planet Snoopy” section of the park offers a wide variety of kiddie rides, all with the Peanuts theme.

I mentioned my family has season passes, which is always a great idea if you live near an amusement park and plan to go several times that year. We’ve done that a couple times for Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo.

They also have a season meal pass, which I’ve never heard of before. They pay one price and every time they visit Kings Island they can get a meal at several participating eateries, every four hours. There is an All-Day Dining Plan, that roughly does the same thing for your single day visit. All day and season drink deals are sold separately.

Overall, I highly recommend a family visit to Kings Island if you’re ever in the Cincinnati area. You may not run into The Partridge Family or The Brady Bunch, but I’m sure you’ll have a memorable time.