built a working prototype at their facility in Mountain View, California, and invited Kings Island executives to visit and test ride in 1978. Prior to the opening of The Beast in 1979, Kings Island was already in the initial stages of planning their next major ride and had turned to Arrow for ideas. In turn, Arrow needed a financial partner to move past the concept phase and build the first full-scale, permanent installation. Kings Island gladly accepted and decided to invest in the new concept, supplying land and support from their in-house engineering department. Work on the new coaster began immediately, taking 18 months to plan and design before construction could begin. Marketing and construction Construction was underway by the start of Kings Island's 1980 season. Park guests were intrigued and confused by sections of track, which appeared upside down, being built in the Coney Mall area of the park. The structure was easily viewed from the midway, which also garnered attention from local press looking for details. Kings Island officials remained relatively quiet, however, only referring to the attraction as a "revolutionary new thrill ride". A vast amount of free publicity was generated from guests and media speculation, and General Manager William Price teased The Cincinnati Post by saying, "It’s a totally new concept ... There’s nothing like it in the whole world!" Kings Island invited local press to a media event revealing the new ride on October 29, 1980. Guests were led to the roller coaster's station, which was recently constructed and resembled a mansion from the Victorian era. A rendering of the coaster's layout as well as one of the coaster's trains were on display. There were also employees dressed as Halloween characters, including Dracula, Frankenstein, and a human-sized bat. F.R. Bush, recently named Vice President and General Manager, revealed the new ride as The Bat, a suspended roller coaster where riders would not have "the psychological security of the steel tracks or wooden support beams below them". Bat heads sculpted by Kings Island's art department were attached to the front of each car, which would eventually become a part of the ride's logo. Construction of The Bat was completed in November 1980 following 24 months of manufacturing, shipping, and assembly. Over of tubular steel were required, along with of concrete, 180 four-inch pipe welds, 90 twelve-inch pipe welds, 162 saddle welds, and 100,000 steel anchor bolts.