Best of KC 2023: Zambezi Zinger zips through time

Zambezi Zinger. // Courtesy Facebook

This month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some of our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2023. We’ll be publishing these items online throughout November. 

If you were a kid in Kansas City in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the Zambezi Zinger was a staple of Worlds of Fun. As one of the first three original coasters in the park, no wonder it was one of the most popular rides. In 1997, WOF made the decision to relocate the ride to Montenegro, Colombia, much to the disappointment of parkgoers. 

For its 50th anniversary, Worlds of Fun opted to bring its most remembered ride back to its original location. This steel-wood hybrid coaster reopened for business on June 19 and was greeted with a warm welcome from those who remember the ride as a kid and those who have yet to experience it.