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The following quote was posted in January... The following phrase was posted today... I GIVE UP!

Sorry, been a little busy with this website, and other things. Here's a bit about me. My real name is Lee. Although I live in Indianapolis, I consider Kings Island my home park. I've been going to it for over twenty years. I'm a graphic artist by trade, and have been in charge of designing 95% of the banner, logo, and t-shirt design (well, the one that originally won before Dane released the second version, per request) you have all seen on KICentral for close to a decade... God I'm old, lol. I have been a long term theme park/amusement park enthusiast. I've done the Walt Disney College Program, gone to IAAPA multiple times, and am trying hard to get back into the industry via Disney or Silver Dollar City. Guess that's really all I have. That's my life in a nut shell. If anyone ever needs any graphics/vinyl/etc, contact me. I do vehicle graphics, signage, logo/branding creation. Etc.

Call it Riverfront . . . that's nostalgic.

In case some of you don't follow Don aka @KingsIslandPR on Twitter he tweeted this picture today of the construction of the Reds Hall of Fame Grille

In lieu of the (hopefully short termed) absence of a great historical thread that always helps us get through the off season, I believe this fine thread deserves a bump/second look This was probably my favorite thread ever posted on these forums!

I suspect they are busy reconciling hopes and dreams with cold, hard fiscal realities. The 90 day walk-away period is still underway.

I do find it humorous that for many years many people have voiced displeasure that KI has too many franchise food options, now when something unique is offered, many still voice displeasure.

Way back in April I teased that I had purchased a set of photos of the park from 1974. (Random Photo Thread) A lot of the photos are the “same old, same old”…it’s amusing to me that I have seen several different sets of photos that people have taken at the park over the years and it seems like you can count on quite a few people taking the same exact shots. (I wish I could run across someone who liked to take more pictures of the rides back then! ) Anyway, as I was scanning these photos and looking at them I kept thinking to myself just how much the park has changed. (duh) I was also just as amazed of how many of the things that existed all those years ago are still there. This got me thinking…what would these photos look like today if I were standing in the same spot as the person who took them 37 years ago. (Light bulb goes off in head!) I decided to see if I could recreate each of the photos that I had. I could tell that MOST of them would be easy…especially whenever I could use the Eiffel Tower in the background as a point of reference. There were 3 photos that I knew would be impossible for me to recreate…these were taken from The Lion Country Safari monorail. I shared those in TombraiderTy’s (excellent) “Lion Country Safari Spotlight” thread. Due to the fact that EVERYTHING has changed in some of the photos, it became a challenge to figure out exactly where the original photographer would have been standing. (Especially in the Lion Country Safari shots.) To figure this out I poured through old park photos that I have saved up over the years to try and pinpoint each location. As I stated, the Lion Country ones were the toughest…here is how I went about figuring out where to stand to take the new photo: If, after looking at the original photo there was no current visible landmark I would figure out from an old aerial photo of that area where the person was standing when they took the photo….then I would find an exact aerial of the photo of that area today. (Once again, it’s amazing how so many people take the same exact shots year after year.) I would then size match the 2 photos, then layer them, and then make the current photo almost invisible and mark where the person would have been standing and in what direction the camera would have been aimed. After making the top layer visible again I would then be able to see a current landmark to go by. Here is an example of my work in progress: After I had done all of my research, “all” I had to do was take the new photos when I went to the park. In order to do this I came armed with both the copies of my 1974 photos and also my “work” photos of where to stand to get the same shot. In the past I remember a park employee posting on here that security is watching guests a lot more than they think they are. If that truly is the case I would say that the park’s security was not on their toes the day I was taking these photos! I KNOW I had to have looked suspicious while I was completing my mission. I would stop in front of something, start looking at my photos, every now and then holding one up to make sure I was getting everything I needed in the shot. I would then take several shots at varying angles just in case. THEN, since I didn’t want to have to remember if I had or hadn’t taken a certain picture I would walk over to the nearest trash can and throw away any of the photos connected with the one that I had just taken. Tell me this whole scenario wouldn’t have seemed suspicious! I am very proud of how well some of these photos turned out…as you will see some of them are almost an exact match. There are 31 photos in the series. I would say that with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 I really am within’ 3 feet of where the original photo was taken. There is room for error on some of the shots…even though I could pinpoint where to stand…in some of the photos where there was no remaining landmark from 1974 I had to make my “best guess” on the direction of the photo…where even tilting the camera a few inches gives you a different photo altogether. (I will point out the couple of times when this came up.) I PLAN on posting one comparison shot set a day. (Not counting weekends.) BUT, there are 2 conditions! #1. If you feel that I have made an error by all means point it out. (Even though I THINK I have done my homework I do not for one second feel that I am infallible.) BUT if you do think/know that I have made a mistake…PLEASE point it out in a NICE way. And #2, which is a BIG condition! (And some may say selfish.) When I started this project I was excited about sharing these with this community…I must admit that that excitement level has dropped CONSIDERABLY since then…so much that I was REALLY close to bypassing posting them here and just sharing these photos directly to a select few. The reason I say this is because SO many of the viewer’s remind me of that old line from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”…”Here we are now, entertain us”. Many members seem to have lost what made this site so special “back in the day”…courtesy to their fellow members. Over the last year I have seen a disgusting lack of consideration for the posters who have went to a lot of effort to put together either special features or trip reports. These posters spent quite a bit of time putting these together for our benefit and what do they usually get out of it, almost nothing. (I long ago gave up making trip reports.) Here are screen-grabs from the latest trip reports: Look at the difference between the views and the replies! Those numbers just scream inconsiderate…or lazy…take your pick. If a member has the time to punch on a topic, that member should also have enough time to post a simple “Thanks”…or at the VERY least hit the “Like” button to show that the author’s effort was appreciated. SO, here’s where I stand…after spending a nice sum of money to purchase these original photos, then spending time scanning them, digging up old research photos, using a few hours of my (limited) time at the park to take the new shots…and finally putting this whole thing together…J.D. (that’s me) is NOT playing the “Here we are now, entertain us” game. For all of the above reasons I feel like I should be able to rate a little consideration and know that my efforts were not in vain. I DEMAND interaction…and here is how it will work. I will keep posting a new set of photos each day as long as I get a certain amount of either comments OR “Likes” each day. (And just like the park won’t disclose the maximum amount of Fast Lane passes it will sell…I won’t say what my minimum is…but it’s not much.) I am NOT asking for, nor do I want any condescending “Oh this is just the greatest thing ever…” type comments. I am simply looking for a little proof that someone is out there enjoying my work…or else why do I need to bother to keep posting them? I would be happiest to see a little interaction with comments about how someone feels about the changes in the park…but I will settle for a simple click of the Like button. So…will all that said and done…here are today’s shots: 1974 I STILL miss the tunnel walkway…it is one of the few things that I can still remember from my first trip to the park way back in the 70’s. 2011 I thought it was amazing how many structures had survived after all these years. As I looked at each set of photos I would sit back and think…where would I rather be standing…back in 1974 or 2011. With this set of pictures it was pretty easy. 1974 wins easily, to me the area looks serene…and a more consistent theme throughout the area. I HOPE that everyone enjoys the (hopefully) upcoming photos…and just like the Son of Beast posts…I am going to beat this horse one last time: P.S. Looking at a lot of these photos as a "fade in, fade out" type of slide show was (in my opinion) neat...some of the photos are so close you can see key structures change before your eyes. I TRIED to come up with a way also throw on a slide show version but I couldn't figure that out...so if someone else knows how feel free. EDIT: Hendrick was nice enough to slideshow these photos for me/us! Thanks!!!

Details for BeastBuzz have been released: http://coasterbuzz.com/Content/BeastBuzz

At about 1:45 in this video, you can see me and dare-to-fly on Tip Top at Stricker's Grove. We're the ones spinning so fast the car's about to fly off.

Reds and Rivertown don't go together? One look at Mr. Redleg's Mustache and you think of the turn of the century. There's Steamship smoke stacks in the stadium. Reds and river whatever go together great. As for meeting Rose, I never have, sorry he wasn't the greatest, I've met Bench and Joe Nuxhall quite a few times, they are/were sweeties.

Ahhh...stop being a weinie. I bet GatorGirl will ride it with me. Note - if you ride with me - there's no such thing as too fast. It's like the washer on spin cycle if you ride it with me. Bwhahahaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!! No trim brakes on Lemon Twist! If you don't watch it, you might dare-to-fly right out of the cup. Now I want to ride it with you!

Thanks to everyone for all the interaction yesterday...I liked reading all of the comments. Today's photo set is another one of those which only the 1974 shot is fun to look at...but hopefully that is enough. 1974 It's weird how wide open it looks. 2011 I am sorry for this lackluster shot. By the time I got around to taking this shot the sun was not in a great spot for a nice photo. With my limited time at the park there was no turning back with this photo. I thought about retaking one when I came back in October but I didn't want a shot with all of the fall colors & Halloween decorations. This is TRULY an example where my photo doesn't do this area justice. The odd thing about today's photo set is that if I only went by these photos I would choose to be back in 1974....but as I have stated before, I love the trees along the fountain...so today 2011 gets my vote again. P.S. The next 2 days of photo sets will be better than this one so hang in there!

Another photo set, another week! Back when I posted the shot from Congo Falls of Stunt Crew Grill I mentioned that it was 1 of 2 photos in this series that I couldn't duplicate exactly because it would be illegal to stand where the original photo was taken...today's photo is the second photo. I could not stand exactly where the original photographer did. I am guessing that the 1974 photo was taken from the old exit of The Racer, so to have taken the exact photo I would of had to stand in the grass area next to The Racer's queue house.(Is that what's it's called?) I do think I came pretty close...but the angle is not quite right. 1974 2011 Where I would rather be standing today is no contest. I love in the 1974 photo how the viewers/watchers could stand so close to the train as it was getting ready to head up the hill. (That would have been a great photo/video op!) Plus since The Racer has the cool red, white & blue paintjob, 1974 wins by a mile! Once again...since I haven't annoyed anyone by saying it for a few days...thanks to everyone for the comments and "Likes"...it keeps my enthusiasm going. Also, thanks again to Hendrick for continuing to make the fades!

BOY! Could I have been more wrong? I honestly thought that there wasn’t a prayer in the world that after looking at the amazing landscaping…plus how “uncluttered” the 1974 shot was, that ANYONE would choose 2011! (Am I out of touch or what?!) I guess Flight of Fear & Diamondback does have more fans than I thought. In today’s photo set if I had only given you the "accurate" 2011 version you would be sitting there saying “Is that all there is?!”…so today I have also included a “If you had x-ray vision” version. This photo, like a lot of the Lion Country Safari shots was a challenge to match. To match this one I had to use a few aerial shots…I had to use the fence, tree and even the little box thingy in the 1974 shot to try and match it. Today’s photo set features the monorail…and just like Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook, it helped put Kings Island on the map! 1974 2011 (X-ray version) 2011 (What you would really see.) I angled the camera down or it would have been all leaves! This is where the "accurate" shot was taken, on the side of the "On Location" shop. Today I will not try to guess anyone else's thoughts. I will simply say that for me 2011 wins. I did ride the monorail back in the day...but I can't say as I have any fond memories of it...so 2011 wins by default. Thanks again to everyone who is participating...yesterday's responses were fun! And a little bonus video of possibly my favorite Simpsons song: The Monorail Song .

So... when can we rename Rivertown?

And yet for years, as CoastersRZ pointed out earlier, there was a Reds shop located in Rivertown where the Olde Time Photos are now. The Reds having a presence in Rivertown is nostalgic! Not all Reds fans love Rose. I have meet him two times and he was not very nice. Back in 1982, my step-father saw him at Lebanon Raceway. He went up to Pete Rose and asked for his autograph, and from what my step-father said he wasn't very friendly at the time (who knows, he could have been having a bad night with the ponies). But our family now possesses Pete Rose's autograph on a Lebanon Raceway program, which is ironic given the trouble that gambling got him into a few years later. I wonder how much that is worth... we'll wait a few decades (once it gets passed down to me or GatorGirl) and take it on Antiques Roadshow (I love that show). Rivertown Junction didn't have ribs and pulled pork on it's buffet. When that building was Wings Diner, and before that, Columbia Palace, it had those items but was counter service. Maybe that is what you were referring to.

I am also a graphic designer and work in the printing industry. I've branded a few products myself and think the new logo has great quality with a clean and simple appeal Simple is always better!

Ahhh...stop being a weinie. I bet GatorGirl will ride it with me. Note - if you ride with me - there's no such thing as too fast. It's like the washer on spin cycle if you ride it with me. Bwhahahaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!! No trim brakes on Lemon Twist! If you don't watch it, you might dare-to-fly right out of the cup.

He's still proud of that fact and likes to gloat about it on occasion.

It would be cool to see Mr. Red legs, Rosie, Mr. Red, and Gapper at the restaurant for the 2013 season.

I'll probably never eat here. Baseball and the Rivertown location doesn't really sit right with me.

Yawn... (I cant be the only one that feels this way)

Opening Day 2009 was the most memorable for me. Not just because of Diamondback but because that was the first time I'd ever gotten to really hang out with a lot of KICers. I won the drawing that Rex and The Beast (.com) held for a seat with Rex during the first rider auction which was a HUGE surprise to me. I seriously never win anything and when I got that email I went running through my house yelling "I GET TO RIDE Diamondback!!" My mom thought I was crazy. (Rex and I in the back seat. In the front seat is Jackson, aka Beast1979) I ended up staying the night before in the Super 8 across the highway with Angie (gigacoaster2k) who had become a really good friend over the winter. We're still incredibly close. She was the first good friend I made as a member of this site. Opening day, I also met my now-best friend Stephanie (kittenpooh), my now-husband Nick (dare-to-fly) and many, many, many others who have become really good friends. I can't remember all the usernames of the people in this photo, but they include KICers Makayla (ogrmac), Angie, (gigacoaster2k), Dustin (kiruler102), Derrick (PhantomTheater), Danielle, Jesse and Shawn Opening day 2011 was another memorable one if only because everything went wrong. I missed The Racer evac because Nick and I went to lunch at exactly the wrong time, but I got about a million texts about it. At one point, I finally gave up on trying to ride anything because like Chris (chugh43) said, everything went down when we tried to ride it! I took Stephanie's kids and spent several hours in Nick U with them while everyone else tried to ride Diamondback and Beast. The best part of opening day 2011 though was when we took Stephanie's daughter Mindy on her very first "grown up" ride - she'd hit the magical 48" mark over the winter and started her entrance into the enthusiast world with a night ride on The Beast!! Pretty much everyone in this pic met because of KIC. Mindy is on the far right after her "new favorite ride!" Opening day 2012 was memorable because .... oh yeah, I didn't go to opening day 2012 because some KICer decided to get married that day.

Hendrick is out of town at the moment...he was hoping to be back in time to post today's fade himself...but he PM'd it to me in case he didn't make it...so here it is: As always, thanks to Hendrick!

Wow, lots of fun comments on yesterday's photos...it IS appreciated. I can't thank you enough for making this worth my while. I can identify with this totally! If you aren't at the park with a little one it's like the kiddie area doesn't exist...and if you are with a little one the rest of the park vanishes...but happily. No offense taken at all...I will be the first to admit that there are some boring shots here...but I just figured that boring was better than nothing. I agree with you in a way...if I were judging JUST from the tower, and JUST by the looks and not the rides, 1974 would win most of the time with me. I miss it too...it was simple yet added SO much! Today's photo set is one of MY personal favorites! 1974 I just love looking at the skyride from this angle, it is so colorful! Even though the skyride scared me as a kid I really wish it were still around...although I can completely understand why it was removed. Also notice the cool strand of hanging lights! 2011 See the tree, how big it's grown...but friend, it hasn't been too long, it wasn't big... (One of the worst songs of all time...but my mom used to play it a lot. She used to have it on a vinyl 7" single...which everyone called a "45"...until the early 90's when the "kids" started calling them "singles"...then by the late 90's the major record companies called them extinct...but luckily there's still some indie companies still carrying the torch!) There is absolutely no doubt that I would love to be back in 1974 with this set of photos.

You are right about these things, especially the unique merchandise part. As I mentioned, today's photo set is a lot better than yesterdays! There's not too much to say about the set...it pretty much speaks for itself. 1974 Look at the line for The Enchanted Voyage...I remember that on my first ever visit to the park we rode that at least 3 times. When you were young it really was magical. 2011 The area certainly has changed. As for where I would rather be standing with today's photo set...that's a toughie. I am sure that if I rode the Enchanted Voyage today at my current age that it wouldn't seem nearly as special...so today I think I will say that 2011 is just fine and that way I can always cherish my memories of the old Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera Land the way I remember it. EDIT: And here is today's fade thanks to Hendrick!

Well, as promised, today’s photo set is a little more interesting to look at than yesterdays. (You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life… ) 1974 The Dad in this photo doesn’t look too thrilled to be riding in the car…but I bet in the long run it was a good memory. 2011 As you can see by the cornstalks this photo wasn’t taken at the same time as the others…I didn’t quite get the shot I needed in the summer so I had to retake this one…out of 31 shots this was the only one that I had to do this with. Not bad odds eh?! So, where would I rather be standing today 1974 or 2011…this is one of the few shots where I could go either way. I think the cars would be about as much fun as Surf Dog…if I HAD to choose I would go with 2011 because I know that one of my nephew’s favorite rides (Peanuts Off-Road Rally) is back behind Surf Dog. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thank you for taking the time to tell me! You and me both! Today’s photo set is the complete opposite of yesterdays…whereas in yesterdays set it was hard to find hardly anything interesting to look at, in today’s it’s hard to know where to start! 1974 Coney Mall in 1974 was perfection. 2011 Excluding International Street, I would think that Coney Mall has the most remnants left over from 1974. Where would I rather be standing today…1974 or 2011? Is there ANYONE reading this that would choose 2011? I don’t care if I wouldn’t have Flight of Fear or Firehawk...I would trade those in a heartbeat for that amazing landscaping…not to mention Skee Ball, The Flying Eagles…and NO Subway!

Today’s photo set isn’t really a great way to start out the week...but it is what it is, sorry. 1974 2011 There is not a whole lot to look at in either photo...about the only thing that I can appreciate in the 1974 photo is that it shows just how intricate the bushes were around the fountain. Where I would rather be standing today is easy. In my opinion there is no contest between 1974 & 2011...1974 not only has nicer landscaping at the foot of the fountain...it doesn’t have any flagpoles blocking the fountains view. I am not un-patriotic...I just liked the unobstructed view of the fountain better. (I wish the park would have put the a single larger U.S. flag at the head of the fountain instead.) I am guessing that there are several KIC’ers who will choose to be back in 1974 if only because there isn’t a Keyhole Photo booth in the shot! P.S. Thanks to all of the responses that I received over the last few days...and once again, again...thanks to Hendrick for continuing to give ME something to look forward to daily!

Today’s photo set pretty much speaks for itself...not too much I can add. I will say that this one was SO easy to find the exact spot to stand in it was ridiculous...but even with that, I PURPOSELY didn’t match the shot exactly. In my 2011 shot I bent down a little...otherwise a lot of the photo would have been of the orange “Finish” sign. This is the only photo in the series that I felt it was better not to match as close as I could. (That is why the trough in the foreground is farther away.) 1974 2011 Where would I rather be standing today? I can’t really say. I like parts of the 1974 look...like the clearly visible stone arches by the water...but the 2011 version is nice and colorful. The thing that MIGHT sway me to 2011 is the thought of those long 1974 lines! I haven’t said this in 3 days...so I would just like to say that I sincerely appreciate the ACTIVE participants in this thread...even if it’s “only” a simple click of the “Like” button.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here! 1974 As I mentioned earlier, whoever took the 1974 photos must have loved the Lion Country Safari area. 2011 This was one of the 2 photos in the series where even though I knew where to stand, it wasn’t possible/legal to do so! In the end though I think I came really close to “faking it”...I think the shot came out really close to what I would have gotten if I could have stood in the actual spot. Here is where I SHOULD have been: As you can see...security would have been all over me if I tried to be accurate! Today...as if anyone couldn’t guess...I choose to stand in 2011 because that means I get to ride Congo Falls!

Today’s photo set is one of those “probably should have tilted the camera a few inches” ones. I found the proper place to stand pretty easily. (I found an aerial of the 1974 area and superimposed it onto a 2011 shot.) I am not sure though if I have the direction quite correct...i’m thinking that maybe I should have pointed my camera a little more towards the right. (Not that the shot would have been anymore interesting! ) 1974 I know that most of the posters here mourn the loss of The Flying Eagles...but to me, I miss Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal a LOT more. (Second only to the Antique Cars.) 2011 Nothing to see here...just keep moving! It goes without saying that there is no contest for me for where I would rather be standing today...1974 wins by a mile. In my opinion, the ONLY thing that Tomb Raider: The Ride EVER had going for it was it’s excellent theming...Kenton’s Keelboats were a lot more fun!

I hadn't thought of that. I would love to see these…I have only seen one far-a-way shot of the Festhaus construction. I also appreciate that you took time to sign in to post your thoughts! I wish I could say that I had a shot coming up of the inside of the tunnel…but I don’t. I agree it seemed magical when I was a kid. I remember walking through it at night…as cool as it was in the daytime…at night it seemed so peaceful. 1974 Anyone who looked down upon the fountain from the tower in 1974 just HAD to have been impressed. Looking down at the fountain is still great...but seeing these sculpted bushes from up there just HAD to have been awe-inspiring! (Sidenote, look at the skyride cars down there!) 2011 Where would I rather be standing today? Shockingly, at least to me, I choose 2011! Why, because even though the 1974 shot looks amazing from the tower...when I am down on “street level” I can’t imagine not having all of those trees all around. Sitting next to the 1974 fountain in the summer would be about as much fun as it is roasting by the wave pool in Boomerang Bay. I love sitting underneath the trees just watching the fountain. Thanks again, again for all the comments...and once again to Hendrick for the great work!

Chase...nice hearing from you! The start of a new week! Today’s photo is the one that you could see in the “working photo” in my very first post of this thread. (In hindsight I probably should have started out with this one. ) 1974 VERY nice landscaping! 2011 This photo was pretty easy to duplicate…and it is VERY close to being exact. While taking these photos I learned something that I hadn’t thought of before…but makes sense…it appears that when the park remodeled an area, they tried to not have to move things that were underground if they didn’t have to. (Things like power & water lines.) In this shot, even though the “pillars” on the corner of the building almost line up perfectly in both shots, the lamp post is not quite in the same location. I wonder if they moved it a little or if I had moved 2 feet towards the fountain if the photo would have been a perfect match? Live and learn! And now the (like you even care) comment about “where I would rather be standing” statement! This one was a tough one for me. I love the landscaping in the 1974 shot…but my family has had at least 6 caricatures drawn at this spot over the years…something that might not have happened if the park hadn’t placed them at that spot. (It just seems to be a good spot there for our family. In our case it seemed to work out that one adult would hang back with the kid who was getting a caricature done…and everyone else would head to Nickelodeon Universe/Planet Snoopy to ride rides…that way not everyone was standing around doing nothing and it was a quick walk to where they were.) SO, I guess, even though I love the landscaping while I am at the park…as I sit and type these I can look up onto the wall at one of the caricatures…which always brings a smile to my face...I will say that I choose to be standing in 2011 today! I’ve skipped saying it for a couple of days so that it doesn’t lose it’s meaning…but it truly does make this all worthwhile when I know exactly who is enjoying these. Thanks for the responses!

Good morning! First off I would like to say I am sorry that yesterday’s photos were so boring. (I should have trusted my gut instinct and just skipped them.) Today’s photo is another one from the former Lion Country Safari. (The person who took this batch of photos must have been impressed with that area. ) 1974 This photo was easy to duplicate. 2 obvious landmarks in this photo still exist, the Eiffel Tower and the Kafe Kilimanjaro Restaurant building. (Which is currently Stunt Crew Grill.) 2011 Here is my working shot if you want to get a feel for where I was standing. And here is a shot of The Stunt Crew Grill if you just wanna compare it to the old Kafe Kilimanjaro. Where would I rather be today? Since I not only love Congo Falls...and hate the thought of those poor little lion cubs stuck on that dinky little island, I will say that 2011 wins for my choice today. (Anyone know if the park brought the cubs in nightly?) Once again, a BIG THANKS to Hendrick’s continuing devotion to making the fades for me/us!

I thank you for the thank you(s). I enjoyed putting this together…but when I read that it IS being appreciated it makes it all worthwhile. I can’t second this enough! I’m having fun sending you the pictures…I feel like I’m doing my part to “stick it to the man”! I love this quote…it’s cool that you are passing these on…and to someone who is probably closer to my generation! To everyone else who is still actively participating in this thread I once again say a BIG thanks! Now, onto todays photos… 1974 To me, this picture represents a park is at its peak, when the whole family is able to enjoy a ride at the same time. 2011 This is one of those shots where I know I was within’ 3 feet of the original shot. It took me a long time going through old photos to find landmarks…trees, bushes, signs…BUT this is also one of the shots where if I tilted the camera a few inches one way or another it turns out a lot different. I THINK I have it right…Shaggy, Ty, Paul…anyone disagree? As for where I would rather be standing today…just as before with the aerial shot of this area…when it comes to either the antique cars or Back Lot Stunt Coaster there’s no contest that i’m once again steppin’ back in time. P.S. Can you imagine taking the date off of these photos and showing them to a non-park enthusiast and asking them which one is from 1974…the one with Snoopy, or the antique cars…hmmm. P.P.S. WARNING: Tomorrow’s photos will be a little anticlimactic…but you only have Gator & TG1993 to blame!

Good morning everyone! Once again, I appreciate the feedback. It does make a difference to me that I can see who is enjoying these photos. Today is another shot from the tower. When the antique cars were still there I never failed to take a picture of that area when I was up in the tower. It was a close tie of my favorite area to look down upon…that and of course the fountain area. It was fun watching the cars go along the track from up there…plus all that glorious grass & those wonderful trees! 1974 2011 Today, it doesn’t get much “colder” than this area of the park. It is like night and day compared to its previous self. I miss the antique cars SO much…but at least I have my memories. As for where I would rather be standing in today’s photos…need I answer?!! P.S. As I mentioned in my 1st post...I will be skipping posting these on the weekends...so my next one SHOULD be on Monday. Once again, Hendrick was kind enough to put these 2 photos together!

Ask for them, and the shirts will come.

Well, as it can be inferred, the new thing is a new sit down restaurant called "Reds Hall of Fame Grille". It is red, it does have a great view on Diamondback, and many all-stars will be there at the park. I am glad they took this new step, re-embracing the culture that has faded from KI from yesteryear, I believe that through this that people that go to KI could actually see how Cincy is and a bit of who it is. A bit of the German heritage, the fun days of Coney, Larosa's pizza, Servatti's, and now the Reds, it is now becoming more of the KI I have been waiting for.

This isn't for me, but I think it is a great business decision. The only time I will go in there is when coasterfanatic2012 drags me in, or if they show college football games during the fall.

I see the theme working, at least for me. Baseball is a sport that reaches back to the 1800s. (if not before depending on your research), rivertown has always reminded me of a rivertown around 1900. Soooo baseball would make sense. Plus its a historic baseball grille... Now taking that out of the loop, lets just look at what this gives to KI. If it really is a sit down with waiter restaurant, then this brings mroe reasons for people to not leave the park. If it is not too expensive, it could be a great experience to add to the park.

I would love to go to Kings Island just to watch the Reds game - then for a quick break go ride Diamondback - then go back to watch the game!

A Reds themed restaurant! I just read it on Twitter. Two of my favorite things at once!

How soon we forget the impact that Flight of Fear had on the industry, as it was the first coaster to use LIMs.

Overall I'd say The Beast. But it's a pretty wide open topic from year to year. This park has had so many game changing rides over the years. Kinda surprised noone has mentioned Vortex. If my memory serves correctly it was a record setter when it was built, most inversions. But my memory is questionable at best, lol. The Bat, for me, had a huge impact. So very happy I got to ride it.

Via @KIGMGREG on Twitter: I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the menus for this year.

Synergy. KI markets CP's new coaster to try to convert gold passholders to platinum passes. Perhaps next year CP might help market KI's new Vekoma Flying Stratarestaurant? ...a diversion?

I saw some snow on the grounds of KI. Could it mean Winterfest be returning?