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Here are some pics I got today.

View from the Corn Maze line.

I know I should be patient here, but I want to see Orion grow taller here.

Good pic! Pro tip, put your watermark in between the two cranes. Harder to Remove the watermark Crop it out of the picture. I like this different perspective though.

They got the round trusses for the station roof installed today

After reading through all this, there's one thing that stuck in my head was losing a 48" looping coaster. One that many ppl experienced as the first coaster they rode that went upside down. Without KI building another that meets those 2 things it leaves Banshee unfortunately 4" away before the fun of going upside down for the first time. As much as I want to see a dive coaster or some such type, it feels off to not put in a "gateway?" coaster for some shorties.

Here are the pictures that @malem took last night!

I know I am writing this trip report a little bit later, but I have been extremely busy with college at Murray State University in Murray Kentucky, and I finally have a break to write this. When I last visited Kings Island in August of 2019 (I went with my best friend VortexBFForever on that trip and all other trips to Kings Island), we both agreed that I need to go back for the fall season, but with Vortex closing after this season, I had to go back. I decided to go back to not only ride Vortex a couple more times, but to support VortexBFForever, as she has ridden Vortex over 1,000 times (she will miss Vortex greatly). It was a long journey to get to Kings Island from Nashville, it took me about four and a half hours, and traffic to get into the park was horrendous (I got to the park around eleven thirty and was able to park at about eleven forty five). Parking was such a nightmare that I told my dad that I had never seen parking be this crazy at any amusement park in my life, which includes Disney world. I was given instructions to message VortexBFForever when I got into the park, which I did, and I was concerned when I didn’t receive an answer. I was also worried that Vortex would not run, as I didn’t see it running when I parked, but thankfully both things I was worried about were fixed quickly (I have general anxiety disorder so I worry easily but I am medicated for it). After waiting about five minutes for a message, VortexBFForever messaged me saying she would be one of the first rider of Vortex that day, and I hurried to Vortex expecting a short line. When I got to Vortex, I didn’t see VortexBFForever (how did I miss her and a dragon named Toothless), and the line extended to the gate near The Vortex line. I messaged her saying I would wait near the exit of Vortex, where I quickly realized she was near the front of the gate I mentioned earlier, and we talked before her Vortex train went off. When she got off Vortex, I let her get her funpix photo, and then gave her a massive hug. She really enjoyed that hug, along with me telling her I’m sorry, as I know you will miss Vortex a lot. For the uninitiated, VortexBFForever has ridden Vortex over 1,000 times, and it was her first coaster with a loop in it. She conquered a fear of going upside down on it, she made it my first ride at Kings Island on October 28 2018, and I am forever grateful for Vortex and VortexBFForever. Vortex holds a special place in my heart, but it is extremely important to VortexBFForever, and I am devastated by the removal of Vortex. After the hug, we headed to the front to get our Fast Lane plus, which she had won for winning a contest at work with all the crews of Kings Island. We then rode Vortex first, which I was nervous until the first drop, and then I had an amazing time! I sat in the first train second row on the left side for my first ride of the day on Vortex, which was rougher than the very front, but it was still fairly smooth. The rest of The Vortex rides of the day went wonderful as well, but I actually lost count of my Vortex rides, but thankfully VortexBFForever kept track (as she always does with her phone that she then transfers to an excel spreadsheet). One of the main reasons other than Vortex that I am writing this trip report is for conquering a fear of heights on roller coasters, as I rode Diamondback for the first time, and I have one word to describe it: EPIC. I never thought a coaster over 200 feet could be so much fun! After riding many rides that day, I had to head home, and VortexBFForever had to work. I told her at the end: “I know I am five and a half hours away from Mason Ohio, but I am ready to drive to you if I have to, and I hope everything gets better for you.” The final photo I took of the day made me tear up, it showed Vortex dwarfed by Diamondback, but it showed the skyline will be completely different at Kings Island. To quote some Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear: “And on that bombshell it is time to end.” Here’s to the memories of Vortex, I always dedicated shots of alcohol to memories of the lost, and Vortex will be included in the list. Attached to this post are the photos I took that day. Thanks, Daisy1380#. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for sharing that video @KI Guy! That looked like a great day to ride Son of Beast as the line wasn’t too terrible.

They should just turn it in a Haunt attraction. "The Old, Abandoned Coke Freestyle."

Since we do not know the fate of The Vortex station, (I'd love to see it re-used someday), I'd very much appreciate if someone could do a video like this for Vortex.

^In the morning, the line would fill the switchbacks below the station and extend out to Delirium, and on busier days, out beyond Adventure Express.

I was about to say, I think the longest line I ever waited in was right under that bridge, and the switchbacks right ahead of that were never used (when I was there). It made it nice foe me since I loved that ride

^I remember that well enough, I just shiver thinking how long it would have been if the lower switchbacks were open and having that line stretch out to the original Tiques. And I think Bat has a long queue just out of sheer location.

We've gone through this sooo many times. That rattle is from Diamondback being a snake... its completely normal.

What about a Mack Rides extreme spinner? Plopsaland is getting an insane-looking model in 2021 so they're starting to make more of them.

I've never seen a mime here before. Really cool addition. Was thinking they could have a character/actor in Rivertown, too.

Night rides will also seem faster due to the combination of the way your eyes take in light when its dark and your brain's heightened senses when one or more of your other senses are lacking. You get added tunnel vision from the adrenaline kicking in (combined with the forces and sounds since your senses of touch and hearing are more sensitive) and it'll seem faster. Also with wooden coasters, they behave differently at night than during the day since wood, being a more natural material than steel, will expand and contract when its hot and cold. Most wooden coasters typically run smoother and maybe a tad faster in the cold and rain.

^ Also, for the record: I have heard Beast runs with less trims (they shorten some of them by taking small sections of them off) during the spring and fall seasons compared to mid-summer as the ride is usually only running during weekends at this point, and it is usually cooler so the rides don't run as fast as they do on hot summer days.

Just the Fast Lane line should tell you all you need to know.

Enjoy this picture from Thrilling Moments Photography on Twitter.

Photo request- if anyone could get a shot of a Vortex train flying up near the crest of the 2nd hill silhouetted against the sunset, I'd be very appreciative. Preferably from the angle around Juke Box and The Vortex queue by the brake run. I'll be bringing my good camera to its last day, so I may get it myself. I also want some shots of it swooping by RT LaRosa's.

One more..

I took this a few years ago..

Taken in 2017

To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure if I even noticed the rattle before this thread.

The way magnetic brakes work is they oppose movement based on speed, the faster you are going the more noticeable they are. The slower you are going the less they do, which is why you never see them used to stop a train because they cannot. To my knowledge all of the magnetic brakes on The Beast are a kind that cannot be turned on or off, maintenance has to go out and physically remove the brakes, you can sometimes just see them sitting off to the side of the track, typically in the spring and fall when it is cooler. Likely you were just unable to feel the brakes because the train was not moving fast enough for them to grab hard enough for you to notice. There is no such thing as a trim less ride on The Beast for any members of the public.

I am sorry but that is the craziest thing I have ever heard. First, I loved Firehawk but it was a maintenance nightmare and half the time you went to KI it was down. Orion is a giga coaster I don’t care what anyone else says. The drop is suppose to be 85 degrees and the KI engineers say it could hit 93 mph instead of the listed 91 mph. Spending over 30 million for a coaster like that does not show me they are wanting to sell the park. Let’s not even get into the fact of selling the park to a competitor and building it up to be better than CP they would not want that to happen. As far as Vortex it was a very loved roller coaster. We all see that now but just because it was loved didn’t mean the GP was riding the ride like they use to. We all know the reason for that too becuase it was rough. Do you think Kings Island wanted Vortex to go out like it did I doubt it. I at least want to believe they had no choice but to shut it down. Again though that does not mean they want to sell the park.

Shoutout to @IndyGuy4KIfor the photobomb....

Their real name is bowstring trusses. It’s a specific design that’s applied to arches.

When CBS owned the Paramount Parks they had no interest in running any theme parks and every action they made was to sell the parks. Cedar Fair tearing down Firehawk, building Orion, and tearing down Vortex makes me think of CBS. I'll put money on Kings Island being sold within three years.

I will give you that I should of said that it was last weekend, not is last weekend when I described my photo...sorry for the confusion. (And thanks to @King Ding Dong for coming to my defense.)

He said “This is last weekend”. Like in a week ago, not that this is “The” last weekend.

Oh, the jokes that could be made with that sentence... On edit: Hey @malem, where are your up close pics?

Now, for Vortex, the bottom of the stairs would seem like nothing! (This is last weekend, I bet it’s worse today.)

Those last two pictures are fantastic! This thing is huge.

I went into a huge nostalgia trip riding Vortex last night. Part of it was that the RT LaRosa's had a really strong, pleasant smell, so swooping over it on Vortex really triggered my nostalgia a ton as that was commonplace in the 90s. I also rode it in 6-2, which, is a spot where I did my biggest marathon on it. Back when Paramount owned the park, my family went on P&G day in the late 90s (dad worked there). Paramount allowed re-rides, or at the very least, they did on P&G day, and I got 6 rides in a row without leaving my seat on 6-2 on Vortex. Got a ride in the Ron Toomer seat (5-1), 7-2, and in 1-1 as well. Its such a cool ride despite its flaws, especially how the 2nd hill looks during a sunset with a train soaring up. I'm really going to miss it.

There's just so much.... Latest results Grand Carnivale Orion Haunt Upcoming WF Regular season look back Possible Six Flags takeover

^Look at all those trees!

I'll have you both know, my friends favorite ride at King's Island is The Delirium. He like it a lot. We rides it even more then The Adventure Express... There, now everyone is happy.

I've only noticed it a couple of times and I thought it was because of the train I was on. I cant remember which color but it seems that I remember thinking it was the same train. Maybe purple? Other than that, I have never felt uncomfortable at all on Banshee. In any event, I rode Raptor this summer for the first time in 13 years and was surprised at how rough it felt after riding Banshee so often. Especially entering the final break run. That thing about realigned my whole skeletal system.

^^ Agreed. I am the same way.

I'm not really bothered by the rattle on Banshee. Then again, I can enjoy rides that are considered pretty rough like Vortex and Rougarou, so maybe I am very durable and thus probably not the best person to ask about these sorts of things.

I would have thought Volcano: The Blast Coaster (RIP) or that one on CP's beach (Twister?) would have been your favorite? Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk