Leaderboard

There’s a website called web archive that saves full websites periodically... Kings Island’s website has been saved 2,234 2,234 different times since 2007... you can even go visit the old paramount site pki.com

From what I could see in the picture and the video, I have a few comments: 1. I would guess that topping is going to be Tuesday. I don't believe it will be tomorrow because the first two pieces of the drop still in their staging locations, as well as the end of the maintenance stairs that goes with the top piece. It is nice to see that they have the last 2 lift pieces prepared though. I think we may see the next drop piece (no additions necessary) lifted tomorrow, but that would be it. 2. We finally have confirmation that the drop pullout has been completed! 3. Does anyone remember that small grassy hill to the right after passing underneath Racer (across from FoF exit)? It looks like it's been at least de-grassed if not flattened out. Area 72 restrooms?

BoddaH1994 edit: link removed

RMC Raptors are too low capacity.

Looking at the video, it looks like the trees next to Chaos building are gone. Its all cleared out. Someone had pointed out the markers there a couple weeks ago.

With Tower of Terror II closed, Orion will now open as the tenth tallest coaster in the world.

Phyton is removing from the park as of Nov 1st and relocating somewhere else. I hope this coaster would stay in Cincy Area.

^^ I'm of the opinion that flume rides shouldn't get you drenched. A scenic ride along the course, a thrilling drop, and an appropriate splash made KCKC the park favorite it was. If I wanted to get buckets of water dumped on me, WWC was (and is) the destination. For an example of a really horrible water ride experience, with apologies to @Shawn Meyer, look at what Cedar Point did in 2010.

Drove by KI this afternoon. Orion's drop is legit. Compared to Diamondback it is especially impressive... Lining them up in view from Soak City's parking lot was a great way to see the difference (specifically the drop angle). It is one thing to look at the numbers on paper but in person it was wild. This thing is going to be special. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I actually think The Vortex station, with the open sides closed in and the dividing wall between the main part and the storage shed removed, could make a good park museum. Put the doors where the exit is, and keep the entrance stairs area as an overlook. They could keep a piece of the storage track siding right there where it's next to a Bat footer.

Not necessarily, Jersey Devil with long trains & 4 trains might have decent capacity. If it also has a moving loading station it may even be quicker.

I wouldn't mind seeing the batwing element just left in place where it is and freshly painted. Right on the midway, they could even put up an info board/sign about Vortex where the photo spot sign is now. I mean, what else would fit in that little area for it to be in the way of future development?

I concur with malem on the opinion about flumes. They're meant to be more good natured fun, not really all thrilling (at least not on par with a coaster), but they really aren't meant to be. And they aren't really supposed to get you all that wet on them either, that's what water rides like White Water Canyon and Congo Falls are for.

^ I said this on page 7, but nobody saw it or skipped over me. I'd be all in for having a topper track model like Outlaw run in the former spot of Vortex. Either way, I want to see RMC pull off an actual loop and have them go back to back to pay tribute to Vortex.

The blueprints did note that the food stand would be removed, but nothing about what would replace it.

I gotta say, that video was worth not having webcams for two weeks.

While this is true... 4 trains with 12 riders could potentially be the equivalent of Flight of Fear’s capacity with two 24 passenger trains which is not very good capacity. Also, it would be easier to stack four trains, so it could be even less than Flight of Fear’s capacity.

Been watching the RMC Raptors and they look pretty cool, but they seem kinda cute. They seem a little short and they don't look as amazing as the other RMCs to me, but surely there is some potential. Kings Island might want to wait until some of that potential is realized. I think they are doing that with Orion as B & M has likely learned on every Giga they make. They would do that on a regular RMC too by waiting until now or soonish. The RMS Raptor, though, to me looks like something that isn't visually breathtaking, like the thing I'd put where Vortex is. Raptors do, however, look really cool and hip and modern. Seems a Raptor should go near Banshee and ideally would take Invertigo and or some of the surrounding area. Vortex's spot needs a big piece of framework and to look imposing and cool. Wood or RMC works best there as I have said too much now. I love a dive or Raptor, but not at the expense of a RMC ground up. Put the RMC Raptor at front when Invetigo goes. It's the perfect spot. Or in that area, along with a Dive coaster. Of course, that's asking a lot, when they are installing a giga as I speak. And I am super hyped on it. But something needs to replace Vortex.

Although it's been so long, I remember liking KCKC more than RFYLCB. Plus, I hate that we lost a genuine river ride in Rivertown.

I'm all aboard the RMC train for sure. If they put it where Vortex is, it'd look great too. Something like Twisted Timbers would put KI over the Top.

I'd make a good wager we see on of the loops or corkscrews show up somewhere in a midway.

And rumor has it, SFGam may not be looking to add another woodie, but might RMC American Eagle. If that happens, bye-bye 9300 feet of wooden track (since RMC Eagle would be Steel I-Box) and suddenly Kings Island is way out in front in terms of total wooden coaster track.

Orion's Drop > Leviathan Drop

I will always have the view Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If only..... However, I would like to see the station re-used. Its victorian facade is perfection. Unfortunately, as Shaggy said, there is the issue of wheelchair access. But that isn't to say they couldn't redesign it. I was also thinking maybe one of the cars could be displayed somewhere in the park.

I want to specify my want for an RMC Topper Track coaster in Vortex's spot. 48" height requirement that equals Vortex's (as long as it isn't too crazy, doesn't need to be), would have crazy air on par with Vortex's first drop (except EVERYWHERE), fit in 3-5 inversions, something between 150-175 ft and a good length to match. Maybe go with orange and blue rails?

My list- KCKC, Tomb Raider with the original ride program, Phantom Theater, Skylab, recaR, the animatronics on KIMVRR, Sunshine Turnpike, the original Tiques and Flying Eagles.

Now that we have just lost it, Vortex. Also backwards Racer, as I had one opportunity to ride it and I was too scared.

@TOPGUN1993 definitely deserved to win. I love his Vortex photos so much!

With that professional shot of Vortex I fully expect just as awesome a pic of TOPGUN1993 fashioning that KIC shirt!

Congratulations TOPGUN1993, a very cool picture! I think this contest was proof positive of just how picturesque Vortex is/was that it could inspire the incredible variety of shots that everyone came up with. I enjoyed seeing all of them and thank everyone for sharing them.

Great pic - this had my vote - congrats!

I wouldn’t want this. Kings Island already have a good if not great wooden coaster lineup. While yes it’d have inversions it’d still feel very similar to Mystic Timbers.

Phantom A world record big long rmc

This is how Fury was topped. As @pkiknex25 pointed out in an earlier in an earlier comment, the drop piece directly above the drop support is steep enough to support itself. The last two pieces of the lift will need to be held by a crane, and the piece forming the crest of the drop will be placed last. To give you some perspective on the timeline, Fury was at a similar point to Orion in its construction on December 1st, 2014. The lift hill was topped on December 3rd, 2014. Though the difference here is that the crew hoisted the piece of above the drop support on the same day the track up to the giant supports was completed. So with this timeline in mind, I think it's reasonable to expect the lift hill to be completed no later than Tuesday. Maybe Monday if they work tomorrow and get that last drop piece, but I'll err on the side of caution. However, it makes sense to try and complete it before it rains on Wednesday.

Is... Is there an intentional reference in there to a certain KICer who I think we all miss?

I'm very glad that Mystic Timbers is open. Here's the thing though: I don't have young kids, I can't do spinning flat rides, and my local zoo (Toledo) offers beautiful Christmas lights, a Christmas train, carousel, bumper cars, and ice slides + bonus animals. I could drive 10 minutes there or about 3 hours to Kings Island. This is one of the reasons why I feel the old incarnation of Winterfest failed. With few rides running back then, people had local zoos and events nearby that provided much of the same experience for a lower price and lower amount of commitment / effort getting there. Mystic Timbers & Flight of Cheer were the big draws for me personally. They provided high-thrill rides that couldn't be had anywhere else nearby during November & December. Once drawn in, I fell in love with seeing the park in a different season and discovering how much more there was to do other than the coasters. That being said, getting a coaster ride in November / December is still a huge draw for me, and I loved having Flight of Cheer as an addition or backup in case Mystic Timbers was down. I understand why it's closed, but getting to ride Racer or another coaster in its place would have definitely provided some extra excitement for Winterfest 2019.

WLWT just reported that Vortex will be torn down at the end of the season...so are they first, fast, and accurate or just simply misunderstanding what was being told (cross threading...)....time will tell....

Seems pretty clear to me that CF strategy is to bring a big new ride every 2-4 years so long as the economy is good. I don't care how much of a people-eater Vortex is, there's typically a short line if one at all...until the announcement they were closing it down. Giga going in for 2020 to bring folks into the park; might as well save on Vortex maintenance costs for a couple years then build the next big hyped thing in its place---whatever it will be.

The real reason will be included in my book, which is coming out May of next year. The reason is not as dramatic as many of you think.

They are planning something there. It'll be a few years, but plans have started rumor is.

Looking back on everything, I suspect this message came from above KIs control. I suspect they were told to lose the coaster that costs money but was lacking in attendance and sadly that’s the oldest one we have that fit that profile. I hope we don’t get the SBNO treatment on it. That would hurt more than just being gone.

Well, my wish was granted yesterday. We went to KI for a day, with me hoping quietly that my daughter had hit 48 inches. She loves coasters, and I knew that Vortex would be awesome for her and that she'd love it. Well, luck had it, she got her purple wristband for the first time yesterday, so we marched from there straight to Vortex. I made sure to let her know when we were in line that it was going to be the single most intense roller coaster she'd ever ridden, and it was ok if she didn't want to try it. She insisted we go on it. We rode it once, she got off and said she wanted to do it again, later telling my wife she needed to ride it at least 2 more times. We did. We rode it 3 times yesterday, and she was smitten with the ride. On the second time through, we were hanging upside down in the second loop when she said "daddy, I thought you said this roller coaster goes upside down 6 times, I don't count 6". At that point, I knew I had a coaster fanatic on my hands. She wasn't remotely frightened by it, and was having a conversation with me on it. Terribly sad that she only got the one day to ride it, but glad she got the opportunity before it's gone. I teared up a bit when after the 3rd time through I told her that was the last time ever we would get to ride that ride. It was a sad moment, but one that I was glad we got to have.

Orion is going to be an amazing coaster but you cant lie, its a little short.... I know its a huge investment but if Kings Island wanted to go bigger they could of, but i think they knew Vortex was on its last years and once they tear it down they are gonna have to replace it with something huge, i think thats why they didnt go all out with the giga

Have we even seen demolition permits for it yet? Could be SBNO for a bit.

^ I have not yet seen the park state anywhere that they plan on “demolishing” or “tearing down” Vortex. If anything, they’ve specifically stuck with the use of the word “Retiring”.

Have they actually come out and said they're going to actually tear it down like others? I guess wishful thinking on my part that they're going to "redo it" somehow

Vampires? I think that would be a cool concept to play on with the building being initially built to a coaster called The Bat.

To be completely honest, I wouldn't mind if they turned the station into a haunted house just because of the Victorian architecture.

A RMC T-Rex replacing Vortex? Bringing back SOB? Heading back into woods to play around dad a little bit? I know there are several that hate that idea, I love it. That would be a dream come true for me. RMC even said a T-Rex could be 400 to 500 feet tall. I’m not saying that’s what’s going to happen, odds are it won’t, but if it did...