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"B&M is too expensive..." ...so let's buy Intamin to appease some ACERs and spend infinitely more on maintaining it the next ten years while getting less in return?

I'm glad you know all the inner workings of policy and procedure and local/state government regulation of these parks. Said in jest.

Ugh. I was just at The Beach last week to stop by and say hi. If someone were going to reopen it they might just have to bulldoze/rebuild. Then again, it might be a valuable investment since you can literally see the new cabins from there. Fun fact: Hershend did tour the property when they closed the first time but nothing came of it.

The levitating Houdelini figure was supported via an armature brace on his back just like the usher as you described. That brace extended to hydraulic unit that raised and lowered him while veering left to right. His entire body didn't move a tremendous amount but enough to give the illusion of floating. If memory serves me, his arms were outstretched, holding his cape ends in each hand. It was a full-bodied figure, but as you suggested his bottom half was likely nothing more than a fiberglass shell to hold the shape of legs.

I'd contest this a bit. Yes, it's one of two major chain parks in Canada, and of the two, I'm under the impression that Wonderland is considerably better. However, I think Cedar Fair recognizes that people have options for entertainment, and roller coasters don't have to be part of it. If I remember correctly, that was mentioned several times during the Ouimet years. I don't remember if this was explicitly said or if it was just implied, but the sentiment was, "We're not competing against other parks, we're competing against other things people do for fun." I could be misremembering this, but I feel like that idea was mentioned a lot in reference to Cedar Fair exploring other entertainment options (like cirque shows) and the (former?) Amusement Dark initiative. I'd also add that I think considering parks too big/centrally located to fail is a dangerous fallacy for any park owner to believe. I'd argue that that kind of thinking is part of what enabled Six Flags to do what it did to Geauga Lake in the late 1990's and early 2000's. I think it's also part of what contributed to Hard Rock Park's failure, and I think it's part of the path that Mt. Olympus in Wisconsin Dells and Buffalo Bill's in Las Vegas have been heading down for some years now. Consider Dollywood as a counterexample: it COULD be just another shticky sideshow attraction like everything else in Pigeon Forge and coast by, but it's lovingly cared for and expanded by park management, even though gazillions of people travel through the area year after year. It's got longevity because of that care.

Come on! You can tell us!

$5 says Kentucky Kingdom. Between things that have popped up on Facebook and things that have been said here...

Oh my word, is Hershend buying Cedar Point?????? There is a water park VERY CLOSE to Kings Island and a couple of dry/waterparks relatively close to KI, kind of to the west in neighboring states. One fits the Herschend image to a T.

I think they should tear it down and use that space for something new. A lot of people talk about putting in a new log ride as a replacement for the former log ride that operated there. Idk who makes log flumes now especially since parks are pretty much removing log flumes and water rides in the dry park. However, the main thing I want them to do is open the extended pathway on the right side of Beast's station where the exit used to be that's now being used as a backstage area. I found this picture of that area and it looks like you could go inside the red building. Idk if that was a gift shop or what it was if anyone remembers, please let me know. Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/7LLqPqGydrb2yX6h8

I’ve heard he’s been spotted somewhere relatively close in the past few months. I’ve said too much. #NotAtKI

Worth noting on this site that Craig Ross, Herschend's new COO of the Growth and Opportunity Group, was Kings Island's general manager from 2002 to 2006.

It's too cold for that.

Tear it down and bring back Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal. A guy can dream right?

I drove by that day and saw it also. I pulled into the dropoff, and looking through my long lens it looked liked nothing more than track inspection.

Area 72!