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So a few things done. The ceremony is almost done, should be able to get it uploaded Wednesday! 4/29/22 Birthday Photo Gallery: https://kicentral.com/photos/50th-anniversary-day-42922 4/29/22 Birthday Entertainment and Fireworks! (Sorry about the sound during the fireworks, I did not realize the mic would be overmodulated with me being so close to a sub woofer.)

Dark rides

someone caught a video of it testing. i think this thoroughly debunks the rumor that its valleyed during every test

I doubt it valleyed, The testing video shows it completed the test run, and it looked like it was running fine, Plus I noticed or it could just be me but in that video there is not even assistance workers on the lift. So it sounds like it can make it up fine. I assume they will have it running around 3 weeks from when testing started, 3 weeks is standard for testing, It hopefully will be up and running for Coaster Stock.

The entire hill right before the second lift is covered in anti-rollbacks for a reason. If the train needs assistance it’s typically there. I think it’s important to point out I was talking about the very first handful of runs of a freshly rebuilt train. It takes a few runs for the train to break in, it can be just a little bit too much friction the first few runs.

I am not impressed, $99 for a 3 hour long event. Sure there is live music and ERT, but almost nothing else is included. No snacks, no food, no alcohol, the only thing that’s included is Coke products. During the day Frontier Festival is happening already. So you can likely pickup the same food, and beverages, and watch the same bands during the day with a regular park ticket. At least from the description I don’t see what makes this special enough to justify the price. June 3rd is Coastermania. It explains why the schedule is so different from previous years. It was strange that all of the evening ERT was near the front of the park.

A new dark ride would be nice,I actually have a pretty alright idea for one.

This was my thought too. The event itself seems nice but not worth the ticket price. A handful of rides and entertainment for 3 hours isn't enough for $99. At that price point I feel like a certain amount of alcohol and food should be included. I was really curious about it until I saw the price point. It sounds like parking isn't even free for attendees as some of the more expensive ticket options include parking with it. For $15 less (+ parking cost) I can buy a ticket that gets me admission for the entire day, parking, and all day dining. So essentially I could buy one bundle ticket and a regular ticket, split food, and be able to get my DH and I into the park for the entire day for the cost of one person to go for 3 hours at night with limited options. I will be curious to see how this event goes and what sort of changes they make for future ones. I like the concept of it but the price point just isn't there.

So it indeed was testing again on Sunday, that's good to hear.

For better or for worse, Vortex is missed even if only having remnants of the once great structure around. I still hold hopes for some kind of memorial for it whenever the space it occupied becomes something.

I do not believe it valleyed. Now it may have valleyed, we can't really tell from what info we have. The videos show the train making it through the course fine, so I have no idea where that rumor is coming from.

This is probably meaningless but I walked by a group of associates on their way to Rivertown from Planet Snoopy and one guy said "Hey, that guy has our ride on his shirt" (referring to my Beast shirt)

Given we know it had a train on the brake run on Friday (29th) and not on the previous Sunday (24th), we can assume it started sometime between Monday and Friday. I’m leaning more towards Wednesday to Friday, so construction likely finished last weekend (24th of April). I have a video on the ground taken by a park guest recording them testing one train during the parks operating hours. One train ops with water dummies making laps basically, then the following day maintenance staff were on the lift hill periodically with reports of trains running the course. While I myself am unaware of an exact opening day, it feels like this day continues to approach us quickly.

Makes me wonder what they might have had planned for that piece of track. Does anyone remember that section of track that was laying in the plot of land that it stood on that was there for a hot minute? I had this image in my head they were keeping it for a future theming piece for whatever takes Vortex’s spot. Probably a stretch. But it’s a nice thought that something might stand as a reminder of the past. And seeing as they did a memorial for SoB in the Banshee que, I feel it’s possible. But who knows.

Just FYI there is a security number you can text when you see line jumpers - 513-434-6337