Oldiesmann

I used my KI pass for parking but had the pass added to the Six Flags app to use for entrance. I've heard others saying they had no problem using their pass from a legacy CF park to get in and my sister and husband didn't have any problems when they used theirs at Great America earlier this year.

This past Sunday I made my first (and very likely last - because of distance) trip to Six Flags America. I had considered adding it to this trip since it's only two hours from KD but decided I wouldn't have time since I wanted to do two days at each of the Virginia parks and allow a day of free time. However, with the news coming Saturday that KD wouldn't be open on Sunday and it being too late for me to change hotel reservations to allow for an impromptu return to Carowinds instead (because Carowinds is closer to Beckley, WV than SFA is), I decided to make the trip, especially since SFA's 8pm closing time meant I'd have plenty of time to get back to the next hotel in Ashland, VA before it got too late. I left Beckley around 8:30am and headed north. The drive there wasn't too bad, though I will say that DC traffic was an adventure (tolled express lanes for instance). After stopping at a rest area and stopping for gas (I managed to find the one Speedway in northern Virginia so my extra discount that was set to expire before I got back to Cincinnati didn't go to waste), I rolled into the park at around 2:30. I grabbed lunch at the food court near the front of the park and hit the various rides as I came to them, also meeting up with a fellow coaster enthusiast who lives in the area. Likely due to the extreme heat, the park was dead and I managed to get all the coasters plus a few flat rides and dinner all by 8pm. There are some interesting coasters at the park: Firebird - the original B&M. Originally a standup coaster but converted to floorless and given its current name in 2019. Originally at Six Flags Great America from 1990 to 2011. Quite a wild ride. Batwing - a clone of Firehawk. Joker's Jinx - outdoor version of Flight of Fear but with no MCBR at all and no separate unload area Wild One - an old PTC woodie that originally opened at Paragon Park in Hull, Massachusetts in 1917. Moved to SFA after Paragon closed in 1985. Professor Screamore's SkyWinder - an intense Vekoma SLC originally known as Mind Eraser. Quite a thrilling ride, aided by the new trains that were added last year. Ragin' Cajun - a spinning wild mouse coaster from Reverchon that originally operated at Six Flags Great America Roar - a wild and somewhat rough woodie Superman Ride of Steel - Intamin hyper coaster Great Chase - a kids' coaster. Didn't ride this because I didn't know about it and never made it to that part of the park. There are some good flat rides there as well - a carousel, antique cars, a Zamperla NebulaZ, two different swing rides (one like Zephyr and a StarFlyer), an older Intamin Drop Tower (like the one that used to be at Carowinds), a train ride that's apparently only open on weekends and an assortment of kids' rides Overall I thought it was a nice park despite its reputation. With some investment it could be even better, especially since there isn't any competition really. It's a shame that SF chose to close the park instead of holding on and investing in it in the future.

An indoor coaster would be fun, but I don't see that happening. They've already added 2 family coasters in the past 6 years (Dragonflier in 2019 and Big Bear Mountain in 2023) and I think we'd already see evidence at this point. At KI footers have shown up for coasters a year before opening. Of course that's for larger coasters, but even so, you'd think we would see something this time.

I'm not too surprised given that park's reputation. I'm sure there are other factors in that decision as well - most likely annual revenue vs cost of operation. I do feel sorry for the residents of Baltimore and surrounding areas who are losing their local park though.

I'm not a big fan of modern country music - I like the stuff from the 50s and 60s more, though there was some good stuff in the 70s as well. I'd welcome a decades show back in place of a country show, or at least in addition to it. They could also bring back that show they had in Rivertown a few years ago (I forget what it was called but they had a similar show at Carowinds in 2019).

The "artist-in-residence" thing works at CP because that's the biggest entertainment destination in that part of the state. KI is within 2 hours of Cincinnati, Columbus, Indy, Lexington and Louisville (and probably other big cities as well) and there's a lot to do in this area during the summer months - including free live concerts by local/regional acts.

I think this will be a good move. Several Kennywood locals who I'm friends with on FB are happy about this.

Great to see Herschend working their magic with the park. KK has been all but ignored for years, with the exception of Storm/Wind Chaser, Lightning Run and Kentucky Flyer. Scout's Squirrel Race is basically the same as Snoopy's Space Buggies so I'm sure that'll be a big hit with the younger ones.

One thing that people are forgetting with KD is that another major amusement park an hour away also has a big holiday event - one that's better than Winterfest from what I've heard (I've never been due to my work schedule that time of year and the fact that it's 9 hours away). I'm not sure how much the two parks compete for visitors, but I'm sure that was part of the reason for their decision. KI doesn't have that.

Cyclos seemed pretty popular, as did the rapids ride, but I don't think Eye of the Storm ever saw much of a crowd and it was also in a really weird spot. It'll be interesting to see what they do with the vacant land (not that Eye of the Storm occupied much space to begin with, but it was in the middle of a large piece of otherwise vacant land so it opens up some more space now)

Glad to see it returning, though it won't be quite the same without Don. Hopefully I'll still be able to snag a ticket though.

CoasterStock will be back, May 30th and 31st. More info to come... https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2025/january/coasterstock-2025-dates-announced-copy-2

The other two rides are from Zamperla, so maybe one of these? https://www.zamperla.com/product/train-rio-grande

It's good to see Herschend jumping in and working hard to revitalize the park. First the Christmas event, now this. It sounds like the fair board finally found the right people to run the park

Here's more information about the plans for the display. If everything comes to plan, the new place should be open either late next year or early 2026. Sounds like it'll be a lot of fun. https://www.trains.com/mrr/news-reviews/news/firecrown-acquires-entertrainment-junction-plans-new-family-interactive-transportation-museum-in-chattanooga-tn/

I saw that. Going to be interesting to see what they do with that.

According to the admin of the Carowinds News and Updates group on Facebook, Nighthawk is now officially retired. Obviously just a rumor at this point since the park has yet to confirm anything, but it looks like another Vekoma flying coaster could be on the chopping block. This one was originally installed at California's Great America in 2000 and moved to Carowinds in 2004. One of Firehawk's trains was sent to Carowinds for use on this ride, or at least for parts, after it closed in 2018. https://www.facebook.com/groups/531478427908046/posts/1245994156456466/

Bonus points if it includes a bridge over the roadway from one side of the park to the other

Same here, but I've never been in the expo center either. The only time I'm down there is for Kentucky Kingdom.

I'm glad I decided to take that side trip to Great Adventure back in July (I had already planned to revisit Hershey, Dorney and Knoebels, and decided I might as well do Great Adventure while I was in the area since it's 9½ hours from Cincy). I got two rides on Kingda Ka and at least two on Green Lantern as well.

This happened a week ago but the cause is still unknown as far as I know. https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/hotel-at-fort-rapids-waterpark-suffers-massive-fire-days-after-sale/

I'm hoping to make it down there for this event. Possibly on January 4th, but it will depend on my work schedule.

Speaking of coaster nerd stuff, I drove by Baynum Solutions when I was in Newport recently. They've painted their building since I was last by there.

I don't blame the owner for wanting to retire at all. I'm just disappointed in the outcome. I thought surely someone else would step up to take over at some point. It's going to be sorely missed.

Paging our resident Coney expert @CoastersRZ