Lauch

I won't be at the park opening weekend...busy doing yard work..BUT...this will be the first season at my new house in Mason, so I'm looking forward to the fireworks...especially since I can see them from my backyard. On another note, they started lighting up the Drop Zone at night, so it's visible along side the Eiffel Tower.

It was nice to see all the track pieces and supports disappear from the lot. I didn't look too closely, but I believe they've all been removed and moved back. You can definitely see the coaster from the highway though. Exciting!

Honestly, I went to Kings Island every year back in the 80s. Several times a year in fact. What really got me when Paramount took over was the blatant cross promotion for Paramount movies. Top Gun was a good ride, but too short. Tomb Raider was great, but too branded for the movie. I remember getting so hyped up for The Vortex when it first came out. This was a great ride, and it stood on its own, without movie references. While I understand the business of promoting their product, I think that when you make a great ride, it should stand on its own. I'm looking forward to the park being more about the park and less about movies and characters. Somebody else really hit home in another post a while back, when they mentioned the clown band that used to roam the park. That sorta thing was what I looked forward to. Son of Beast was their one true standalone, but even then, it was promoted with The Beast. Make a coaster and make it good...create new shows..new events..a clean park..and I'll remember the park for the park's sake..not for the company that owns it.

Yah, if you head back behind the lodge, you can get a good, somewhat obstructed, view of the work being done. It was cool to see the track being lifted in the air by the cranes. From the flyover pics, they are working in overdrive to get this coaster up, which makes sense.

Great Pictures! Just looking at the area entrance, I'm wondering how crowded it will be going under The Racer. There's not much room there. Maybe they'll have another path leading up to this area to alleviate some of the congestion?

I actually think that might be a bird, though planes do sometimes fly by here on the way to the Cincinnati-Kentucky airport, as well as small planes for a local airstrip a little north of here.

As promised, I've taken some pics of the parking lot and as much as I could of the coaster. I also got some of the rest of the view from the drop off, so not all are of the Firehawk pieces. The pictures are here. They are jpgs and I took them from the drop off point. The last two are actually taken from behind the lodge, and are the clearest of the Firehawk Track going up. I could actually see the cranes carrying the track around, though I wasn't able to get a picture with the track in tow (wasn't quick enough on the draw). Obviously, the pictures posted today are much better, but I do what I can. At least you also have an idea of the parking lot staging area the way it was today. If one of you KIC guys want to get me inside the park, I'll be sure to get better pictures next time!! just kidding! Hope you all enjoy!

Touche! This site is amazing, so I doubt any pictures taken from the drop off will be as good...either way...it's exciting!! --And I stop by KIC every day! You'll always get props from me!

Nice poem! FYI - I did see someone at the drop off taking pictures yesterday...perhaps this person may have something to do with your poem? My poem would be: Not to far the Island be To the drop off I will see with camera in hand and memory pictures pictures, all for free --Mine wasn't as good

I would think that it would be easier to prime and paint before it goes up? Wouldn't this also ensure that no parts are missed? Why would they do such a thing? Also- does anyone have any thoughts on riding a ride "after" it's been broken in? i.e. - waiting until the second week of opening before riding the Firehawk? I'm thinking I might have seen this in another topic, but it applies to Firehawk as well.

they have about 10-15 support beams in the front of the parking lot. It's hard to tell how much track is there, since they put the track towards the back of the lot. From what I can tell, though, the painted track is pushed to the right, while the unpainted ones are placed on the left side. (as you're looking at the park from the road) If time permits, I'll head down there after work to take some pictures today.

Just a question - Does KI restrict photography in the "drop off" area in front of the park? Does anyone know? (want to make sure I don't get escorted away)

I drive by KI every day on the way to and from work. It's cool to see the track sitting in the parking lot, half painted, half not. I noticed on the way back from Home Depot yesterday, that the cranes are working overtime in the distance. I also spotted some curved track rising above the park. I'll try to get some pictures today, but to the right of the Flight of Fear, you can see part of the curved track already assembled. In the parking lot, most of the track has been painted red, though some is still green. There are also some supports left. I drive my wife crazy driving down I-71, "keep your eyes on the road" she says as I'm constantly looking at the park for any changes.

YAY for the clown band. I agree.....bring em back!!

<p>Sabre Dance. I didn't realize that was the name of the song, but I always remember hearing it throughout the park. <br> </p><p> It's one of those things that if you played the song for me, I'd instantly think of Kings Island trips when I was a kid. It played constantly..over and over, and I don't even remember them playing any other song. </p> <p> For those of you who are curious <a href="http://www.musicabona.com/catalog/SU3107-2.html">This is Sabre Dance</a> </p>

As a recent smoker, now a non-smoker, I have to say that I never had a problem with smoking in designated areas. I even would go out of my way to make sure that my smoke was as far away from others as possible. Why should my bad habit affect others? While you are talking about the freedom to smoke, you're also talking about the freedom of others not to smell the habit. Smoke stinks..it gets on your clothes, just by being near it....you get used to it when you're a smoker, but as a non-smoker, it's the grossest smell in the world. I believe they should have smoking tents or something with plenty of ventilation that keeps the smoke away from non-smokers. That way, if you want to smoke, you can go there to smoke. Ohio's smoking ban, while not very well defined, does basically take away smoking priveleges in any public area, including near public entrances. And while it may be an extreme law, it was also voted on by voters. So I doubt there will be a smoking area anytime soon. But people will smoke. And smokers aren't very good at putting out ciggarettes....always a pet peeve of mine as I was one of the only smokers who made sure the cigarette was completely out.

Speaking of the lights on the Eiffel Tower, I just moved in down the street in December. My backyard looks at KI, and at first, the lights weren't on..then I began to see them on ...though it seemed rather randomly. Now they are on every night, and they stay on rather late.

My best memories are White Water Canyon, Festhaus and the old Screemin Demon. Those three areas are probably fighting it out for my favorite areas of the park. As for now, I can't say...haven't been there in a few years, but standing in line for The Beast is always a thrill as well.

They have updated the site. Though I figured their "splash" screen would include a big Firehawk announcement. Perhaps that will be added shortly.

The pki.com website has added the Firehawk announcement to the media center page, but still has not updated the front page to reflect it. I wonder when that will change?? And I also wonder when the Paramount part of the main sign will be taken down...and odds on that one? I say they'll take it down in March.

I could've sworn I saw some support beams along the right side. It looks like they have straight track on the left side of the lot and curved on the right....and then long metal beams to the right of that.

I pass KI every day on the way to/from work. The truck is not there anymore and it looks like the entire coaster is pretty much laying in the lot. I keep hoping to see some big trucks hauling track into the park along that access road, but haven't yet. I'll let you know if I see anything of the sort.