KIfan73

That would be a good theory for the tree removal. That could add a really cool vibe to IS at night, during any part of the season.

I was talking to a friend about the IS makeover (she's not even really a Kings Island "enthusiast"). She thinks they're probably going to do video projections onto the buildings. Might be kind of cool for both WF and Haunt.

Still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that something so cool is coming to a spot that has been so neglected for over 25 years.

I wonder if a majority of the parts are for older rides whose parts at one time were possibly cutting-edge, but are easily reproduced now. Sort of like all the reproduction parts now available for older cars.

Since I have about a three hour round trip when I visit Kings Island, I always try to keep it "safe" to limit the chances of getting something bad. I usually stick with cheese pizza that's just come from the oven. Maybe not 100%, but it would be hard to mess that up.

Just thought this would be a good place to share a pic of International Street that my uncle took in 1972.

I remember it absolutely crushing my ears when it first opened, very painful. It was really an immersive experience, though, much like Top Gun and Days of Thunder. You really forgot where you were.

So nostalgic nowadays to watch a group of people (especially a group of parents) participating in an event without dozens of iPhones being held up in the air.

I would also like to add that Coney BBQ was another fantastic addition. It is a beautiful structure (inside and out), and the way its design makes it look like it's always been there was a nice touch. Great how they added the rear seating area and tied it into Tower Gardens; it really spruced that area up nicely.

Since they already completely clear the shops out to prepare for Winterfest, and then again before restocking for the next season, I would not be surprised to see some remodeling done inside the shops while they're empty. They could use it, they're pretty dated.

After all of these years of being a Kings Island fan, the last few seasons have been like a dream come true. It's as if Kings Island personally asked me what I'd like done with the park, and they did it. First, it was Mystic Timbers. Winterfest Antique Cars returning Remodel of IS. Not that this was an area that I felt needed a remodel particularly, but after hearing about it, I am really, really excited.

Shocking how different IS looks right now compared to when I was there just 18 days ago! This is extremely exciting news!

Wow! Never saw this coming! Between this and the return of the Antique Cars, this will be quite the memorable season!

Finally made it to Winterfest last night. Turned out to be a great night. They did a really great job with it again this year. Atmosphere is amazing. Ate dinner in the International Restaurant again this year. Single best experience of Winterfest, in my opinion. I realized last night one of the best things about visiting this late in the year, is that it won't be long until the park is open again!

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2017/april/the-legend-of-fess-parker...-in-northern-kentucky https://www.bcpl.org/cbc/doku.php/frontier_worlds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fess_Parker "Parker became interested in opening a Davy Crockett-themed amusement park. In the late 1960s, he optioned land in northern Kentucky at the confluence of Interstates 71 and 75, with the intention of building Frontier World. However, when the Taft Broadcasting Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, began building Kings Island Amusement Park in nearby Mason, Ohio, less than a 2-hour drive from Parker's site, financing for Parker's venture dried up."

With it being FH's last day, here are some photos of it taken on on June 12, 2007, a few weeks after it opened :

I vote for the wine and cheese salad bar!

I wouldn't expect Vortex to removed to make room for something like Antique Cars, but was thinking perhaps that the placement of them was a clue. Either way, we won't have to speculate much longer!

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but the spot chosen for the new Antique Cars would seem to add a lot of congestion in that area if Vortex were to remain open. Are they planning on a reduction of congestion in that area by the time they open next spring?

If you watch this original Bat commercial (which is just plain amazing by the way), one could think the clues could be pointing to the current Bat being removed (which would be a real shame).

My favorite thing about Coney BBQ is the ability to sit on the front porch and eat. One of the nicest places to eat a meal at Kings Island. The seating area they created behind it is very nice, too. They really improved the area between there and Tower Gardens. I also think Coney BBQ just looks great. It really improved Coney Mall; I can only imagine how much nicer it's going to look with next year's wonderful addition at the other end!

If you watch the promo for MT, the vines represented nature taking back its land...I couldn't help but notice there are vines on the Flight Commander tombstone, and there is currently a new attraction being installed on that site...could be clues, could be a coincidence...I guess it would depend on of there was any pattern to which tombstones they put vines on.

^^Those look like some Mystic Timber-esque vines growing on some of those tombstones.

Another odd phrase. From Merriam-Webster: Definition of Ill-Fated 1: having or destined to a hapless fate : UNFORTUNATE an ill-fated expedition 2: that causes or marks the beginning of misfortune Definition of Demise (Entry 1 of 2) 1a: DEATH b: a cessation of existence or activity c: a loss of position or status 2: the conveyance of an estate 3: transfer of the sovereignty to a successor Definition of Demise (Entry 2 of 2) transitive verb 1: to convey by will or lease demise an estate 2: to transmit by succession or inheritance 3: obsolete : CONVEY, GIVE intransitive verb 1: DIE, DECEASE 2: to pass by descent or bequest the property has demised to the king's heirs So, Kings Island is making final preparations for the unfortunate death, loss of position, conveyance, succession, or the passing on of property to the king's heirs of one of their own. Interesting.

Why "Rest in Pieces" instead of the normal "Rest in Peace"? "It's Big it's Gone" is a strange phrase..."It's Gone" means it's already gone...it doesn't say "When it's Gone", or "Will be Gone", or "soon to be removed". Does "Big" refer to the size of what's gone (or what's going to be gone), or does big refer to the fact that it's gone, like it's a big deal that it's gone? So many questions!