girlafraid

Hi London, I live in London too SE/Kent way. Haven't been to KI in a very long time so not good with the advice, but hello!

I rode Flight of Fear once, but obviously didn't remember that bit! Thanks

What isFort Kinzel?

My first time on The Beast would've been in the early 80's. I was a Racer fan, had ridden The Bat and the Screamin' Demon but was still scared of The Beast. My aunt took me and I remember having to wait in line outside the station on the claw prints and down the little hill. I felt at the tender age of 5 or 6 that I was a very experienced and cool coaster rider. So when we went up the first lift hill and the cars stopped I suddenly thought we were going to start going backwards and started screaming my head off. My aunt actually put her hand over my mouth as she was so embarrassed. Then we got over the crest and I loved it. My aunt always knew which seats were the smoothest on the train for each coaster so I never remember a jerky ride on The Beast! I have GOT to get to KI this summer and take on that Beast again.

I found this site a couple of days ago and have been entranced looking at the old pictures. I'm now planning to go up this June when I'm home visiting family in Cincinnati. It' been a loooong time and well overdue. So all of these memories are coming up I have a great one I wanted to share. In the early days of The Beast,when Rivertown was Beast crazy with paraphernalia and videos, etc., there was a man singing On The Road Again, Willie Nelson stylee and I still remember the words: On The Beast again, Just can't wait to get on The Beast again Throwing up and gettin' dizzy with my friends I just can't wait to get on The Beast again. Now I've shown my age. I loved the little touches KI used to have before Paramount days. Now, who else remembers this guy?!

Cobra was my favourite steel coaster as well. In later years, it was always a quick queue and I loved the corkscrews. I remember when it was first built, I thought it was the scariest looking roller coaster I had ever seen and wouldn't ride it for a long time. I also remember getting stuck on it once and repair guy walking the tracks out to us shaking his head! (we made it back, no probs)

I've been obsessed with this site today since discovering (well it IS cold and raining). I'm in London and have never been to Blackpool, but The Big One was the first roller coaster my husband ever rode and it was only a few years ago as an adult! We've been doing Chessington World of Adventure a few times which is pretty sad in comparison. Thinking Legoland this summer. I've been trying to think of the last time I was at KI and I think I was there 4 years ago, but with a baby and didn't stay long or go on much... last real trip was probably 1996! Was a regular from 81-94, so those are my memories.

Where? Curious Terpy Well as my grandmother says "curiosity killed the cat", it was either in Tennessee or Ohio i want to say Tennessee. I think there's a ski-lift thingy in Gatlinburg, TN. Remember it as a child and once in the 90's sometimes. Was kinda cold.

Mine was WWC. I rode it a few days after it opened, waited in line for about 3 hours! It was too cold and I got pneumonia. Ah, still a special place in my heart.

No one said Potato Works? I live in England now and haven't had cheese-like substance for years... now I'm drooling... What is Outer Hanks?

I always called it the Scooby Doo or The Beastie. Was there a time when it had a signage at the beginning of the ride queue where you could put your face through and be different characters? Early to mid 80's? And wasn't it Scooby Doo characters?

Amazing pictures, thank you for sharing! Such great memories. I haven't been to KI in many years but it was a 1-2 weekly trip growing up. I even rode The Bat... TWICE. The picture of the queues for The Vortex put me right back on that pavement standing and waiting.