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I know that Holiday World and Indiana Beach exist but it’s crazy to me that Indianapolis doesn’t have some type of amusement park. They could reach 13 million people within a two hour radius.   Like I said, other parks exist: holiday world, Indiana Beach, Kings Island, Cedar Point, Michigan’s adventure, Six Flags, great America and Six Flags, St. Louis, Kentucky, Kingdom, but it’s still mind boggling to me that there isn’t something. It wouldn’t even have to be something huge like Kings Island but I argue something the of World’s of Fun or Dorney would be enough.

Riverbend Music Center and Farmer Music Center shared aerial photos of the construction site of the new amphitheatre on their Facebook page. The Farmer Music Center at Coney Island is currently being built on the site of Coney's west parking lot, formerly the location of Coney's old athletic field. Here are some things to note.   -Lake Como was dredged and drained temporarily and the lakebed was dug out to elevate the land for the new amphitheatre. This was done to help protect the new Farmer Music Center from the flood waters of the Ohio River in the event the river rises (as it always has and will). Lake Como will be deeper than before once it is filled with water once again.   -Moonlite Gardens is still standing. The Cincinnati Symphony had discussed the restoration of Coney's old dance hall, which was condemned around 2019 due to the deterioration of the flooring inside the building. While attending Summerfair 2025, I had a conversation with a Riverbend/MEMI employee about the plans for the property and she confirmed that Moonlite Gardens is here to stay.    -The Picnic Grove, which is where Coney Island got its start in the summer of 1870 when James Parker rented out his apple orchard to a church picnic, still stands. The Symphony plans to keep the grove and picnic shelters in place for yearly events such as Summerfair, which will return to the Coney Island site from May 29 - 31, 2026.   -The auto gate on Kellogg Avenue and the river gate and lighthouse, both built in 1924 and 1925 respectively at the beginning of the Schott/Wachs era of Coney, will remain.    -Hampton Court, the skill games building built in 1966 along the shore of Lake Como with its French Normandy inspired brick architecture and clock tower, will remain, now housing the offices for MEMI.   -Sunlite Pool, built in 1925 as the world's largest recirculating swimming pool, was demolished starting in March of 2024, just shy of 100 years old. The old pool site will more than likely be used for parking to make up for what was lost where the Farmer Music Center is being constructed. The full post can be viewed below: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17guHrqVET/  

I know this is about 2026, but I kinda wanted to look ahead a little bit to 2027 when it comes to capital. I think if 2027 is going to be another mild year in terms of investment at KI and they want to do something to market for 2027, my wish would be to "finish" Camp Snoopy. Hear me out: Camp Snoopy while they did a good job on it it feels unfinished to me. Ways they could finish it without needing to invest too much money would be: stain the concrete in the area to a more light brown color add Kite Eating Tree and Space Buggies into Camp Snoopy (retheming buggies to Pig Pen's Mud Buggies) add the 3 rides behind Surf Dog into Camp Snoopy add another playground to Beagle Scout Acres. More specifically a multi level play structure like what Cedar Point used to have on Forbidden Frontier. You can put it in the open space behind Pig Pen's Mess Hall If there's still space and/or budget left, add some sort of splash pad Finally, add a Camp Snoopy sign at the other entrance to Camp Snoopy right behind Snoopy's Boutique. Make it like the sign that was in the original concept art: Basically do what Magic Mountain is doing with their new Bugs Bunny World coming this year

From my perspective (not being directly involved or knowing much about construction) I’d believe it isn’t a holdup, but rather they just didn’t plan for it to open April 17. The leaker said they’re completing theming until February, and beginning show programming which would be completed in about 2 months. I think this is the closest turnaround they could complete considering guests would be in the park for Winterfest which hasn’t been an issue.    I selfishly hope they don’t do an unplanned soft opening because I really want to be there opening day, but it wouldn’t shock me if they opened it as soon as programming was finished, and it would be even more surprising to me if they waited until Memorial Day. Because it’s accessible and indoors, I’d assume it’s the kind of thing KI wouldn’t want sitting dormant besides when they absolutely had to for Haunt/Winterfest to allow for the building to be cleared.

It feels a little too likely that they will either have a random soft opening or announce an opening date within a week of the official opening. One big upset of it opening in May would be not having that heated indoor attraction during the beginning of the Spring season. What do you think could be the holdup (if it is true)? They've been working on this project since September and there were already some pieces manufactured at that point. Is it more likely to be on Kings Island/the contractor's end or could it be a Sally Dark Rides issue?