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Happy belated New Year to all! So, I was going to post these on New Years Day, but as fate would have it, Photobucket wouldn't cooperate. My gift to each of you fellow Ki fans is something you may find interesting. 12 years ago, I began photo documenting the construction of Son of Beast. I have pics from the very first footers, to the announcement, to final construction, to the first test runs, and finally opening day. There's lots of pics, all taken by me. I hope you enjoy. Please don't post these to other sites without asking me for consent. After all, I did all the dirty work ;-) First, here's a look at construction from start to finish: http://s1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/jhnktr/Son%20of%20Beast%20Construction%20-%20PKI/ Here's pics from the announcement: (look closely and you'll see Jeff Siebert (This was prior to his being hired by PKI, which happened just weeks after this event!) as well as Don Helbig (Long prior to his joinging KI Marketing.) http://s1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/jhnktr/Son%20of%20Beast%20Announcement%20PKI/ Here's the infamous SOB crate: http://s1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/jhnktr/Son%20of%20Beast%20Crate%20-%20PKI/ Here's ultra rare pics of the first ever riders on SOB. This happened on Easter Sunday 2000. The first riders included Tim Fisher, then GM of the park, along with engineers and other Paramount Park Execs. http://s1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/jhnktr/Son%20of%20Beast%201st%20test%20run%20with%20riders%20-%20PKI/ Finally, heres pics from SOB's opening day. These were taken Friday evening following the media event. After the media event in the morning, the track was ripped out and replaced in the ascent following the large drop. The coaster openened for a few hours on Friday evening, then was closed for sometime as the entire track in that area was considered "too violent." http://s1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/jhnktr/Son%20of%20Beast%20Opening%20Day%20-%20PKI/ I hope you enjoy them. This was a fun time in my coaster life. Lots of friends and memories were made during this time. Let me know what you think ;-) Shaggy aka John

^Safe & sound and out of the weather...if he only knew what the cards held for his future.

Photo #15 - Phantom Theater

That's disheartening...does that mean that they really don't care about my partner's satisfaction?

Photo #14 - Vortex On-Ride Photo

Photo #13 - Oktoberfest 1986-1990

^Unless he simply dictated the letter...I give him credit for being able to type with those claws.

Photo #11 - Beast Letter

This is one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time. I have been at KI every summer (except the 2 I live in Fla) since the park opened and have had seasons passes every year they offered them (except the 2 in Fla) and one other year. These pics bring back so many memories. I, like you, really miss that tunnel walk way. I always thought of it as a time tunnel where we went from the modern world of Hanna Barbera Land and went back to the frontier. The Indians running out of the woods at the train completed this illusion.

You need to upload those pictures to a host website. We'd love to see them!