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After the public thought that Dragster H2O was a great name for Soak City's new water slide, I'm hoping they have nothing to do with it...

I think he still works at Carowinds.

2008 The park added very few new attractions in 2008. Urgent Scare (Action Theater) - A highly-detailed haunted house with a thorough backstory revolving around the fictitious Magnum Energy Drinks. The attraction took place within a hospital overrun by zombies and featured both indoor and outdoor parts, combining to amount to 3,666 square feet of attraction. --- --- Ghouls Gone Wild (Festhaus) - A song and dance show that featured classic monsters and rock 'n' roll music. --- Cemetery Drive (Tower Gardens) - A simple renaming of the former The Cemetery. Utilized the template of the former Torture Chamber attraction for its new logo. During Haunt preparations, the signage on this attraction still identified it as "The Cemetery", suggesting the rename was a late decision. Returning attractions were Club Blood, Dead Awakening, Tombstone Terror-tory, Death Row, Trail of Terror, Red Beard's Revenge, CarnEVIL, The Worksite, Massacre Manor and CornSTALKERS. Elvira's Superstition was replaced by Urgent Scare. Torture Chamber did not return. CornSTALKERS was relocated to Action Zone and placed between Congo Falls and Timberwolf. Haunt 2008 Entrance Display Phantom Theater characters, props and ride vehicles were placed on and around the International Street Bandstand. The former Parking Lot Tram was placed in front of the park's entrance and decorated with skeletons. --- - Additional Dead Awakening Photos - KIC - Additional Halloween Haunt 2008 Photos - KIC - Additional Halloween Haunt 2008 Photos - KIE-Additional Halloween Haunt 2008 Preparation Photos - KIC 2009 Halloween Haunt 2009 was the center of controversy when the park announced two details for the year's Haunt - first, that live animals would be featured in the new Slaughterhouse attraction. Second, a display of skeletons in the park would depict the deaths of various celebrities, including Steve McNair. Following public outcry, both features were pulled prior to the event's debut. Slaughterhouse (Stunt Crew Grill​) - A butcher shop staffed by maniacs who find pleasure in slaughtering humans. --- Hot Blooded (International Showplace) - A new show that featured suggestive dance moves, mature songs and sexual costumes, alongside 80's rock music and a vampire theme. The show also featured various special effects including pyrotechnics, water effects and a zipline. --- Cut-Throat Cove (Outer Hanks) - Utilizing sets and props from the former Red Beard's Revenge, Cut-Throat Cove was an outdoor "house" with the classic pirates theme. It also utilized Viking Fury's exit ramp as its queue line. Returning attractions were Urgent Scare, Ghouls Gone Wild, Cemetery Drive, Club Blood, Tombstone Terror-tory, Death Row, Trail of Terror, CarnEVIL, Massacre Manor and CornSTALKERS. Dead Awakening was replaced by Hot Blooded. Red Beard's Revenge was transformed into Cut-Throat Cove. The Worksite did not return. Urgent Scare now featured an "on-ride photo" at the beginning. CornSTALKERS was reversed so that visitors would enter near Invertigo.

This is similar to my Lion Country Safari Spotlight that I shared in March, so if you haven't already, be sure to check it out. - Anyhow, a brief explanation of what this is... I find Kings Island history interesting and I love Halloween. Combine the two with Kings Island's Halloween Haunt now being in its twelfth year and, well, you get something like this. This is the product of a bit too much time and quite an interest in the event, but hopefully some people here find it interesting and informative - All years, including 2011, are written in past tense. Pictures are taken from miscellaneous websites and Kings Island's official facebook, alongside select ones being from my own personal collection. - Any questions or comments, feel free to post. Also, if you have any photos for an attraction(s) that's currently lacking any (cough 2000's FearFest cough), feel free to share. - Alrighty, that's about it. Enjoy - 2000 The inaugural year for Paramount's Kings Island's FearFest. Debuted Friday, September 29 and ran for fourteen nights through October 31. According to PKI's executive vice president and general manager Tim V. Fisher, "This will be the largest and scariest haunted experience in the Midwest." Various "mazes" and attractions, all designed by Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company, were announced for the event. Several other minor attractions were also present, alongside a limited selection of the park's thrill rides. Full list, including quotes from UltimateRollerCoaster.com press report: Torture Tower (On Eiffel Tower) - Guests took an elevator to the 265-foot platform, where they would experience "wind howling through the bars of the tower" and encounter a "world filled with scenes of terror and torture including an electrocution." According to an online review of the event, the top of the tower also featured a mad scientist lab, a "wheel of death" and a performer who produced sparks with a cattle prod (similar to what is currently found in Massacre Manor) The Freezer (Beneath Eiffel Tower) - Reportedly the only true “maze” of the event, The Freezer was “FearFest’s coolest attraction” and was a stainless steel meat locker filled with mirrors and “crammed with corpses, crazed prisoners and ghouls.” Pirate Jack & the Legend of Halloween in 4-D (Paramount Theater Backstage) - Comic-book style, black-light maze. Centered around characters “Pirate Jack with his cronies Feer, Dowt and Worrry” and told the “tale of Halloween in horrific 4-D”. Featured “a combination of 3-D effects and the use of sets, special lighting and atmospheric illusion.” 3D glasses were available for an upcharge. The Sewer in 4-D (New York Nightmare, aka Festhaus) - Black-light maze with a spinning tunnel and “toxic waste and a host of bizarre creatures.” 3D glasses were available for an upcharge of $1. The Mummy's Revenge (Enchanted Theater) - A “claustrophobic journey through the catacombs of a ruin where the Mummy is [brought] back to life in search of revenge.” Included performers and themeing in the queue. Museum of Horrors (Phantom Theater) - A renovation of the family-friendly Phantom Theater into a gory and gruesome attraction. Additional props and performers were added through-out the attraction, as were moments of darkness and a change in operating procedures – only ½ of the cars were loaded to increase the distance between riders. While some scenes were intensified, others were simply covered with black scrim. The attraction's music was also switched-out to a different soundtrack. Club Studio Fifty-Gore (New York Nightmare) - Dance-club like environment with music and miscellaneous arcade games. Freak Show (Paramount Theater) - A short film, approximately six minutes. At least on certain nights, a fire juggler was featured prior to the movie. Pirate Jack, often considered the "mascot" of FearFest 2000 Action Zone's thrill rides (King Cobra, Top Gun, Drop Zone, Face/Off and Son of Beast) were also open during the night. The event featured a separate admission price of $19.99 ($17.99 when bought at the park alongside daily admission, $16.99 for season pass holders). Parking was $7. Due to the separate admission price, Kings Island would need to divide the daytime guests from the FearFest guests on Saturday nights. In order to do this, wristbands were issued to FearFest participants. Once FearFest started for the night, guests were required to have a wristband in order to experience any of the rides or mazes. Also, in order to avoid a massive mess at the park entrance, daytime guests were directed out through the former season pass entrance while FearFest guests entered via the standard entrance. - Advertisement in 2000 park map - On Fridays and Saturdays, FearFest ran 8pm-12am. On select Thursdays and the weekdays leading up to Halloween, the hours were 8pm-11pm. 2001 FearFest underwent major changes in 2001. Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company did not assist in the design or creation of the attractions, leading to a brand new list of haunted houses and trails. Outside of standard thrill rides, the majority of the event was shifted from International Street / Hanna Barbera to "Coney Maul". Circus of Horrors 3D (Festhaus) - A black-light maze with a spinning tunnel and an extensive usage of clowns. House of Darkness (Rock Shop Building) - The standard haunted house maze. Curse of the Crypt (Back of Arcade) - A dark and claustrophobic haunted house themed to the classic Egyptian tails of mummies and pharaohs. The attraction's entrance was at the spot of the current Plate Break game. Maze of Madness (Red Barn) - Originally to be named "The Morgue", prior to sensitivity concerns. A chain-link fence and mirror maze with loud noises and nauseating effects. Guests entered the attraction at the end of the building facing Racer. Trail of Terror (North Woods) - A dark pathway that twisted through Kings Island's woods. Featured zombies and other characters. Apparently had a minor back-story involving missing campers. During the attraction, visitors were required to hold onto a yellow "safety-rope" that linked all guests together. Elvira's Superstition (Paramount Action FX Theater) - A simulator attraction that took guests through Elvira's "Scream Park" Sleepy Hollow (Pathway from Vortex to Beast) - A foggy pathway with various monsters The list of thrill rides expanded with Xtreme Skyflyer, Days of Thunder, Adventure Express, Racer, Flight of Fear, Vortex and The Beast, alongside everything from 2001. The event was still an additional cost - $24.99 at the gate ($18.99 for season pass holders), $19.99 in advance ($16.99 for season pass holders). It ran for a total of eight nights from 8pm-1am. 2002 - FearFest returned for its third year with two "new" attractions. WEBN Celebrity Slaughter (International Showplace) - A nightly show where "your not-so-favorite celebrities, and possibly your 'friends,' come to their demise at the bloody hands of a demented DJ," according to the 2001 FearFest website. Psycho Path (North Woods) - An upgrade to the former Trail of Terror - Returning attractions were Circus of Horrors 3D, House of Darkness, Curse of the Crypt, Maze of Madness and Elvira's Superstition. Sleepy Hollow apparently did not return. - - The available thrill rides remained the same from the year before, only minus King Cobra and plus Tomb Raider: The Ride. Tickets were available at the park for $21.99 at the Return Visit Booth. The event again ran for eight nights from 8pm-1am. 2003 - FearFest dropped its extra admission fee in 2003 and expanded with two "new" attractions. Route 666 (Antique Cars) - An abandoned highway in which guests were able to drive through miscellaneous sets and scenes Curse of the Crypt (Back of Arcade) - A renovation of the pre-existing attraction. The entrance was presumably switched from the Coney Mall midway to between the Arcade and Racer this year, reducing the crowds on the path Returning attractions were Circus of Horrors 3D, House of Darkness, Maze of Madness, Psycho Path and Elvira's Superstition. WEBN Celebrity Slaughter did not return. The majority of the thrill rides, alongside many family rides, were made available during the event. This trend has continued since with the children's area and select family attractions typically shutting-down at a designated time. Now that the haunted attractions were included with park admission, select indoor haunted houses were able to open at 3pm. The outdoor attractions (alongside Circus of Horrors 3D) opened at 8pm. FearFest ran for five Saturday nights, closing at midnight. Additional FearFest 2003 Photos 2004 The park added three new attractions. Friday the 13th (Paramount Theater) - A montage of some of the bloodiest and goriest moments from the Friday the 13th franchise Sleepy Hollow Horror (Temporary Tent) - Built in a temporary tent near the back of Eiffel Tower, Sleepy Hollow Horror took visitors to the 1700s and into a creepy farmhouse. --- Dracula's Haunted Castle (Paramount Action FX Theater) - A simulator attraction that transported visitors on a thrill ride through a haunted castle Returning attractions were Circus of Horrors 3D, House of Darkness, Maze of Madness, Psycho Path and Curse of the Crypt. Elvira's Superstition did not return, having been replaced by Dracula's Haunted Castle. - FearFest 2004 Entrance Display - Curse of the Crypt entrance Like before, select indoor haunted houses opened at 3pm. Other attractions opened at 4pm, 7pm or 8pm, depending on location. FearFest ran for five Saturday nights, closing at midnight. Midway through the event, a section of Psycho Path caught fire. The cause was unknown and the attraction was temporarily shut-down, but it later reopened. Additional FearFest 2004 Photos

I've become rather interested in the park's former Lion Country Safari area and monorail over the past few days, leading to quite a bit of research on the defunct attraction. I've since compiled the information here to share with other interested members. So hopefully this post will be informative and entertaining to anybody who bothers reading it, saying how lengthy it is All facts from reliable sources; pictures from various sources. Dates given for each photo unless unknown. Lion Country Safari 1974 The Lion Country Safari, a brand new section of the Kings Island amusement park, opened on April 27, 1974. The area featured various attractions, including multiple small animal exhibits, a restaurant (today's Stunt Crew Grill), a gift shop and a large monorail. 1974 overview of the new area. The highly themed entrance to the new area of the park. 1974. The entire animal preserve encompassed 100 acres (three times the land that The Beast occupies) and was the result of a year's work and a $5.5 million investment. According to an online inflation calculator, that would be approximately $23.7 million in 2009- more than the cost of Diamondback ($22 million). According to a 1974 news article in The Bryan Times, the animals planned for opening year of the attraction were: -12 elephants -25 rhinoceros -5 giraffes -70 lions -4 hippopotamus -20 ostriches -20 zebras -150 antelope -1 cape buffalo -75 "critters"- monkeys, swans, exotic birds, etc. The main attraction was the two-mile monorail, otherwise known as Kenya Safari. It was an attempt at a new style of the hugely popular "drive-in zoos" scattered around the country. It was created by Lion Country Safari, Inc. and was their first attraction to utilize a monorail instead of guests' cars. This was due to various injuries and incidents involving automobiles and animals. The six trains were fully enclosed and powered by electricity. They ran on rubber wheels, reaching speeds of roughly six miles per an hour. This allowed for a 20-25 minute ride. Exit on the left, entrance to the right. The queue snaked under the monorail track and guests boarded the trains on the opposite side of the station. 1974. The monorail passing over the queue line. 1974. Guests prior to loading the monorail. 1974. A guide narrated the trip and was able to stop the train at any given point, giving riders an extended look at any of the sites. The monorail's layout kept most animals within easy viewing distance of passengers aboard the monorail. Postcard of the new attraction. 1974. The monorail was different from most other Kings Island attractions in the fact it was an upcharge attraction and featured an additional admittance fee, despite its estimated hourly capacity of 2,000 guests. It is believed that the 1974 price was $.50, but it may have been free during the attraction's opening year. This here is the product of too-much time... the white line is the pathway the monorail followed laid over a 2010 overview of the park (courtesy of Google). The animals were divided into three sections- Large Animals, Lions and Grazing Animals. The three sections were divided by nine-foot high chain-link fences. The majority of these barriers were hidden via hills and trees in order to create the illusion that visitors were actually in Africa. This also kept the animals within a designated area and prevented them from escaping. The lion section featured additional security measures- a fourteen-foot high fence and another six-foot high fence within that. The monorail track itself also acted as a security measure- a slight electric current ran through it, discouraging animals from utilizing it as an escape route. Example of large fences that surrounded the areas. Date uknown. Double fences in lion exhibit. 1975. Despite the security measures in place, multiple incidents occurred within the Lion Country Safari during its twenty year run. The first of these occurred in June 1974. A storm knocked out the park's power, killing the monorail track's electric charge. This allowed a female lion to cross the track and jump off into a buffer compound. She spent the next two days in this area before Chief Zoologist Milt Tennant was able to shoot the 150-pound lion with a tranquilizing dart. By this point in time the lion was dehydrated and had apparently not eaten. The attraction's first year proved successful, attracting a large share of guests. The animals also adapted well to the Ohio climate. A large share of the animals breded opening year, producing twenty-four lion cubs and various zebras, antelopes, sheep and oxes. The Lion Country Safari remained open through weekends in November before closing for new construction during the winter. 1975 1975 overview of area. Photo spot in area. 1975. The Lion Country Safari area expanded in 1975 with a new show called "Fowl Play". Four African cheetahs and 25 antelopes of various species were also added. The same year, a nine-month-old lion attacked a thirteen-month-old girl. Trainer Steve Clark was at a bank with the leashed animal when the young girl approached it. The lion grabbed the head of the girl in its mouth. Clark quickly pulled back on the leash and the lion released the girl. Neither were harmed. 1976 1976 proved a very memorable year for the Lion Country Safari for multiple reasons. The first was an extensive landscape renovation. All grassy areas were reseeded and much of the underbrush was cleared, according to a 1976 article in The Daily Sentinel. The same article reports that the upcharge cost for the monorail was $.50. The Lion Country Safari also planned to add more animals in 1976 with the addition of 13 Bengal tigers and 50 Olive baboons. The baboons were planned to be added into the same section as the lions, since the two species lived together in their natural habitat. The tigers were planned to received their own new area, although one baby tiger (a two-month old cub) would be displayed in the Lion Country Safari nursery. Ten days before Lion Country Safari opened for its third season, however, all fifty baboons escaped from their enclosure on April 14. 49 remained within sight of the compound while one left park property. Park and safari management were left in a "baboon standoff" in their trivial attempt to round the baboons up. 30 of the apes were lured back into the compound with fruit, but the 19 others remained outside the enclosure. However, in an attempt to keep the baboons in the area, the thirty caught primates were re-released. According to park publicist Dan Edwards, "We were afraid the ones inside might send out distress signals to the others and they would panic and run away." The baboons were kept interested and fed with fruit. Eventually it was decided to "spike" the fruit with sleep-inducing tranquilizers, allowing safari workers to round-up the drugged primates. It was also determined at this time that the primates would not be featured in the attraction for 1976. According to park spokesman Dan Alyward, "Their show business career is over. They bowed out with their 'Great Escape'. We do not plan to put them back on display." Come opening day, twelve baboons had still avoided capture. Despite the baboons' removal, the 13 Bengal tigers were added as planned. 1976 also showcased the park's and the safari's first death. 20-year-old safari ranger John McCann was mauled by a lion on Saturday, July 24. He was found shortly after 1pm by his coworkers when he had failed to answer a radio call. He was about 20-feet away from his safari vehicle, where he had left both his radio and shot gun. He was declared dead at the scene. 1977 1977 overview of the area. The winter before the 1977 season showed more lion cub births. Various park employees (not just safari workers) were permitted to take-home the baby cubs, feeding and caring for the animals. Various North American animals were added to the preserve in 1977. This included bison, elk and white-tailed deer. With over 250 animals total, native to three different continents, the area became known around this time as "Wild Animal Safari". The price for the monorail was also raised to $.75. New name of area. Date unknown. A new roller coaster was added to the area 1977. Known as the Screamin' Demon, it was the park's first and only looping roller coaster at the time. It was built over the former "Monkey Island" segment of Wild Animal Safari and over a segment of the monorail. The monorail trains would now pass between Screamin' Demon supports. Screamin' Demon roller coaster. 1977. 1978 Like all years prior, 1978 showed even more new animals to the Wild Animal Safari. Fifteen blackfooted penguins, nine vultures and six crowned cranes were all added. The blackfooted penguins were added to an island in the Africa section, the vultures to the preserve and the cranes near the entrance to the Wild Animal Safari. The Nairobi Nursery also featured an assortment of reptiles and newborn animals. 1978 showed a sponsorship from Encyclopedia Britannica. The cost to ride the monorail also rose to $1. Two penguins, valued at $1,500 each, escaped from Kings Island in September and made it as far as Loveland. One was successfully captured and returned five days later, but its companion was struck and killed by a car in Foster, Ohio. 1979 A fire swept through a barn and killed two hartebeest, two addax and one scimitarhorned onyx. The total damage done was estimated to be worth $65,000. Twelve Eastern Brown pelicans were donated to the safari in 1979 by the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, Indian Shores, Florida. Two Chapman zebras, a female giraffe, an Addax and four African Blackfooted penguins were also born at the preserve during the winter. Camels were also added. This brought the total number of animals to over 400 of 16 different varieties and 75 species. It's estimated in a news article within The Bryan Times that one-million people visited the safari annually, making it one of Kings Island's most popular and successful attractions. 1980 Kings Island was fined $560 after Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it did not remove possible hazards to employees tending wild animals within the safari. Citations included that employees were required to go into cages and clean while the animals were still present and that there would be no escape from the elephant barns if the elephants became unruly. A park spokesperson said modifications would be made to the animal areas. The ticket price for the monorail remained at $1. Kings Island began a surrogate-mother project in coordinance with Cincinnati Zoo, the Knoxville, Tennessee zoo and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. 1981 A tiger embryo was surgically removed from a low productive potential tiger nicknamed "Mora" and implanted into a lion nicknamed "Brenda" on February 27. The procedure involved relatively new techniques like super-ovulating the tiger through hormone therapy to boost chances of conception, according to an article in the Observer-Reporter. Despite the planning involved, the project was not a success. The Cincinnati Wildlife Federation was formed in April 1981 between Cincinnati Zoo, Wild Animal Safari and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. A steel drum band named the Caribbean Serenaders was also added to the Wild Animal Safari amphitheater from May 30 to August 30. A bird trainer and medicine man also performed int he Wild Animal Safari. 1981 overview of area. 1982 Timberwolf, a $450,000 facility with 10,000 seats, was added to the Wild Animal Safari section of the park. It opened July 9 with the appearance of Air Supply. Other acts opening year were Oak Ride Boys, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Due to its loud noise, the Screamin' Demon roller coaster had to be closed during concerts. A petting zoo with pygmy goats, sheep and ducks was also added the area. Petting zoo. 1984. A park employee was attacked by a lion on May 26, 1982 while cleaning the lion's compound. 34-year-old Terry Raitt suffered a punctured trachea and body cuts. He managed to climb onto the roof of a building before being treated by paramedics and taken to Bethesda North Hospital, where he was in critical condition. In August, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ruled that the mauling was due to human error and that there were no safety violations. Instead, the incident was due to "human judgement". Raitt admitted to accidentally leaving the gate open, allowing the lion to enter the same area. Park manager Bill Mefford said "He [Raitt] had already signed a statement that his actions were a misjudgement." Due to the event, OSHA recommended that rangers be armed with handguns, alongside the pre-existing shotguns in the jeeps. 1983 The Wild Animal Safari monorail was renamed The Wild Animal Habitat and the entertainment side of the area was renamed Adventure Village. Postcard with new name of area. Date unknown. Various other new changes and additions also occurred, including new exhibits in the monorail station. These included rare black leopards from Africa and snow leopards from Asia, two-toed sloths, prehensile tailed porcupines, macaws from South America, Chilean flamingos and South African penguins. Flamingos behind the monorail station. Date unnkown. A fourth section was also added to the preserve, featuring exotic animals from South America. These included guanacos, capybaras, rheas and blackneck swans. The small islands in the Adventure Village lake now featured South American spider monkeys. Adjacent to the lake was an animal collection that included golden lion tamarin, brown-headed tamarin and ring-tailed lemurs. South American spider monkeys on the Adventure Village lake. 1984. The petting zoo, added in 1982, was expanded with pigs and other animals. 1983 was apparently the final year for elephant rides (I do not know when they were added.) Elephant rides. Date unknown. 1984 1984-1987 overview of the area. King Cobra, marketed as United State's first stand-up looping roller coaster, was added to Adventure Village at a cost of $3-million. The monorail passed the roller coaster. King Cobra roller coaster. 1987. The attraction was temporarily closed in August when a metal wheel spindle broke on one of the cars, injuring eight guests. An African antelope, acting as a surrogate mother, gave birth to a baby of rare antelope species after an embryo transplant at Cincinnati Zoo, according to an article in the Deseret News. The birth was the first of its kind and was a joint effort by The Cincinnati Wildlife Federation. 1985 1984-1987 overview of the area. Research and experimentation continued amongst the Cincinnati Wildlife Federation. 1986 1986-1987 overview of area. A new scimitar horned ox, nicknamed Dixie, was born to an endangered African antelope species in March. 1987 1987 overview of the area. A one-pound spider monkey was born on the reserve on March 14. A pair of giant anteaters from South America was added near the monorail station. Following what was believed to be the first non-surgical transfer of a fresh embryo from an endangered species of an exotic animal to a domestic animal resulted in a Holstein cow giving birth to a male gaur calf on May 25. The project begun in late July 1986. With The Vortex, a six-inversion roller coaster, having opened in the Coney Mall section of the park in 1987, the park's Demon roller coaster (formerly known as Screamin' Demon) quickly became outdated. Therefore, towards the end of the season, a sign appeared nearby announcing a new family attraction in 1988. Demon with edge of teaser sign. 1987. 1988 Amazon Falls, a shoot-the-chutes style attraction, replaced Demon. The attraction cost nearly $2-million. Amazon Falls sign and attraction. Date unknown. Section of safari. 1988. During the park's seventh annual Winterfest event, various animals from the Wild Animal Habitat were featured in a live nativity scene. This may have been done in past years, however. 1989 1988-1990 overview of area. In cooperation with seven other zoos, Kings Island planned to turn 9,000 acres of reclaimed strip-mine land in Muskingum County in southeastern Ohio into a preserve for African animals. Animal rights proponent Cleverland Amory charged that an elephant at Kings Island died in March because of human abuse. Kings Island denied the charge and said an autopsy showed it had died from natural causes. Winterfest's live nativity scene again featured animals from the Wild Animal Habitat. 1990 Two female red wolf pups were sent to Wild Animal Habitat to launch a new red wolf program. 1991 1991 overview of the area. 1991-1992 overview of the area. Adventure Express, a family oriented roller coaster, was added to the side of Adventure Village. The monorail now passed both over and under the roller coaster (above- right before first tunnel; under- end of second lift-hill). Adventure Express roller coaster. 1991. A female zebra nicknamed Winnie was born on December 8. 1992 Paramount Pictures purchased Kings Island. 1993 1993 overview of the area. Top Gun, a new Arrow dynamics roller coaster, was added into Adventure Village. It passed the monorail. Top Gun roller coaster. Date unknown. By this point in time, the monorail was an additional $2 to ride. In November, the park announced that it is closing the 100-acre Wild Animal Habitat and would use the land for movie-related attractions. Park spokeswomen Carolyn Boos said "This will allow us to direct our energy and resources to our main focus of providing attractions that bring Paramount movie, television and publishing intellectual properties to life." Animals were sent to other zoos around the country, including Cincinnati Zoo. ------------------------------------------ 1994 The monorail was removed, the station deconstructed and the animals shipped out of the park. After twenty-years, the attraction was now gone. A pathway was built directly through the former spot of the monorail's station. This more easily linked the center of Adventure Village to the Top Gun roller coaster. 1995 Drop Zone, now known as Xtreme Skyflyer, was built on a piece of land formerly occupied by the monorail station. 1996 Flight of Fear, an indoor roller coaster, opened on a segment of the former safari land. XS Raceway, now known as Thunder Alley, opened on a segment of the former safari land. 1998 The trains and transfer track, which had sat idle on park property since the attraction's closure, were relocated to Jungle Jim's store. For more information, check out the interesting KICentrl article HERE. 2000 Son of Beast, at the time the world's tallest, fastest and only looping wooden roller coaster, opened on a segment of the former safari land. 2007 Firehawk, a recycled roller coaster from Geauga Lake amusement park, opened on a segment of the former safari land. Today The monorail's maintenance shed was re-purposed at some point in time following the attraction's closure. It is now used for other park maintenance. Bing overview. Various barns, sheds and ponds, all remnants from the attraction, remain on park property. Bing overview. ----------------------------------------- So yeah. That's all the result of too much time and a mostly-open weekend. I kinda feel like the ending was anti-climatic or what-not... meh. Anyhow, hopefully it was interesting to anybody who bothered to read through it, or at least look at the pictures... yeah -Ty

Take my money and build somewhere else and not deal with the fair board.

What?

*sigh* I'm crazy enough to do this event, but not quite crazy enough for this. I'll have fun listening to you guys, but probably won't join in. (I'm not a music person anyway.)

This it Gator? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8zslGAqy5k

Great idea! One that Mrs. Gator, GatorGirl & I sing at the top of our lungs in the car is We Are Young by Fun. As we were leaving the park Sunday night, a group of girls behind us started singing it as loudly as they could, and so we joined in!

If I'm asked to do something that I don't know how to do, I do some research or hire a capable person to do it. If I was responsible for finding someone to reopen an amusement park I was responsible for, I'd make sure I was maintaining it to assist reopening.

But does the Fair Board understand what type of maintenance is required on amusement rides? Perhaps they thought they were maintaining it, but did not perform several necessary steps that they were not aware that they needed to do.

The Fair Board and Six Flags settled as to what rides and rights belonged to each. As a part of that settlement, the parties doubtless released each other from further liability as to each other. There have been a couple of winters since. The Fair Board has been responsible for maintenance since. Mr. Workman says they have maintained the property.

The way the FUN Perks system works is the more you eat, shop and visit, the more rewards you will earn. It's not a system that anyone on this site will be able to decode. After you eat, shop and visit, check your account to see what you've earned. There are likely elements of randomization involved in the program, however with the customer base here, I'm sure we can generalize it pretty well.

C'mon .... Try even monsters have MUMMIES!!! This is very unterp like.

When's the last time CF didn't leak their new ride?

As said before in this topic, DO NOT BRING THE KIDS. As a now former scare actor it is EXTREMELY frightening to younger kids.. I'd recommend a Babysitter. If you want to do things with the kids without worry of the Scare Actors, do a Sunday. There's Hall-o-Fest and a lot for them to do. If you want to go for you to go, get a baby sitter and go on Friday. Fridays are usually the quieter days for just going to Haunt. You'll get the full experience and get to do everything. If you plan on doing both, go Saturday but take the kids out of the park around 4 or so due to the actors walking out early. Also, Fastlane or Frightlane passes are a must for saturdays if you want the full experience. Ticket prices are cheaper than regular season, so you can get a great deal if you pre buy your tickets online, print them and bring them with you.. You can also get them at Will Call. Also make sure to pay attention to the signs outside the haunts if you go.. If you have medical conditions they list what happens in those mazes. If you have any other questions feel free!

They also, understandably, want to make money doing it. They are already finding out how difficult dealing with the Fair Board can be. Running a park on leased land in an urban area is a lot different than running a family park in rural Indiana. Add to that the challenge of starting with a park with a less than wonderful reputation and perceived clientele and equipment in bad condition. The challenges abound.

How about you read the first page of posts again? My predictions throughout this matter have been spot on. I didn't start by predicting a big new ride in 2011, either. Planning I know. Negotiations, too. No one is a bigger park industry supporter than this writer. This deal will shock and amaze me if it happens. I'd not be planning on riding any Koch owned and operated roller coasters in Jefferson County, Kentucky in 2015.

I like to get on the first row of Backlot and flail my arms about whilst screaming as if I were about to die as I come out of the billboard tunnel. On many occasions, I have gotten people on the bridge to laugh hysterically.

going to holiwood nights is bout as close to blindfold as you can get. >;} My first ride on Voyage was in the darkness of HWN having never even watched a POV - Wow! When you can't see and don't know what is coming, rides can be amazing experiences!

first, watch that and then someone please explain who this kid is, how he got such a special childhood and then, tell me what happened to the little pond, please! <- my embarrassed face.

Forgive me as I did this pretty quickly but here's an idea as to what I'd like to see KI's entry gate look like. Definitely a work in progress. http://

Am I the only one that would be totally down with seeing a band randomly jumping into the fountain?

Honorable mention for The Slaughter House WOOT WOOT

I agree with Gordon. KI needs to have some roving entertainment like the clown band! They add so much to the atmosphere of the park! They are sorely missed. I remember them fondly from when I was a kid. They just add so much excitement to the park. Below is a video from the "Untouchables" one of the last incarnations of the Kings Island clown band, albeit it much smaller than the original band. This clip is from the band playing in what is now the Action Zone.

^I tend to agree with that sentiment. While the musical revue shows in recent years have been VERY good, there has been very little variety aside from these types of shows. A magic show sounds pretty cool. IMHO though... they need the roving entertainment. Bring back the clown band!

http://www.carowinds.com/public/admission/passes/pass_benefits.cfm This also makes it look like they don't expect WindSeeker open until May 28. First in Line Access Enter the Victory Lane midway 15 minutes early to be the first in line for Intimidator, Nighthawk or the NEW WindSeeker (valid May 28 - August 12, 2012) Early Entry to the 20-acre Boomerang Bay™ waterpark Enter Boomerang Bay waterpark at 10:30am to select your favorite location for the day (May 28 - August 12, 2012). PLEASE NOTE: Waterpark attractions and other stands open at 11:00am.

2010 Two new attractions were added to Halloween Haunt in 2010. Wolf Pack (Son of Beast Station) - A haunted house that toured guests through a forest and into a creepy cabin, avoiding the werewolves that stalked them. Included an on-ride photo at the start. --- Half-Pint Brawlers (Festhaus) - Midget wrestling with an excessive amount of blood. Featured ring-side seating for an additional $10. --- --- Returning attractions were Slaughterhouse, Hot Blooded, Cut-Throat Cove, Urgent Scare, Cemetery Drive, Club Blood, Tombstone Terror-tory, Death Row, Trail of Terror, CarnEVIL, Massacre Manor and CornSTALKERS. Ghouls Gone Wild continued performances during the day, but ceased showings during the Haunt hours. Urgent Scare's on-ride photo was moved from the beginning of the house to the end. Club Blood received a new sign. The Beast was "hauntified" with the addition of fog and a "beast" monster. Halloween Haunt 2010 Entrance Display (via KI facebook) 2011 The most recent year for Halloween Haunt and a decent-sized one in terms of expansion. Holiday Horror (Peanuts Playhouse) - A haunted house themed to miscellaneous holidays, including Christmas, Halloween and St. Patrick's Day. Included an "on-ride photo" at the start. Nightmare Alley (Planet Snoopy) - A new scare-zone populated by carnival freaks Mysteria (Red Barn) - A rename and rethemeing of the former Death Row. Featured new lighting effects and an extensive use of Morphsuits. Fright Lane - Not an actual attraction, but instead a new service available to park guests. For an extra fee, visitors were able to shorten their wait for every haunted house/trail. Returning attractions were Club Blood, Wolf Pack, Slaughterhouse, Cut-Throat Cove, Massacre Manor, Urgent Scare, Tombstone Terror-tory, CarnEVIL, Hot Blooded and Half-Pint Brawlers. Trail of Terror did not return. Boo Blasters on Boo Hill remained open during the event and received at least four actors hidden through-out the ride and exit. Cemetery Drive was expanded from Tower Gardens to all of International Street as part of a new scare-zone. Included in this was a minor new attraction, "Buried Alive", with an upcharge of $5. CornSTALKERS was relocated to Tower Gardens. Urgent Scare lost its outdoor segment and its on-ride photo. Club Blood received a new paint job. --- ------------------------------------------------------- - 2012 A new haunted house and several new scare zones were added, as was a new dining experience and a new show. Madame Fatale's Cavern of Terror (The Crypt) - A wax museum style haunted house. Utilized various props from Phantom Theater and The Crypt. On-ride photo included at beginning. Madame Fatale's Dead Inn Feast (The Crypt) - A unique dining experience hosted before the start of Haunt and housed in the former antechamber / preshow rooms of The Crypt. Nightmare Alley (Pathway between International Street and Action Zone) - A generic scare zone with an extensive use of eyeballs. Freak Street (Planet Snoopy) - A new name for 2011's Nightmare Alley. Grimm Blvd. (Action Zone) - A steam punk fairy tale style scare zone Death Drums (Action Zone Water Tower) - A unique music show. Returning attractions were Slaughterhouse, Club Blood, Wolf Pack, Cut-Throat Cove, Massacre Manor, Mysteria, Urgent Scare, CornSTALKERS, Tombstone Terror-tory, CarnEVIL, Holiday Horror, Cemetery Drive, and Hot Blooded. Half-Pint Brawlers did not return, enabling Graveyard Shift to be performed during Haunt hours. Cut-Throat Cove was reversed, placing the entrance near Sling Shot and allowing Viking Fury to remain open at night. The queue was reworked for Tombstone Terror-tory so that guests would enter through the White Water Canyon entrance. -------------------------------- So yep. I may get around to editing and expanding this, but that's the basics right there Hope you enjoyed; feel free to leave a question or comment.

2006 Various new shows and scare-zones were added in 2006, but no new mazes or trails. The Worksite (Pathway near Sling Shot, later relocated to pathway between International Street and Coney Mall) - A construction themed scare-zone featuring standard worksite equipment - cones, scaffolding and more. Initially a very small, minor attraction in front of Sling Shot, later heavily expanded and relocated to nearby Italian Job: Stunt Track. Original location of The Worksite Later location of The Worksite Later location of The Worksite Later location of The Worksite Holiday Horror ("Circle" Outside Zephyr) - A Christmas-themed scare-zone with meet-and-greet opportunities and some twisted themeing. Included a drinking/smoking Santa Claus and a collection of demented elves. The scare-zone was decorated with recycled Winterfest props, including snowmen, wreaths and garland. --- Scream Street (Paramount Story) - An attraction added later into the event. Scream Street was a simple foggy area with minimal themeing and chainsaw welding maniacs --- FearFest Hauncert Series (Temporary Stage in Action Zone) - Various local bands performing on every Saturday night (performances by The Truth, Close to Home, Motion Sick and The Machine) --- Heckle & Howl (Near Starbucks) - A comical and offensive show in which a witch or werewolf would mock and insult park guests. Utilized the house from Winterfest's Scrooge's House. Monster Bash (Paramount Theater) - A song and dance show featuring classic monsters and Halloween music The Asylum (Red Barn) - The former Maze of Madness under a new name with a minor rethemeing Cowboy Carnage (Rivertown Mining Company) - The former Massacre Manor under a new name and relocated further into Rivertown. Also underwent a slight rethemeing --- Cowboy Carnage during FearFest set-up Massacre Manor (Rock Shop Building) - The former R.L. Stine Fear Street Nights under a new name and without the affiliation to the horror writer Fear Feast (WINGS Diner) - An all-you-can-eat buffet with a scary theme Midway through 2006's FearFest, when The Worksite was relocated, a new operating policy was instituted for CornSTALKERS and The Worksite. Instead of treating the attractions as scare-zones (where guests were free to walk through without needing to queue), the decision was made to convert them into miniature trails. This meant that both major pathways became one-way walking routes that required waiting in line to experience. Returning attractions were Circus of Horrors 3D, Psycho Path, CornSTALKERS and Elvira's Superstition. The Curse of Sleepy Hollow overlay for Rivertown and Friday the 13th did not return. Circus of Horrors 3D was moved from Festhaus to Enchanted Theater. FearFest 2006 Entrance Display -- Phantom Theater characters, alongside ride vehicles from Phantom Theater and King Cobra, were displayed outside the park's entrance. Tombstones with defunct attractions and their years of operation were scattered around International Street. --- --- --- The park also featured "FearFest Souvenir Trailer" near Zephyr and "Coffin & Monster Photos" in Coney Mall. Additional FearFest 2006 Photos - KIC Additional Monster Bash Photos - KIC Additional FearFest 2006 Photos - KIE