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Photo #4 - Vortex Construction opening in 1987 As I like to say "BEND IT LIKE AN ARROW!"

Sorry for changing the subject seemingly randomly, but I always enjoy the people who complain about prices in the park. First off, with the addition of Hank's Nachos, a skinny non-health conscious person like myself can finally get a reasonably large plate of food in the park for around $5. Because of this, I did not leave KI to eat this past season as I have always done in seasons past. But I guess I get that normal people don't view a plate of nachos as a meal. But with the drink wristbands, the cost of drinks have DEFINITELY gone down for folks like me who like soda (or any other fountain drink available). And second, they should be thankful I'm not running the park. When I play RCT, I charge $35 to get into the park, AND every ride is an upcharge. And my people don't complain. Or rather, they stop once I introduce them to Mr. Lake (:<

That 1974 pic of Coney Mall looks so darn classy. If not for a few recognizable features, it wouldn't even look like the same park we have today. I just wish we could have the early 70's look with the ride collection we have today. Although, having been to Carowinds, I wouldn't mind seeing those Flying Eagles back in their original previous home.

Photo #3 - Outer Limits Flight of Fear Construction 1996

Here are memories that stand out for me regarding SoB: - Being a media ambassador for the announcement, and with the big shaking crate, just built up my anticipation for the ride. - Taking pictures of the area as they were pouring the footings. - Being a media ambassador for the opening of SoB and riding it for the first time during the media event. I loved the drop out of the station, and the first big drop after the lift was unforgettably great. And then came the rose bowl, which was unforgettable in a completely different way. I had never before (or since) experienced such turbulence on a coaster as I did on that section. And then came the wonderful loop... a great experience to have on a woodie. I rode it a few more times that day and ended up sore, with bruises on my thighs. We got to go behind the coaster, and I kick myself to this day for not bringing my camera along to get that famous picture of the Eiffel Tower framed in the loop for myself. - A few years later, during an employee rides night, my friends and I marathoned SoB in the back car, without getting off. We had some great night rides on it that night. - My first ride without the loop and with the new trains, it just seemed odd. They had taken out one of the greatest parts of the ride (which I understand the reasons for) and it just wasn't the same. It went from something that I would possibly ride on each visit to something that I didn't really care if I rode or not. I had good rides on it and I had bad rides on it, but with it's history and final incarnation I'm really indifferent to it being gone. It wasn't my favorite coaster... far from it... but at least it didn't have me saying that I would never ride it again (which, for the record, Mean Streak is the only coaster that I ever said that about). Looking back in my records, out of my 16 visits to the park in 2008, I only rode it once. I then rode it once more, for the final time, in 2009.

^ This thread should cause us all to take more pictures this season, so we have more for the 2013-2014 edition of this game!

Cedar Fair does have the copyright for 'The roller coaster capital of the world!'

Holy cow, I love that picture. I want that as a poster on my wall. That's awesome.

I love the offseason:

My first ride was awesome. In 2004 i took my sister in law on it. She had never done an inversion and i neglected to tell her (on purpose) there were any. As soon as we hit the first inversion I spent the rest of the ride keeping her head from boucing around. She did not pass out but she was so scared she could not hold her head up. In 2012 i took my niece on it. This was her 2nd ride after Woodstock Express. I informed her about the ride and she still wanted to do it. It was a repeat of my experience with my sister in law. Good Times.

I slipped on ice a few days ago, does that count?

So, in effect, you wet yourself?

Someone has a lot of time on their hands.

Because people didn't want to dish out money to drive in a circle...... Well I will say that if the TA land was not part of a future investment into the park, they would have left it to at least gain a few dollars.

Or the Amazement Park.

Mr. Baconador, I think you are looking for "America's Roller Coast."

Huh? The Roller Coaster Capital of the World is Kennywood. And if you mean the park with the most coasters, that's at a park that counts its flags in California. Terp, whose head hurts.

If it were a giga, the ad would be like this... New, for Kings Island... Mammoth! This will be a 309 ft heigh steel giant! Just a foot shorter than the record breaking Millennium Force in Sandusky, Ohio, "The Roller Coaster Captial of the World" at 310ft. It will be 6,594 ft long! Just a foot shorter than the record breaking Millennuim Force in Sandusky, Ohio "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World" at 6,595ft long.

That pic is totally awesome! <3 If you don't mind, TOPGUN1993, maybe I could use it as my profile pic in the future?

If they are going to put a Giga coaster in, I would love to see them put something in like Intimidator 305. However, my vote is still a Gravity Group wooden roller coaster.

Easy - Diamondback waterfall Hard - XBase Sign Expert - International Restaurant dining room (not looking out the windows)

Be careful with that. Oftentimes, all the shortcuts are open. Others, all the queue is in use.

Don tweeted that he'd like an event like Beast Buzz to happen again in 2013, and CoasterBuzz/PointBuzz replied that they'd be interested. Hopefully other coaster clubs would get involved as well, should it go forward. This was discussed awhile back: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?/topic/5872-beast-buzz Speaking of events, we should make sure to have a big event/meet-up for KICentral this year. Those were apparently a lot of fun several years back, and Don told us on Closing Day that we should have more and bigger meet-ups this year.

I have only ever been to one Coastermania, and that was back in 2007. It was a really fun event. I also enjoyed the similar Ride Warriors Weekend at Kings Island back in 2009. I wish Kings Island would do something similar again. It was a great time.

Details were given to ACE and GOCC at their holiday party. Here is thread here on KIC about it. http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?/topic/26838-coastermania-2013/#entry496254

I believe only the date has been released so far, minus the details. If I am not mistake from past practices, the details are usually released in February.

To my knowledge, the stage for the theater is still standing; CarnEvil takes up the space of what was originally the seating area. Now if they got rid of the stage, they'd have a lot more room to expand the footprint of the Haunt attraction. You are correct, the stage is still standing. I'd like to see the entire venue used during the normal season.

I like how you do this, but what exactly does Jurassic Park have to do with Kings Island Central? I feel like I should dub over it and when he says "Jurassic Park" I switch it with "Kings Island Central." Dinosaurs Alive perhaps? I don't know, I like it.

That's a very good thing.

Speaking of the original subject of this thread, demolition began on RiverDowns today, as they started to tear down the first building. And the building that is actually situated closest to Coney (the white Club house building), will not be torn down.

Swan Lake is still there, just reduced to more of a large puddle. Also, a snake slithers through it every 3 minutes or so..

Adventurous Octoberfest, the Viking zone?

Mobility is a plus, but I sought the last several opportunities I've secured. In more than three decades, I have moved only four times, spending more than 80 percent of my career in one place (but in many different positions there).

Does you job make you move a lot or just wanted a new job?

I migrated north for the winter and started yet another career with my longstanding employer. Between locating housing, learning another way of doing business and a whole host of new colleagues, and plotting summer expeditions to amusing places, this is a thrilling winter for me. Terp, who got his very own version of a sort of learner's permit today (always tell the truth, it will amaze your friends and astound your enemies).

I know the new name for this new area! ............. .................. .................. ACTION COUNTY!

As of labor day weekend; nobody. (insert rimshot)

OK, here's an updated list of unanswered challenges. Instead of a huge wall of text this time, I put everything into a Google Drive spreadsheet. The link is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuPkaMcZP5OodC1UNUViVnhBOWY1eU0yXzl5elc5QVE Only I can edit the spreadsheet. The rows are sorted by category first, then by general subject within each category, and then by difficulty. This way you can more easily find a particular challenge, or all of the challenges for a certain subject. I'll update it periodically. Enjoy!

easy: Congo Falls hard: Congo Falls at night expert: Inside RT Larosas

The irony....

Wow...I just took some time and looked through the countdown thread from last year. Amazing! It brought back so many memories seeing those old pictures. I'm really looking forward to this year's countdown pics!

I rode FOF the first year it opened when it had the over-the-shoulder restraints with the padding that was at ear level. My experience in one word: Painful. My ears felt like they had been boxed in. They had signs that recommended anyone wearing earrings should remove them. After that I rarely rode it until I found out during one off season that they had replaced the old restraints with the lap restraints they now have. Now it doesn't seem as bad although one ride per visit is usually enough for me.

Looking forward to this thread progressing. Thanks Paul for bringing this back!

I always really enjoy these threads. Thanks so much for all that you are about to share here!

I'm loving the pic that's already been posted. Fascinating!

Glad you are doing this again! Can't wait to see this year's batch of photos!

Yay! Look forward to seeing what you come up with this time! Also, this will be the first edition of this thread with unlimited likes, so be prepared for a flood of likes!

I am so very sorry. So much in life happens that we cannot understand. My heart goes out to her family, friends and her Kings Island family. Terp, with tears ih his eyes as he types.

I felt like I should post the story. It was mid-season 2007. My family had just gotten off of Delirium, and my dad wanted to ride Sonny. When no one in my family said they wanted to go with him, I manned up and volunteered to go. I was hyping up the ride to my dad and telling him how great it was going to be. After about a half-hour wait, we finally got on one of the back seats. We went down the first tiny hill and went around the turn to the lift hill. I was crying (hey, I was only 11!) and told my dad that I hated him and to get me off of the ride. When we crested and made the turn around, I was just in awe of the massive structure of SoB. We went down the first hill and I was neither happy or sad. As the ride progressed, I started to enjoy it and I put my hands up at about the point where the loop used to be. I absolutely loved it, and I wanted to go again with my dad someday in the future. If it were still open during the 2012 season, though, I believe that I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much, being that I am 6'4" tall, 210 pounds. That memory is still the best memory I have ever had at Kings Island.

*It's only a joke.