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I'd like to go back to the day and what the conversation was like that we decided to go there. I remember it being jam packed from floor to ceiling with Christmas stuff, than you would enter a whole new room of more Christmas stuff, than another room. I think the joke we made is it was just like grandmas house if grandma was a very organised hoarder who liked to display her stuff.

Mosley Erecting Company on Facebook: "Going up??" Photo : Mosley Erecting Company via Facebook

One thing I'd like to comment on: walking into Carowinds when Fury 325 is complete and open is going to be epic and in-your-face, as you're going to be walking straight between a massive B&M Hyper and Giga located smack dab in the front of the park...meanwhile in the back of the park everything besides their observation tower and WindSeeker will look wimpy in comparison. Just imagine this picture (found via Google search) after Fury 325 is completed, for example, and you are in the parking lot...

Especially here. Images of ice skating and hot cocoa and fire pits are cute, but imagine the realities of a park having to keep up with snow fall and truly frigid, icy, dry wind. It's an admirable notion, but Ohio winters can be incredibly unforgiving. And that's no fun.

What, do you play for the Marlins?

We could all buy out a whole block and have a KIC neighborhood in WDW!

Wow, only $1.8 million? Well then, let me just cash the pay check I just got today and head on down there and purchase one.

If my wife knew about this place, I could promise I'd be making a 5 hour round trip.........She's like the organized hoarder grandma, who's sometimes unorganized. But, maybe if I did take her up there, It'd be some major brownie points my way.

I must just be easily amused. I may not love certain cities but I can almost always find something redeeming about it. I think that traveling as much as I have to areas that most people have no reason to visit may play a big part in my perspective. Ohio is home to numerous museums - science, art, history, aviation, space, strange local museums. We have strong state and metro park systems. There are six zoos. It seems as though there is fair or festival for almost everything from April through December. Did you know there is a Duct Tape Festival?! And if you give me a city, I can normally give you something quirky to check out within an hour of it. But again, I'm easily amused so it doesn't take too much to entertain me. 24 reasons you should stop underestimating Ohio: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/04/visit-ohio_n_4866946.html Virtual Tourist has "Off the Beaten Path" tips about many cities. Even though it hasn't updated in a few years, it may still be a good resource. Cincinnati: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Ohio/Cincinnati-844987/Off_the_Beaten_Path-Cincinnati-TG-C-1.html For the last few years, I've tried to do things that force me to leave work at a reasonable time and to leave the house on the weekend. I've resorted to taking different classes such as cake decorating, sewing, painting, ice skating, and even a day long survival class. While may not be an expert or even excel in the classes, it forces me out of my comfort zone and I get to try new things. And of course, there are lots of visits to different museums and the Columbus Zoo. Edited to add...check out your local metro parks. The Columbus Metro Parks have a nice selection of programs that are free. I've been to several and they were fun.

Scioto County? Shawnee State Park, Jim Dandy, all the Portsmouth excitements, and, back in the day, El Sombrero. How I did love that place. Yeah, I've been there. I've even slept in a tent under the N&W Railroad bridge that crosses into Kentucky (near the pipeline bridge) and swam across the Ohio River there. Of course, I was much younger then.

Can't argue with you there. I've been on two. Face/Off (Invertigo?) and Head Spin (Geauga Lake) (Carolina Cobra?). Head Spin was ok for the wait because at GL under CF, there was no wait. F/O was too long except for the one time where my brother and I got a pass to cut the line because we got stuck on the lift hill of Top Gun. We were evacuated and given a pass each to cut the line on any major coaster. All we had to do was go up the exit ramp. Wow, I had forgotten that even happened until now. It was such a non-event, unlike how it's sensationalized in the media.

Not sure my opinion on the above debate, as it sounds like both could be plausible, so I will leave that in ya'll's hands.... Here is my opinion on Winterfest. What could KI possibly offer than would make it interesting/worth it for families to come to it? When you look at the Zoo stuff, the zoo exhibits are still sort of open. You may not see some/most of the animals, but you can go into the cat house, see the bears, etc + see the lights and experience everything. When you go to KI, would it be just the lights? For me and my family to attend, there has to be something more than just the lights. Ice Skating would be a nice start. Include people walking around with Christmas carolers, a meet and greet (w/ Photo option) with Santa. See some Reindeer and maybe 1 or 2 shows would be great. If its not all of the above (at least) then I feel that no matter the price its almost not worth it to me as my Zoo pass works for the lights there....

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one- that's OK though, I enjoy a good debate. I can't speak to the Carowinds event, but as an attender of the 2005 KI event, it didn't seem hastily put together. It actually, I thought, was done well; shows were good, light show(s) done well... it only seemed pricing was off. I know that they had planned to do the event well early in 2005- I participated in the former Paramount Volunteer program, which was one of the best deals going. We received tickets in January (2005) from a day we worked in October 2004; in the fine print on the back it said that the ticket was not valid on park sell-out days, corporate rental dates, or Winterfest. This was January 2005, seven months before it was announced. In Summer 2004 they tested power outlets in Nick U for electrical loads the summer before which almost caused a tree to burn down (a relative was working there the night it happened). I could be wrong, but I don't buy that they were soley marketing the parks with Winterfest. You want to sell me your $1.2 Billion park chain?, show me Cash Flow / P&L statements with a lot of black ink on them. Don't pepper it with a red-ink experiment; and if it bombs- for the love of all things holy, don't do it in again 2006. I don't know Jeff Siebert at all- I met him a few times for the programs our group was involved with but never had a meaningful conversation with him. My guess is that he left because Schlitterbahn was offering him a corporate marketing Director position; and now he resides at Six Flags Corp in Texas. If you read writing on the wall you don't plot an exit 5 states away; I've noticed working a bit in this industry- these professionals/executives do that. Jeff's boss at Six Flags Corp. started at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, took a promotion to BG in Tampa, bounced back up to Sesame Place- went on to work as the SVP Marketing for Paramount Parks until they closed, then vaulted out to CA to work with Palace Entertainment, then down to TX to work as an SVP, Marketing at Six Flags. Its a common tale of most park chain executives working their way up a ladder. Jeff was at KI for 6 years... that's a pretty long time. (edited a few words for better clarity of thought)

The back row has intense airtime. The back row seat and lapbar were removed years ago, supposedly at the request of the insurance company. Think Tornado at Stricker's Grove in the back. Compare to any other row...

According to its page on the KI website, it is officially located on International Street.

I was invited to Beach Mountain today for a brief preview a few days before they open to the public. Their grand opening is this Friday, November 21st. Not every attraction was open, but I think the point of the day was to test the operations of Beach Mountain. The Magic Carpet that takes you to the top of the hill isn't installed yet. It is expected to be installed around the first week of December. For now, you need to walk to the top of the hill, which isn't nearly as bad as it sounds. The view at the top is pretty neat. It's a long way down and certainly the heavier you are, the faster you go. I'm not sure how they'll operate once they're open, but they were sending all of the tubes down at once. It almost turned into a competition of who could win the "race" and who could go the furthest. All of the accounts I've heard of people who got to test ride said that it was "faster than you think." I agree with this. Eventually you pick up enough speed to which every little bump feels like it's going to launch you into the air. This is, of course, all mental, but it definitely adds to the thrill factor. [sorry for the darkness, it was getting late] Another attraction they offer is targets for snowballs. Obviously, they're supposed to be gingerbread houses, but the targets are the windows. After watching only a handful of kids play in the area for just a few minutes it erupted into a full-fledged snowball fight. I imagine that will be a fact of life in this area. Here's a photo of their spokesperson filming a commercial. This should be... interesting when it comes out. In addition to the activities I mentioned, they will have things such as open fires, cookie decorating, and more. Did I enjoy it? Most certainly. Make sure you dress for the weather. It was a cold one today, and the next several months won't be much better. I think the event is a little pricey. It's about $24 for two hours on weekends. Keep an eye out for Groupons and other discounts. They may be able to make it more reasonable. I also thought that the event was kind of missing something. It's like the snow tubing is the star and anything else is irrelevant. I really think that if they added ice skating it would be a much better 1-2 punch. They still own the equipment for it, so you might as well take the risk. Over all, I think that if this product is marketed correctly it can be a success. It is a fantastic opportunity for a company's holiday outing and has a wonder juxtaposition of fun for kids and adults alike. http://www.thebeachmountain.com

No offense Skyrider but you are making some very broad and obvious points. Of course if it's priced right with things people want then people will come. Not to mention that the likely hood of cold and miserable day/nights would be higher in November/December than in September/October.

Shawnee State Park is great. My only visit was at springtime for a conference and it was lovely. We went on a flower walk with a quite passionate naturalist that had us walking up and down the side of trails to see rare flowers. The Floodwall Mural is worth a stop. I wish I had spent more time looking at all the details. My coworkers enjoyed the Portsmouth Brewing Company.

The key to having a successful winter event in Ohio and most every other place in the country that can get cold is a good mix of both indoor(for those that want to get out of the cold) and outdoor activities where people are willing to spend money if the event and its activities are priced right and pose a value to them personally. If you don't believe in the product and its not worth it to you than you won't go. The last time Winterfest came back it wasn't priced right and too much of the park was open making it a recipe for disaster to make a profit in my opinion. Those are the two biggest mistakes that I saw in it not making a profit the last go around. My original post was to offer ideas and suggestions on how it could be a success--believe it or not there are many successful winter events in Ohio--but if you need to research it go ahead. It is obvious that there are strong opinions on this topic and it will be interesting to see whether or not in the end Kings Island will give the green light on a Winterfest type event again. I know that there are many that would support it if the conditions were right (not talking weather) but price of admission and whether there is a good mix of activities both indoor and outdoor. I think weather comes into play but not as much of a factor unless there is extreme cold temps. and snow and ice EVERY WEEKEND of the event. Much like if The Haunt had cold rainy weather the entire run of The Haunt I bet profits would be down too. Attendance was noticeably down at The Haunt when it was rainy and cold but because it offered things indoor too that offered a value to your entertainment dollar people still came. Kings Island adjusted on those nights with staffing and other nights that were warm really made up for the cold rainy nights. I also am venturing that some of you that keep saying the reasons Winterfest cannot happen again would still come to a rebooted Winterfest event if it was priced right and you felt the event offered activities that offered value to you.

@KingsIslandPR on Twitter: "On this day two years ago (Nov. 20, 2012) demolition of Son of Beast neared completion when the lift hill came down." Photo : Don Helbig / Kings Island via Twitter

Both of those rides can operate only one train, so riders stand in the station and wait while the train is in the course. With this, a train can be loading while the other is in the course... really not a whole lot different than most full-circle coasters. See Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast.

These were announced when I was working there in 2011.

Winterfest had all of the things you mentioned, plus excellent shows- and the occasional frostbite... I would call it a debate loosely. Imagine the "debate" happening over beer and wings- its a debate I could lose interest in quickly. I have opinions, but not ones I'd be willing to dig my heels into. Terp probably feels the same; he's had a pulse on much of this longer than I, so the truth of events past might lean to his end. I disagree; but just because I disagree doesn't make it any less true or false. From where I sit, I think KI has an opportunity to "increase"- do I think it will happen?; likely not.

2 train operation, I would think. One on the lift, one on the switch track. No worse than any other shuttle coaster. Thanks for the assist, GYK,

I posted the news article to my niece that is a nanny. She liked the idea, it would be much better for her charges tha Perfect North, as it is less expensive and closer. One of the boys is skittish about new things, so having a fimiliar area, where you can see KI from where they are, and a closer, more diverse area for tem to play in, would help.

PETA's protest this year about the Macy's float involves getting naked, painting themselves black and white, and piling into a bathtub in front of Macy's. Is taking off their clothes all these people know to do? How are they going to keep warm until they get to Macy's, wear the furs of all the shelter animals they've killed with their "no kill shale tear policy? They brain is divided in two for a reason, so we can have both empathy AND reason. These PETA persons rely solely on their emotional outrage.

Too bad the video doesn't exist

Since you state that lots and lots has already been said about Winterfest then the topic must be relevant enough to let people comment on each year since it is the season for winter events. Isn't that the point of KICentral? So people never comment about things discussed before? Isn't this the reason for this site for people to comment on topics related to Kings Island but at the same time be open and coridial to people that might not share your same opinion? Not once did I say that we should never discuss it again. Neither did I state what my opinion is. If I was not cordial, I apologize (but I think I was). You're looking for interest research, and the site is filled with it. Rather than beginning yet another new topic, I always recommend using the site's search feature (especially to a relatively new poster who may not understand how it works). There, you can review what's already been said and use the threads already in service to discuss the topic. For example, you could post in the (aptly named) "Would YOU Attend A Winterfest Event" thread (there's your market research!), the "Winterfest Returning Soon?" thread, or your OWN very active "Winterfest Wishes and Ideas - A Way To Bring It Back," which have all been active this fall. I'm sure that that already-active thread would be a fantastic place to ask, "Do you think Kings Island's Marketing Department should conduct an interest research poll?" It also would be a great place to read why interest isn't necessarily the only or even main reason why Winterfest isn't around today. My suggestion was that those threads are a great, natural place to start and might actually answer your interest question! It's a good thing! There's also "What If? Winterfest 2013," "Kings Island Brings Back Winterfest (Teaser)" and "When Kings Island First Had Winterfest..." Plenty of places to do research.

I think if you want it so bad you would go to a park that has something like Winterfest. I remember a KIC day where a large group of KIC members walked in the cold through snow from the Great Wolf lodge to KI. That was enough winter at KI to last me a lifetime.

Are the El Locos smooth? If this thing can avoid the headbanging then I think it will be great.

Interestingly, the "southwest leg" is in the south west area of the actual ufo and flashing lights occurred there when Mr Christopher was being electrocuted on the fiber optics connector just before the lights went out and KDs version is layed out in the same manner.

Kings Island needs to be a little more like Knotts (A Knotts for the east), a nice dark ride in addition not a take away of Boo Blasters would be great.

They are currently putting in a support beam. (The one that is the same color as the track.) They just put it in and I am watching the live cam at https://www.carowinds.com/online-fun/webcams under live stream. (Same place I got this photo)

Imagine if Phantom Theater had those type animatronics when it was around. Now that would be cool to see.

One of the smartest, nicest, pace setting people in the industry. She was nothing short of a genius. She will be missed.

Houses start at the low, low price of $1.8 million: http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/photos/inside-walt-disney-world-resorts-homes-sale-26969450/image-26969852

Since you state that lots and lots has already been said about Winterfest then the topic must be relevant enough to let people comment on each year since it is the season for winter events. Isn't that the point of KICentral? So people never comment about things discussed before? Isn't this the reason for this site for people to comment on topics related to Kings Island but at the same time be open and coridial to people that might not share your same opinion?

EDIT: Noooow I get it....Okay, just realized that It's also in the renderings...

It ran for about two weeks in 2003 (maybe) and was in the Showplace. I remember it being a little nonsensical, but interesting to say the least. Do any of you have any recollections of this? Maybe photos or video? I'm just curious.

I like interactive rides I seem to like the Buzz Lightyear Star Command Ride at DisneyWorld. But a normal non-interactive dark ride would be alright too.

Yea, i got to enjoy the sewage plant one very hot, muggy August day this past summer. It was the first time I had been down there in five years or so, and was kinda sad to see how much more it had went downhill. We went on a Sunday and there were, maybe, 200 people in the park. When I was younger I can remember that place being just packed to where to where you was in line a while to get on any of the rides..........I understand that Camden doesn't have money like alot of the bigger parks and chains, but, sometimes a mop, a good cleaner, and elbow grease go along way.

And their pay toilets date back to the nickel days. If they'd fix them and use the collected money to keep the toilets clean, it'd be an improvement. Then again, the urinals, which used to be the long, open trough type with continually running fresh treated city drinking water, were always free, so I could see a discrimination suit coming. Fun (?) fact: A few years back, Camden Park suddenly got hit unexpectedly with a huge water bill. One it could ill afford. Those open trough urinals were quickly replaced with waterless urinals. The bill, instead of going down, increased more. Further investigations followed. A large, underground water leak was discovered. And that's how a park like Camden got waterless urinals. At the same time, some fool thought it was a great idea to put a drinking fountain in the back of the men's restroom. YUCK. The following year, the women complained. I guess husbands told their wives about the fountain. And, for that one season, the ONLY water fountain in the park, which does not give out free water, was in the back of the men's room. So, the women got one, too, the next season. And the woman's restroom exterior got painted. A hot pink. Really? Fun (?) fact #2 (so to speak). Smell sewage at Camden? It may NOT be coming from their typically disgusting, nasty bathrooms. Ride the Skyliner. Look to your far left, over by the Ohio River. City sewage plant. And on hot days, it gets mighty ripe. Then again, for years there have been several areas at Kings Island that smell exactly like that on hot days. Terp. Enjoy your breakfast!

This looks so cool! I wish Kings Island would get stuff like this!

Jokers voice is perfect

Check out the Live Fury325 construction cam if you have time, because it looks as if track is now being transported to the lift hill site for erection, and I'd guess, by the pattern of what they've been doing today, we might see that track erection happen soon!....Though maybe we wont see anything, my best guess is that more track is about to be installed. ...Not that you have anything better to do than possibly watch Fury325 track lifted into place.....

To anyone curious, Joker and Cyborg (seen on the right side of the video) are the only animatronics in the attraction. Everything else will be screen-based. Here's some information, pulled from my (shamless plug) "Rides and Slides" thread.

Hey. Found this tidbit that gives the initial Uhura speech and you can hear some of the alien speech.

I remember the Start Trekish Lieutenant Uhura voice announcement : "Please secure loose articles. Loose articles are not permitted. You may hand articles to an attendant but we are not responsible for them. Keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times and remain seated with your head against the headrest, facing forwards throughout your journey. Thank you." edit: there were other announcements from an alien something like: (if anyone knows the correct statement...please correct...) "you offered to travel to the distant realm to experience freedom so kindly remind us why you are the ones locked in your seats?" plus others in rotation

I have heard Diamondback has received Seat Belts for this season. Do not know if this is true, but if it is I don't see a reason why it would need a seat belt.