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Just to keep some laughs going here.

I've heard a rumor that they are adding a passenger elevator to the IR as early as this coming season.

Or it could be not a full fledged elevator but a wheelchair lift (similar to what they installed on Banshee`s station. Those are cheaper than traditional elevators, because as you said, there is no shaft to construct. And when adding an elevator to an existing building, you have to be concerned with the shaft rating and fire separation requirements. I do not believe that the Intertional Restaurant/front gate building is sprinklered, which means the fire rating requirements of the shaft would be much more stringent. Not to mention, there likely would have to be an area of refuge provided on the second floor in the event there is a fire, for those that are in wheelchairs and cannot use the stairs in the emergency. Too much information? I am just glad that I took my final Architect Registration Exam this past week, and hopefully passed it!

If that rumor is true, you can probably forget about any major front gate renovation that would include demolishing that building. New commercial elevators in buildings without an existing shaft can cost a million dollars or more. Unless that elevator comes installed in a new edifice.

Thanks for taking the time to check it out. From talking to people at the site, the biggest problem with the hotel's viability seemed to be mold in the building's closest to the highway. They were built much differently (and probably far cheaper) than the initial two resort blocks in order to meet an increasing demand in an era where hotels weren't too common on that exit/in the nearby area, not to mention in a time when finding a hotel meant lots of research and no internet to sort our best prices and deals. In all reality, I'm sure the problems could've been fixed and someone could've kept it running, but at what cost? The facility is huge and only used the majority of its rooms during a single peak season. It's convention and reception halls are not unique and rivaled even by nearby options at regular chains such as Holiday Inn and Marriott not to mention the convention areas of the Great Wolf Lodge. On top of all that you're trying to maintain two full service restaurant and an indoor pool. The Kings Island that facility was built to serve in 1972 was vastly different - truly a full, resort and entertainment destination (one that was intended to be year round). Now, while Kings Island is still great, it's simply a regional theme park. I always wondered about "Coasters," the bar at the hotel. It seems these days that hotels have drifted away from offering their own restaurants and bars. Even so, having those kinds of facilities within a lodging establishment raises the question: "Are these for guests or outside visitors too?" As someone who enjoyed sharing drinks with coworkers after a shift - "Coasters" was never on our radar when it came to area bars. In the times I've been photographing abandoned places it's always interesting to see the emotional reaction people have to the photographs. At times I share the disappointment in seeing a place close, especially if it's place I had the chance to visit when it was open. Other times, If I've never been to that location, it's more of an objective thing. With KIR&CC, I had never been when it was open, but it was still tough to see it go when you take into account the history it shares with the park next door. It's truly something of a bygone era, where regional parks of the 70's were thought to be Disney class rivals with bold ambitions and dreams. Thank you for the kind words and taking the time to check it out! It certainly ended up being a far cry from what it was in the 70's, but in the end it seemed like a reasonable and halfway decent hotel (then again, I'm someone who's perfectly fine with Motel6 or sleeping in my car if need be). Did you ever play the Call of Duty that takes place in Chernobyl? It's great. Best game of that series. Reviews seemed to be mixed. Did you ever stay there?

Eiffel Tower is always capitalized here as it is the name of a Kings Island attraction. Ironically, a restaurant at the 50 foot level poses many of the same problems that the International Restaurant has/had. Lack of ADA access being a major one. Add impracticable. Not enough space, a logistical nightmare and where do you put the kitchen? And there were enough problems with people tossing things over the side in the relatively more genteel Seventies. I can just see cheeseburgers, and worse, landing on unsuspecting patrons.

Did closing Geauga Lake increase Kings Island and Cedar Point attendance?

Itinerary posted on KI's site. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/things-to-do/events-and-promotions/Coasting-for-Kids-4-4-12-39

Yes, I did, and I really hoped it wouldn't be as bad as the reviews said, but sadly, it was. The amenities and lobby were ok, but the rooms were horrifying! The bathroom had mold and cracks on the ceiling, and the carpet looked like it was original. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree Pandora was mesmerizing. The story is oretty much copied and Pasted from Pochahantas (sp?) but the environment made it great.

And you think a wheelchair lift is a reasonable accommodation in the context of ADA and the situation? Say there are nine disabled diners and a fast raging fire? An area of refuge? Really? Terp, who likes to ask questions

That Rivertown one is fantastic. I wish we had more pics period of the park from the early years.

Hello, one and all! If you're sick and tired of thinking about what color that stupid dress is, here's a good thing to think about... We are now in the 40's!! 49 days until Opening Day at Kings Island!! Another edit I made.

Crossing the state lines back into Ohio always find me sighing with a smile that I'm home. I love exploring but I'm happy to call Ohio my home for the foreseeable future. Number 22 is the one that gets me anytime I travel. I've had a number of people, that once they discovered I'm from Ohio or went to OU, say "Go Buckeyes!" or "O-H!". Telling them that I'm a Bobcat, not a Buckeye, makes them a bit confused. I don't get the Cincinnati Chili love. Give me some heat and they can keep the cinnamon and chocolate somewhere far away from my chili.

aka Familiarity breeds contempt. Sometimes one has to leave what one has to totally appreciate it.

Everyone has helped. I really wish I could hit all four in one trip but alas I need to plan something I can do in one weekend. While doing BGW and Great Adventure would be awesome I don't want to spend that much time driving.

I last stayed at the "resort" in 2013. I also stayed there in 2011, 2009, 2008 (and 1992). I don't think anyone that walked in up through 2013 (can't speak to 2014, but can't imagine it was much different) would even remotely call it "run down". The entry area/foyer was really nice. In 2013, I thought the room I stayed in could stand updating. I noticed things like trim around the doors, etc. were a bit worn, but that's it. Can't speak for every room and every hallway, though. Having said that, it's footprint was massive. Once I got to be a little bit older, I began to wonder how they supported it, especially given the amount of competition. If you never, or just not recently, visited the Kings Island Resort, it wasn't something that was decaying away...it just had gotten a bit dated. As much as I hate to see it go, it is completely understandable why it did.

Also, thanks to Boddah1994 for letting me use his scanner that's currently sitting on our kitchen table. I hate printers and haven't owned one for two years, if it wasn't for him I probably wouldn't have bothered to scan that brochure.

I can't handle this kind of pressure. I will say I'm leaning more towards the BGW and KD now after reading all of the things that seem to be happening with BGW. I want to go before it is completely destroyed. Those ticket prices are horrible though.

And it is very much a freight elevator. I was very grateful for that elevator a few years ago. Using stairs with what we were loading for an event was not an option.

#30... If you leave a b out, you don't have "about".

And that's not supposed to be a passenger elevator, but rather a freight elevator.

^I think of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2.

I'm not sure if I'm making something from nothing or not but I stumbled across an article about Deep Blue - a company that installs wide spread WiFi networks. The article mentions that Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. was recently picked up as a client. http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2015/02/05/why-deep-blue-communications-continues-to-see.html What are your thoughts?

I still remember, not sure of the year, when I realized the IR was just closed. This was long before finding out information on the Internet. After seeing it closed a few times, it dawned on me it must be closed for good. I don't think it was announced or anything, they just kind of quit opening it, if I remember correctly. It was a real bummer because it was close to the time when I was finally able to visit the park on a regular basis, after just hearing about it for decades. Glad I got to eat there once, though.

The same lines, yes. But I think TTA runs on Electromagnetic propulsion as opposed to the Monorail which gets its power through the electric lines that run under the track.

Other than Cedar Point and sometimes KI, I really don't even think about Ohio anymore. I don't miss it at all.

Especially now that a certain intern won't be returning.

I did that with Kings Island for a bit as well. For a wide variety of reasons, between 2007 and 2009, I didn't go much. I think I went once for P&G Dividend Day each of those years. Started getting season passes annually in 2010 and it almost felt like rediscovering the park again since, even in those few years, a ton of things changed, especially getting used to Cedar Fair after being more familiar with how Paramount ran the park.

Just a note: I spent my entire young life wanting to get the heck out of Ohio. Coming from a boring hometown probably had something to do with it (although even my hometown has greatly improved since my childhood). While there were things I liked about Southern California, I'm really happy we moved back here, and I've been much happier upon my return than I was before I left or when I lived out there.

Back in 2012, I went on 3 straight trips with the UC men's basketball team to their various tournament sites (NYC, Memphis and Boston). I only had a few days between trips, if that. By the time the Boston trip came, I was actually getting a little homesick. Part of me thinks about where I want to live, and those series of trips cemented my thinking that I want to stay in Cincinnati. Heck, the first thing I did after the plane touched down coming back from Boston was going immediately to the Skyline I live closest to. Also, methinks this list was done by someone who went to OSU in college. Just a hunch.

I voted BGW/KD because those are the first two (of three) stops on my Edge of the Millennium Tour this year. Also, although I hear that NJFTP is awesome (and looks cool on Roller Coaster Tycoon 2), the biggest pulls for me to go there would really only be Nitro (since it's a retro B&M hyper) and Batman (because the one at SFGAM was awesome). Also, Hershey has Lightning Racers and Storm Runner, so those would really be my pulls for me to go there. The choice is ultimately up to you, and whatever you choose, you have to be happy with your decision. Hope this helps.

If I left Ohio, I'd miss being near my hometown of Blue Ash, Kings Island, and Maverick! Oh, and #13 FTW (for the win); from Maverick to Banshee to Millennium Force to The Beast, we've got some of the best!

Much of what is listed is equally true, with some slight changes, of much of the Midwest, and not necessarily Ohio specific. I missed much of that list in Atlanta. In DC, not so much.

After growing up and going to college in Ohio, I lived in California for seven years before moving back, and I didn't notice most of those. Probably in part because I don't follow the sports or like many of the "Ohio" foods/drinks (except peanut butter/chocolate buckeyes). What's weird about the Ohio State Buckeyes is that before I left, I didn't notice a lot of support for them outside of the students and alumni. Seemingly while I was away was when they became a really big deal, and I definitely noticed when I returned ten years ago. Must have been when they started some serious winning streak or something. As for seasons, I really missed them when living in Southern California. Although it is pleasant most of the year, it's a bit of a perpetual Spring (with all the beautiful flowering trees, but zero thunderstorms), with no Autumn to speak of, two weeks of straight rain to mark "Winter", and a new season called "fire" thrown in to mark "Summer".

Alas for you or alas for the fishies? Terp...running for the cabana.

I often hear from people that once you stay in Cincinnati and establish your job here, it's hard to leave. I don't know why they said that, but I've heard it more than once during my summer job..

Bada buh-buh-bah! (Sorry but I had to)

There IS an elevator to the second story. But it is only accessible in a back of house area on the lower level and opens into a back of house area on the upper floor.

Not to mention, it's one of very few rides I can think of where you need to preface it by explaining it to first-timers. And good luck if they haven't seen Transformers, as some of my family members hadn't. "There are robots that turn into cars. The good ones are colorful and the bad ones are just metal. They're fighting over a piece of glass we're going to see in the queue that we inexplicably get ahold of. But basically it's just going to look like tons of explosions happening in front of you." Most rides effectively narrate themselves. Not Transformers. And it could just be the source material, but still.

When you're walking in, all the way to your left is a display window usually set up with an advertisement for merchandise or Haunt. Around the other side of the window inside the park is a glass door with stairs up to the restaurant. From Google Maps: By the way, I think reason it isn't used often is because it's not ADA accessible... no elevator. Something to consider when designing a new entrance for it... EDIT: Beaten

It's the stairs behind a glass door to the right just before you leave or get your hand stamped, and to the left of the shop that is often closed. This past year, there was a big sign and TV advertising Cirque Imagine blocking most of the view of the stairs. That whole glass enclosure on the right between the open gates area and the little shop was the original entrance. It also opened to the outside of the gates at one time. It's the opposite wall of the wide open gates area from where guest services are. So, the left as you come in, right as you go out. Being only accessible by stairs may be the reason they closed off general access to the restaurant and reserve it for private events. I guess they didn't want to add an elevator to bring it up to current disability codes.

I can't believe anyone would believe in or listen to anything PETA supports.

Well as a CC Member i'd go for the tours and other stuff since I don't really ride anymore but alas I'll be in Las Vegas at poolside with some dolphins.

Already have our room reserved at Breakers.Will arrive Thursday afternoon sometime, if all goes as planned. GOCC Edit: Just as a bonus, CoasterMania is on my birthday this year!!

I will be there without a doubt, repping ACE.

Planning on being there as time off is approved. Taking a half day Thursday and will be up there on Friday. Unsure on when we are leaving. Lets hope Top Thrill Dragster is open and there are no unforeseen water main breaks in the parking lot come Saturday morning...

We sing of diversi... Oh...never mind. (Hi, Tony!)

The GP have spoken. <a href="http://s362.photobucket.com/user/x241/media/image.jpg1_1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo63/x241/image.jpg1_1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo image.jpg1_1.jpg"/></a> Photo taken with potato

I shot a few machine guns, and it was well themed. Took me a few years to get through the attraction, it started in Ft. Sill OK., and ended at Ft. Ord CA. ;-)