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They have cut it into sections, and have removed the section after the first drop.

Saw this on reddit today.

Copperhead Strike, the all new MACK Multi-Launch coaster that opened at Carowinds last year, surprisingly this was my first time shooting a sunset pic and the result left me amazed.

Please God let them sell pieces, I need one!!!

I would pay $$$ right now for a piece of Vortex, anyone at all with a source please PM me.

I've seen what the cup bits look like (have seen bits from someone who has access to the site though i wont name names since i don't know if they should or not) and that's real. They just cleanly trimmed up the ends from one of the cut parts (you would just need some good cutting tools and like you said taking some time)

Chain is already installed, cranes are gone.

Oh how I wish I could get a piece like that.

They tore down the station a couple weeks ago

Wow, I am having SO many flashbacks to my life on here and KIExtreme from 2008-2011. It's also really entertaining to me that Defunctland's video about Tomb Raider: The Ride is being shared around here and quoted. Many of his videos are inspired by and based on the Theme Park Tourist articles written by @bkroz (with permission.) He, TombraiderTy, myself, and many others used to speculate quite a bit about The Crypt's future and how it could have been rethemed back in those days. It's just really interesting seeing all that stuff come full circle, in a way, ten-ish years later. I'm old. So, if I could remember where I saw this, I'd link to it, but its location has been lost to the sands of time. I'm fairly certain it was here, but I haven't been able to find it via the search engine. It's been years, so this may not be accurate to what the original person said, if they were correct at all. Someone who worked for the park (in maintenance, I want to say?) once said that Tomb Raider's effects were designed in such a way that made them very difficult to repair without hiring the theming manufacturer(s) to repair them. I believe that person suggested that it was to help sell warranties, but the park/Paramount Parks didn't go for it. I want to say that the same thing was mentioned about Italian Job: Stunt Track? Even though Paramount by far wasn't doing a great job with theming upkeep, how nonfunctional TRTR's theming became in its later days would suggest that something was up. I DO definitively remember someone (@Shaggy? @The Interpreter? someone else?) saying that TRTR was possibly intended to be the start of a huge transformation of the park, if it had been successful. Given the Universal-like budget and nature of the ride, I love to daydream about what could have been. I can't imagine Paramount would have stuck to the original themed areas forever. I think Cedar Fair eventually got the hint that theming is what made TRTR what it was. In its last season (2011), the queue and ride cycle featured pieces of the Inception score. It wasn't the TRTR score or experience by any means, but I honestly think I appreciated that ride in 2011 more than any other year it operated as The Crypt. Lame as the ride cycle was, the Inception bwaah bwaaaaahs made it more of its own experience instead of it simply being "that ride that used to be Tomb Raider." It still was that, of course, but less so. I don't remember the exact track they originally played, but up till 2011, I know they played the Adventure Express "blowing wind" effect from before its second tunnel while The Crypt was loading/unloading riders. The Inception score just added more mystique to the whole thing. The Crypt ride cycle switch was so jarring, too. If they weren't using Kings Dominion's Crypt's exact cycle from 2008 to mid-2009, they were using one very similar to it. It was forceful as heck. You'd go into repeated spins, and it'd about plaster you into the seats. And then it went to a ferris wheel that did flips. Like, it wasn't shocking that the ride was tearing itself apart. Even in the ferris wheel cycle, there was such a powerful CLUNK when the gondola would lock during the cycle to flip you upside down. I'm speculating, but it just felt like the ride system wasn't capable of doing much more than what it did as Tomb Raider. It just didn't feel built for intensity. Tomb Raider: The Ride was such an anomaly. I truly don't think we'll ever see a seasonal park try something on that scale again. It was sincerely the sort of thing you'd find at a Disney or Universal park. I thought it was incredible: it's what got me interested in the industry. I also accuse it of giving me a preference for jungle adventure-y themes and rides and experiences, because visiting Ta Prohm in Cambodia is on my bucket list, and Volcano at KD, Crypt at KD, and Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland were/are some of my favorite rides, too. It's very odd and sad for me to see some of them go. But, that's the amusement industry and life.

I would say look for it to be expanded upon in future years. This year, I am sure, will be a bit of a transition year. Also, part of the park is currently under water, as the Ohio River is expected to be above flood stage this weekend. Currently, Kellogg Avenue is closed between Sutton (Gate 2 of the park), and Belterra Park to the east, right by where Sunlite Pool is located.

I think it only shows the participant collective donations on the firstgiving site. Sponsors may not be displayed?

Sorry to double post... This is from the blog:

Where does the $90,000 figure come from? This is a screen grab from today.

Whatever is added needs to have loops/corkscrews/inversions. Because now the only rides that go upside-down is Invertigo, Banshee, and FoF.

I would guess taking the trains off for winter maintenance since they were still running 45 days ago where the other coasters were not.

Maybe putting the trains back on the track?

I wonder if they got the chain for the lift in...

For Mystic Timbers....... Read up lol Id say mid to late March.

Nothing new on The Vortex front. Its still in same shape as yesterday.

Anything new with Vortex demolition today?

Cedar Point and Kings Island pull from very different markets. Market overlay is very minimal. In other words, what exists at one park has almost zero to do with what is available at the other.

I'll never forget the first time that guests got to experience the 2009 version. It's important to note that even before Cedar Fair emerged on the scene: Tomb Raider was a shell of its former self. The ride, like many highly themed Paramount attractions, did not have its theme maintained. Not sure if this was due to a lack of resources or poor design (there was lots of blame going around), but the "totally themed, highly immersive, thrilling dark ride attraction" it was in 2002 did not fully exist in 2007. Many of the effects were gone, didn't work, etc. The best example was the spinning light that lined up with the door that you could eventually see struggle to spin. Still, I guess enough worked. The 2008 ride cycle was at least fun, then came 2009. The "boring ferris wheel" program was.... wow. It was bad. The queue itself looked ok, but the animatronic bat looked like a cheap thing bought at Party City. Shout out to the employees who did their best... warning guests about loose articles, trying to make things fun, even at one time resorting to Jungle Cruise-esque comedy routines in the pre-show to try and liven things up. That very first cycle: "Welcome back Crypt riders, how was your ride!?" Nothing but a chorus of boos and jeers. Every guest walking out of the exit was annoyed they had waited. That ride went from being one of the most popular with a line every night to having single digit riders by 9:15 PM. The only good part of that was if you worked it... you were heading home (or to the bar) at a reasonable hour. So, so, so, so bad. That generic wind howling... the empty box... the concrete floor covered in dirt... the skeletal remains of the "lava pit." And in the end, even with that mellowed out, boring cycle: the ride STILL didn't work properly.

I think a B&M dive with a drop that faces the Eiffel Tower would be cool. It would be an awesome view of the whole park, especially at sunset. Do I think we need another B&M? No necessarily. Do I think we will see any hint of innovation with the next coaster installed? I really hope so. With the terrain changes in The Vortex area I really think something like Time Traveler would work really well.

The tame ride cycle was introduced mid-May 2009. In retrospect, it's kind of amazing it lasted almost three full seasons with such an underwhelming ride experience. For what it's worth, the ride was originally built and tested outside in Germany. I realize a few weeks of outdoor operation is different from years of it, but I'd be surprised if the majority of the ride and its components weren't made weatherproof. Here's a few photos of it in Germany (source unknown; they've been floating around the web for 10+ years now): I've never seen that third photo until now, but it appears to be our (one and only) Giant Top Spin. I don't think any regular top spins had the A-frame support style, but I may be mistaken.

It will be interesting to see if they widen the pathways with Vortex being gone. The area back by WindSeeker has needed some more space but that should be less of an issue this year since Vortex exit traffic won't be happening anymore.

(Image source: visitkingsisland.com. Modified with: imgflip.com. Hotel: Trivago.)

That’s the exact size that I also would like to buy. I wish that the park would announce whether they are or aren’t planning on offering something.

Passed $90,000!!! https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2020/february/interim-healthcare-of-cincinnati-inc.-named-presenting-sponsor-for-orion-first-riders-charity-event

Coaster experience is subjective. I hated Sierra Sidewinder and have no interest in Time Traveller. My statement was purely self-centered! [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

I always thought a dive coaster would look great there, I don't think it'd be too awkward next to Diamondback. Think having the lift in the same spot as Vortex with a curve and drop facing the front of the park it could have a great look and visual of the skyline. Could have it dive down and loop back up next to the midway where the batwing was. Not sure how well it'd really fill or utilize the space though, sould have to look at overlays well and see how theming could go. But a multi-launch type coaster could be great. something like Maverick or Copperhead Strike would look great in it's spot. However, I could see one fit really well into AZ and look great there. If they decided to take out Invertigo and Congo Falls a new dive coaster could fit into that spot really well. Station could be near Invertigo's current stations with the dive coming out by congo Falls pool/queue.

darn he must have gotten nervous. I was going to PM him if any more "fell off the truck"

Break a leg! The entertainment department is great fun.

The Ferris Wheel went to someone in the DC suburbs. Check out the "Historical Amusement Park Flat Rides" group on FB for more info

Me during WinterFest lol

In retrospect, it wasn't just that the ride was poorly designed, it was also that early Cedar Fair management accelerated the problems. Remember, previous company management didn't really care about immersive experiences (unlike today), and mainly focused solely on thrill rides. Once Cedar Fair lost the Tomb Raider IP, they decided that instead of creating a new story and theming, they would just strip out most of the ride's immersive elements and amp up the thrill factor. They tried making this less of a threat to the ride mechanism by removing a row of seats (I think it was only one row?). Regardless, the highly thrilling cycle used in the 2008 season probably redlined the fragile mechanisms of the ride far to often, leading to the tame cycle. I think that even if previous management opted to change the storyline instead of making it into a thrill ride, we would be in the same situation today. That ride system was not going to last. I know this is touched upon in the video, but I wanted to add a little more depth to my answers. :-)

I think this is one of the signs that the apocalypse is near...Ty admitting that the ride was at least underwhelming at one point in time!

^Only if we begin our sets with this. @King Ding Dong, start practicing that choreography.

Thanks for sharing! I've never seen that sign in person, but that picture makes it look a lot bigger than I've always envisioned it. Must've been like highway signs, which are massive yet look much smaller since they're elevated up above you. Here's a shot of that sign when the ride was still around (but apparently not operating, based off the a-frame in front) (source unknown): And interestingly, here's an older picture showing a different snake but the same text (source unknown). I would bet they changed the sign in 1999 with the Action Zone overhaul, but just speculating. And to throw one more image in, that I found when searching for the above two... from the end of the ride's life (courtesy Coasterguide): It's interesting to see how the first set of turns on Adventure Express were shaped to wrap around King Cobra. I'm pretty sure some of those concrete foundations for King Cobra's turn-around are still up there, as Banshee doesn't use that small plot of land. I've always wondered if they were the same building - thanks for answering that!

Their Retracking it for the 2020 season.

I personally think the land is better used to add/expand Coney and Rivertown OR some sort of flat ride(s) and a roller coaster similar to Vortex. Im not asking for an exact replica of Vortex, just something of its style. Loops and corksrews. Now that Vortex is (pretty much) gone, the only inverting coasters in the park are Invertigo, Banshee, and FoF. Something with a classic coaster look with loops (and an original layout) would be an amazing fit for that area. Please note that I am not saying that an RMC shouldn't come to Kings Island. I know that at some point or another, the park will get an RMC. Just I don't think an RMC is what should be stuck in Vortex's old spot. Two areas I deem fitting for an RMC would be Area 72 and Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest hasn't gotten a ride since (I believe) Sling Shot in 2002 or A.E. since 1991. And if Kings Island wants to get on the Area 72 train with some steam in it, I would imagine and RMC would fit nicely on the other side of Orion.

An intamin launch coaster similar to pantheon could fit well in that area, especially if they had the launch and spike section right next to the path by where Vortex's batwing was. A man can dream.

I didn't even know B&M made woodies.

Just so you know the confidence of B&M, they had an interview while they were constructing Nemesis at Alton Towers, and they were asked if there was a possibility the ride would stall and B&M said straightforward that their rides don't stall. Granted, that has proven false when you add wind to the equation (most B&M valley's have been due to wind), but these guys know what they're doing. Unfortunately, I can't source it as its lost in the depths of the internet, but its a thing that happened.

At the time it was installed, its location wasn't so dumb. Amazon Falls completely matched the jungle safari theming. Personally, I'd much rather see the removal of Timberwolf than Congo Falls.

Not to mention compact and tall. I always see them as clickbait on YouTube. "OMG LITERALLY THE TALLEST ROLLER COASTER EVER" "TOP 10 SCARIEST COASTERS IN THE WORLD" "WOULD YOU RIDE THIS FOR $1 MILLION?

Ah, but dive coasters are reliable, have high capacity, and feature many marketable gimmicks. Plus, Cedar Point has a hole punch card where if you build three, the fourth is free.

There's a giga, and invert, woodies and everything else we have got too. That doesn't matter that much.

I agree with Rougarou being an awesome coaster, it's the coaster I rode when a ride was broken down, or just for fun. It doesn't have a rattle from my experience and was rather intense.