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Honestly, I would gladly give up a couple of early Winterfest days in favor of more night rides on The Beast and other coasters.

How about this as a concept for the coaster that would go in and around the crypt building, which has had the exterior fashioned into an Appalachian mountain: The Cove (name of the coaster) --- **Backstory:** In the shadowy depths of Rivertown, an ancient legend speaks of a hidden mountain where the powers of the forest and sky converge. This mountain, long thought to be a myth, is where the fearsome Beast resides, guarding its territory with unmatched ferocity. However, there's more to the legend—a cosmic connection that ties The Beast to the constellation Orion. Eons ago, the constellation Orion was not just a set of stars but a mighty celestial hunter who roamed the universe. He became obsessed with capturing The Beast, a powerful creature whose strength was said to challenge even the gods. The chase led Orion to the earthly realm, where he lured The Beast into a trap—a mountain that he conjured with his cosmic powers. But The Beast, cunning and resilient, broke free, infusing the mountain with its essence, creating a curse that connected Orion’s cosmic power to the mountain itself. Now, in the heart of Rivertown, the once dormant mountain has awoken, crackling with the energy of Orion’s curse and The Beast’s wrath. The Mystic Woods, the forest that surrounds Rivertown, have begun to stir, and strange phenomena have been reported—the forest is alive, with vines and trees moving of their own accord, while the skies above the mountain swirl with celestial energy. Adventurers brave enough to enter the mountain will embark on a journey through the cursed forest and into the heart of the mountain itself. The Beast is furious, and Orion’s curse still lingers, drawing riders into a terrifying experience where the line between reality and myth blurs. --- ### Ride Experience: **Queue Line:** The adventure begins as guests enter a dense, fog-covered forest filled with twisted trees and eerie, glowing flora, reminiscent of Mystic Timbers. The queue winds through the forest, with sounds of The Beast’s growls echoing in the distance. As guests approach the mountain, they pass through a decrepit logging cabin filled with cryptic maps and journals detailing past expeditions that never returned. **Station:** The station is set deep within the mountain, illuminated by flickering torches and celestial runes that glow with a strange energy. The ride vehicles are designed to resemble rustic, wooden mine carts, but with a modern twist—glowing blue markings hint at the cosmic influence of Orion. **Ride Layout:** - **Dark Ride Segment (Indoor):** - **The Descent:** The ride begins with a slow climb deeper into the mountain. The air grows colder as guests hear the roars of The Beast. Suddenly, the ride plummets into darkness, twisting and turning through narrow tunnels, avoiding falling rocks and collapsing structures as the mountain itself seems to be alive. - **Orion’s Lair:** The mine carts enter a vast chamber where the ceiling reveals a swirling Vortex of stars—the heart of Orion’s curse. Here, guests encounter spectral images of Orion as he battles The Beast, with cosmic energy crackling around them. The tension builds until The Beast breaks free from the cosmic chains, triggering an intense launch sequence. - **Outdoor Coaster Segment:** - **The Escape:** Blasting out of the mountain, the ride transitions to a high-speed outdoor section. Riders speed through dense forest trails, dodging massive, moving tree limbs and branches feeling the wrath of Mystic Timbers. The track features airtime hills and sharp turns, evoking the wild, untamed nature of The Beast. - **The Cosmic Duel:** As riders ascend a tall lift hill, they are momentarily suspended under a the sky just like Orion. The ride then dives down a steep drop, weaving through terrain that mimics Orion’s constellation, with near-miss elements against rocky outcrops. **Finale:** The ride ends with one final encounter with The Beast as the carts plunge back into the mountain. In a thrilling finale, the ride navigates a spiraling drop into the mountain’s core, where The Beast’s eyes glow in the darkness, and Orion’s curse attempts one last time to capture the creature. The mine carts narrowly escape, launching up and out of the mountain one last time before returning to the station. **Post-Ride Experience:** Guests exit through a themed gift shop that resembles an old Rivertown trading post, filled with artifacts from the mountain and memorabilia of The Beast, Orion, and Mystic Timbers. The story of their journey is immortalized in rustic carvings and celestial-themed merchandise. --- "The Cove" offers a thrilling blend of dark ride storytelling and intense coaster action, encapsulating the mystique and legends of Kings Island’s Rivertown.

New dive coaster for SF Great America! Looks like a great fit for this park that I'm unfamiliar with. The teaser is giving off Cedar Fair vibes.

I honestly wish they’d make WINTERFEST a signature event at the park that started in all…KingsIsland, and maybe extend the brand to KD, but rebrand all the others Holiday in the Park, or a new, better all around name. It’s really NOT winterfest, is a Christmas Holiday festival , so I’d be ok if the name was rebranded, but locally I think it should stay the name that the event originated from.

I think they have had a better track record in more recent years. I know pantheon and velocicoaster are very popular

Hopefully Intamin puts out a fun, safe, and reliable ride. It would be nice to see them back in the mix at legacy CF Parks.

Hayo! I am here to present a large list of attendance figures for every season since opening for Kings Island. Some of these are estimates as the park doesn't like to official say, but I feel confident these numbers are close to the real ones based on normal attendance. I will mark each year with their individual sources as proof of the total. The list starts at the latest known year (2023) and descends to the first season in 1972. If any of my numbers are wrong, or you know the real number in place of an estimate, please let me know! I had to do a lot of digging for this, even going through old Amusement Business magazines from the 80s. The reason I am making this is I wasn't able to find a single place that showed all attendance figures for each operating year since 1972. So I thought it would be neat to compile one, so here we are! ("KT RTT" references the Kings Island: A Ride Through Time book by Evan Ponstingle) The Numbers 2023 - 3,488,000 (Latest report is sourced from https://aecom.com/theme-index/) 2022 - 3,340,000 (Here to 2006 are sourced from AECOM, see https://aecom.com/theme-index/theme-index-reports-archive/ for 2022 to 2006) 2021 - 3,181,000 2020 - 1,626,000 2019 - 3,521,000 2018 - 3,486,000 2017 - 3,469,000 2016 - 3,384,000 2015 - 3,335,000 2014 - 3,238,000 2013 - 3,206,000 2012 - 3,206,000 2011 - 3,143,000 2010 - 3,112,000 2009 - 3,000,000 2008 - 3,126,000 2007 - 3,050,000 2006 - 3,050,000 (2006 to 2023 are sourced from AECOM, see https://aecom.com/theme-index/theme-index-reports-archive/ for all above years) 2005 - 3,330,000 (2005 to 1990 are sourced from an archived AECOM report that I was unable to find directly, but found a site that reported them; see https://www.theparkdb.com/results/in/name/14/view_details) 2004 - 3,510,000 2003 - 3,277,975 2002 - 3,182,500 2001 - 3,350,000 2000 - 3,200,000 1999 - 3,325,000 1998 - 3,400,000 1997 - 3,300,000 1996 - 3,600,000 1995 - 3,470,000 1994 - 3,300,000 1993 - 3,250,000 1992 - 3,260,000 (Legacy KIC Historical Facts page & https://www.theparkdb.com/results/in/name/14/view_details) 1991 - 2,850,000 (Legacy KIC Historical Facts page & https://www.theparkdb.com/results/in/name/14/view_details) 1990 - 3,200,000 (1990 to 2005 are sourced from an archived AECOM report that I was unable to find directly, but found a site that reported them; see https://www.theparkdb.com/results/in/name/14/view_details) 1989 - 3,170,000 (KI RTT pg 159, excludes WinterFest) 1988 - 2,968,294 (Amusement Business 1988 - 12/24/88 Vol 100 Iss 52) 1987 - 3,463,586 (KI RTT pg 150, note pg 144 says 3.1 million but pg 150 includes WinterFest attendance) 1986 - 2,869,669 (Amusement Business 1986 - 12/27/86 Vol 98 Iss 51) 1985 - 2,961,861 (Amusement Business 1985 - 12/28/85 Vol 97 Iss 51) 1984 - 3,200,000 (KI RTT pg 138) 1983 - 2,700,000 (estimate, Amusement Business 1983 - 12/31/83 Vol 95 Iss 52) 1982 - 2,700,000 (Amusement Business 1982 - 12/25/82 Vol 94 Iss 52) 1981 - 2,760,000 (KI RTT pg 104) 1980 - 2,475,000 (estimate, KI RTT pg 98 references a 10% drop in attendance from prev year) 1979 - 2,750,000 (KI RTT pg 96) 1978 - 2,600,000 (KI RTT pg 82) 1977 - 2,500,000 (KI RTT pg 81) 1976 - 2,525,000 (estimate, 1% increase from 1977, KI RTT pg 81) 1975 - 2,364,400 (estimate, 8% decrease from 1974 - KI RTT pg 66) 1974 - 2,570,000 (KI RTT pg 63) 1973 - 2,400,000 (KI RTT pg 58) 1972 - 2,012,000 (KI RTT pg 54) I hope to update this yearly when AECOM, or another party, releases their yearly report. The hope is they keep including Kings Island! Until next time, cheers!

Paramount had a higher average attendance overall during its ownership with Kings Island compared to Cedar Fair. And that’s not counting 2020 because of Covid:

I think it will be a great addition to this park. I look forward to driving up to experience it next season.

I prefer minis over the larger ones because there's no mid-course brake run and the elements are generally tighter and more forceful

Intamin dual-launch straddle coaster coming to Six Flags New England next year. https://www.boston.com/travel/travel/2024/08/15/six-flags-new-england-new-roller-coaster-quantum-accelerator/

I think this appears to be a very fun coaster. I also support the new merged chain in using Intamin more moving forward.

Oh for sure! Zamperla is still a good manufacturer and their flats are pretty reliable. I loved the wild mouse at CP. I think we will see CF now Six Flags continue to work with them

I'm hoping the new management with Six Flags will get this and Wrath of Rakshasa built on time as 2 coasters supposedly built for this year, Flash at SFGAdv and Georgia Surfer at SFoG have had construction paces that make a snail's pace look fast.

I expect Cedar Fair (now part of Six Flags) may still contract Zamperla to build future flat rides and smaller-scale coasters like Wild Mouse. I don't think they're going to completely blacklist Zamperla like they've done with Intamin and RMC.

Not sure about going with Zamperla for a large scale launch coaster considering all the issues they have been experiencing with TT2 at CP. I think someone has to give Zamperla a second chance when they work out the kinks but until they do, I wouldn't be interested in purchasing this particular model from them. However, a multi launch similar to Maverick would be amazing. I'd also love one similar to copperhead strike at Carowinds. Or just make my day and give me an extreme spinner with two launches!

And yet a place like Canada's Wonderland didn't take away any Winterfest when the Halloween stuff was extended another weekend...and their Winterfest goes another weekend than ours does....(yeah I know about the permits expiring 12/31)....

Well, CW's new coaster is not Zamperla, but a Premier launched. IMO, Kings Island could install one similar to it where the old Vortex plot is. I would not be mad. Before we complain about the 2 train ops, keep in mind that the ride time is fairly short and the pph would be around 1,000, which is what you would like to hit.

With haunt Saturdays being among the busiest of the year, I'm guessing the business decision to open and get more people in would come into play. 26ish hours of Haunt, if it's Friday Saturday Sunday vs 15 hours of WinterFest. Of course, that means more payroll, so hopefully it will be good fall weather that weekend.

It looks like a solid addition. I have a soft spot for mini dives- it seems like they can accomplish things that your 8/10 seaters cannot.

Unfortunately, they're not back. (I'm the oddball in red in the picture.) They had just gotten together at the park today for a mini reunion.

The last few days, the forum seems to take forever to load and switch between sections and see posts, etc. It happens on both computer and mobile device. Anyone else having a problem?

I flipped Wrath of Rakshasa and it looks like it would be a perfect fit for The Vortex land. Yes I enhanced the color of the supports to reflect Vortex orange.

Glad you like it! It's definitely different than anything else in the park which means it'll stand out (which is a good thing). Just based on all the teaser and promo material I never thought I was going to wake up to an announcement of a blue rollercoaster.

So first of all I love the name! Wrath of Rakshasa is unique and grabs my attention. Second, I know some fans of Great America who really wanted a dive so I'm sure they are super stoked! I also know some Great America fans who did not want a dive but I think they might be willing to come around based on the fact they did not get a dr diabolical clone but rather got a unique layout that actually does break 2 dive coaster records. Great America already has so many cloned coasters that it's really good to see them get another original layout. So I thought for sure they would take out the go karts at the end of the season to make more space for the new coaster but according to the video it doesn't appear the layout goes into that area at all which is very impressive that they fit a mini dive into a spot formerly occupied by a water ride and a haunt attraction. I noticed as I'm sure others have there's no mid course during the layout which leads me to believe those final elements are going to slap! I think this coaster should be high capacity which is what Great America needs seeing as their most recent coasters (Maxxforce and Joker) are both abysmal in terms of capacity. I'm a coaster enthusiast so I have to critique something and that minor thing is the paint color scheme. Not sure what I was expecting but yellow and blue is not what I imagined a coaster themed to the wrath of a demonic creature to be... I understand you can't just reuse demon's colors but blue is not "scary" or "dark" or "foreboding" as a color and the yellow is meh. Still going to be a great ride but the color scheme almost looks "happy" instead of "wrathful". Can't wait to get on this! Also Six Flags, please please please please have this ready by memorial Day day at the lastest... opening day is preferred. Please do not open another new ride in the middle of July or even worse delay it until 2026.

Or this when there are literally 4 trash cans within 20 feet

All I'm thinking is "yay more fall rides!!!". I am grateful for every season at the park. Spring is exciting because of the long hiatus off during winter, summer is action packed and full of opportunity to visit both the dry and wet side of the park. Fall is just magical. Crisp, cool air, the feel and the smell of crunchy leaves, the earlier darkness leaving room for lots of night rides, spooky vibes. All of that. I am all for it!!! Not to mention I feel fall rides just hit different. They feel wilder, faster and more out of control which I dig. Winterfest was awesome last year IMHO. I felt for what was lacking during Haunt they made up for during Winterfest. I am hoping for a good Winterfest this year too as it has helped me personally with coping with the holiday season.

Here's the (Basic) math on this using what we currently know.

Corporate isn't making the decision to run one side of The Racer for a third of the day, run only one train on the K.I & Miami Valley Railroad most of the week, have drink stands closed, have the theaters dark for much of the summer. Those decisions get made at the park level. The park is told by corporate what the operating budget is, and they make cuts based on what they're allowed to spend. The reason why Matt Ouimet left Cedar Fair when he did was because the merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair was not going to play into his strengths. He said a major component of value creation from any merger is the achievement of cost efficiencies. For him, this objective ran counter to his bias towards improving the guest experience. In the near term, with pressure from investors, the cost synergies usually take precedent. and he wasn't in favor of that. Over the past two years, the guest experience at Kings Island has not been as good as it used to be -- what guests had been accustomed to. The product now being offered has been watered down. As long as guests find it acceptable, the cost-cutting trend we've witnessed the past couple of years will continue. They can offer a watered-down experience because people will still come.

This just shows that there is still a need for this ride, or some kind of water attraction. They are still popular on hot days for those on the dry side of the park. I for one am glad they have taken such good care of Congo Falls.

https://www.zamperla.com/product/lightning Yeah I would not complain if we got a multi-launch, well themed ride similar to Maverick in our park. Put that sucker in the old Vortex location and I'll be very happy.

phantom theater *clap clap clap clap clap* phantom theater *clap clap clap clap clap*

See I'm thinking 2025 is some water park work, 2026 is the survey ride, and then 2027/2028 is a dark ride. But we'll have to see, that's the fun part of speculating

I wish and hope that at least the Coney Island display at EJ is salvaged and displayed somewhere.