Leaderboard

On yet another top themed attractions countdown list congrats Kings Island and Six Flags, #3 for the Phantom theatre. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://blooloop.com/best-themed-attractions-2026/&ved=2ahUKEwijwK-mzIWTAxW-IkQIHc4sAlkQFnoECDkQBQ&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw0zRzaXrV4M3fR6nFRKTjcS Awesome! Maestroriffic,

Really cool to see it in the top three with Disney and Dollywood.

I remember this claim being a big thing for Kings Island back around and before 2016. Is it still true? Does it matter? I understand that it might have been referring to the sheer acreage owned by the park, but even if you adjust what is meant by the size, how does KI hold up to the other Midwest parks? Zoombezi Bay claims to be the largest waterpark in Ohio. Is that true as well? Last I remember, Soak City is still larger than ZB. How do you think Kings Island could work to reclaim these titles? Personally, I think the park could at least expand Soak City (and change the name/theme) to be the largest waterpark in Ohio/the Midwest. Six Flags might not want KI to overcome Cedar Point to protect their golden child, but I think they should be keeping both parks up at the top of the combined chain instead of holding one down for the other.

#3! YEAAAAAAHHHHH! This rocks! I was just thinking not long ago just how huge Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare could be and that it could be the greatest dark ride in the country outside of Disney and Universal. I am SO excited for it!

Some old people (like me) remember Massacre Manor as a Sleepy Hollow maze under a tent next to the Showplace. Good times.

Fiesta Texas is doing passholder extra ride time this Saturday after park close. I would love to see KI bring back passholder post close ride times! Both in KI and Soak City like in pre covid years

Yes, I believe it was determined the $900K was for building modifications alone. (I was confused by, and asked about, the low amount months ago.) I guarantee the entire project is more than likely in the range of $5M+.

Families planning a spring or summer road trip through South Georgia may want to circle Saturday, March 14, when Wild Adventures Theme Park officially kicks off its milestone 30th anniversary season. https://themeparksbydon.com/wild-adventures-30th-anniversary-new-rides-30-dollar-tickets/

An indoor/outdoor coaster/water/dark ride could work well with the same ride system as the new NightFlight Expedition at Dollywood. There’s even some room behind the building and beside the train which could create some great kinetic energy and fun water features. It could be midly themed to the previous Keelboat attraction with a new story created specifically for Rivertown. That is, if the building needs to stay. Wouldn’t hate seeing it get the axe.

I agree. I'm not a Haunt person, so I guess YMMV, but I hate the amount of room they take up for mazes that are used for about a month. But while I prefer they use backstage areas, I would rather see them use one of the ugly boxes than have haunts standing around with signage but not operating in the summer -- I tend to think having stuff like Slaughterhouse or whatever is by The Bat just hanging around all summer looks trashy.

I think they should do some TLC/painting of the outside to make it not as ugly. I think the building provides an opportunity for another indoor ride. Whether the park/six flags takes the opportunity in the future remains to be seen. I would hope they really look into it if Phantom Theater is a smashing hit. I think the park should look into building more Haunt buildings in backstage areas and converting the 2 former ride buildings (Crypt and Action Theater) back into indoor rides.

They can remove it but they’d have to build another structure elsewhere for a Haunt maze, like alongside The Racer on the park side.

It used to do that, but now, not so much. The terms may be used in marketing materials but they aren't the main focus. For example, marketing for Siren's Curse mentioned that it was the tallest, fastest and longest tilt coaster...but a lot of the marketing was tailored to "answer the call." It also focused on the tilt element vs the stats.

At least 5 minutes

The KI Inn site is basically off the table now as Rivers Crossing announced a few weeks back they are going to be expanding onto that site. I believe they're developing half the lot into parking.

Did a little hotel mockup idea

Thread bump! And finally, after all this time, it looks like this concept will finally be brought to life at the new Universal Kids Resort in Texas: Link Always wanted to see this concept make its way to KI back in the Nick Universe days. Man, I’m getting old.

IMO dive coasters feel like they're becoming an overused model. The general public loves them, but I think Kings Island could do something more unique (and maybe even get something that Cedar Point doesn't have). I really like the idea of having a Big Red Machine coaster somewhere in the park though! As for this, I'd 100% support another small retheme for the Stunt Coaster, especially if it means covering the shipping containers with a better facade. Would the theme still work as well without the fire effect? I don't know, but I think it could work.

Still think a Big Red Machine dive is a banger idea.

I photoshopped some nonsense after thinking of meet and greet characters. Do y'all think we could see an Arpeggio meet and greet like this (Or Maestro or any other PT ghouls for that matter)?

The first time I ever watched The Mummy was at Cabana Bay's pool! But Six Flags is not Universal or Disney. But all you really need is a projector and a projector screen, so it is a possibility. I've been to some small indoor water parks and even they have movies playing in the wave pool. Should KI do it? Yes. Could KI do it? Yes. Will they do it? Probably not. If they can't have all of the lights that are on the Christmas train at KI lit, how are they going to put a movie on in the wave pool? Cool idea though, I think this would be really cool!

I think it'd be cool if for one night they kept some of the pools open and had a movie playing for people to swim and watch. Similar to what Disney does at their resorts.

I've always said that KI's 4th of July event should be more than just "come for what's already here and stay for a bigger firework show". Add specialty food offerings, have special activities and entertainment geared towards the holiday. Give the locals something that would make them decide to spend their 4th of July day at KI rather than their local July 4th festival. Bc locals can go to KI pretty much anytime over the summer, but they can't go to a local 4th of July event any other day. Also since Soak City usually gets the most crowded on the 4th, I wouldn't mind spreading some of the "special activities and entertainment" over there. Like set up a stage and do live bands over there. I also think doing some sort of camp fire/s'mores thing in Camp Snoopy as the sun goes down would be kinda cool. I believe Knotts used to do something like that as part of Summer Nights. Like imagine spending your day in Soak City then coming back after the waterpark closes and seeing special camp activities and campfires/s'mores going on. As a kid I would've LOVED that.

100% agree on using actual bluegrass music in Rivertown, although I think they could also have some of the covers still in there. I wonder if there's a rule about using license music in a park or if they just choose to go with the covers. Having some more limited-run events return would be fun and could encourage attendance. My personal choices would be for the Food Truck Festival and Grad Nite to come back. The former would work similarly to the Food & Wine Festival and the latter would work like the other Grad Nite events at Six Flags parks. Island Nights would be a good Grand Carnivale replacement. KidZFest on the other hand might push the limit as it seems Kings Island only does 2 big Summer festivals alongside Star Spangled Nights. As small as the Food & Wine Festival is compared to an event like Tricks & Treats, I'd hate to lose it. Speaking of longer events, I think it would be nice to see a little longer run for Star Spangled Nights this year for the special anniversary. maybe running it for 5 days instead of 2 or adding some specialty menu items would make it seem more special. As for this point, I think they should construct a new building for an indoor VIP lounge instead of shoving it into one. I'd place it in a new section of Rivertown as part of The Beast's 50th anniversary Rivertown expansion that I've posted elsewhere on this website. A new building would allow them to also make it two floors like the one at Kings Dominion. My issue with the places you've listed is that putting it in the International Restaurant would effectively cancel out its ability to be used for private events and for public events like the Winterfest Wonderland Buffet. It's also far too close to the park entrance to be used as a non-Special Events space IMO. The Antique Photos building in Rivertown might be a little too small for an indoor VIP lounge. I think a VIP lounge being indoors would attract more Prestige Passholders to it, meaning the space might be filled before too long anyways. Graeter's is probably the one that I could get behind, I just also think that it would be unfortunate to lose the ice cream parlor space.

As a hat collector, im hoping to see a Phantom Theater Opening Nightmare hat in the gift shops, if they hadn't already sold them yet. Also a nice Racer hat, The Bat, and Sol Spin hat would be nice to see. I was surprised to see a Flight of Fear hat this year, I would like to see more rides featured on KI hats.

The way Backlot Stunt Coaster (previously Italian Job Stunt Track) is set up, I was under the assumption that that might've been themed to SpongeBob. Replace the helicopter with a giant robot monster thingy manned by Plankton, have the dark portion resemble that of what's inside Boo Boo's Blasters, and boom. Anyway, most people here remember the ride surveys Paramount sent out towards the end of their reign for a multitude of concepts, few of which actually made it to fruition. Including: Mission Impossible Stunt Spectacular - Originally pitched to conincide with the release of MI:3, but was reduced to a generic traveling stunt show that only made it to Canada's Wonderland for a single season. Some believed it to be a potential replacement of Timberwolf Amphitheater. Tomb Raider: Firefall - The outdoor version of Kings Island's flat ride that eventually made it to Kings Dominion. Tomb Raider: Chamber of Fire - P itched as a brand new preshow/walkthrough experience. Mrs. Puff's Crash Course Boating School - Highly-themed Wild Mouse-styled coaster that was believed to be a part of the Nick Universe expansion for Kings Island. Rumored to have been dropped during the Viacom split by CBS. Nickelodeon Car Wash - Outdoor track ride believed to be a part of the Nick Universe expansion for Kings Island. Rumored to have used updated versions of the original Antique Cars that were removed to make way for IJ:ST. Also rumored to have been dropped during the Viacom split by CBS. Addams Family Coaster - Dark ride/coaster combo themed to the Addams Family movies. Concept was thrown out by Paramount, but later picked up by Dollywood and retooled as Mystery Mine. MTV Soundwave - Potential retheme for the Flight of Fear attractions at Kings Island and Kings Dominion. TV Land Lounge - Restaurant themed to CBS station TV Land. Believed to be downsized and rethemed as Happy Days Diner for several of the Paramount Parks. Titanic Simulator - Dark ride themed to the finale of Titanic, most likely simulating a large room being overtaken by water. Similar in scope to both Twister and Universal Orlando and Lights! Camera! Action! at Universal Studios Singapore Snow Day - Playland area based off the Nickelodeon film of the same name. Top Gun Afterburn - Vekoma coaster that would use prototype Tilt/Seesaw technology for the lift hill. Concept later built as Gravity Max at Discovery World in Taiwan.

I thought the Spongebob ride was going to be Mrs. Puff's Boating School?