Leaderboard

This feels so long ago.

I don't think we will ever see anything like SoB again. At least not a fully wooden roller coaster of that magnitude. It feels like a fever dream looking back at it now.

Son of Beast was arguably the most picturesque coaster in history. I miss seeing SoB looking down from Drop Tower.

Arie Force One is located on nearly flat ground. I am not sure if there are any location at KI that can accommodate this coaster except for parking lot.

I agree. There was something so magnificent about seeing that mountain of a coaster rising up in the distance as I’d get closer to the park. It was just so… iconic.

So what I'm hearing is that they should just build another fort around the SoB station 🤣 I will say that the structure already doesn't look terribly great. Even with the nostalgia and speculation surrounding it, we have to recognize that the old photo booth is in tatters, there's a "random" overgrown queue line, the fencing around the station is continuing to deteriorate, and the structure itself is rusting away. If it is to be demolished before the end of the year then I bet it'll be after the park goes to weekend operations. That timeline would allow them to bring more equipment onto the pathway during the week (or bring anything down from the station via the exit ramp). Once everything is removed from the station they can start demolishing the exit ramp and bring the rest of the structure down without having to close The Bat and Banshee.

I think the park was more than happy to let the Son of Beast station stay for as long as they could. It didn’t really cost them any money to keep it, it served a purpose as a haunted house, and it’s mere presence kept enthusiasts speculating. Now that the building is officially condemned and all of the haunt props have since been removed from it, I think the park can’t keep kicking the can down the road and finally has to address the aging structure. If many of you recall, there is an actual house that set within the loop of the train. A fort façade was built around to hide the house, and the integrity of the house began to wear overtime to where it eventually collapsed- but you wouldn’t know it because it’s covered by the fort. The Son of Beast station, however, is 100% within the public eye as guests pass it when on their way to ride The Bat. Heck, even if for some reason, The Bat was closed and they blocked that path off you could still see the station from Banshee, Drop Tower, an to an extent the Eiffel Tower. If bits and pieces of the structure begin to deteriorate and crumble people will be able to notice that. The station itself is close to The Bat so I’m sure that the park has to finally address it. I honestly think that’s why The Vortex station was never saved, same as Firehawk’s, it’s probably the best interest of the park to tear out a structure instead of kicking the can down the road.

After seeing some reports from other parks, I'm starting to think that Six Flags is making an effort to condemn/demolish various dilapidated buildings across all of their parks. It might be part of an effort to both beautify the parks while also removing the burden of care/upkeep that might otherwise come with these structures. Magic Mountain in particular will reportedly demolish their old Laughing Dragon restaurant and one of their old sky ride stations while Kings Island is at least looking to condemn the Son of Beast station. I wouldn't be shocked to find out that this effort hits every park in some way.

Quick note for future readers (this is not directed at anyone in this thread): As of this writing, it is not rumored that ArieForce One is coming to Kings Island--or any other park, for that matter. This idea was originated by Reddit users who heard that a park containing a well-regarded roller coaster is closing, and they got their hopes up that the coaster would be sold to their local park. It has not been announced that AFO will be sold, has been sold, or even will be moved within the Fun Spot chain. For all we know, it's getting torn down with the rest of the Atlanta park. RMC answered the question of "can AFO be moved." They did not drop any hints about it being sold/moved anywhere. No, Kings Island's PR team (or any other park's/chain's PR team) did not tell them to say that. If ArieForce One does not come to Kings Island, I don't want to see anyone express disappointment that "misleading hints were dropped" or "that rumor wasn't true after all." There is a difference between someone wishing for something to happen and rumors (which have a source close to the decision makers.) The way the coaster fan world tends to eagerly blur the lines between the two is crazymaking. Please do not set your expectations high because someone used their imagination.

I was going to be spontaneous in KC, but I just found a jazz museum in KC, so I'll probably do that and maybe bits around Union Station. Also, on the way in, I'll be going out of my way voicing my displeasure in the direction of Arrowhead Stadium on behalf of Bengals' fans.

St Louis style pizza is also on the docket. I'm hesitant on the gooey butter cake.

That's the way I'll be coming back to Cincy, which, seems nice since that'll be from Branson.

So after reviewing weather and Arch availability, here is the itinerary for St Louis- Friday- Botanical Gardens (rainiest day but at least no T-storms, plus Arch is sold out) Saturday- Hoping the rain in the morning scares people away and doing SFStL Sunday- Arch and City Museum (kind of a good thing as this is the hottest day) Going for some BBQ tonight.

Upon reading this post another time, this feels ripped from the FoF queue video script...

https://www.wcpo.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/kings-islands-next-big-roller-coaster-may-be-hiding-in-atlanta A key statement: The coaster is definitely moveable," wrote Darren Torr, president of Rocky Mountain Construction. "Based on ranking by coaster enthusiasts, it's a top 10 coaster in the world. It has angle iron structure, which means it will require new hardware. It has some topography changes, so a new site will need to be modified or the structure will be need to be reworked to match the site elevation. Ballpark, the cost to move is probably ~$10M less than building new. I have no idea what the future holds for AF1, hopefully, it continues to deliver smiles for guests." This tells me that relocation is in fact feasible for AFO. But while many want it to come to KI (and this could be in The Vortex plot), I wouldn't consider it a certainty that it will happen. There's other parks for consideration, including within Six Flags and from other chains including Herschend, United Parks, and Enchanted Parks. I'm not going to look into detail at all of these, but any park that has the capacity for it (and doesn't already have an RMC like it) could be in the running.

Maybe Legoland? Not sure they have space either… or the cash…

I am not sure if SFoG would be an option with Twisted Cyclone there. AF1 is much better coaster but so similar. My guess is that parks with RMC would not consider this. Only difference being AF1 being a ground up RMC so that there is a uniqueness about it. Other retrofit RMCs are very similar to each other.

Allegedly, management from SFOG went to assess ArieForce One to see if they could relocate it, but it was a no-go. The person who said this alleged they heard this from a family member of the park president, so take this with a huge grain of salt.

One place that may have some flat space is Carowinds. Other Funspot parks do not have space, I think. Orlando location does not have space. Maybe Kissimmee location back parking lot could be an option. SeaWorld? I am not sure if BGT can do this.

I agree. I think if it gets relocated it would be somewhere like Florida.

Wonder if it's KI, SALLY or a combo of both still making these tweaks. It seems like theres more dialogue now as well, or at least yo can hear it better. I rode it this week 2x and feel like the ending w Maestro and Larry had different lines each time - both ending with a variation of "You'll be back:"

The furnace heat blaster and the flower smells were working on Saturday.

I can confirm from an inside source that a pile of dirt on the former SoB station platform has indeed moved. Many Bothans died to bring us this information.

Coming to a gift shop near you-pieces of the station for $1400 to mark 14 years since SoB was demo'd!

I'm in the same boat. I think if Kings Island ever got an RMC, it would be best if it had 3 trains for better capacity. AF1 has two trains with only 5 cars instead of the usual 6. I think the layout for AF1 would also make it awkward to fit into either Vortex plot or Action Zone, assuming that's where it would go. I think AF1 would be a better fit at a park like Holiday World (especially the 4th of July area with that color scheme) but there's still no telling what's going to happen to AF1 at this point in time.

I would love an RMC, but I think we need a ground up RMC, not a relocation. Now, if this is the only way to get one, I am all for that too. What are your thoughts?