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The new 2026 Halloween Haunt map has been posted! I'm happy to see that it finally only includes Haunt stuff again. From what I can see there is only one issue on it where the icon for Outpost Frozen Cocktails is in the wrong spot, but other than that it's just the gray vs green grass areas that look weird. It's too bad that Phantom Theater will be closed during Haunt and won't have an overlay. Kudos to the KI team for posting it more than 36 hours before the start of the event! Link to the map: https://qr1.be/AS58UZ

There is definitely a need for a launch coaster, but I'm not so sure that Flight of Fear isn't also on borrowed time. I know it's an energy hog and it's quite old. I wouldn't be shocked to see it gone within the next 6 or 7 years. I'm all for ArieForce One because most of what Cedar Fair / Six Flags have put out lately has just been ok rather than outstanding. AF1 is a surefire top 10 coaster. Also, I don't think that getting AF1 necessarily means that KI doesn't get another (launch) coaster 3 years later on The Vortex plot. AF1 might just be the odd one off.

If they go that route I see it being a relatively easy/cheap modification. They put a roughly train length block zone directly behind the loading station. After hitting the final brakes, the track is changed to bend to the left and eventually makes a right hand or u-shaped turn depending on the angle to link up with the new block zone. Given that RMC is already going to be there to modify supports that doesn't seem all that bad or expensive. You don't even need to worry about having a grade/slope on the new track because the coaster already uses rollers so they'd just add a few more of those. Lastly, RMC has all the incentive in the world to get in good graces with a company it had largely stopped working with. AF1 will be a showcase of what their ground up i-boxes can be for Cedar Flags.

He said that it would return in an ACE event. Only for it not too afterwards. A lot of people considered Coasterstock the superior event to Coastermania. That didn’t sit well with Tony Clark, considering Coastermania was his thing and not Coasterstock. https://www.ridewithace.com/blogs/ace-news/2026/02/21/ace-western-great-lakes-no-coaster-con-2026

I created this concept of how ArieForce One could fit into Area 72. Not exactly how feasible this would be, especially with the relocation of maintenance buildings. I think if this coaster does get relocated to Kings Island, I feel Area 72 would be the best fit thematically for this type of attraction. Action Zone would also work, but I think that area needs a new haunted theme to coincide with rides like Banshee and Bat. I don't think Arieforce One would fit with that if Six Flags plan on preserving the ride name.