brent

I think it’s more a case of people see there was so much potential in a “major renovation” that wasn’t met. There were design choices that seemed like lateral moves or down grades. For me it has nothing to do with “wanting the old back” but more seeing where it could’ve been better.

Agree. The colors are more vibrant and add life even in these gray early days. Can’t wait to see it under bright sun. That last shot illustrates what I find odd about the overall layout of the street. Theres a “sidewalk” of brown with (hate to say it, dull, institutional looking) tables, then a very narrow dark gray “street” with more tables and trees, then a really wide tan cobblestone look “sidewalk” it’s a lot of elements that don’t act together to simulate a real street. I wish they had pushed into the grass a little with the area by the fountain to add all the tables on a “sidewalk” then a “curb” of color to delineate a wider “street”, the a narrower “sidewalk” on the other side of the street close to the buildings with the trees there, and light poles to balance the height of the light rigs by the fountains. The area under the extended surface close to the fountain could’ve had “storage” underneath for chilling equip for winterfest and propane for haunt etc. by reducing the grass, they could have also created a narrower planting bed to fill with color through the season.

Would be cool if they reused one on the old fountain pedestals (repainted and way dialed back) for a fountain there as a nod to the past in a few ways.

I think it would look better if the pool was darker to hide all the equipment. There was so much more “surface activity” in the water before that all the lighting/ plumbing was disguised more. Seems like you do see a lot more of the mechanicals now.

Nope. People are going to express opinions. They put it out there that this was a “major renovation” and so far, some people don’t feel it has lived up to the build up. Yes, maybe there is more to come, but there is nothing wrong with having expectations and expressing disappointment when they aren’t met. Being “happy with what” lowers the bar and allows a business To get by with less. People aren’t saying “well that’s just horrible” they are just expressing disappointment with the results as they stand.

Just had an idea. If they were remaking the garden in front of festhaus, that would’ve been a neat place to have used one of the pedestals from the fountain to create a new fountain there. Much simpler, no big spray, just using the top bowl to overflow into a bottom pool. Would’ve been a nice nod to the past. Overall though, I think it’s “getting there”

I agree it’s better to see things in person, and I also agree that with the next few weeks of uninterrupted week day work days we will see many changes and final details being added, but I don’t agree with the “ cut them a break and don’t be critical yet” line of thinking. The park is now open to the public. What is “on stage” is there to be commented on. They know when opening day is, and I’m sure work hard on all projects to be complete by then, but it’s not like people are commenting on “work in progress” off season pics. Curtain is up, show’s on. Improvements can and should happen, but I feel it’s perfectly fine to make critical observations of a project in its “open” status.

Agree. Hopefully this is not a complete example of how this is going to look. I’m sure there is in-water lighting to be added. If it’s only external, it feels really flat. Maybe that’s why the light rigs are still up. Last year they were mostly taken down (with the exception of 1-2 or side) after winterfest. Maybe they left them up until the in- water lighting is installed. Last year they covered the footers with large urns which didn’t look bad.

From the pics not impressed overall. Didn’t “return to the way it looked..,” the trees moved are nice, but now there are just big light rigs in the middle of grass. Before the trees sort of hid the cheapness. If they were going to be fully seen they should’ve taken the opportunity to change to a more themed fixture. No lamp posts were added. No real additional landscaping. Still lots of flat grass around the now flat fountain. I think that’s what bothers me. Lots of “flat”. Same for the bandstand. Was a perfect chance to make the light rigs look less like a cheap temporary concert and more “architectural” I was really hoping they hit it out of the park with this since it’s s “once in a few decades project” but this doesn’t really impress me. Again, I was there to see in person tonight, but seems like a lot of missed opportunity.

Maybe if alcohol was only available in food locations and had to be consumed there it might cut down on some issues without cutting it out altogether.

“The year of a thousand details”

The concept art definitely looks like it’s for the “Kings” parks.

Yeah, it’s time to focus on the interior BIG TIME. more color, more light,food that makes sense ( Asian in a German food hall?) either make it MORE international with more ethnicities offered, or go all in non branded, non franchise and get away from average food branded from the “outside world”. And why do we always have country shows in the German area? Why is that not in a new, purpose build venue in rivertown. ( hey, there’s a big tall building that’s air conditioned that might work as a theatre)

River town larosas should be fried chicken.

Sorry, yes cat. Didn’t see this as something they would do annually (remove and replace two fountain pedestals) I think when those two were removed that should’ve been a hint. I think the time needed to remove them all plus the “shock” may have been why they only took out what they needed for winterfest this time around. Duhgfybcryjknkkfcffcbuyvfvb don’t you think?

You can see from the pic of the removed pedestals the wiring was cut as was the plumbing. Unless they were planning on adding some type of attachment couplers after the fact, the way they were removed indicates they weren’t coming back. When two were “temporarily removed” for winterfest i sort of thought this might be happening as I didn’t see this really being sinettingbtheyveiuldceantbti do annually with these at least the way they were originally constructed. While I liked the idea of them, I felt the blue and white color execution made them feel a bit dated. If they just were white or looked like stone that would’ve been better. We’ll see in a few weeks, but I don’t expect to see them back.

Lord almighty, get over it. I think he was saying it should be called the show fountain because of its new capabilities, not “I have it from the park directly it will now be called the royal show fountain” it’s semantics and maybe bad wording, but is it really worth trying to prove how “right” you are?

Former leadership. Sorry-didn’t clarify.

Bingo. Big building, no thought. Former Kings Island at its best!

I think this is s much better use of this space. The reds thing had no relation thematically to the area at all. Now I think the reds idea could definitely live over to coney. Maybe retheme the leftover happy days jukebox diner or even new build someplace over there. Baseball and burgers make more sense on the midway. No if they could just get LaRosas out of river town (maybe fried chicken? -even chick fil a) we’d be getting g a better food-theme fit.

I’m loving the nostalgia that is pushing a lot of their decision making these days. It’s slmist like there’s a slow return to some “glory days” ahead of us for a 50th celebration.

I hate them. Operationally, aesthetically and taste wise.

International festival thing?

Wish CFA would move to LaRosas in rivertown with a refreshed look. Fried chicken would fit Rivertown better than pizza theme-wise. Also wish they would move to all franchise food locations being named something else “presented by...” like “Front Porch Chicken-presented by ChickFil A” and don’t recreate the look of a chick fil a, larosas, skyline whatever. Serve the food in a unique looking location that ties into the park. All in all wish they thought more about using the type of food served to strengthen the “theme” of the area.

Which is Cedar Points entrance- not KI. Why wouldn’t you want both Ohio parks to feel unique and different?