Shaggy

I'm kind of numb to the sponsor thing. Its been around so long I look past it. Lest we forget KI was, essentially one big Sponsorship... built to capitalize and propagate Taft and Hanna-Barbera Productions. Attraction "Sponsors" are hardly unique to SF.... Heck KI opened several attractions with commercial names plastered all over them. Sherwin Williams, Bank America, Kahn's, Rainbo Bakers, Coke, Marathon Oil, Fotomat etc. KI has had hundreds of them over the years. Remember Kodak Photospots? Or Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal sponsored by Kayak Pools? How about Landscaping by John Deere? Shows at the American Heritage Music Hall sponsored by Chevrolet? One could go one and on. Granted the ride cars didn't necessarily have the sponsor's names on them - but the signage and park paraphernalia sure did. Finally, let's not discount the Paramount Years... where most every new attraction's theme was essentially a commercial for a dated movie title.

KK is moving the "adult" rides, minus Lightning Run from the front of the park to the newly expanded area between the Thunder Run Plaza and Storm Chaser. I look for everything - including Storm Chaser to be re-themed/re-named. They will close the path that ran from Storm Chaser to the former T2, mostly to remove rides and install a major "attraction" rounding out the two-year $25M plan. I believe the vacancies created by the loss of the rides at the front of the park will be filled with more substantial buildings & infrastructure (over time) that will allow them to flesh out their Halloween and Holiday events. IMO, if they don't seize the opportunity to relocate the carousel to the former location of Helivator, they're nuts. There's ZERO charm/interest to the front entrance plaza. Should the Fairgrounds ever plan to re-route perimeter road, it would obviously benefit the park greatly. But, as I understand, that's still a long-range dream. That having been said, it seems ironic that Hershend is clearing the rides from a side of the park on which a newly-routed road would need to go. The relocation of the rides could be killing two-birds with one stone - should the fairground ever move forward with a re-route. But for now the focus is on building the new Wing/Hall behind the existing West Wing. That's planned for the rear of the fairgrounds - not near or around KK. When that hall is complete, they will then move to the second phase and replace the West Wing & West Wing Pavillion. The WW Pavillion is adjacent to the entrance plaza of KK only. Of note, the renderings I've seen of the Fairgrounds remodel still show the road dissecting KK. (See pic below) One main issue that has always prevented the re-location of the perimeter road is the State Fair Midway. The Midway rides are all placed in the exact area where the new road would need to go - and there's electrical infrastructure placed in the lot that powers the rides and attractions. Not to mention the road would now dissect the SF midway from the park. During the State Fair - they "merge" the park with the Midway. But there's also been a long-standing rumor dating back to the Six Flags days that there's an intention to "flip" the entry of the park. As I understand, both Six and Hart discussed the possibility of pushing the main entrance to the (former) T2 area. With parking being placed in the lot adjacent to Kentucky Flyer. KK is still a mediocre (at best) half-day park. Here's hoping it can grow and improve. However it still fights many of the same battles it always has - mainly perception by the locals. That is, and always will be their greatest challenge.

I’ve been saying there’s more removals to come. And there still are… Re: SFMM.. I have heard there are as many as 4 coasters potentially on the chopping block at SFMM alone. Of course that park is, IMO, over saturated with coasters. So I don’t think the loss of them would prove too detrimental. Im not as sentimental about any of the removals as many. Just kind of the way of the times. I do hope that the SF execs look at a variety of opportunities as their replacements… like more flats and water rides. For years parks have gone coaster heavy. As I age, I’m more attracted to a wider variety of attractions- rather than just coasters.

I'm sure there's a minimal level of care. But they are making decisions from a non-emotional standpoint. Remember, the parks are being overseen by a team led by the very person who, when they were acting GM at KI, sacrificed the original Antiques, KCKC, and Flying Eagles. Sentimentality is not forefront on the current executive teams mind. Cutting maintenance costs and redemption of real-estate within the parks is. As I said in an earlier post - it is what it is.... and there's more to come...

As a Louisville resident, I hope Christmas at the Kingdom grows into a nice local/regional event and finds its niche. I am glad others have had a good time attending, and I hope those planning to attend enjoy themselves. That having been said, I had an overwhelmingly disappointing experience. I would grade it a "D+." I'll keep things semi-short by saying there's a great deal of room for improvement in many areas. The most noteworthy being a terrible layout and confusing flow through the park. Oddly closed off paths, dead ends, very dark unlit paths, a lack of directional signs etc. Obviously being the first attempt, it can't necessarily be a home run. So I'm sure those in charge will spend a great deal of time reviewing what worked, and what didn't. (Here's a couple starter tips KK: Move Santa to the front of the park - no one can find him and he literally has no one waiting to see him. Staff some security in your gift shops so that your revenue stream isn't getting stuffed into the pockets and purses of thieving guests. Also, send some security to those confusing and dark paths to curb pot smoking.)

There's more closures/demo notices yet to come across several other parks. SF Corporate is going hard on high-cost, high maintenance rides. It is what it is. Personally, if/when this comes to fruition - I will not miss Nighthawk. It was a terrible ride and is on my "will never ride again" list.

..available to all through the KI Merch site. https://merch.cedarfair.com/products/trading-cards-ki-series-2?variant=44949615509635

Whenever I think of Vortex, let alone walk by the empty plot, I feel like I lost an old friend. I've mourned the loss of that coaster way more than I thought I would. Knowing what BGW did with Loch Ness for this season, it makes me especially sad to think of Vortex's demise. KI has been on a major nostalgia/history kick for several years now... a re-launch of a refurb'd Vortex could have been a home run for them. While I understand the reasons for its removal, to me the park still seems "off" without it. It was a landmark ride - mostly because it was so many peoples first "big" coaster. As others have said - not only is there a visual void, but also an audio void. When I walk by that area, its weird to not hear the sound of the metal catwalks rattling coupled with the jingling of the lift and the bell as a train was dispatched. I also still stand by my opinion that Vortex's first drop was the best tummy tickler at the park. Whatever goes there MUST be a landmark and visual masterpiece worthy of the hallowed land it will reside on.

Doubt it. For posterity - I believe only the front half of the park will be utilized for the event. At least the first season. It will be a nice event that will draw locals. Louisville needs something like this. But does their pumpkin event hurt KI? Not really.

One of the WORST parts of being a ride op was having to check seats for wallets, cell phones and (in the day - late '90's) pagers. People lost them constantly. When they did, you'd have to run your hand all around the edges, under the seats, between the seat and sidewall of train etc. I was never able to hide my disdain for doing that. The trains were notoriously gross. However, one such situation gave me one of my best "Working at KI" stories. I had to "swipe" the seat on Beast looking for a lost pager... I reached under the seat, felt something, pulled it out... and in my hand there was a... T u r d The people waiting to board the train, and myself, let out a collective gasp and "EWWWWWWWWWWW." I immediately threw it in the trash and demanded a "6", and went promptly to the restroom to scour my hands. Ecology was called in the meantime... Well, after their inspection - it turned out it wasn't p o o. It was a foam carrot from a prize stuffed animal that had gotten soggy/wet and turned brown from all the grease and dirt. After that, I refused to do the seat swipes anymore. True story. P.S. - We didn't find their pager.

Great find... the thing that jumped out to me was the fact that the directional mural on top of Enchanted Voyage was in the midst of being painted. I knew it was added mid-1972, but this captured it in progress.

I stopped by this past weekend to pay my final respects…

I was lucky enough to eat there around 2000 or so when it was the original Crown Colony House. It was a very nice, relaxing sit-down full service restaurant. Tables had linens, waiters were in formal attire, full bar, high-end menu. (If I recall I believe I had filet mignon) Here's a couple pics I took on one visit there back in the day...

To his credit, Mr Koontz has tried season after season to get the flyers back from Carowinds. Once they were installed this last time, it pretty much sealed the option of them being transferred anytime in the near future.

I saw the new version of the Hatbox Ghost the week it premiered at Disneyland - and I loved it. Now although I'm excited to see it added to the WDW attraction, I am in the camp of people that has an issue with this version. At DL, the Hatbox Ghost appears just as you exit the attic and head into the cemetery "Grim Grinning Ghosts" 2nd act of the ride. This immediately follows the "Constance Hatchaway" bride subtext where her grooms all lost their heads. Perfect placement for the Hatbox figure. The new version at WDW has the Hatbox Ghost appearing just to the left of the endless hallway - very early in the 1st act of the ride - and long prior to the bride arc. The decision on his placement at WDW is obviously related to the recent movie storyline... where the Hatbox Ghost essentially walks/appears in the hallways. However when it comes to the original attraction's storyline - this placement doesn't jive. The general story/idea of the ride is that until you enter the seance room, and Madame Leota conjures the spirts to awaken, you do not physically see a ghost. Sure, prior to Leota, you get "hints" of the ghosts (shadows... footsteps... rattling doors, a hand trying to escape a coffin etc.) but you never physically see one. At WDW, now you do. IMO, the placement of the Hatbox Ghost in the WDW attraction defies the original storyline of the attraction. It just doesnt make sense.