Shaggy

Alrighty then...

Mmmmkay... we shall see...

Me thinks you are in for a surprise...

I noticed that too - they've enclosed the former outdoor queue. Oh - and it seems pretty obvious that those are bathrooms that they've added closer to The Racer.

Have you ridden an S&S 4d Free Spin coaster? I've ridden 3 of them - and they are terrible. (I only rode the last two for the "count.") If... and that's a big if... Kings Dominion is getting one... then shame shame shame. Not of CF quality. Shaggy

Coronavirus Care Center

May I ask why it matters so much? Im not trying to ruffle feathers. I just don’t understand why it’s a big deal whether a fence is added or not. Historically the park has often erected a wooden fence to shroud areas from view of the public. Sometimes for esthetic reasons, sometimes to mask what’s going on behind them. Just to name few - when KCKC was torn down, a wooden fence was added. Same for King Cobra, Xtreme Raceway (I think it was called), Kings Mill Log Flume, Food stand in Rivertown (pre MT), Sunshine Turnpike, and most recently Firehawk (Probably more but all I can think of right off the top of my head.). Back in the day - during the original Run of Winterfest - entire areas of the park were masked by wooden fencing to deter guests from accessing closed sections (rear of Rivertown, Coney Mall, Wild Animal Habitat etc) If I were to guess, Id expect them to put a wooden fence up along the midway from Rivertown to Coney Mall. If nothing else, to hide a currently unattractive area of the park (not to mention build mystery.) It would (or will) be a loooong fence to cover all that area - however. My prediction is it’s probably shocking to see the large plot of land sitting empty. It would make sense if they had to remove a lot of trees and foliage growth to demolish Vortex. They likely destroyed a lot of the soil under Vortex with equipment. That having been said, I would think they’d want to at least attempt to mask the vacancy and disturbance to the landscape. If you’re concerned about being able to see the site - there’s always the view from the Tower. But the park has been pretty clear that nothing immediate will be happening in its spot. (Make no mistake, however, something IS going to go in that area.) But bottom line - if they do or if they don’t, it’s not a big deal. At least not as big a deal as many on here like to make things out to be from time to time. Just sayin’

I've been suffering from bronchitis and a terrible sinus infection. So I finally broke down and went to Urgent Care yesterday. I asked about Coronavirus prep (not because I was concerned I had it) and they said Urgent Care facilities do not even have testing supplies yet.

Somebody pulled out the cork.

None "died." I think the water ranges from only a couple feet deep to it's deepest part - 5 feet. The guests were evac'd and none injured - just wet (according to reports.) Its already reopened. Now if the boat flipped or something that could be bad...

Here is a picture I dug up of the former "Congo Curio Gift Shop" in its final year before the area was re-themed to Action Zone. (By then it was called Outback Trading Company or such. You'll notice in that picture that Cobra's loop was in the midst of being primed for it's repaint.) Also, there are 3 subsequent pictures of it's demolition and the foundation of "Ice Scream Zone" being poured during the winter of 1998. As far as the opinion that Action Zone was tacky... Adventure Village was, IMO, the worst that area of the park has ever looked. From about 1995-1997 the area was a shell of its former self, a ghost town as far as foot traffic and void of all of its previous lush theme elements. (Even the hay & bamboo thatching was removed from all the building rooftops and shingles took their place.) For those of us that lived through the terrible Adventure Village years, Action Zone was a welcome change. A major shift happened around 1994 and then in 1995 when Skyflyer was installed - the area was stripped of all theming and was just a bunch of brown buildings. If I recall properly, it was during the opening of the 1994 season at the preview for "Days of Thunder - The Ride" that I first noticed the waterway in "Adventure Village" had been removed. The stream that led from under Cobra under the footbridge entrance to the area was gone and the path had been widened and paved. (Mostly likely for congestion control following the premiere of Top Gun the year prior.) By the time Skyflyer was added - the whole area had become a large, flat plaza - very blah.

I hope that’s the music they’ll play in the station!

"Marketed" is the key word there. As I understand, amounts marketed are typically for the whole project - not just the cost of the physical coaster. ;-) Either way it's all semantics. Orion is the coaster KI is getting. Comparisons will always be - that's just nature. But I have a feeling all the complaints about it not being a "record-breaker" will change once it opens. Well, at least until coaster geeks get bored and start whining online again - which seems to be a favorite pastime. LOL!

Its my personal belief that the size of a coaster at CF Park A has nothing to do with the size of the same coaster-type installed later at CF Park B. I believe it to be related to financial planning, marketability, and sustainability in the region. They make independent installation decisions based on what the specific market can support. Likely, a capitol expenditure amount is set and they approach manufacturers with a "What can you give us in this type of ride with a budget of $xxx." Shaggy

I've been fortunate to have been to both parks. I attended many years ago when they were under the original, and/or previous ownership. Indiana Beach was still owned by the Spackmans (Tom Spackman was a very nice man.) When I went to Fantasy Island it was called MARTINS Fantasy Island and owned by Martin DiPietro. (I think I went twice.) Martin's was a quaint park with a decent CCI woodie. I remember Silver Comet being a fun ride, but nothing to write home about. It wasnt, IMO, and all-day park. Rather something you did as a stop on the way to Niagara Falls. Indiana Beach was the better of the two - and Cornball Express was a real gem. However I'll always remember IB the most for having the weirdest "coaster" I've ever ridden - "Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain." I went to the park a couple times - and was struck at how much it literally seemed like an old-school sea-side amusement park. I'm sad to see them go, but don't feel a personal loss because it has literally been 18 years since I went to either. I had actually told myself this past summer "I need to get back to Indiana Beach"... but I'll just have to live with my memories. Here's a few pics of my last visit to Indiana Beach in August 2002.

To be honest (although I look forward to riding it this year) I personally thought the whole project was odd. The coaster is an unusual "try" for the park and the name/theme is limiting. But that was just my opinion.

If memory serves me... Coastermania used to be a 2 day event. Seems like I recall back when I started going that it was spread over 2 days. I've have always had a great time at Coastermania - I guess I've been to 7 or so over the past 20+ years (I think its been going on that long...) I actually have found the better years to attend are the ones on "off" years - meaning a year without a new coaster. Fewer people - so more rides during ERT. My most memorable Coastermania was 2017 - when I finally got a rollback on TTD during nighttime ERT. Yes, it was as awesome as I dreamed. Comparing Coastermania to Coasterstock is apples and oranges. 2 different events, 2 different parks. But I will say, last year's Coasterstock was pretty much the best event I've been to in all the years of doing this. Mostly because the park offered many, many non-public things to do during the day.... whereas at CM (other than meals) you're just kind of left to do your own thing in-between morning ERT and night ERT. Also - and maybe it was just me - but the people that attended last year's Coasterstock were more friendly, and from what I witnessed - more respectful. Unfortunately, I cannot say that for some of the attendees I've witnessed at Coastermania. That having been said - I recommend both events. But Coasterstock is a dont miss.

Can you elaborate about the Palace comment? Do you mean you feel they were unhappy with the ride itself, or the revenue/attendance results based on its installation. (Or lack therof)

Oh how I hope they paint the fountain base blue again...

The Gift Shop at King Cobra's exit was the "Congo Curio Gift shop" originally built in 1974 as a part of Lion Country Safari. When King Cobra opened, the exit was routed through it. Later, they altered it so you didn't have to exit through the shop - rather around the building. The current "Ice Scream Zone" is located EXACTLY where Congo Curio was - however when Action Zone was built, they demolished Congo Curio completely and built the Ice Cream stand in its place. As far as KC... I am pretty sure I rode it during its first year of operation... or at the very least in 1985. It was always my favorite of any standup coaster - and I've ridden a bunch. Let's see, off the top of my head, I've ridden King Cobra, Shockwave, Skyrider, Scorcher, Chang, Riddler's Revenge, Mantis, Vortex, Iron Wolf and Batman the Escape... maybe more. The Togos, in general, were much more enjoyable than the B&M's have ever been. Skyrider was on par with KC... Shockwave a distant 3. (Shockwave suffered from a more jarring ride, especially in its second half.) The first drop into the loop on King Cobra was terrific - you got "yanked" down the hill and there was an enjoyable split-second "pause" at the top of the loop and then you got air at the top of the hill leading into the helix.. It really was a fun ride - and the most enjoyable of the bunch. The only thing I always felt was a miss was the "trick track" portion of the ride... it just kind of tilted sideways... and was "meh."

I know... but I’ll keep that to myself for a later time. Can’t give it all away at once, you know... lol

I agree. While it remains to be seen what will happen to the site, something WILL happen. And although there may not be an actual firm "plan", there's likely at least ideas being tossed around. As a former (P)KI official once told me "Areas of a park are viewed in terms of real estate. If a parcel of land has a low-producing or aging attraction, we begin mulling the viability of using that land for a future installation - and then may choose to ready the site for a new attraction." Fiscal planning and guest satisfaction surveys will likely help determine how quickly it happens.... but I guarantee you there's already an intent to use the space for something else they can market in the future. BTW, before "The Bat" was ever demolished, the park began looking at other options for the land. At the time it was demolished, the park then sent David Focke on a trial expedition overseas to solicit and test new coaster possibilities. Remember - this was happening at the very same time King Cobra was being added. (KC opened in 1984 - that following November the park announced demolition of "The Bat". Vortex opened in spring 1987.) The park already knew they wanted a high-thrill coaster to take The Bat's place before they even began looking at specific manufacturers and types. There were at least 3 different manufacturer proposals for the site - and ultimately KI chose to work with Arrow again in order to design and develop Vortex. I'm excited to see what the eventual outcome of Vortex's removal will be... but for now I'm more excited to take rides on Orion. In these insane social media days of "I want to be the first to know" or "I want to be the first to tell" the park isn't about to breathe a word of future intentions to anyone not directly involved. Whatever comes of The Vortex land vacancy, I selfishly don't want to hear about it via "leaked" blueprints. That just spoils the fun and speculation for me - and just isn't a nice thing to do to the park. Shaggy

I’d almost be willing to bet they’ll remove the turnaround next, then drop, then pull the lift over ala SOB. Unless, of course, they don’t. lol

As an outsider, it does appear they are really far ahead on this one! Exciting! But I would assume they’ll do clearance checking way before they ever consider sending a train. (On B&Ms there’s a specially devised framework resembling the width and height of the train & riders that gets moved along the track.) Even though there’s not a lot of areas that visually appear close - I’m sure they’ll still do it. I’ve never known if the “B&M Ball” is used to check clearance - or if that’s just for maintenance - but Fury has one so I would guess Orion will too. I’ve heard this “ball” is used after vertical construction completes for addressing track and joint needs. Plus, do we know if the chain has been installed? I guess they probably did that while they still had the “big” crane. But I don’t know when that process typically takes place. There’s a ton of electrical that has to be done after vertical erection is complete in any coaster- along with computer and sensor programming. I’m sure they will send a train as soon as they can - but not until it’s ready. It’s got to be a very exciting time for the park knowing they are getting closer and closer. Side note - I think the fact that they’ve already announced media day, and accepted registrations for it, is a pretty good indicator that they know they’ll have the coaster running well before then. (I believe the State requires tons of cycles before a guest can ride.)