Shaggy

The GP doest understand "Service Life" essentially means the product is no longer financially viable to operate and has little-to-no marketability. It has nothing to do with safety, everything to due to the cost of keeping it operational. Be it parts, repair, upkeep, electrical costs or manufacturer guarantees. There's a term used in the industry called "viable real-estate." FH obviously occupies real-estate that CF likely feels would be better used if re-purposed. Frankly, I never felt Firehawk was a ride "worthy" of KI. It was a second-hand, "reproduction" foot-print coaster who's novelty was short lived even at it's original park. When KI announced it, I was not impressed... a relocation was "beneath" the park IMO. As far as the ride experience - I literally only rode it twice at KI. It had the same effect each time - uncomfortable when hanging, arduous loading process, not really thrilling, and raised my head's blood pressure level to the point that it was hard to recover. It's placement at the park was awful, and wreaked of a knee-jerk "Hey, KI needs a coaster and we are going to unload GL - so lets just ship it there and stick it over by FOF" mentality. I'll not miss it... as i would not miss Invertigo either.

The Arrow Shuttle-Loop coaster at KI - Screamin Demon - was only located at Kings Island, then at Camden Park as Thunderbolt Express. The owner of Fun Spot originally attempted to buy Screamin Demon from KI in 1987 when they announced it's removal, but the deal fell through for unspecified reasons - but more than likely because he revealed to the press why KI was removing it (for "a flume ride" which ultimately was Amazon Falls) The park opted to sell to Camden instead. Arrow's original prototype Shuttle-Loop coaster was opened at Circus World in Florida (after KI's opened - Screamin Demon was the first Arrow Shuttle Loop to operate for the public) where it ran from 1977 until the park (later named Boardwalk and Baseball) closed abruptly in 1990. The coaster was then purchased and relocated to Fun Spot in 1991 where it operated at AfterburnER until 2008.

Re: Those curious about Screamin Demon - here's the blog I write detailing it's entire history... https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2017/august/thrown-for-a-loop Re: The KD Flying coaster... I cannot speak to the details of the KD side of things, as I wasn't privy to specifics of that park - just KI... I will say, I would question KD ever being slated to get an RCCA wooden looping coaster because: RCCA didnt even finish the SOB project - they were fired before it was completed & KI was hellbent on being the only park in the chain with a looping wooden coaster.

I have quite a “Firehawk” back-story many of you may be interested in hearing. Now that the ride is “gone” I feel its ok to share… I sat on this for 15 years now... LOL! In 2003, I was invited to go to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure with the Paramount’s Kings Island Marketing Team on a “field trip.” Jeff Siebert, David Mandt, Maureen (then) Kaiser (then the parks’ brand-new PR Director) and I spent some time taking in the park… it was a great day. Specifically we all were there to ride X-Flight (later to become Firehawk) and it was then that I learned its true story. Now, the KI Marketing Team was stellar - and never divulged any company information... However, after rides had opened, they would sometimes share the stories of how the ride came to be... Well, the rumors all about the "X-Flight/Firehawk" have persisted since, so here’s your official verification… As many as you may know already… Vekoma first partnered with Paramount Parks to develop “Stealth” at California’s Great America. Both KI and KD were already slated to get the 2nd & 3rd versions of the coaster in 2002. The issues Stealth faced in development, coupled with the fact that Kings Island was under great scrutiny with their own bevvy of Son of Beast issues, Paramount Parks (specifically the park’s GM - Tim Fisher) made the decision to pass on the exclusive rights to the coaster and not install. Vekoma, already in the manufacturing process, then offered the options to Six Flags who opted to quickly install the rides at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure and Six Flags America – respectively. (As I understood, the routing & delivery of the rides was already scheduled – so rather than further complicate matters, Six Flags simply added them to the 2 parks closest to KI & KD.) Paramount, who had funded Vekoma’s development of the ride, likely profited from the sale of the two coasters to Six Flags. If memory serves me, it wasn’t finalized, but the working “theme” of the Flyer for KI was to be “Mission Impossible.” After the coaster installs for KI & KD were cancelled in late 2000, Paramount Parks R&D in LA immediately switched gears to develop a ride for KI to take the spot vacated in 2002. Tim Fisher was behind much of the push to “modernize” Kings Island and removed what he considered “eyesore” and “dated” rides. That’s why KCKC was demolished and Tomb Raider came into origin – as a direct reaction to the cancellation of the flyer. Ironically, King Cobra at KI was originally going to be demolished in 1999 – and not open with Action Zone. But once the development of “Stealth” began – KI opted to hold on to KC for two more seasons in order to swap a coaster for coaster… The “new” “more vibrant” paint job that KC was given when Action Zone opened was a decision to mask what Tim Fisher considered an “eyesore” by that point in time. After Action Zone opened, King Cobra was again slated for removal in 2001 as preparation for the Vekoma Flyer to be added in its spot. Even after the flyer was cancelled, KC still met the fate of the wrecking ball after 2 years of the park attempting to sell it. It was on this day that I learned that Delirium & Scooby Doo’s installation in 2003 were a direct result of PKI passing of the Vekoma Flyer. This trip was also the first time I heard the name “Dave Cobb” mentioned… Mr Cobb (unknown to me at the time) was already developing “Italian Job: Stunt Track” for KI’s 2005 season. I met him later, when KI first installed the ride and learned that the removal of the Antiques and Flyers were a result of Tim Fisher's initiative to modernize the park. Maureen Kaiser (with whom I rode X-Flight at SFWOA that very day) stayed with KI into 2007, and oversaw the PR of the coaster's installation before passing the torch to Don Helbig. Tim Fisher (who by then had transitioned to Paramount's Carowinds) left the company in 2006 when Paramount Parks was sold to Cedar Fair. However - ironically - it was while he was at Carowinds that the park relocated "Stealth" from Paramount's Great America to become "Borg:Assimilator" at PCow. Mr Fisher joined Cedar Fair Parks as the COO in late 2017... So there you have it… a lot of the PKI rides installed in the early 2000’s were actually a domino-effect result of X Flight not going to Kings Island as intended.

IS the announcement being streamed somewhere?

The commercial for Vortex at KI when it premiered was great! It featured an animated version of the robot hand actually grabbing and twisting the track.

He ran out of riddles... ;-)

Ever heard the phrase "Cant see the forest for the trees?" ;-) Foresight is key...

Oooof...

If you were mislead, its of your own doing. The park never put those fliers up, nor did they comment or react to speculation. All the "teasing" was perpetuated by fanboys (and girls) not KI.

Amen to that. Scrapping the originals for Stunt Coaster - or whatever its called now - was the utmost low-point in the parks history. I was praying he'd say that they were tearing it down and putting them back there... but I'll take them any way I can get them. This is a wise move by KI, and it absolutely warms my heart!

The general rumor has always been that KI's original Monster - that came from Coney - went to Wonderland when it opened. KI got a re-furbished replacement. What warranted this rumor is that for the better part of the season Wonderland opened, 1981, KI's monster was MIA... Pics from that season seem to confirm that. However I have never had it verified, only speculated. At Wonderland, the ride (called "Shiva's Fury") operated until 2003. As far as I know, the parts were not sent to KI. I've been told the ride sits in pieces in a back-stage area of Wonderland to this day.

I like to think BIG... like an entire area re-vamp. My hope is that Coney Mall is getting a complete reno. It certainly needs it. I personally think that the addition of the Smokehouse restaurant this season could have been a precursor/start of much needed infrastructure changes to the area. I'd love a complete re-furb of Racer and flat package, as well as new lighting/facades etc. I think "something old is new again" references the entire Coney area. I think as a part of that reno, will a modern take on a previous attraction... fingers crossed for recaR. Heck... I'd be happy with just the sculpted Ginkgo trees coming back! Shaggy

Coaster - Yay! Theme - Yuk Chances are the coaster will long outlast the NFL licensing. My mind recalls how "Dale Earnhardt's Intimidator 305" is now just referred to by KD as simply "Intimidator 305."

I got into an altercation with an idiot at SFGAM recently over a camera in use on a ride. He rode Goliath directly in front of me, while attempting to video the entire ride with his hands stretched in the air. Because he was an idiot... he couldn't control his arms... so they flailed backwards into my face the entire ride. I spent the entire time dodging the possibility of him letting go and my getting hit with his cell. I cant tell you anything about the ride except that I had this dummy being negligent the entire time. He had pulled the cell out and begun filming BEFORE we left the station... I even yelled for him to put it away going up the lift - but he "couldnt" hear me due to the loud lift I guess. (Oh brother) Ride ops clearly saw it and turned a blind eye. When we hit the final brakes, I grabbed the hood of his sweatshirt and tugged it as hard as I could to get his attention. I then had to parent the punk... who of course called me every name in the book, on why what he did was moronic. When we reached the station, I promptly told the ride ops, who did nothing - literally NOTHING. My opinion is, it is because of their age and attitude, they either dont care - or are too afraid to deal with the rule breakers. Now, if I (who avoids conflict, and is about as non-confrontational as they come) was able to get that agitated, its a wonder more parks dont often have more altercations far worse. Ambivalence to the safety of others is a plague affecting parks. And it needs addressed or more accidents of this type will continue to occur.

I actually enjoy interacting with International Workers. Heck, its one of the highlights of EPCOT. I had a fascinating conversation with a young lady in the Norway shop once for nearly an hour - she had a great life story, and she was only like 22! I tell all people that go there, take the time to chat with the workers... they are more interesting then anything there! My dream would be for KI to return the International flavor of International Street... and use authentic international employees.

Geez, digging up a post from 16 years ago to contradict? LOL In all seriousness, that was an answer to a specific question posed by someone referring to the immediate season(s) that followed. They didn't bring it back until 2005... and gossip revealed it was a big financial flop. (Cedar Fair took over in 2006, cancelled it saying they didn't have the ability to orchestrate it in time as the new owners. However it's pretty obvious that had it made $$$, they would have continued it...) This past year, however, to those of us outsiders, Winterfest seemed to be a tremendous success. I think it's owed mostly to the fact that it was brand new all over again and rode a wave of nostalgia. However, you cant solely base an events success off the first year. The second, third and hopefully fourth is typically the true test of it's success. I know they didnt plan for it to be a 1 and done... so it will be around for at least a few seasons... hopefully more. I love it.

I'm pretty sure I know who they were. If I am correct, then no, they had nothing to do with a new coaster. They were taking pictures... that later got posted to FB and a website... One was there for purposes related to another attraction at the park.

They've got a sold out Coastermania in 2 days... I hope they get all the kinks worked out! Is SV still operating with just 1 train?

I've always wondered how they got all those SOB footings removed. There were THOUSANDS of them. The rose bowl even had pilings driven hundreds of feet in the ground. I cannot imagine the work it took to pull all of them up... if they did... and how they did it... or if they just covered them up. For several years, the larger footings that supported King Cobra over the access road/former safari monorail tracks were still there long after the ride was removed. I believe these were removed when Banshee was built. At the very least, the former SOB footings on the precise parcels of land in which Banshee was built had to be removed as well. I guess they use a backhoe to dig them up and then toss them in a dump truck? If so after about 5, they'd have to get a new truck due to weight restrictions. It baffles me and is something no one ever talks about when a coaster gets demolished... what happens with all those concrete pillars! When Geauga Lake was demolished, all the footings were left. No doubt because removal would have been too costly. They've since been removed, from what I hear, but again... how'd they do it? Here's a pic...

Pay attention... you see a bunch of lopped-off Bat supports and footers as the train exits the station.

AFAIK The Lion Country Safari was never opened year-round at KI. It was intended to, but never did. The park issued a press release the first week of October 1974 indicating the attraction would be open weekends only through November (originally intended for daily operations) and then closed for the winter months. (Mostly because the area was bracing for a hard winter - predicted by the farmers almanac.)

Many forget, and recall PT through rose-colored glasses... but by the time Phantom Theater closed, well over half the effects were no longer working. The ride definitely showed its age. Although I would have loved it if the ride had been upgraded using the same theme, the issue was that many of the animatronics would have needed to be completely replaced. The change to SDATHC was largely due to the fact for less money than a refurbishment, the park could install a brand new, marketable experience. Simply fixing Phantom Theater would not have allowed them to market it as a new attraction. Interactive rides were HIGHLY popular, and the park saw the chance to add something that brought a new "twist" to the genre. For instance, many do not know this, but the character faces/hands in Phantom Theater themselves were very thin rubber skins that had to regularly be replaced. They stretched and melted with time and the park had to call the manufacturer to order new.... the manufacturer had to recreate them using the original molds, then have an artist paint them, then ship them, then they had to be re-installed. It was just part of the cost in keeping the ride operational. When a ride loses it's marketability, the land/building on/in which it exists is viewed by parks as "real-estate." If an aged attraction escalates in upkeep and dwindles in ridership, then the value of the land on which it resides outweighs the revenue it's helping generate. When it becomes expensive to maintain - much like a car - then the park pulls the plug for something new, marketable and cost effective.

The writer of the article is misinformed. They state: “But as some companies have a way of doing, Paramount Parks, which owned KI back then, tried to milk more and more profits out of the event. Predictably, attendance fell and, after a decade, they discontinued it.” That couldn’t be more inaccurate. Winterfest’s original run never had anything to do with a Paramount. By the time Paramount purchased KI, the park had already decided to end Winterfest. Attendance had fallen and interest had wained in the final 2 seasons. Winterfest concluded in 1992, and Paramount took over for the 1993 season. I don’t think the Paramount deal was even finalized until Nov of 1992... Paramount never in no way “milked more and more profits from the event.” Now in 2005, that’s a different story. The event was very commercial- and too expensive - and that was very much due to Paramount. Frankly, as hard as this may be to hear, Winterfest was ended because the park was in transition, but also because of guests.... or lack of. It wasn’t supported attendance-wise in the final years of its original run. And, frankly, a lot of the soaring attendance were seeing at this new Winterfest - as well as the overwhelming interest in it - is directly related to it being gone for so long. If it is not supported, making a profit, or a worthwhile endeavor for the park, it’ll go away again in a few seasons. Next year will likely be a crucial year in determining its staying power - since the “newness” will have worn a bit in its sophomore season.

For those that attended this past weekend... what were crowds like? (I am selfishly hoping big - I want KI to experience a great reward for their hard labor!)