Shaggy

It does and it doesn't... I rode Adventure Express in it's first season and it was actually extremely well done. It was the 2nd half of a 2-part deal KI had made with R&R Creative (the folks that came up with Phantom Theater's theming.) They first designed Phantom Theater, and then moved on to the theming of Kings Islands new "Runaway mine train coaster" the park had in the works with Arrow Dynamics. Obviously the picture dramatizes some elements, but when it opened the theming was pretty over-the top. All the tunnels had fog, lighting effects, water splashes, animatronics etc. What exists now is, well, about 20% of it's original effects. *Side note* Did you know in Adventure Express' first couple of seasons of operation, the Wild Animal Safari Monorail actually passed through the ride area?

Today is a really nice day in Louisville. There's only a slight chill in the air, but the sun is out and makes me look forward to the looming spring (my favorite time of year.) We were lucky this year and, knock wood, didn't have a really snowy/icy/bitter cold winter. it had it's moments, but overall it could be a lot worse. Why am I bringing this up? Because every year I marvel at the workers that labor in rain, sleet, snow, cold, hail, ice, wind, freezing temps etc all to build something we'll enjoy in much more pleasurable weather. Year after year the construction crews that assemble the new attractions at KI must face some pretty difficult elements. I hope this season, as each of us ride Mystic Timbers, we take a moment to think about those that braved the elements to help make magic for us. I know I certainly appreciate their hard work!

Yes... Taft was involved in Marineland for a while. Marineland in CA got tossed around a lot - and eventually ended up SBNO. Here's a snippet about Taft's involvement from this website: http://blogs.dailybreeze.com/history/2014/08/23/marinelands-tumultuous-final-days/ In October 1977, Marineland was sold again, this time to the Kroger Company and Taft Broadcasting for $5 million. Taft also owned the Hanna-Barbera animation studio, and decided to remake the park using the studio’s familiar characters Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo, Huckleberry Hound and others. The park was closed on October 31, 1977, for remodeling, and many employees were laid off. It reopened on May 27, 1978 as Hanna Barbera’s Marineland. In addition to the various cartoon-themed renovations, the refurbishments included the Marine Animal Care Center, whose mission was to treat wounded marine animals. The park had been doing just that since its inception, but the Center established a special facility for sea animal care. Taft did invest a considerable sum in Marineland, adding participatory attractions such as the Family Adventure Swim, followed by Baja Reef, where swimmers could swim and snorkel through a custom-built aquarium. Attendance began rising back towards the 1 million mark, after dipping as low as 700,000 during its lean years. In 1981, Taft sold Marineland to Far East Hotels and Entertainment Ltd., a Hong Kong company that ran hotels and amusement parks. The company, a division of Warwick International, promised to invest in refurbishing the aging park, but did little more than give it superficial touch ups, such as a fresh coat of paint

The tree was the Puppet Tree I mentioned above. The "farm" was McScrappy's Farm. The "Farm" actually resembled one of those Fisher Price Little People Farms.

I'm not trying to bring you down - but you do know the house of cards was just a tiny walk through? They were more decorative than anything - the inside just had a couple of fun house mirrors - that's it as far as I remember. The bigger attraction in the area was actually the Puppet Tree - which was adjacent. That seems to have escaped a lot of the pictorial history of Kings Island.

I'll eventually upload all that I have. (Its a slooow process with scanning etc) Frankly, I have so much, I won't know what I have until I get to it. As far as pictures, what I have is from the years I attended - and I first went to KiI in 1981.

Thanks for all the work, and best wishes!

With much, much more to come! Thanks for the bump

Wanna know a huge *secret?* The Marketing/PR Director at the time (who can be seen in the video - and shall remain nameless) was released just a couple months later immediately following the Son of Beast announcement event. (IMO, well deserved!) Just prior to the announcement of SOB, Tim Fisher called in his former marketing Director at Carowinds, to move to Cincinnati and restructure the marketing team. - Thats how David Mandt became Marketing Director. David's first big move was to hire an enthusiastic young man to oversee PR, who was then doing marketing for Americana. The young man was at the SOB media event and it was there that i first met Jeffrey Siebert. Jeff came on board at PKI shortly after, and the team he and David created would prove to be utterly successful for the park, enthusiasts and the industry. That change single-handedly turned around the marketing of Kings Island, and started a momentum that continues on to this day with Don. Today those two help lead the industry... and that, my friends, is history...

The stunt show was not discontinued because of the shootings. After the shootings, the guns were removed from the show, and it limped along through the 1999 season. It was cancelled late in the season when Tim Fisher viewed it, felt it was poor entertainment and embarassing, and he immediately dismissed the "stunt men" following an afternoon show.

To be quite honest, the details escape me. I probably would have recalled that once upon a time, but my KI memory is not what it used to be. What I do recall is that the day it opened to the general public, it was misting/raining. My goal in the FB page isn't to recollect the specifics/minutia/dates as much as it is to share the wealth of pictures and materials I have amassed over the years. As I post, I simply type in a few comments as best I recall.

For anyone curious about the construction of Action Zone - including Face/Off and Drop Zone - I just uploaded a bunch of photos. (Including an ULTRA RARE look inside Drop Zone's tower!)

Unless the queue goes back there, they'd be pointless... you cant see the outside while inside. ;-)

Throw the book at him!

There's been a few things there through the years... FOF Souvenir Stand, VR coaster, games etc. I'm not sure which exact picture you may be referencing.

Yep

Hi all! Some of you know me, many probably don't because I dont post like I did in year past. Let's just say KI and I go waaaaaaaay back. I have had a love affair with KI since I first heard about The Beast in 1979 and since I first attended in 1981 when the (original) Bat was new! Well, I have managed to keep tabs on the park for decades now. I was an avid coaster enthusiast for years, but my passion found it's birth in my early visits to KI. Throughout all my years of visiting the park, I collected souvenirs, collectibles, and other physical things. However I also amassed a lot of pictures (including rare, behind the scenes construction pictures), brochures, park maps, media kits, Press Releases etc. After years and years of sitting on a 4-drawer filing cabinet full of them, I finally decided I was being selfish by not sharing. So that's exactly what I am doing. I have created a FB page called "Sit on It." (It's a play on a slogan taken from a sign that used to hang in The Beast, and Racer stations. I loved the sign and always said if I were to create a site dedicated to my love of KI, that's what I'd call it!) So... I'd like to invite all of you to visit @SitOnItKI on FB. It's a work in progress... and I've only just begun to upload the hundreds of pictures, videos etc that I have dating back to Kings Islands opening years. All I ask is that you help me by giving credit to the page if you re-use one of my pictures, that will help promote it. Also, I welcome your nostalgic pictures and posts as well. I hope this isnt breaking any KICentral rules - I would have loved to contribute them - but frankly there's so many. My intent is to celebrate the wonderful park Kings Island has always been by looking back at it's past... and it's future! https://www.facebook.com/SitonItKI

When I was a kid, there was more than just Ringling Brothers & Barnum Bailey. There were also traveling tent circuses like "Clyde Beatty Cole Brothers Circus." Ringling was always the "Mercedes" of circuses when I was young. It was always a slick, highly produced arena spectacular. It had celebrated stars that were very well known - like Gunther Gebel Williams (whom I saw perform many, many times.) Tent Circuses were always rough, and gritty and literally set up on grassy plots of land with old rickety wooden bleachers and toothless carnies. I marveled at Ringling Bros. I loved the ariel acts - high-wire, trapeze, lady swinging by her hair etc. I loved the lions and tigers and elephants and monkeys. It all seemed so big, and mesmerizing, and exciting! I went a few years ago, after over 25 years of not having seen it. The show was a shell of it's former self. All the over-the-top extravagance had obviously been sacrificed to keep the show going. The arena was only half filled with ticket buyers, and it seemed all the acts were cut down in their time. Even the lions and tigers (which have always performed after the intermission) were only on for 10-15 minutes. Also, everything seemed smaller, the trapeze wasn't as high, the high-wire shorter etc. Most notible to me was the fact that there was no live music tmk - it was pre-recorded - vs a live orchestra that used to travel with them. I did always feel bad/concerned over the animals as a kid. The elephants always looked sad to me. But I always recognized that it was the only life those animals knew. So I have grave concerns over their well-being now that their security is gone. I also am gravely concerned for the families that travel with the show - most come from many many generations of performers that only know life in the confines of the show. Mostly I worry that those who's lives centered around the animals will be able to continue their work with them in some way. I don't think the animal rights do-gooders thought about that. They never factored in the fact that this may cause a separation of those keepers who have loved and cherished the animals their entire lives - but now will not be able to afford to do so on their own. I find it is a sad, sad day. Not surprising, but truly sad.

Frankly, what's in the shed is not nearly as interesting to me as what's before the shed. I will say just by visual judgement when viewing pictures, the fact that the track is hugging the ground so tightly after a decent sized lift makes me think its going to be a great ride. Once the "shed" secret is out, its out. The success of the ride will be based on it's overall ride experience not the last 20 seconds. What if what's in the shed is just a monitor that scrolls a list of build credits, like the end of a movie? LOL! Nah, that's more of a Paramount move... Ha ha!

As other pointed out, most of those thinking "drop track" are not accounting for the train pass directly underneath the area being speculated. Do you really think they'd install a drop track directly over a train pass? I am, and always have been on the "no drop track" team. I do think it would be cool if the track is kept open underneath and as the train passes it lets out a big steam toot. LOL!

It was always rumored that Charlie Dinn... of which CCI was born (Dinn Corp became CCI when he retired)... had an original "Bat" car in storage at the facility. I never got proof, but it was urban legend. I remember driving by the old CCI headquarters wanting to walk in and see if the rumor was true... never had the guts though. LOL

I actually worked this attraction a few times while it was in operation at KI. It was a sloooooooooooow loader, and generated a notorious "ouch" from guests upon it's abrupt stop. It was a very fun ride to watch - but ultimately not a wise choice for a high capacity park. I always thought it's elevator lift looked like one of those elevators in an old Domino Rally toy playset.

GCI Wooden coasters are completely framed and built on site. Even the metal track running plates are cut and bent on site. In regards to the other question at hand... the pattern by which they are building the coaster is based on ease of getting equipment in and out of the site. Shaggy

Heat... plain and simple. People didnt want to be outside. I even skipped it this year.

Has the park said if the coaster will be painted/stained? I love the look of fresh wood, but within 6 months, unstained wood turns grey. Just wondering about aesthetics... Shaggy