Shaggy

When I was a kid... "bouncehouses" were known as "moonwalks" and would occasionally show up as a special attraction at the local mall. They've been around for a LONG time... just not in everyone's back yard. :-) As a side note... when I was a kid, I begged and begged my parents for a trampoline. My cousins had one, and I was in love with it. I never got one. Then, a star college athlete from our church broke his neck after falling off of one and was paralyzed for life. As an adult, I am so very grateful that my parents never relented to my begging. There's no way I'd allow my kids (if I had them) to even get on one.

I rode WindSeeker this past weekend and have to say, I was completely unnerved. I have no idea how those people lasted up there for 3 hours. I have ridden it before, but Friday night was windy. Well when we got about 3/4 of the way up, the wind blew just as I decided to turn and look outward (to the right - I was seated on the outside seat.) It caused me to panic and I spent the rest of the ride looking down at the center of the two seats holding on for dear life. I'm not usually afraid of heights - when I feel secure - but I sure didn't feel secure on WindSeeker. I do think part of it is my subconcious. It's as though my mind expects the chair to drop from underneath me at any given time - like a Drop Tower.

I just surfed and found the following videos related to the implosion of the Rocket.

You obviously aren't familiar with the story of "The Rocket" at Ocean View Park. Ocean View Park was a seaside amusement park in Norfolk Virginia that lasted through the 1970s. It ultimately fell on hard times and the land became more valuable than the park's revenue (the park had become run-down, crime ridden and percieved by locals as a monstrosity when compared to the newly opened Buch Gardens in Williamsburg just 45 minutes away) thus the land was sold to developers. The park, in it's next-to-last season, was featured in the movie "RollerCoaster" where it's Rocket rollercoaster was the scene of a (staged) devistating mishap... a "mad bombing and train de-railment." (The park was chosen as the scene of the "bombing/de-railment" due to it's nearing it's closure and there were no concerns over any "bad press" a staged mishap in a film would cause the park.) The next year, the park closed and Holywood came calling. It was chosen as the site of a infamous made-for-tv movie called "The Death of Ocean View Park." This was a tale of an amusement park built on grounds that were collapsing/eroding. The movie culminated with the collapse/explosion of the entire park (with guests inside, of course) in a large spectacular fashion at the end of the movie. In reality, the land owners were approached by the network to have the demolition filmed for the disaster movie (which were popular at the time) and they agreed as the cost of the park's demolition would be covered by the network. For the filming, the Rocket Coaster was imploded with large amounts of dynamite... everything was set up as a "controlled demolition" and it went off without a hitch. Wrong Actually it went off with a BIG hitch. The coaster didn't collapse. Actually it stood firm through several takes and implosions over several days. Ultimately, bulldozers were brought in after many attempts and the coaster met it's maker on film with the help of construction vehicles pulling it apart out of view of the cameras. (Even so, it only came down after the supports had been chain-sawed from the footings.) The lesson learned was that the coaster structure was not as suceptable to an implosion as concrete structures are. That's why you don't see coasters being imploded... it really doesn't work. I remember the filming like it was yesterday. I was a wee lad living in Hampton Roads nearby, and my family had been to the park. The closure/demolition was big local news, was viewed by onlookers and ultimately captured and viewed on film. I saw the original broadcast of the show, and remember watching it like it was yesterday. I've not seen it since, and am not sure if it's on DVD. Bottom line, I don't think a "controlled demolition" would work for SOB... it's been tried before.

Hysterical!

It's all politics. Skip the crap and just hire the bulldozers.

You missed the point... Cedar Point tends to "work on" an area seasons in advance in order to prep for a large install. I guarantee you that the removal of Demon Drop/move of Ocean Motion was all a part of the planning to install WindSeeker. WindSeeker was likely a plan to install an attraction which would serve a similuar porpose at the Space Spiral (on a more thrilling level.) Space Spiral's removal is realated to the new coaster... etc. etc. etc. They're all connected.

Cedar Fair is always strategic with their planning. Cedar Point begins "working on" an area 2-3 seasons in advance of a coaster install. (I.E. moving the giant wheel and train tracks for MForce, demolishing White Water Landing and closing Swan Boats for Maverick, Removing Ocean Motion for WindSeeker, removing Demon Drop for yet-to-be-announced coaster.) No doubt something is headed in that direction. But it will take time. Given CP is getting a coaster for 2013, I would bet KI is targeting 14- or 15 for a new biggie. Shaggy

This picture absolutely amazes me. Why? Because I have such vivid memories of going to KD in it's early years (1970's) and thinking how enormous the Rebel Yell was. Then they built Anaconda when I was in my first year of college and I thought "My Lord that's a big coaster." Now... by comparison... !!!

If I may be so bold... submitted for your consideration... 1. An aeriel view of Canada's Wonderland, pre Leviathan. The highlighted areas show the grounds as they existed before the coaster was installed. 2. An aeriel view of Kings Island, with an unmistakably similar area highlighted. 3. Hmmm..?! ;-) Am I saying Kings Island is getting a clone, or version of Leviathan? No. But I do think there's a great place for one at the park. From what I understand, Leviathan is an absolute shash hit at Wonderland... as was Behemoth. And if you recall, Diamondback followed Behemoth in installation. None the less, Wonderland and KD both feature coasters over the 300 mark. I wouldnt be at all surprised to see KI and Carowinds follow suite someday. *Sigh* Wishful dreaming? Maybe. But fun to speculate ;-)

Well, let's see... KD holds a special place in my heart. It was the place I took my first coaster ride - on the Scooby Doo. KI holds a special place in my heart. It was the place that generated my fascination with parks and coasters. I have a deeper connection to KI because of the vast amount of time I have spent there. I still get "THE" feeling when I walk in. I have an eternal connection to KD because I visited the park in it's infantile days and I experienced all the original rides and attractions firsthand. When measured up, I think KD has the edge on a rides package, but KI has the edge on feel and layout. HOWEVER... KD lost MAJOR brownie points when they removed the train for Waynes World - the largest mis-step in the parks history IMO. KI lost MAJOR brownie points when they removed the Antiques and Eagles for IJST - the largest mis-step in the parks history IMO. KI was the original - but KD was built on the lessons learned from KI. In conclusion, I have to tip my hat to Canada's Wonderland as the winner. That park has chugged on and on for years like the little engine that could to become the star in the chain. Wonderland was built on the lessons learned from BOTH KI and KD and it combines the best features from both parks. It is, quite frankly, a far superior park to either KI or KD. And it pains me to say that ;-)

??? The boat is round. How is there a right side?

Why is that? Did they have to push the kids around the track if they got stuck or something? Yep, or if they tipped over, or the kid got off and ran around, or if the kid stopped turning the wheel... etc, etc, etc.

Handcarts. For employees, having to work that ride was the equivelent of being sent to hell.

I also vividly recall the signs all around Cincinnati promoting the addition of the Smurfs to HB land in 1983. "The Smurfs are here!" proclaimed at least half a dozen billboards.

The Blue Elephant fountain was in front of the restrooms in HB Land and adjacent to the landing of Scrappy's Slide. It was added when Scrappy's slide was installed. You can see a glimpse of the pool it sat in to the far right of this picture.

Not sure if "House of cards" was what it was called... but it was at least decorated to look like one. It wasn't very big... it was more of a decorator peice located beside the Puppet Tree and McScrappy's Farm. It did have some fun house mirrors in it and there was a "jungle gym" type attraction next to it with a Shaggy theme, I believe.

Wow... I have so many vivid memories of the original HB land from back in the day... My most favorite is the "Puppet Tree" which I wish I could go back in time to see again. But I also recall fondly... The Beastie - before it was The Beastie. It was the Scooby Doo Coaster and had manual hand brakes and was painted yellow. The Balloon Girls that frequented the area in ruffly bright colored dresses holding huge bunches of balloons with the HB characters and KI logo on them. The UNCOVERED and miserably hot loading platform and queue for Enchanted Voyage. Winsome Witches Cauldrons - the original multi colors on the cauldrons that were later painted black with flames and were terribly hot to sit on in the summer! The House of Cards Sunshine Turnpike and the distinct gas/oil smell those cars had. The "Stone" Flintstone benches The Flintmobile replica The Rainbow arch entrance to "The Happy Land of Hanna Barbera." The large "tarp" that covered a few of the smaller round-about rides. and... oh I'll let a few others chime in...

Most of you don't recall the merchandise KI USED to carry back in the day. KI used to have some of the most incredible souvenirs... and not everything had KI's logo's plastered on it. For instance, there was a Bavarian Toy Shop on International Street that carried the most amazing foreign collectible toys. Lots of West German items not found in regualr toy shops in the US. It was an absolutely amazing shop.... and it was one of SEVERAL like this. When I go to KI now, outiside of items unique to the park logos, there's very little merchandise that interests me. If there were more high-end collectibles, I'd spend big $. (I still have the framed artist prints they used to sell, a replica KI Carousel Lead Horse I shelled out $250 for etc etc etc.) Shaggy

Quite honestly... I don't want it to re-open. At least not in any way reminiscent of it's former self. I never liked KK, and I made no bones about it. Heck, I took a ride op job there on Chang 11 years ago for kicks (so I could operate a B&M) and quickly discovered it was even more screwed up behind the scenes than it was to the guest. That park was a festering ground for hooligans... it was nothing more than a summertime babysitter for teens from the wrong side of Louisville. The rides were sub-par, and it was literally a 3-hour park (After 3 hours, you were done.) In addition, the Lassiter accident can, and will, be cited as the defining moment when KK lost any future hope of being a successful ride park. That incident damaged it's reputation as a safe park far beyond repair. The Louisville masses dropped it like a hot potato. I supported the Koch's vision, simply because if anyone could have turned it around, they could. They recognized that it needed to serve as a regional waterpark destination. But the fact that they nixed the deal it tells me it's finally toast. KK is nothing more than Louisville's Astroworld - but at least in Houston they quickly bulldozed the park instead of literally letting it rot into an eyesore. Shaggy

Stick a fork in it

^So you're trying to put me on the defensive? Ok then, I'll bite. I didn't say that. I was simply speculating of what *likely* happened since I saw it happen myself from time to time while working on Beast crew. I had the same thing happen to me 30 years ago on the long-defunct Glissade coaster at BGW prior to your even being born. http://www.rcdb.com/1116.htm?p=23320 I bent down and to the right when the coaster made a hairpin turn to the left - hitting my head on the side rail of the car in the process. What I recall was that my embarassment was far worse than my injury. It wasn't my fault, nor was it his, nor was it the park's... it was simply an unfortunate accident. I feel bad for the kid.

This is not an un-heard-of incident on Beast. I, as a former Beast ride Op, personally saw it happen a number of times. More than likely the kid didn't "lean" with the 360, rather against it, and he face planted on the front side of the car. That, incidentally, is why there are small pads on that part of the train behind each seat. It had nothing to do with the kid not being measured, or not being tall enough. It has everything to do with the kid simply not knowing to avoid leaning toward the side of the car. Shaggy

Completely subjective... However, mine has been Thunderhead for about 4 years now.

I'm just old - that's all ;-) And I have a tendancy to recall useless facts. LOL The photo booth was temporary in the means that it was in a portable trailer that could be moved to a different ride from season to season. If memory serves me, back when on-ride photos were first introduced at KI, they were (and perhaps still are) contracted by an outside company. The company provided the intial equiptment and KI retained the profits. Some of the on-ride photo booths were highly sucessful - like Beast (which always had it's own permnt booth.) but rides like Adventure Express used a portable one so that if sales were unsuccessful, it could be re-located to another coaster. As a matter of fact, if I recall, AE lost it's on-ride photo when Face/Off was added... at that point the same booth was moved to that location and used. Shaggy