Shaggy

Fo those of you that loved Phantom Theatre... well, here's it's grandchild. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (an amazing historical park) has just opened their brand new "Haunted Castle." Here's a link to a pov of the ride. http://www.themepark...ic.php?p=903053 The ride is noteworthy to Phantom Theatre fans as the concept is extremely similar, and it actually uses the old Phantom Theatre Music. Sally designed the animation for this new attraction, but Phantom Theatre's animation was by AVG, Inc. The overall concept for PT was designed by R & R Animation. I actually love this sort of ride, and in typical Santa Cruz fashion, they did an amazing job with it! Shaggy

El Condor and T2 feature a final bunny hop prior to the brake run that subsequent models don't have. Ultimately, the final bunny hop prooved uncomfortable to riders and was eliminated. Adjustments were also made to make better articulating trains. T2 suffers(ed) from voilent/terrible jack-hammering and "bunching." BTW, other rides at KK were initial prototypes/concepts/1st editions. For example: Hellivator was a prototype and Twisted Twins was the first CCI to use Gerstlaur Trains Shaggy

You'd be surprised at how well they can squeeze it in. Actually, this is how it will be situated: The go-carts are being re-configured, and the coaster will remain a stand-up. The above picture is from this discussion: http://sfgamzone.com/index.php?showtopic=1819&st=0#entry5200202 If you go there, you'll see an actual photograph from the board meeting where SFGAm presented the layout.

Now that was funny!

Or this:

I've heard stories that Walt was consulted in the early days of KI. I know he tended to get involved in such projects largely for his own fact-gathering purposes. But also because he was interested in seeing these projects succeed. Does anyone know any stories of Walt's involvement in KI? Walt Disney was not involved with KI. Walt Disney passed away in 1966, 2 years prior to the Fess Parker park announcement that triggered the urgent interest in re-locating Cincinnati's Coney Island. (A large flood at CCI in 1964 began the initial interest in scouting possibilities of re-locating the park) Kings Island opened in 1972. His Brother, Roy Disney, was involved but only in an advisory way. The initial KI investors/creators reached out to him through their backers... Taft... for advice. Roy was spearheading the construction of Walt Disney World at the time, a project he overtook upon Walt's death.) His advice to them was to "figure out the amount of land needed and buy three times that amount." When Walt Disney was originally conceiving Disneyland in the early 1950's, Walt visited/consulted Cincinnati's Coney Island (Edward Schott was the owner at the time, I believe) and also (on a much lesser level) consulted Holiday World. For their insight, he wrote the owners of Coney a $1.00 check. Shaggy

Actually, I think the park has a greater chance of having sellout days this season. More people are opting to stay local rather than travel abroad. I've noticed both KI, HW, State Of Ohio, State of Kentucky and State of Tennessee commercials are airing over and over reminding folks there's lots of things to do locally. :-)

Not when I click it. It still shows the Antiques. The giveaway as to it's age (it is indeed very old) is actually the waterpark. Look closely and you'll see it was taken prior to the Crocodile Dundee Boomerang Bay conversion. That dates it to pre-2004. If you look even closer, you'll see Delirium's there. Given those indicators, I'd date the pic to 2003.

I'm surprised they've not yet installed a Wild Mouse/Mad Mouse coaster to be honest.

Perhaps you mean Carl Lindner, who I think has often gotten a pass for all the damage he did to Kings Island (especially in retaining multi-hundreds of acres of land when he finally sold the park to Paramount Studios...) Bingo... the dark days of KI were the late 1980's-1992 Linder days, NOT the Paramount Days. FYI... I can't recall the last time KI had a "sellout" day. They used to happen on significant holiday weekends back in the day. I believe the park maxes out at some astronomical cap of like 55,000 +. There's been definite times where the park has reached that and posted "Park sold out" on the billboard outside. However, I've not seen or heard of that in many, many moons. Shaggy

...with little fanfare. But still, a big step in the right direction. http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-451714?hpt=C2

Folks here sure are giving Mr Hart a lot of credit. Fact is, Hart and Workman are old buddies... cut from the same jib... Hart built KK on "time" and sold it to Premier complete with a huge amount of debt. I am sure I sound like a spoil sport... but trust me, Hart is simply Workman's bailout. Workman named him so that he can save face with the State. I guarantee you there were no other "interested operators." A great big key to all of this "good news" is SF's stake. They still own land partials on which some of the rides exist. It just depends on what the personal feelings are among the leaders now that Shapiro is gone. Shaggy

Posturing. He's full of $&*# Think about it... what reputable operator would even *think * of negotiating a lease on a property who's embroiled in the midst of what will be a lengthy lawsuit that could very well result in the removal of all physical assets by their (My opinion) rightful owner (SF)??? I'm no lawyer, that's for sure... but I guess I think in laymans terms. I wouldn't sign a lease on a "fully furnished" apartment if I knew the landlord was suing the current tenant that bought the furniture from the previous tenant.

I'd have to agree here. I think the Morgan trains are the second worst rolling stock in the business. (Gerstlauer being the worst) I rode the Texas Cyclone a number of times with the Morgan coffin trains. Easily one of the most uncomfortable wooden coaster experiences I ever had. (Worst experience being The Boss in it's inaugural year.) I have also ridden the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Dipper, which uses the Morgan trains. That was enjoyable, but still not a train I'd suggest over a PTC. Here's a pic of the old Texas Cyclone stock (now defunct)

I doubt the director/producers were THAT concerned about continuity for the park's sake. That's apparent by The Racer on-ride footage actually being a mirror image of reality. (When you watch it, you'll notice on the reverse pov that the image was flipped and the park... when it should be on the left, is on the right.)

I believe that to be correct...it's the way I remember it, anywho. Originally, there was one red and one blue on each side. The theory was to race a blue against a red, but that didnt' always happen. You can refer to the Brady Bunch episode for confirmation of this. In the episode, the red train is racing the other red train.

In addition, the last 2 or three years of operation KCKC only used one chute. What I'll never forget is the clinking sound of the conveyor carrying boats up the lift right next to Beast. That jingling sound coupled with the lift spheel "Sit down, please remain seated etc etc" is something I must have heard 20,000 times. If you want to take a nostalgic (virtual) ride on KCKC, then follow this link. Wait for the :30 mark and enjoy. (Old 35mm home movie, but terrific nostalgia!) Shaggy

Yes, there were two... The current "Race for your life" flume started life at KI as "The Kings Mill Log Flume." It was originally built at Cincinnati's Coney Island in 1968, but was transferred to KI when it opened. The other, was "Kenton's Cove Keeboat Canal" which bit the dust for Tomb Raider (now Crypt.) It was installed for the 1973 season. It was also unique because it utilized a turntable load station. FYI, KCKC was actually a hydroflume, one of only a few in the US. Most are gone now, with Hersheypark still having one and, I believe, Great America in CA. Cedar Point had one for years, but it was removed to make way for Maverick. Shaggy

"It ruins an amazing view" Seriously? Are you kidding me? I don't wear my heart on my sleeve about many things. But quite frankly I am shocked and terribly offended by statements such as that. The entire reason we can enjoy places like KI is because we have the freedom and liberties to do so. That flag represents much much more than an insignificant theme park fountain and observation tower ever could. Many honorable men died defending that flag. And even to this very day many are still defending it on OUR behalf. Not only do I think it's more than appropriate to be the centerpiece of International Street, I feel it is the most noteworthy thing in the park. Someone used the term "grandness." I could not think of a better way to describe it. Shame, shame, shame on all of you that think so little of our American symbol that you'd prefer to not have it obscuring your photos of an amusement attraction. Good Lord I fear for the future of our country!

Your best bet is to take a look at this picture. Look underneath the Eiffel Tower. You'll see The Racer entrance/exit and the basketball toss game. There's a "sealed" curved building in-between the two. That's the old queue for Skylab. When the ride was removed, the queue was boarded up and has since been used for plush storage. I bet many of you have walked by it when exiting The Racer and never knew it's original intent ;-) The operator's booth may have been removed for the ladder climb/virtual attraction, but none-the-less it was in that same area for years and years. Also, take note of the Grand Carousel Building. Just below that you'll see the building that once housed the Cuddle Up and Dodgems. The round building where the Dodgems are currently located is it's second home. That was the original location of the Flying Eagles. When Coney Mall was expanded in the mid-1980s, the Eagles were re-located to their final location.

You've got your timeframe/parks wrong. I was not referring to Intimidator at Carowinds. CW... Canada's Wonderland... got Behemoth... a B&M Hyper... one year earlier than KI got Diamondback. Behemoth opened on 5/4/2008 Diamondback opened on 4/18/2009 Wonderland has survey stakes popping up throughout the park already this season. That tells me a larger project is being planned for next season. Wonderland currently has the highest attendance of any of the former KECO/Paramount parks, so successful additions will likely be rolled out to other parks... specifically KI. http://www.cwmania.c....php?f=3&t=1900 Shaggy

If you want to know what KI will get in 2012, I'd keep a watchful eye on what CW (Wonderland) gets in 2011... that *seems* to be Cedar Fairs process thus far. Shaggy

Coney Mall still has "items" remaining from more that 3 defunct rides, actually. The rides: Tumble Bug/Skylab (Original Operator's booth and queue is still in tact) Bat (Footings, station cut outs) Flight Commander (Queue/loading pad) Cuddle Up/Old Dodgems (Building) and, I believe, the Flying Carpet (Footings behind Zephyr... but may be gone by now...) Obviously, there's obvious land vacancies left from Flying Eagles and Cinema 180. Close by the Coney Mall entrance, the original concrete pad for Flying Dutchman still remains. Shaggy

This is all just save-his-face political posturing. Did Workman honestly think they could find someone in time to operate this season? If he did... he's totally out of touch. If he didn't and just wanted to bide some time... then he's lying and simply stringing people along even more. A few months ago, if I recall, Workman was quoted saying 3 or so park operators had approached him about resuming operations at KK. However this latest round of news quotes has him saying HE'S approached 6 park operators about running the park. Which is it? Are they beating his door down to run it, or is he pounding the pavement to try and find someone? In that manner, who would, in their right mind, pursue any type of operational agreement for a property that's about to be wrapped up in heavy litigation for Lord knows how long? If someone came to me and said "will you run this park? We'll require a 30 year agreement, and oh, we're suing the previous tenant for their property" I'd probably laugh in their face! I personally hope SF is granted full ownership (and why not?) of all rides and attractions at the park and yank every single one of them out of there. All this garbage about how monitarily "good" the park is for Louisville is crap. The money earned from the park residing on Sate Fairgrounds gets sent to Frankfort to be distributed throughout the state. So this baloney about how the park was important to Louisville's is a smokescreen. It was important to Workman's bottom line... the KFEC bottom line... which is about to be completely devistated by the loss of KK and U Of L athletics. Oh sure, hotel rooms got booked because of it. But I'd gather not even close to the $10 mill they claim. KK was never a destination park, it was a day park, so I'd guess the hotel revenue from it to be less than half of what he claims it generated. Anyone that signs a 30 year lease on state-owned grounds should have their head examined. Anyone that, in the future, builds an attraction on state property should have their pocketbooks ready to cut Workman a check. I am willing to bet that in another 3 months, Workman will be making the news rounds again saying the same rubbish. Fact is, the park is gone, and the man is desperate to proove that "they" were the ones that ripped off Louisville. He's even got Ed Hart... who has a shady past... banging his drum for him. I guarantee Ed Hart wants KK back in his grasp but doesn't want to pay for the rides in it. The past prooved that he's that type of guy... wants the goods, but wants someone else to pay the bill... Shaggy

So then I assume the walkback is no more? (Bear with me, totally out of the ACE loop these days...)