CoastersRZ

Don`t look for that to happen for this season. I agree though, that a log flume at Coney would be an instant hit. I also believe that a small wooden coaster like the Tornado at Stricker`s Grove would also be a big hit at Coney. But I`m not the one deciding what the park installs. I just operate the rides.

Yep. Back at the turn of the century (the early 1900`s), there were many Cincinnati area parks that Coney was competing with. There was the above mentioned Ludlow Lagoon, in Ludlow, Kentucky. There was also Chester Park by Springrove Avenue, as well as LeSourdsville Lake several years later. With the exception of the last park mentioned, these parks all closed up shop by the time World War II had set in. LeSourdsville Lake was able to hang on by a thread. Its neighboring Fantasy Farm didn`t last long and closed in the early 1990s (the current Tilt A Whirl at Coney came from Fantasy Farm). LeSourdsville Lake lasted a little longer, until finally falling after a failed relaunch in 2002. Today, many of the rides from LeSourdsville Lake have been relocated. The Rock O Plane now rocks at Coney Island, the Electric Rainbow now spins at Stricker`s Grove, and the Serpent is being relocated to Kokomo`s Family Fun Center in Saginaw, Michigan. Wow, I went into way too much history there. I hope you find that enjoyable.

But to some, The Beastie (and now the Failry Odd Coaster), will always be the Scooby Doo. And the "Cedar Fair Dealings" was likely just a run down of all the exciting things that Cedar Fair has going on at all their parks besides the Ohio properties. I don`t know for sure as I was not at the event yesterday (Ryan will be able to confirm this though).

Patience my friend. Patience. Yes, it will likely mean that most of the rides that bore the names of Paramount movies will get new names. At this point in time, I doubt that even the park has pinned down the final names they will be using on all these attractions. And I highly doubt that rides like Italian Job and Tomb Raider will receive completely new theming packages to correspond with whatever the new names of those attractions turns out to be. It simply would not be worth the park`s money to completely renovate

Relax there Topgun1993. No one is saying that they are renaming Top Gun to Flight Deck just yet. All that is said is that they are renaming the rides that bore names of Paramount movies. Yes, your namesake ride will have a new name in 2008, but it could be a good name. Even though the park will be renaming rides like Top Gun, Italian Job, and Tomb Raider, you know most park guests will still continue to call these rides by their original names. Look how many guests still refer to Flight of Fear simply as Outer Limits. And it hasn`t been officially called that since the end of the 2000 season!

Hmm. What types of surprises to the top-spin-in-the box? A new program perhaps?

Which is of course why I had to chime in with my insights. (Just like I have to chime in when people refer to a ride`s foundations as 'footers' instead of the more proper 'footings.'

I have to chime in. Hyper coasters, in general refer to coasters that are taller than 200 feet, and can sometimes refer to the taller giga coasters (300-399 feet) and strata coasters (400+ fee). But generally, the two taller classifications are reserved for those specific situations. In other words, I agree with the comment that a giga coaster is not generally referred to a ride with a lift of taller than 200 feet tall as that link suggests.

Regardless of the current condition of the ride, it is still a sad day when a coaster designed by such a legendary designer is slated for the wrecking ball.

Any one who is interested, starting tomorrow, you will be able to pick up your application for a Coney Island 2008 season pass at all Cincinnati area Kroger stores. Simply complete the application, attach a Kroger receipt and mail it into Coney Island to purchase your 2008 season pass.

Well, if they keep having the growth and success they`ve had the last decade or so, it wouldn`t surprise me if they eventually try to hold a winter event at some point. There difficulty would be the fact that Santa Claus is a relatively small town, and thus staffing the park in the month of December could prove to be difficult.

As far as I know, you must have a room reservation in order to gain entry to the water park. Although, I seem to recall reading something about having a birthday party at the Great Wolf Lodge, and not all the invitees needing to have room reservations to gain entry into the water park. Coco Key, on the other hand, does sell day passes for people that wish to spend the day in the water park, but not reserve a room for a night. Based on the trip reports that I`ve seen, it looks like the Great Wolf Lodge is a lot bigger and nicer. But Coco Key still looks good, just not quite at the same scale as the GWL

Remember that the Golf Center at Kings Island, which is now owned by the city of Mason, was originally developed and owned by Taft Broadcasting. It was sold off many, many years ago, before finally being sold to Mason last year, to prevent future development into condos. Neon, relax. It is not like there will be a shortage of golf courses in the Cincinnati/Mason area just because one might be closing. Remember there is still the Golf Center at Kings Island about a mile south of the park, and on the west side of I-71.

Dollywood is one of those parks that I really want to get to. It is just a matter of finding the time to get down there and experience it!

Very true. Sometimes you just need a good laugh to cheer yourself up!

Hey, I`m a poor grad student at UC. In all honesty, I haven`t gotten to many parks lately. Last year I swung by Cedar Point a couple of times with my Maxx pass. However, for `08, I didn`t even get a Platinum Pass but just a Kings Island pass. In 2008, depending where my graduate co-op is, I will likely be only going to Kings Island and Coney Island (potentially returning to Coney for my seventh season of work).

God, don`t remind me of the volunteer shift I worked in food service earlier this year during the Haunt. I got stuck in the dishroom of the Festhaus, where they obviously had not cleaned any trays all day until I got there at about 6! Let me tell you that the trays that came from the I-Street Skyline were a pain to clean!

Yeah. Montgomery Inn only recently vacated Wings (like within the last five years). I think with a little sprucing up and a newer, brighter concept, that the Wings building can better be utilized. The Wings buffet is simply not bringing in enough people for the amount of indoor seating that it has.

On November 15th, 1998 longtime Kings Island public relations director Ruth Voss passed away. She is best known for her early morning rides on The Beast that she reported as helping her arthritis. She eventually asked if some ACE members would care to join her for the morning rides, and the tradition of the ACE walk back to The Beast was started.

Well, inside the park, there is (or was) still the Paramount Theater. Besides the digital infrastructure that still bears reference to Paramount, I believe that the Paramount Theater and the large marquee sign were the only remaining locations that had famous Paramount logo on it (ACE block and uniforms not withstanding). I wouldn`t be surprised to see the ACE block either removed, or altered to omit the old logo. It also wouldn`t surprise me to see all the old Paramount uniforms retired and replaced by new uniforms for this upcoming season.

Coney Island 2008 season passes go on sale on November 26th. Receive applications at area Kroger stores, attach them with a Kroger receipt and mail it to Coney Island by January 11th for the lowest price of the season! Plus, if you buy before January 11th, you will also get a free Perfect North Ticket, a free Sunlite Pool and classic rides ticket, and kids ages 2-16 will also receive a ticket to the Small Wonders Weekend at the Cincinnati Flower Show on April 26 and 27th at Coney Island. For the latest season pass information, click here.

No. Adventure Express does not use horizontal slats of wood to shade the queue like The Beast does. To throw out two other rides at Kings Island that also employ this shading strategy, there is The Racer and the Fairly Odd Coaster.

Well, if Cedar Fair can get a few years under their belt with the Paramount Parks and pay down some of their debt, it certainly is a possibility. If done well, I believe that these winter events can be profitable. I mean, the Cincinnati Zoo has been holding the Festival of Lights since 1983. Winterfest would be a prime way for Cedar Fair to increase revenue at a time when they otherwise would not be making money. Personally, I hope they do reintroduce Winterfest several years from now. Obviously, the pricing structure they had in 2005 would not work to support the event. But it could certainly rival other area holiday events and provide CF with some extra revenue. I just don`t foresee CF bringing WF back anytime soon.

But, from our visit last year, there was no where near the amount of entertainment that WinterFest at Kings Island provided. Frankly, I found The Beach`s holiday event was rather boring with not a lot of live entertainment.

But is it not safe to say that there has been more of an emphasis on family entertainment with the new leadership at Six Flags? Gone are the days of building large coaster after large coaster while neglecting family and children attractions. I mean, just look at the number of Wiggles World and Thomas areas that Six Flags parks have been installing the last couple of years.