CoastersRZ

Do not waste people`s time with trivial calls like this. Calling Clermont Steel won`t get you an answer anyway. The large crane will show up when the contractor that is assembling the ride needs it. Clermont Steel is not the one actually erecting the ride. They are simply the fabricator.

Yes, the Storybook pedal boats and Cincinnati Mini Golf will still be at Coney next year. Typically when Summerfair was going on, we had several rides closed due to the exhibitors (typically it was Slide, Fender Bender, Tilt A Whirl, Scream Machine, Carousel and Swing A Round.

Who says that Vekoma is no longer making parts for Invertigo? Just because Stinger was removed from Dorney doesn`t mean that parts aren`t still being made/available.

The layoffs, while not cited in the article, are likely a result of duplicate functions/positions, and the need to streamline for cost synergies. It will be interesting to see what changes they implement in the coming years.

And what is your source for that?

The first Saturday of Haunt is always like this (has been for several years (at least all the way back to 2014). There is a company buyout during the day.

You would be correct that this Saturday is the last day to experience the rides. They are open for a few hours next Saturday for the More than Pink Walk. The article is well worth the read! Then we will be having a private event on Sunday for our employees to enjoy the rides one last time. I still can`t believe that the rides are leaving. The rides department at Coney has been a part of my life since 2002, for 18 seasons. That is more than half of my life. I was looking forward to my kids growing up going there to ride the rides. I have been told I will still have a job there next year in some capacity (not sure what yet). I leave you with this image, from me working Ferris Wheel several years ago during a rainy July 3rd for Balloon Glow.

Yes, I will be there the entire time.

Keep in mind that the two cranes that are presently on site, are not tall enough to lift the tallest points of the lift hill in place. Remember how tall the crane was for Diamondback`s lift hill...

Well, isn`t the Hall of Fame now displayed in HR, or some area that is off limits to the general public? I know that Holiday World recently did something similar when they moved their Applause award to an area only accessible to park employees.

The Christmas Nights of Lights at Coney is produced and operated by a separate company.

The plan is to be there on Friday, October 4th. Hitting up Carowinds on Saturday (I still have yet to ride Fury 325!)

I agree. Having seen what they did with the train for Winterfest in 2005, I was expecting something similar. The live entertainment they had in the station for that incarnation was amazing. I echo your sentiments that it just seemed underwhelming compared to the rest of the event, especially with all the live entertainment offerings at Winterfest. The Winterfest in 2005 had a parade, which was always fun. I know that Carowinds is adding the Winterfest Wonderland Parade for this year`s version of their event. With the success that Grand Carnivale had, I wonder if Kings Island will also add a parade to this year`s Winterfest lineup.

Seems to be quite a few nice new coasters for next year. Now if only I could get to all these parks to try them all out! Heck, I haven`t even been back down to Dollywood since Lightning Rod opened. (That will change in a couple of weeks).

To be honest, if KI was wanting to add a classic flat package like Carowinds added a few years ago, I would opt for a Music Express over Flying Bobs. I still think that Kings Island could use a Music Express and a classic Tilt type ride. There are quite a few places that they could fit in nicely at the park.

I am one of those seasonal jobs that is affected by this decision (though my direct report boss still says he wants me back next year, though not sure in what capacity since I was a rides manager?). I still have a very bad feeling. Almost a kicked in the gut feeling. Coney was my first job and I loved going into work there. It was more than just a job, it was my passion. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and had hoped to take my two young kids there for years to come. It definitely had its niche market. Yes, weekdays were not super busy, but the crowds still would show up for Balloon glow, and group picnics. The person that started the petition is Mark Bailey, who is a former rides operator and fellow rides manager at Coney. He also has a background in architecture like me. I was concerned at the beginning of the season when the weekday rides hours were reduced and Round Up was removed. I hope that they have a vision and that their plan is successful. I respectfully disagree with the direction they are going in. I think lack of investment on the rides side hurt badly. The last new attractions that were added were Top Spin and Fender Bender in 2015.

Words cannot adequately describe how I feel right now. I have spent over half of my life working at Coney in the rides department. It was my first job. I enjoyed going into work everyday there. Yes, I did get paid for going in, but I have a full time architecture job, and this was my side hustle. I truly enjoyed working there, and helping to create memories for people riding the rides. I made quite a few friends over the years working there, many of them have reached out to me today. My hope is that those in charge know what they are doing and that the park will continue to thrive in the future. Today was also made worse by the fact that my aunt also passed away in Arizona today. Not a great day, to say the least.

I am greatly saddened by this news. This was my first summer job. I still work there (for a couple more weekends). 18 seasons was a good run. I had hopes of coming back next season...

Wow. That is a pretty major derailment for the entire engine to be sitting on its side like that. I believe that SFoG uses Crown Metal products engines, like KI, although I believe that they have been modified to run on diesel, if my memory serves me. Hopefully everyone is ok. Hope they can get this fixed and this ride back up and running again.

The last couple years of Kenton`s Cove Keelboat Canal, the ride was really starting to show its age. I am glad that they renovated the original log flume (that actually opened at Coney in 1968). Keep in mind that while Tomb Raider was the direct replacement for that ride, Diamondback traverses through the area that was the final drop of this ride as well.

The area that is currently X-Base will be known as Area 72 next season. It would be nice to see a flat ride added to this mini area. A more logical location would be between Racer and Flight of Fear, right by where they built the new storage building for the Grand Carnivale parade floats.

I think you will be waiting a while to see any RMC creations at Coney. Heck, at this point, I would love for Coney to just install another new ride. The last install happened in 2015! I do not know if they still have the blue prints for the Shooting Star. If they do, I haven`t seen them.

From what I have heard the cost to fix the ride was more than the ride was worth. I would hope we would get a new ride for next year (I haven`t heard anything). The last new rides we got were in 2015 with TopSpin and Fender Bender. We did receive Storybook pedal boats last year and new dimensional signs for the rides. However, Storybook replaced the Como Cruisers boat ride, and Storybook is just pedal boats that look like Swans and Dragons (we already had pedal boats on Lake Como).

They did not have stickers that said Polaris. The stickers said Project X on them.

Well, the "back row" as it runs now is actually not the true back row. The trains originally could sit eight people, two rows of two in each car with two cars. As long as I have been at the park (since 2002), we have not loaded the back row of the train. There is now a fiberglass panel covering the back row from view.