CoastersRZ

Perhaps, I should clarify my statement. I read on one park train website that PKI rebuilds one of the two engines every 2 years. Since there are four engines, that means each engine would be rebuilt every four years. Yes, I thought, they rebuilt an engine each off season so that each engine was rebuilt every two years. Regardless, of 2 or 4 years, the engines are rebuilt. I just hope the KI&MVRR stays around for a LONG time, as not too many theme parks still have their steam trains! Yes, I believe that PKI does, or is at least supposed to, do a tear down of every coaster train during the off season. (The offseason picture of The Racer train still on the track with covers on it sort of surprised me. I would have thought that they would at least have removed it from the track and put it under some sort of shelter (picnic groves or shed by wood coaster maintenance) to protect it from the elements.)

I believe it might be. But than again, the park calendar they have on their website is just the 2004 one, only they are calling it the 2005 calendar.

Well, according to channel 9, there could be another storm developing that will dump another couple of inches on Cincinnati in the middle of next week! It feel`s like a monsoon outside!

They don`t check every part on every single ride everyday. For example, on the coasters, they inspect the footers for the rides once a week. Most of the stuff that they check weekly like that will not go bad all of a sudden, but will gradually occur. Another thing the park does is routine maintenance. For example, they rebuild the pumps on White Water Canyon every five years. They also rebuild one train engine on the KI&MVRR every other year. (Every train is rebuilt every fourth year.)

From what I heard there will be more above average temperatures in the high 40s to high 50 all next week with, unfortunatly more rain is on the way.

Yeah, all it has seemed to be doing here the past week is raining. Any one remember the last time we had a completely dry day? Or better yet, the last day Cincinnati saw the sun? Let the monsoon end. Anyone going on the IJST tour next Saturday better expect a very muddy site!

If the park were to rebuild the Wildcat or Shooting Star, they would instantly become popular. Not just from Coaster enthusiasts, but from Cincinnatians who remembered those classic coasters and want to share those rides with their children and grandchildren. If they ever have the capital to invest in a ride of that caliber, there attendance will sky rocket. Heck, even in the three years I worked there, the attendance increased. Also, this season is Coney`s 120th. To celebrate, all Sunlite Pool member will have free access to all the classic rides, all season long. In years past you either had to upgrade your pass to include rides (for a nominal charge) or partake in one of the two or three free rides days. I can imagine that there will be longer lines this year since the pool members get unlimited access to rides. I wish Coney the best of luck this year and in future years. Hopefully I will find time this summer or next summer to visit once. I can`t work there for a fourth season as I have said before because I will be in school in the summer and co-oping in the spring and fall.

Personally, I would like to see a high capacity steel coaster by either Intamin or B&M. PKI seems to be the only park without either a B&M or an Intamin coaster. These rides are high capacity rides, that are generally very smooth. Additionally, these rides are usually very well recieved by the public riding them. While I believe a Nick expansion is in store in 2006, I wouldn`t mind seeing a HUSS Jump2 built behind Delirium, on the former location of the Eurobungee, or between Adventure Express, The Racer and Flight of Fear. I think the last location would be a prime spot for a new ride, especially if it was enjoyable by people under 54", to give people who were waiting on other riders on FoF a ride to ride whil back on the north side of The Racer.

Essentially, the Group Volunteer Program is for groups to raise money. My uncle is a coordinator for my local cub scout pack and has volunteered numerous times. I even volunteered one day and spent 7 hours working at the Subway by The Racer. Essentially, you and your group select a shift to work. The park will pay your group money for the hours you work (something like $5 or $6 an hour, and yes, you actually clock in and out). Additionally, they will give the individuals two to four tickets to visit the park either later in the year, or if you are volunteering in late August, September or October for the following season. When I volunteered, my uncle and I worked in foods. Although, my Uncle has also worked in games and at a merchandise shop in the former Water Works (he is up there a lot volunteering, and the volunteer office people know him pretty well and they know the names of his kids, LOL). In order to volunteer, you MUST be 18. They strictly enforce this rule. The program is to help them staff on busier days, or when they are short staffed. It is a great way to earn some money for a group, spend some time with the very cool park employees and experience the park from a different angle if you don`t work there as a seasonal. Also, after your shift is over, if the park is still open, you will get to enter the park for free. I don`t think volunteers run rides, but they might if they are really short staffed. Food services usually pays out the most tickets. Try calling the phone number for the Volunteer program for more information.

I believe Delirium cost $4.5 million. Drop Zone as mentioned above cost around $10 or $11 million. I heard that Son of Beast ended up costing right around $17 million. When Adventure Express, Vortex and Beast were built they each cost $4 million. But those installations were all a long time ago and there has been considerable inflation, and higher priced rides. RCDB.com usually has the price of the coaster listed.

I know that Paramoount Parks recieved some sort of a discount for purchasing two IJ:ST from Premier, or at least that is the popular word on the street.

Hmmm. Good question. It depends if I get a Co-op job in Cincinnati, as I maybe out of the state when the park opens in April. But, I would have to say The Beast would be my first choice. However, to me, I really wouldn`t care what ride is my first ride of the season, just as long as the park is open and I can visit it and ride their rides and roller coasters, I will be happy!

Yes, that is the word on the street. Apparantly PKI wants to get back into the Winter Holiday market again. From the advertising The Beach did for their Holidayfest, it must be doing pretty well. They advertised like crazy and were pushing their season pass sales on their commercials too. I would not be surprised if PKI decided to shorten FearFest so that they could prepare for their own winter celebration.

Yeah, if people do not know there is a Face Off movie, then they will probably think the name refers to the position in which the train is set up. I do believe that there used to be a Face Off movie banner hanging on one of the movie signs aroung the water tower at some point.

Where does the staff for IJST go until the ride is ready to run in May? Well, I haven`t worked at PKI, but my guess would be that they train them on several rides as fill ins for people that are at college and will work in the rides department over the summer after school is out. Once those people return, their home ride of IJST should be ready for them to be trained on and run. Yeah the offeseason is killer. Especially now that the holidays are over with. It is just glumy January, Ferbruary and March to get through! That is a really long time!

I know the fog was there this FearFest. However, it was not in the quantities in which it was in FearFest 2002 and 2001. Personally, I liked it better when there was more fog becuase it made the park seem more mysterious and a better atmosphere for FearFest.

Legend Rider. I am confused by your post. Zephyr still resides at the park today in the form of the Zierer swing ride and it is located to the left of the Skeeball building. It resides on the former location of the slide. That pad to the right of the Skeeball building is the former location of the Zodiac, before Flight Commander was installed in 1990. Yes, you have the history of the Zodiac, Flight Commander, Eurobungee correct. Although, the Coney Mall midway did not originallygo past the Flight of Fear/Zephy exit path down by The Vortex and continue onto Rivertown. Coney Mall originally ended at the Tiques and slide. But in 1975, the park built the new midway that connects Rivertown with Coney Mall when they also built the Zodiac and Shake, Rattle and Roll.

Are you sure that the Zephyr was not in that picture. If you look to the left of the Skeeball building it appears as if there is a sign for a ride, in almost the exact spot as where Zephyr`s resides. Also, it appears as if people are entering underneath the sign into some sort of line. Maybe I`m completely wrong.

FearFest this year was leaps and bounds ahead of FearFest last year. There was a ton more in park theming this year compared to last year. I liked the fact that they turned the lights off on The Racer and Vortex`s lift. The one thing that was still missing from the FearFest`s I attended in 2001 and 2002 was fog. It used to be that the midway from the Zephyer to The Vortex was full of fog, and you could only see ten to twenty feet ahead of you. Sleepy Hollow was ok. I thought that the ending lacked excitement and scare. By far the scariest maze I`ve been through is still Maze of Madness, just because it is so disorienting with the chain link fence, mirrors and strobe lights. It was quite impressive that the park was able to build Sleepy Hollow Horror as quickly as they did. From what I`ve heard, we`ll be lucky if they even have FearFest in 2005. Allegedly they at one point had planned not to continue FearFest this season. I just hope that if they discontinue it they open for some sort of Winterfest, with a couple rides open. Flight of Fear maybe, a little Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle, The Carousel and Dodgems would be fine by me.

Yes, they are waiting for The Vortex. How do I know? You can clearly see the line for the Zephyer on the left. The Zephyer was built in 1986, after The Bat had already been dismanteled. Yes, the Zodiac was the name of the double ferris wheel made by Intamin. Zodiac was built in 1975. According to my information, the ride was SBNO the entire 1987-1989 seasons before being removed after the 1989 season. So it has to be Vortex. Although with the lenght of the line I think my information might be wrong and that they removed it in 1987, which is why the line would be so long. Either that or it was one BUSY day!

Do you know where the Kings Island Resort bus stop is by the tram circle? Seccurity Post 3 is directly to the right of that bus stop area, or the closest area cars can get to the entrance plaza. I do believe that it is also labeled with a big yellow sign and black letters.

How would I go about recieving those two free passes to Xtreme Skyflyer?

What other sites say the 13th? I thought that it was on Friday, which would be the 14th of January, 2005. My how time flies. It seems like just yesterday that the park was preparing to open Son of Beast.

Did you read my post flightoffear1996? That is what I suggested. From the photos I saw in the preview images, there are some pretty neat and rare shots of Saltwater Circus and the park in general.

Some of those pictures look really cool. Hopefully someone from this site wins it and scans them in so they can be included in the history section of this site!