Hawaiian Coasters 325

Honestly a family thrill coaster in the Crypt building plus an update to Boo Blasters in the same season would be a pretty good investment.

Remember that Notice of Commencement is for 2024 and 2025 additions and modifications. I think it's very likely that it doesn't include 2026 construction plans at all. For example, with Orion the NOC said 2018, 2019, and 2020 additions and modifications. Now I'm very interested that Ride Entertainment is listed. RE does a lot of work with Gerstlauer and KCL Engineering. An infinity coaster was listed in a recent survey. Obviously an infinity isn't really considered family thrill so the odds are really low for that being the 2026 project, but what if in the very unlikely chance they're just trying to throw us off here and we're getting the infinity coaster after all, but KI just didn't want it to get out? Also looking at Ride Entertainment's portfolio, it looks like they do work with upgrading dark rides. And one of the options in a recent survey was an update to Boo Blasters. However, I don't see how a shooting dark ride is considered family thrill. Unless, maybe the park pulls a 2003 and adds a dark ride update and a thrilling flat ride the same year (ie Scooby and Delirium in 03). https://rideentertainment.com/lagotronics/

I have a feeling the crypt building is where we should keep our eyes on. If the park goes with a family thrill coaster, I think the Crypt building is the best spot for it. Imagine a well themed indoor queue line and then a dark ride section pre launch and then launch out into the woods and hug the terrain.

Which tbh isn't necessarily a bad thing imo. I'm fine with going 7+ years in between major thrill coasters as long as the park is still adding something new almost every year. I would be upset if we went 7 years between major thrill coasters and only got one or two new rides in that time frame.

Tbh I really hope this means future additions to the park can be kept under wraps better. Her and her team at Wonderland did an outstanding job keeping AlpenFury under wraps and nothing got out until announcement day. Also she has a great relationship with social media channels (specifically Amusement Insiders). As for Chad and Elizabeth, I wish them nothing but great things in the future for them as for me personally I have not had any bad interactions with either of them.

Imo while closing a few headlining rides early for fireworks sucks for those who love night rides, at the same time I feel like it helps encourage people to watch the show on I-street as well as get people out of the park faster so associates don't have to stay as long to do closing procedures (ie putting the ride to bed, cleaning, walking lockout areas).

Haunt still has a couple more weekends left and Winterfest hasn't even started yet and I'm already looking forward to opening day next year and (fingers crossed) the kickoff of Decoding 2026!

That's a good idea. A little off topic, but still Coney Mall related. I actually like the patriotic music they play in Coney Mall during Tricks and Treats and I would like to see them play it in Coney Mall during the regular season as Coney Mall is supposed to represent an old timey/Americana style park.

My main question is why are they putting these all throughout Coney Mall especially the one by the entrance to Adventure Port? Maybe with a Vortex replacement, Coney Mall gets more of a refresh so they're mapping out all of Coney Mall to plan that?

That area behind Banshee and the SOB station has been mistaken as a new attraction construction site for years. I believe that is where they dump the leftover dirt and stuff from past construction projects. I believe what people are seeing is the leftover dirt from the Soak City construction site being dumped there.

The Tower's been operating pretty consistently since like mid summer.

People who really thought this meant SOB is actually coming back are just too optimistic imo. SOB was one of if not the biggest failures in amusement history and sent 27 people to the hospital in 2006 which made national headlines and embarrassed the park. It was so bad that in 2009 when one more injury was reported (that may or may not have actually came from SOB) the park shut it down immediately and chose to keep it down when it was greenlit to operate again and never reopened it again as one more hiccup was front page news which led to the decision to demolish it. While some people enjoyed the ride, the vast majority of guests found it rough and uncomfortable which is another reason why reviving it in any way just doesn't make sense.

I believe they take the back tarp off of the stage every fall/winter and then replace it the next spring. Music in the Parks doesn't really need Timberwolf. I believe in 2021, they did the award ceremonies in the International Showplace. Except Spirit Song didn't happen this year and there has been no rumblings of it returning in the future. I feel them bringing it back in 2023 was sorta a "last resort" for Timberwolf concerts imo.

I like the Spring Expo event idea especially at a park like Silver Dollar City. I think KI would benefit from an event like that especially an event with overhead decor like umbrellas, kites, and pool noodles overhead like what Dollywood does.

Or the theming being caution tape and shipping crates like SOB lol

Resurrecting this thread as there is an interesting development regarding the old Cincinnati Subway tunnels. Obviously it likely could become nothing (like in the past), but I thought I'd share. Apparently the city of Cincinnati is looking for proposals to repurpose the old subway tunnels. As much as I would love to see the subway resurrected or even the old Metro moves plan (that I posted this thread about originally), I think the most likely scenario is some type of underground brewery/entertainment area like in other cities. Obviously this will be interesting to watch and I would definitely not rule anything out as we did recently see the old power factory down by KI repurposed after many years sitting abandoned. https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/city-seeking-ideas-for-rehabbing-abandoned-subway-tunnel

Both Firehawk and Vortex were both announced to be removed on this day 5 and 6 years ago.

Please no dive coaster. I don't want a one trick pony gimmick here. If they're going to somehow reuse the SOB station, an RMC hybrid or a Gravity Group/GCI woodie would be the best fit as that station was build specifically for a wooden structure.

Imo if true, I think that area could be where the drone launching pad could move to. I don't think The Vortex spot should be the drone launching pad forever as it is a piece of prime land in the back of the park and obviously they can't build a coaster there and launch the drones there. I think they could make it work if they launch the drones high enough in that area where you could still see them on I street. They probably would have to close Diamondback early though like they do with Beast and Orion, but tbh I think having the star attractions suspend operations for fireworks helps encourage people to watch the show in the front of the park.

I believe KI's 2025 capital was already planned well before this even became on Cedar Point's radar as it was originally intended for Six Flags Mexico. I honestly would consider this addition Cedar Point's "Firehawk" where they got it last minute kinda like how KI got Firehawk last minute.

Imo since Cedar Point is getting a new coaster in 25 as well as Canada's Wonderland, KD, SFGA, SFGAdv, SFOG, and SFNE opening up new coasters in 25, I personally believe the chance for 2026 being KI's year to replace Vortex is going up! Other parks I think are on the radar for 26 are Valleyfair, Carowinds, SFMM, Knotts, and SFOT. However, I could see some of those being held off until 27.

I never got the chance to ride Thunder Road, but I will say Copperhead Strike is a good replacement for it. I know, technically Carolina Harbor replaced it, but Copperhead Strike took up the remaining space from it as well as their old shoot the chutes ride and the little swimming pool that stood there so I will consider it Thunder Road's replacement.

Decided to make a 10 inversion infinity coaster concept for The Vortex plot. This coaster would feature a launch and a vertical lift hill. The beyond vertical drop would become the steepest drop in Ohio at 97 degrees (beating out Maverick by 2 degrees). It also in typical KI fashion would use the terrain to its advantage and the drop would be roughly where Vortex's drop was. The ride would be split up in half with 5 inversions in each half. The first half starts with a launch that takes you into a cobra roll, then a banana roll, a camelback airtime hill, and then a corkscrew into a little airtime pop into the first set of brakes that takes you to the giant vertical lift. The drop will feature a hold like what Hangtime and Takabisha have and it would be angled perfectly giving riders a fantastic view of the park. Then after the 97 degree drop you go into a giant sea serpent roll and then go into a massive zero g stall, then after that you go into a batwing element paying homage to the iconic batwing on Vortex placed in the same exact spot allowing for awesome photo opportunities and then after that you go into a helix and then an airtime pop into the brakes. The theming of this ride would be a similar theme to Hangtime at Knott's with a surfing/50's style theme and would go well with Antique Autos, Jukebox Diner, Shake, Rattle, and Roll, and Backlot Stunt Coaster in the surrounding area. The finishing touch on this ride would be a KCL Enginneering lighting package that would really make this back side of Coney Mall really pop at night and would be programmed into the nightly firework show and during special events (ie Haunt and Winterfest it would also feature special synced up light shows at night). I give you all: Hang 10!!'

I think Adventure Port would be a good location for Hooked. Kinda fits with the "port" theme.

Looks like KI isn't getting Oktoberfest this year. This is really disappointing on many different levels. Is it because there are tons of other Oktoberfest events around the Cincy area that upper management feels it wouldn't work at KI? Idk this feels like a huge missed opportunity.