Hawaiian Coasters 325

Google Gemini and no it is a stationary image. I just screenshot a pic from Google Earth and paste it onto Google Gemini and I describe what I want to add to the image (for example I said "add a hotel in the grass area in foreground and name it the Kings Island Inn.")

Used AI to come up with a Beast Canyon Saloon concept:

I made another hotel concept with AI for that plot that is a little more realistic imo. This actually was mocked up before the water park hotel shared above

Is it just me or am I getting serious 2016 vibes with this ad on the website? Reminds me a lot of the banner on the entrance back in 2016 Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122124750639113270&set=pcb.2797682560564843

They probably would, but Sandusky literally has like 3 indoor waterpark hotels near each other including a Great Wolf. Competition can be a good thing. Plus I'm not envisioning a major indoor waterpark on the size of Great Wolf. I'm thinking something more along the lines of the little indoor waterpark that used to be connected to the thirsty pony years ago or the indoor waterpark at the YMCA in Lebanon.

The idea would be to convert the field behind it that's empty in the pic where that old baseball field was into more hotel parking I had the same thought, but with Great Wolf Lodge looking to add another tower and with more hotels popping up at the Kings Mills/Mason exit over the last several years we know the demand for housing is there. Plus with the new regional pass, I think this could be a way to attract more out of town visitors to make a trip out of KI and add more revenue with on site lodging as the other hotels don't provide KI or Six Flags with any extra revenue.

Just playing around with AI a little lol tbh I actually kinda like how this turned out! If this actually came to reality, it would give Great Wolf some legit competition!

As time goes on, this may actually become a reality...

I believe in the recent quarterly earnings call, guest throughput was mentioned as a huge priority to the new CEO John Reilly. Whether or not those with more power (those on the board) agree with him remain to be seen. Hopefully that leads to better staffing on the rides as well as restaurants and shops. As a former op, I will say having rides at bare minimum was legit torture especially rides that are technically supposed to be 2 op rides, but are able to operate as a single op (ie Dodgem and Linus Launcher) or the triple op rides that can be operated in dual (Viking Fury and Monster) or Antique Cars that can get by with just one person at dispatch (the person who gets on the cars and brings them back into the station and loads the oncoming riders).

I've been checking the webcams back and forth and it seems like they have been moving WindSeeker up and down today Also I have noticed some trucks parked outside of the entrance to Phantom Theater right by the swings and kid dodgem

Fiesta Texas is doing passholder extra ride time this Saturday after park close. I would love to see KI bring back passholder post close ride times! Both in KI and Soak City like in pre covid years

I'm curious in knowing what the budget for this thing is. Obviously putting in animatronics plus screens is not cheap! I'm curious if the pricetag is around the amount as a new coaster.

I think they should do some TLC/painting of the outside to make it not as ugly. I think the building provides an opportunity for another indoor ride. Whether the park/six flags takes the opportunity in the future remains to be seen. I would hope they really look into it if Phantom Theater is a smashing hit. I think the park should look into building more Haunt buildings in backstage areas and converting the 2 former ride buildings (Crypt and Action Theater) back into indoor rides.

I came up with an idea to expand and refresh The Beast plaza as well as add a new indoor restaurant/show venue. The new restaurant/show venue I'm calling Beast Canyon Saloon would feature 2 levels, a bar, as well as a stage which would be a permanent home for country shows. It would also house a dance floor and during the day in between show times would offer free line dancing lessons (like those places in Nashville) which would be a cool experience for guests. I also added a water feature back to The Beast's queue area. Also while not in the concept, I envision The Crypt/current Conjuring building would be used for another indoor attraction

**DOUBLE POST** Six Flags Over Texas did an opening day ceremony for the park yesterday to kick off the 2026 season. I think KI should do something like this on opening day or even pass preview night since most guests are passholders anyway. I love what they're doing for their 65th anniversary. Since 2027 is KI's 55th, we could see another anniversary celebration season? Obviously I doubt they do something on the scale of 2022 (the 50th), but maybe a season with a dedicated logo and park improvements throughout the park if there isn't a new attraction next year. Also the fact they're adding 7 new shows this year is insane. Yet KI tends to have only like 4 stage shows plus the fireworks during part of the summer season and leaves the venues dark for a decent chunk of the season when they could be doing more (ie having bubbles for like 3-4 weeks in the KI theater and leaving it dark the rest of the season when they could add another show for the rest of the summer season). I also would like to see the park opening ceremonies return where a family is brought up each day to open the park at 10 am each day. That honestly makes the experience even more special! Video of Over Texas opening day ceremony:

Here's to the last full month of the park being closed!

The KI Inn site is basically off the table now as Rivers Crossing announced a few weeks back they are going to be expanding onto that site. I believe they're developing half the lot into parking.

Did a little hotel mockup idea

I wish they would do some work on the entry plaza side of the building. At least dress it up and make it look like a grand entrance building like other parks have. Or if you want to go modern, replace the banner with an LED screen. Cedar Point fans should be used to at least some gaps between big projects. They went 6 years after Maverick when they opened GateKeeper. Wild Mouse was the first coaster addition since Steel Vengeance which was a 5 year gap. If you don't count that as a major addition then Top Thrill 2 was 6 years. Siren's Curse was the first fully ground up coaster addition since Valravn.

Why hello Owen lol. I didn't think you would be on here! I agree the smaller additions each year are much needed and are better than nothing at all imo. I personally would rather see new major coaster additions be spread out more and have more of a focus on improving the park and adding stuff everyone can enjoy. Personally I think there won't be any new ride in 2027 as I'm guessing 2027 capital will mainly be delayed 2026 projects and projects already planned pre merger. KI got their planned 2026 project with Phantom Theater and since 2023 KI got some sort of new attraction every year so I think 2027 will be more of an "off year" with more of a focus on park improvements and maybe some new events. I personally would like to see the park take advantage of the "55th anniversary" opportunity when it comes to marketing in 2027 as that'll be the 55th anniversary season. Now I don't think they'll do anything on the scale of the 50th celebration, but I could see some marketing and advertising done to celebrate 55 years. Also in 2027 Mystic Timbers will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Personally I think that would be a great year to update the shed and add some new music, theming, monsters on the screen, and maybe even an animatronic or 2 in there (if budget allows). I wouldn't mind seeing the shed completely redone and they could bring back #whatsintheshed for some marketing and do it right this time.

Looking closely on the webcam, it definitely looks like some new work done there:

This is the type of 4th of July event I think Kings Island should be doing outside of just a bigger firework show! This is Cedar Point's new America 250 event

Carowinds is planning to host a passholder q&a with park leadership as well as other festivities as part of pass preview night. I think KI should do something like this on pass preview day

I believe Tony Clark confirmed Carnivale would be back this year at No Coaster Con, but I also heard he either hinted or downright confirmed this would be the last year for it. If so why have it anyway if you know it is going to be the last year for it because we all know they'll use it as an excuse to water it down even more!

Carowinds has moved their Viva La Fiesta event to be a spring time event from April 17-May 17 other than peak summer. Looks like they're counting the Splash Water Parade as the peak Summer event or they have a new unannounced event coming. If Food and Wine is coming back I would like to see KI follow suit and move Food and Wine to a few weeks earlier and have it run from like the last weekend of April through Memorial Day as that makes the most sense to hold it imo https://www.sixflags.com/carowinds/events