Hawaiian Coasters 325

When you keep having dreams that it's opening day and then you wake up and realize it's still February.

Something I've been wondering is, in the early days of Kings Island, the park would have a giant hot air balloon as part of an air show, was it ever considered to bring a hot air balloon back for the 50th anniversary year in 2022 or even have one built with the 50th logo on it?

While I agree with that, remember that Slingshot was repainted/refurbished in 2022 only for it to not operate again so you never know.

It's hard to tell exactly where it is located, but I think it is either for A) taking down Christmas lights or B: putting Backlot's trains back on

An interesting development out of Santa Clara as CGA despite being on borrowed time and announced no seasonal events for this year, recently announced a rap concert featuring LaRussel and Juvenile to be held on June 28th in the Great America Ampitheater. https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/great-america-rap-concert-closure-20151422.php

Yup that was my point lol For those who are new around here, if you want to see what I'm talking about, it's in the Orion Decoding thread from 2019.

You guys should try and get Marcus Leshock and John Matarese on in the future lol.

They have to commit to coming back first and staying and not going silent after 1 year lol. Imo it's this year or never for Timberwolf. If there isn't any sort of concert there this summer, I think it is done for sadly.

A Star Trek themed coaster next to FOF where Firehawk (and eventually Orion) went would've been cool lol Well you were off by 13 years and it's now just a giant empty field lol.

That has to be fake. I just went onto their X account and it still says April 19th.

I feel like KI usually waits until like a few weeks before opening day to release their event/live entertainment lineup for the year.

There's already a thread about this:

Over Georgia will be getting a water parade as part of their Summerbration event. Maybe KI could follow suit? Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't a water parade on a survey a couple years ago? https://www.coaster101.com/2025/01/29/six-flags-over-georgia-announces-2025-event-calendar/

There was a plan to hold a summer nights event in 2020. I believe it was going to be in Action Zone. Carowinds did a similar event in 2019 in their Thrill Zone area. However, Covid messed that up and it was originally planned to debut in 2021 instead, it seems as if the park/corporate decided to go in a different direction.

I think Carnivale should get axed mainly bc I don't think KD is doing it bc of their 50th and CGA cut Carnivale at Orleans Place. I think 2025 would be a good year to introduce a new peak summer event at KI (ie Summer Nights/Summerbration). Oktoberfest I would love to see come, but idk if it would work as well as we think bc it would basically be competing with the Cincinnati Oktoberfest. Grad Nites I could get beind (even though part of me would be a bit jealous of those attending bc I never got an event like that when I graduated High School, Dang Covid!)

Since no one has shared it yet, here's a video update from today. They have really been moving rapidly on vertical construction. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they I believe started vertical construction a day or 2 ago.

From Kings Island's Instagram story. Construction has gone vertical! https://www.instagram.com/stories/kingsislandpr/3552854966305872985?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MTB4c3NxNzh5N2Jidw==

Season pass preview day is scheduled for the 18th of April. Also unlike last year, the hours have been extended to being a full day event instead of just a few hours in the evening thing. Just an annual reminder to bring your patience cap with you as it will be the first day of work ever for many employees so expect long lines and slower operations than normal. https://x.com/KingsIslandPR/status/1882429362760286288

The latest construction blog from the park: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2025/january/soak-city-expansion-construction-updates

The commencement doesn't say 2026 though. It just says 2024 and 2025. The Orion NOC said "2018, 2019, and 2020 additions and modifications." The one filed in 2022 that mentioned B&M/Skyhigh ended up having nothing to do with 2024 as 1) the 2024 investment wasn't a B&M and 2) the NOC didn't say 2024 on it.

Take with huge grain of salt, but a new rumor has emerged that the 2026 attraction may be coming from Vekoma! Will be an interesting development to watch over the next several months. https://www.instagram.com/p/DE_jTgTxsVg/?igsh=MXRwbWI5c3N6Mjk0aQ==

A dive coaster. 8th grade me was excited about the addition of Valravn bc I had never been on a dive coaster before. Now however, I just don't find them that exciting as a thrilling multi launch would be.

Kings Mills Landing would honestly be a good name.

I have the same thought. Covering the whole lot would cost a fortune If KI were to do it, it probably would mainly cover the preferred/handicap/employee parking areas. If we're lucky, maybe the spots down toward the sign as well.

This has sorta been on my mind for a while and I think this is a good discussion to have. In recent years, we have seen a few parks including a few legacy Six Flags parks convert their parking lots into giant solar farms. With the recent merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair and the priority to cut down on certain extra costs, is it possible we could see these solar parking lots make their way to legacy Cedar Fair parks including Kings Island? It wouldn't really be a foreign concept here in the Cincy area as the Cincinnati Zoo has had parking lot solar panels for well over a decade now and it seems to work out great there. Obviously the cost to construct something like this in the KI parking lot would be pretty high. However, long term if it can cut down on energy costs, I think it would be a win win. I want to hear your thoughts on this idea. source for photo: https://www.sixflags.com/six-flags-magic-mountain-breaks-ground-on-californias-largest-solar-energy-project