johnjniehaus

100% agree here. This attraction seems to the be most reasonable compromise between what the old die hard PT fans wanted and also what the GP and average guests want. Alot of kids love the shooting aspect of boo Blaster so realistically it was a stretch to think that was ever going away. I agree that it can make a ride more re-rideable especially if the story isn't Disney caliber. I for one view this as a win - it should be better than boo Blaster. Will it be as good as the original PT? Probably not but hey it probably never was going to be that good and frankly the original was not built for the screen addicted generation of kids we have today. This ride will be more popular amongst families than if they brought back a carbon copy of the original

I'm on PST so I don't have to wait as long as y'all

Only a few more hours till the countdown runs out!

Monster Mansion at SFOG has gone through numerous changes over the years too I believe and it's arguably one of the better dark rides in the six flags chain. PT doesn't have to be a carbon copy of the original to still be fun and nostalgic

In general Kings Island is still in much better shape in terms of investment than most six flags and Cedar Fair parks located in mid size Midwest cities. I sometimes look at it in terms of was whatever they did an improvement over what was there previously? For example Franklin Flyers and Space Buggies replaced snoopy splash dance. Definitely an upgrade. Mystic Timbers was better than not having anything over there. Antique Autos replace Dinosaurs Alive entrance. 100% better. Orion replaced Firehawk which was an upgrade. Adventure Port replaced slingshot definitely an upgrade. Camp Snoopy replaced unused space so naturally an upgrade. Sure we lost Vortex and the drone show hasn't justified it's removal to me but that's one change the park has seen in the past decade that wasn't positive. We got a fantastic 50th anniversary season and in general while there's always room for improvement, the park has been trending in the right direction with the replacement rides being better than whatever was there before. Sure the new rides aren't as good as the real original ones from the 70s but sometimes having it back in some fashion is better than not having it. Would you rather have Kings Mills Antique Autos or just not have an antique car ride? The originals are never coming back as we knew them and anyone saying they'd just prefer not to have a new ride because it's not as good as the original ride it's similar to is crazy

In general Kings Island is still in much better shape in terms of investment than most six flags and Cedar Fair parks located in mid size Midwest cities. I sometimes look at it in terms of was whatever they did an improvement over what was there previously? For example Franklin Flyers and Space Buggies replaced snoopy splash dance. Definitely an upgrade. Mystic Timbers was better than not having anything over there. Antique Autos replace Dinosaurs Alive entrance. 100% better. Orion replaced Firehawk which was an upgrade. Adventure Port replaced slingshot definitely an upgrade. Camp Snoopy replaced unused space so naturally an upgrade. Sure we lost Vortex and the drone show hasn't justified it's removal to me but that's one change the park has seen in the past decade that wasn't positive. We got a fantastic 50th anniversary season and in general while there's always room for improvement, the park has been trending in the right direction with the replacement rides being better than whatever was there before. Sure the new rides aren't as good as the real original ones from the 70s but sometimes having it back in some fashion is better than not having it. Would you rather have Kings Mills Antique Autos or just not have an antique car ride? The originals are never coming back as we knew them and anyone saying they'd just prefer not to have a new ride because it's not as good as the original ride it's similar to is crazy

YES!!!

I rode Scooby Doo only once and don't have much but a few flashes of memories from it. Boo Blaster was always a part of my childhood and while it's been in really rough shape recently, I have enjoyed it for what it is. My favorite story was standing in line for it during winterfest, the couple Infront of us got into an argument about what ride had previously been in the building. The husband said "hey didn't this ride used to be the outer limits?" And the wife said "No that's on the other side of the park. I think this was tomb raider" and the husband replied "No, tomb raider was at Universal"

I say they should get M&Ms to sponsor the monster and then paint the pods all different colors like M&M candies and call it the M&M Monster!

I think it's funny how the park keeps trying to cater to families but all my family members and friends haven't been pass holders since 2022. Some of them are actually getting excited about the park again with the potential of a phantom return

Hence we see the chain trying to CLOSE parks not sell them to other chains. They don't want any competition in those markets

If we don't see more teasers dropping like every 2-3 days before next Thursday then yes I think it'll get drug out on us lol. They know they can troll the PT fan base and really boost their social media and fan hype over this one.

Unfortunate they were destroyed. It would be a cool nod to the original attraction if they set up the cannon and mummy in the que or even as part of the ride. I had heard that supposedly the original boiler is in slaughterhouse? I'd also like to see some of the displays from phantom theater encore return like the concept art and that sort of stuff

Wait are you saying there are original animatronics inside tomb raider? How did I never hear about this before? I walked through it last season during the daytime haunt tours of the maze and was too focused on the remnants of tomb raider to even think they would hide other stuff in there

Great sign that they are working on it. Absolutely love that ride and it would be such a loss for the park both for families and for nostalgic old timers to see a park original and a former Coney Island ride meet it's end. So glad the park is putting the money into fixing it

Hoping it needs a part. I heard they possibly removed a lift chain. I haven't been to the park personally to look at it but I think that they will try and get it back up unless it's going to be an astronomical repair. I don't think they want to retire it just yet

Dang! That was my favorite show! I also loved Charlie Brown Christmas Spectacular and What the Dickens and they got rid of those too! Why do they axe all my favorite winterfest shows?!?

Considering that Demon at SFGA was closed for almost the entirety of the 2023 season due to the crumbling rocks and they reopened it for the final two weekends of fright fest, anything is possible at this point!

Anton Schwarzkopf would beg to differ!

It's now or never! Let's face it Kings Island always seems to do one thing well which is disappoint the die hard fans. Whatever goes in the boo Blaster building will have the GP in mind more than the handful of phantom theater thoosies - however I do still hope it comes back. I think the phantom theater encore attendance numbers could be a good indicator of how many members of the GP actually want to see that ride back

Phantom Theater haunt maze?

Out of curiosity has there been anything said about pass holders having to pay for haunts? I'd assume they'd have to pay $10 for regular pass and then additional $15 for conjuring

Agree...hope they can get one or two more years out of Invertigo. If they successfully open the new dark ride next year and get monster working again I see no reason they wouldn't pull the plug on Invertigo and Congo next fall in preparation for 2028 investment. I'm thinking 2027 is probably an off year but who knows lol

The enquirer said more information would be released concerning plans for the building in the coming weeks https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2025/08/11/kings-island-announces-impeding-closure-boo-blasters-boo-hill/85610698007/

I do agree there is no reason to close this before haunt & winterfest if they just plan to let the building sit. They are planning something in there for 2026. Of course the project could get behind or delayed but I think this closure date does give off the intention of opening whatever comes next in 2026. I personally am team Phantom Theater, however, I think it will most likely be something themed to peanuts or looney tunes since it's more or less in the kids area. (I know it's supposed to be I-Street but the entrance is literally right next to a kiddy swing ride themed to Snoopy). I'm genuinely curious if they will keep the Omni mover ride system or if this will be a complete gut of the existing ride system and theming?