OverlandTaxis30

The removal of the Old Dominion Line not withstanding, Paramount at least had the sense to build their Italian Job somewhere else in that park and not remove their original antique cars for it.

Link to page. Makes you wonder how much longer for Congo Falls.

I highly doubt that. As nice as it would be.

What ultimately became of the building that housed Coco Key? Anyone know?

What were these original plans for KI?

These are all just pipe dreams of mine (some more realistic than others), but thought I'd share them none the less. International Street: I don't know of music, but I wouldn't mind if it actually looked like a street again with sidewalks. And actually, maybe have each building themed to a respective country have something within that represents said country. (Swiss cheese products in the Swiss building. LaRosa’s in the Italian building in a sponsorship deal, etc). Planet/Camp Snoopy: I, too, would like to see if the Camp Snoopy theme can encompass the entire area as well as give the Log flume back the "Race for your life, Charlie Brown" name. The current Boo-Blasters ride would be given a Peanuts retheme and it’s story would be that you are helping Linus try and capture the Great Pumpkin to prove its existence, only to end up capturing the other characters, instead. Rivertown: The old Crypt building would be rethemed to look like an old mill building with a Ferris wheel placed alongside. Bits of water would occasionally drip onto the riders and it would be named the "Water Wheel." The interior of the building would be a multilevel restaurant serving country cookin'. On the railroad, that large empty plot of land opposite of the Mystic Timbers end would have a town scene constructed and inhabited by skeletons a la "Boneville" at Cedar Point. And other animal figures would be scattered along the forested areas. Bigfoot would be there as well. Now for the big one that involves both Coney Mall and Rivertown. Backlot would be removed and an almost exact replica of the original antique car track layout would be constructed complete with the two tracks, only with a few changes. The track with the station facing Coney Mall would have more modern cars (as nod to Backlot, they could be Mini-coopers) and have more contemporary scenery placed along its circuit. Including, but not limited to, salvaged scenery from Backlot such as the green highway signs. This side would be named “something” Parkway (though I can see it being given the “Skyline” name as part of a sponsorship deal). The track with the station facing Rivertown would be a relocated Kings Mills Antique Autos (Only it would be renamed Kings Mills Auto Livery) along with all of the billboards, gas station, and covered bridge/tunnel being placed along its circuit. The scenery along each respective track would be strategically placed so that the scenes of one would not be seen or at least interfere with that of the other. The only time they would interact would be on the bridge on which both tracks would cross and go under. This bridge, instead of the covered bridge of old, would instead be a scaled down and squished replica of the Roebling Suspension bridge (we can probably guess, that bridge has seen both types of cars cross it). Coney Mall: On the spot vacated by KMAA, a couple of new flat rides would be built. These could be something like an WindStarz ride. New modern flat rides that will not detract but add to the Coney feel so to speak. As for The Vortex plot, I am going to steal an idea made recently by Ryan and Don on Tower Topics and say that whatever coaster is put in, it would be sponsored by the Cincinnati Reds, painted red (obviously), and named “The Big Red Machine.” A new modern version of the Sky Ride would span the entire length of the Midway. Area 72: Add a Zamperla NebulaZ ride. Adventure Port: Maybe have a walk-on ship in the pond. Action Zone: I will go along with the other folks here and say they could retheme it to a haunted forest. I will add this to that concept. The current Kings Island Theater would be incorporated into this themed land and be renamed (you guessed it) the Phantom Theater with an animatronic show featuring the cast of the classic ride. Timberwolf and Invertigo would be removed only and a new steel coaster is put in their place and would interact with the renamed River of Blood (Congo Falls). Oktoberfest: The Festhaus would be designated to serve German cuisine. Predominately beer and brats, with German chocolate cake as desert.

I visited Worlds of Fun last year and enjoyed riding behind ELI. Even got to see a show while riding one time. ELI in action.

I agree. It has been done before. Just look at how Diamondback and Mystic Timbers were built around the path of the railroad.

I don’t know if it has been said before, but, there have been kids ( including myself when I was one) who called the Blue engine #12 Kenny Van Meter “Thomas.”

From watching old POVs, it replaced the billboard for the Kings Mills Auto Livery. Which was either a throwback to the Ohio Overland Automobile Livery side of the original Antique car layout, a reference to the current incarnation, or both. Were there more signs that were replaced by Flo?

Did they only send this survey out to select people?

I could see them redoing the outside of the building to resemble a mill/factory and I would also finally put a Ferris Wheel alongside and theme it as a water wheel with the occasional sprinkle of water on the riders.

https://www.facebook.com/share/SihqAtnqQN5UMJDt/?mibextid=WC7FNe Worlds of Fun is getting Gould Manufacturing antique car models (same ones KI has) to replace some of their original models.

Breaking news: Backlot Stunt Coaster has been announced to have reached the end of its service life and will be removed at the end of 2025. In its place: the original antique cars layout will be rebuilt, but with a new twist. The track facing Coney Mall will use sports cars and be named the Cincinnati Turnpike (as a throwback to the multiple-names Turnpike from HB land) and the track facing Rivertown will be the classic antique cars we all know and love and be given the Kings Mills Antique Autos name. All of the structures and signage in the current KMAA will be relocated to the rebuilt track. April fools.

https://milwaukeezoo.org/about-us/our-blog/steam-engines-sale/?fbclid=IwAR2xXLO5LQA3FsURxnotoYwTV4o5wxVwds47pRIQCd88FbIatqSFGQfEZ8k_aem_AYK71GSzEKiHqsOqzJlzOl88nrdz8A1B7UWADAvCrHsJ7R6ijvCoDsIyQ4de9ksZn60

If only they could’ve been able to have Jungle Jim’s lease out a monorail car for display somewhere in the park. Or have Lionel make running models of the KI and MV engines.

My dad wishes they would back beer and brats to the Festhaus.

How funny. Last year, passholder preview day lasted all day. I should know. I was there.

Now, I am starting to wonder if my all park passport “benefits” will even work at CP. Since I purchased it through KI.

I concur! And they could keep the simple animatronics and scenery as things to see along the way. Like the C. P. and L. E. railroad.

Just wait until Brandon from Theme Park Predictions hears about this!

That’s what I said in a Facebook comment on the subject. Agreed! After all, Polaris was trademarked at the same time as Orion.

While we are at it, I see that Kings Island swapped trains with Cedar Point. Seriously though, logo looks great! Especially since it showcases the train in general.

When you think of 1970s Kings Island, does the Partridge Family’s song, “Come on. Get happy” come to mind?

Exactly! I know they can. All they need is for Kings Island to approach them to do it. But KI hasn’t and I wish they would.