Gordon Bombay

Expanding into new areas not only requires new rides/attractions, but expanding infrastructure and operation as well. They won't even put bathrooms in X-Base.

...I thought Kings Island already was considered one of the chain's flagship parks? The scuttlebutt I always heard was that CF wanted KI, but had to pick up four other (relatively good, but not as good as KI) parks to do that. • Wonderland ended up being a blessing in disguise who's potential was never truly realized by Paramount. • They ended up making significant investment in Carowinds and Kings Dominion to try and unlock a bit more potential. • Great America they were than happy to sell to the 49ers, but when they didn't: "eh, I guess it works."

Won't be as good as the awesome Johnny Rockets restaurant that was down there. Outstanding.

Wow, thank you, @KingsMills79. So Franklin was the manufacturer, not Arrow Dynamics?

Thank you! I think I was getting confused because the park had held on to one or tow for awhile. They'd wheel them out for the 2005 Winterfest parade and then a few other special events (plus I'm sure to be thrown into the potpourri that is recycled crap/haunt decorations). The ones they always brought around, though, had the roof removed. Thank you! Stirring up a ton of memories for me. I remember riding both, but being very confused as a young kid when the Rivertown side was closed. One last question: Do you know if it was a permanent shut down or more of a staffing/capacity situation? I.E. Did they just keep one side closed unless it was really, really busy or was it always mothballed?

Any idea which one was Rivertown and which was Coney Mall? Also, didn't one close a few years before the other? Edit: followup question, did the OG ride have different style cars on each track?

Wow, thanks to OP for the photographs and to @Hawaiian Coasters 325 for bumping this topic. Total nostalgia trip. I grew up with HB/Nick Central, but Nick Universe rolled around when I first joined this site/was much more active and was still an area when I was a manager. I remember having to try and remember all those weird names when working in the area. "Can you meet me at Backyardigans?" "Sure. What the hell is that?"

Wasn't the "monster" from Geauga moved to KI as well when that parked closed?

Sure, until it becomes clear that yet again, Texhnifex, has routed the wires through eight levels of scorpion infested concrete. Tomb Raider all over again.

That was it! I just envision FoF trains launching into a tunnel while "jerk it out" from that iPod commercial plays and half the lights don't work.

"Small" except for that bit about extending the track of a coaster built by a now defunct manufacturer that barely rises above the height of the station. ;-)

Don't forget "Flight of Fear retrofitted into a knock-off Rock N' Roller Coaster featuring MTV theming." Would've loved to have seen how many new lights wouldn't work after two seasons and how the queue would still be showing music videos from circa 2005-07.

Such an oddly themed ride for a park centered-around Country music, haha.

Hi folks, Bit of a random post here, but curious if the vast knowledge of KIC might know. Years ago, there was a trip report on here where someone stopped by what little remained of Opryland, Nashville's former seasonal park that was demolished to make room for a mall. All that remained was the trough and fake rocks of "Grizzly River Rampage," an Intamin water rapids ride similar to KI's White Water Canyon. You can see some photographs of those remains here: https://www.coaster101.com/2011/01/07/opryland-usa-themepark-remnants/ I was in Nashville recently and decided to swing by and see if anything was left. Unfortunately, all the fake rocks and trough appear to be gone, but I was wondering if anyone might know something. The pedestrian bridge that's there has a feel very similar to theming of WWC and an electrical box nearby seemed like it might have been from the ride. For some reason, I really want to know if in fact this bridge was part of the queue and if this box was once part of the ride. Photos: Anyone know for sure if in fact, this was part of Opryland/Grizzly River Rampage? According to aerial views, that pedestrian bridge may have been part of the ride. I think. Random question, I know, but if anyone knows for sure - I'd be so appreciative.

I’m relatively sure they did early on.

The sad thing was... it did have a lot of those features, they were just horribly executed and later "removed." • The "stair rumble" never quite got the point across. The section of the ride that is "a stairway" was so brief and so lightly themed, that you hardly have any idea that it's supposed to reflect descending down the subway stairs like in the film. When the "rumble" worked, it was simply just a slight vibration down that particular, small, spot of track. If you had never seen the movie or the ride's conceptual promo video, you'd probably just assume that section of track was "rough." It never translated well. • As for the "drifting cars," the infrastructure was there, but the effect you'd always feel was incredibly minimal. For one thing, the ride isn't very long so the section of "drifting" is over rather briefly. The cars also hardly drifted. Shortly after, you could look at the back of the vehicle chasis and see where the springs were and how the car was modified to not sway anymore, not matter how slightly it ever did. • The on-board audio: wow, this was always bad. Even on good days when the queue line audio worked and synced up properly with dispatching trains, it played so softly in the cars that you'd hardly hear it. For what seemed like years, the "outside" audio of police sires wailing seemed to switch on and off. Occasionally speakers beneath the cop cars made noise, occasionally they wouldn't. I think the only audio that's worked consistently is the helicopter/explosion scene. If I recall, the on board audio system was supposed to be re-charged during the loading process via a system below the vehicles and on the track. It apparently was troublesome. • The splash down: always loved that the "splash" scene wasn't actually a splash, but two pumps that sprayed water up after absolutely no attempt was made to hide this fact. They worked for awhile, disappeared at some point. In 2009 and 2010 it took months before water was even returned to the "aqueduct." • Yellow track: I remember the very first KIC event I ever attended was in early 2005 during an IJ:ST construction tour. Jeff Seibert mentioned that they had decided on changing the track from yellow to gray to make it seem like more of a "roadway." Ultimately, it doesn't look great, but imagine that bright yellow track after a few seasons of summer sun with ware and tear. • Lights on the cars: at one point, probably long gone now, the cars had headlights that made the tunnel look cool. • EDIT: I forgot about the fog! Right before you entered the tunnel, one poorly hidden, obvious nozzle would spray fog from the right hand side. It was hardly ever noticed. Sorry for the rant, Backlot Stunt Coaster was such an interesting ride that never came close to meeting its full potential. It was like an "abstract" themed attraction. Yeah, it had decoration, but everything seemed so cheap and minimal, like a high school art student arguing for using less supplies when really he waited to do his project at the last minute. I was 15 when the announcement video came out and so excited, only to find out that the announcement video had several angles of the same sections of ride that made it appear much bigger and longer than the ride would actually be. I remember trying to create a ride in RCT3 based off that video, so excited for what I thought was coming. The final product: ugh. And they built two more! In the end, Backlot's a good, little ride that works for both kids and adults, a nice intermediate attraction. I had a lot of fun working that ride back in the day, but man it was promised to be so much more. Wasn't worth the removal of the Antique Cars and its a bit of an eyesore in a prominent section of the park. I wonder how much longer its kept around on seemingly valuable real estate, although it's relatively reliable and harmless. /End Rant One Last Edit: If you ever get a chance to glance at the ride's blueprints, there was supposed to be a bit more theming such as a fountain that you would've sped around before entering the "subway stairs." The area is shown as a flower garden in the promo video, but was absolutely nothing in reality.

Is there even enough room between the train's cars for someone to get down there?

It says "best coaster designer," I thought it was a bit disrespectful to leave out the legend of bent coat hanger design. May his ghost give you extra headbangs on Vortex.

I'm not seeing the option for Ron Toomer...

Son of Baconator beat me to it.

While this seems to be the case, what's always thrown me off is the fact that multiple others still operated and one still does. I wonder just how hard those parts are to acquire.

King Cobra seems to always have two things offered up as excuses for its demise: 1) Spare parts became harder to find... or 2) The steel was in "bad shape..." ...yet, similar models operated well after, one of them even surviving relocation and still operating overseas. King Cobra itself was put up for sale. I wonder what the actual reason was for its removal. Does anyone know for certain?

Definitely planning to check this out. Kind of bummed it's not permanent.

Son of Beast could really use a fresh coat, I can't even see it these days.

If you look in the background of this shot (or ever find yourself in Timberwolf), you can see one of the lights from the Adventure Village/Wild Animal Habitat days.