Gordon Bombay

Your logic is impeccable. You'd think they'd put up a sign that says something to the effect of: "DO NOT STAND UP. Keep Hands Inside Car." Or maybe some sort of automated voice recording saying: "Remain seated throughout the entire ride, keep hands, arms and legs inside the car at all times. Thank You."

And they're not particularly paid well either... And despite the sometimes difficult customers, there's a lot of good ones and regulars who I can guarantee you the ride ops enjoy seeing. Markr is one of those fine folks.

"Fired."

Charlotte most certainly does, in fact that's the main reason why Chiquita bolted out of Cincinnati in favor of Charlotte. At any rate, Cedar Fair primarily uses Cleveland's airport to reach Sandusky. How do we know this? Because that's where Jack Falfas was standing the last time Dick Kinzel called him.

That guy is a moron.

There was a time, I think before it was all called "bing," that the Microsoft maps were somewhat better than Google maps because they had the overhead, angled view. That was the only time I ventured over there. Now, Google Maps is 10x better. I was forced to use Bing maps once. It's a long story, but at one point I owned a Blackberry Playbook tablet. It's the worst tablet on the market, but I got a great deal on it. My old HTC Thunderbolt was dead and I needed a map. I took the Playbook into a McDonalds and hoped on the Wi-Fi. The only maps application the playbook had available was for Bing Maps that couldn't find my location and couldn't find the address I searched for. Through the tablet's miserable web browser, I was able to get on Google Maps and was set up in minutes. I've never had a reason to use Bing - if I can't find it on Google I usually don't find it on Bing. Like almost everything Microsoft seems to do - Bing is their own version with copycat features that don't work nearly as well as the product they try to emulate.

I'll start working on the lanyards, CompUSA may sponsor again.

The KIC Facebook seems to get regular updates...

Really bummed that this never came to Action Theatre, now all we have is dinosaurs and a stupid haunt. Bring back Bernie Mac!

Much like Flight of Fear, the "third" train is rehabbed during the current regular season to get ready for the next season. For example: trains 1 and 2 run in 2013, while train 3 is rehabbed. In 2014 trains 2 and 3 may run while train 1 is rehabbed and the pattern follows for the next years. Although it should be noted that the trains currently running are always labeled "1" and "2," but have weld marks indicating their "real" numbers. While running three trains, the ride does get increased capacity, but if the crew doesn't move fast enough that third train "sets up" on the second lift. Apparently constant set ups were causing too much stress on the lift hill motor. Even the best crews can get delays in the stations.

Great trip report, thanks for posting!

Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't have much to do with KIC anymore. I'll step in when I get an abundant amount of texts/pms/facebook messages about something going haywire. If only the active staff stopped by more.

If only we had a topic to discuss amusement park zoning issues... Edit: For the record, mulimann posted some great links, but maybe they'd be better here: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?/topic/27359-whos-going-to-other-parks/#entry514318 Now what was that about 2014?

Hey, so, just a few notes since the OP hasn't posted anything in awhile: Q: Meeting up with friends? A: Please discuss that in a meet up thread! Q: Do you really like wearing jean shorts? A: Head to Kohl's next sale or start a thread about the fashion relevancy of "jorts." Q: Questions about why Son of Beast closed? A: Go here: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?/topic/25938-general-son-of-beast-discussion/ Speculating and discussing what, if anything, is coming for 2014!? THIS is the thread to do just that. So let's stay on topic, shall we? ___________________________________________________________ When they were tearing down Son of Beast, the bolts that came off the ride were placed into barrels and hauled off presumably for scrap. I assume whatever was left in that barn was scrapped or kept depending if it could be used on other rides. Like AZ Kinda Guy said, I assume that barn and that remaining stuff out there will be cleaned up once a new ride opens on that occupied spot even though by all indications it seems a new ride won't be going out that far. I'm surprised that they let so much stuff out there remain visible from the tower.

Again, let's stay on the topic of Kentucky Kingdom please.

Stop. Discuss the topic or don't post.

I highly doubt you'd see a strata coaster built at KI, you can already rule that out via the footprint you're currently seeing. I'd place good money on that whatever is being built will be high capacity and incredibly efficient. Rides like that are something KI has sorely needed for a long time and Diamondback was a step in the right direction. Not saying you'd see another B&M hyper ala Wonderland's Behemoth/Leviathan combo, but a downtime ridden, huge cost and inefficient strata coaster - not at KI. B&M once made trains for a wooden roller coaster and then never again. That photograph is phenomenal, mind if I ask where you found it?

Fun fact: This building... ...used to be part of the Wild Animal Habitat and then was repurposed as the Son of Beast "bolt barn." It held hundreds of spare bolts and parts for Son of Beast. It'll be interesting to see what becomes of it.

Negativity and skepticism? Sorry not everyone is viewing the situation through rose colored glasses. Every now and then you return to KIC and poo-poo how you dislike certain users here and the boards less and less each time. Good for you, friend, then why do you still keep coming? Being skeptical of this project is to have an opinion on the given information here put out by Hart himself. I wasn't aware that as "enthusiasts" we were supposed to blindly believe any press release as God's word or that "enthusiasts" are supposed to take mystery words about "construction" as gospel when evidence proves otherwise. I'll admit, Hart securing financing a few days before took me by surprise. I didn't see it happening given that he hadn't announced any kind of firm financing before and just weeks before had said the rides were "deteriorating" ( http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20130606/NEWS01/306060074/Kentucky-Kingdom-significantly-deteriorated-analysis-says ). It seemed to me that he was getting ready to back pedal in a fashion similar to the HW group who also claimed to be so super excited about opening the park, then left when their "ride experts" determined it wasn't worth their time to do the necessary repair work. Alas, Hart proudly stood at the gates yesterday with the money he needs. Had you read the thread, and not just casually, I've pointed out numerous times that I really do want to see the park reopen, however, by all indications Hart was giving - I didn't see that happening and to a degree I wonder how much will really be open in May. He has a massive task in front of him, not just in repair work, but in operations and clerical work as well. I had the opportunity to visit a closed KK in the summer of 2011 ( http://queencitydiscovery.blogspot.com/2012/02/from-ruins-of-kingdom-boardwalk-rises.html ). In early 2012, I wrote about that experience and the Koch's attempt to reopen it - I maintain the same opinion I had then: I think the park is beautiful, seeing it closed it sad and it's the kind of place that deserves to be open, but I found the Koch's plan peculiar and was very skeptical of it. I feel the same way about Hart's plan. For what it's worth, I hope you're having a great summer too and doing well - also if you come back to the forums again I hope it's to contribute and discuss, not just breeze through topics and tell us yet again why you've fallen out of love with KIC.

While signs point to a coaster being bought or a portable coaster and the cost, why is this unlikely? Because who is going to survey, design, manufacture and assemble a coaster in time for opening day? Not any of the big manufacturers.

Notice in the press release that aside from the two coaster renovations, he doesn't mention when anything else will open. Even the water park attractions aren't announced for a specific date. I'm still waiting to hear what exactly will be open when the counter at the top of that page hits 0?

It'll be interesting to see what... If anything... "reopens" in 2014.

Do you guys mean in general or are you talking directly about Fast Lane sales? See what I did there?

Or you know like a quick walk out there to just see how dark it is. Would probably make sense before holding an event at night.

And that is most certainly not true. It may be what they WANT to do, but without a lease or money to fund a design those plans are a long way off. He has to get a lease, secure funding and open a park first.