Outdoor Man

was sitting in the festhaus with one of my daughters hunkered down on the floor by the giant claw game for that flash/BOOM!

Was hunkered down in the Festhaus when said lightning strike occurred. I thought I remember DT operating after that, but not sure. Winderseeker wasn't operating on friday either.

I think SOB will stand until a future plan is in place. If they demolish it, most of it will need to come down by crane because many structure pieces sit too close to Flight Deck and Adventure Express. And if you're going to go into the expense of bringing in a crane to clear something out, you don't necessarily want to pay to bring one in twice... so they'll wait until the plan is in place. I wouldn't hold my breath for anything to "open" in 2013. It'll be '14 at the earliest if I were to be a betting person.

There were five guys in the group total. Don was not even around.... Logically, I do not see them announcing the demise of SOB until they can make it part of a story that is positive. (ie. What you are getting . . . not what they are taking away.) He knew he could tell because anything he told me would only be considered rumor. They aren't going to take it "public" to the media until they can USE the media. I think that you will find during the season that you will get more reports of guests saying the same thing. Mr. Ouimet clearly doesn't consider it a "state secret" like his predecessors. You should also note that Mr. Ouimet walked away from the group to talk to me. No one from the group followed him or came over to listen to what he was talking about. When I walked away I did not look back, but as I noted, Greg Scheid then caught up with me after I had walked 100-150 feet away from the original conversation. He also came alone and told me that Mr. Ouimet told him about us. So, apparently he went back to the group and was telling his GM about our conversation to some extent. I would like to know if Matt told Greg that he should invite us or if it was Greg's idea after Matt told him of our conversation. Personally I think he was TRAINING his GM. I have never seen Greg out in the park before and I have frequently seen Don in the park, but on this day Don was not present. Infer what you will, but CHANGE is happening. There is a new sheriff in town and his name is Ouimet. That must have been the group I saw when there Friday. (I posted this in another thread)- I was in AZ and noticed what looked like executives up against the fence where the race cars are observing SOB and making hand gestures while looking at it. I didn't hear what they were saying and didn't make it a point to get in a place where I could, but noticed they were looking SPECIFICALLY at SOB. And I'll second that Don H. was not in the group. I couldn't tell you what Greg looks like- so he could have been there.

weren't those "fun" storms yesterday? I can actually vouch that the storm didn't arrive fully until approx 10:08. and WOW, did it storm!.... again.

i will second all of that. Went for the first time yesterday and the things mentioned WERE noticeable. 1000% agree about The Beast. It was probably the smoothest ride I have EVER experienced on it. Now, I will say that on 3 different instances yesterday we were bunkered down in the Festhaus while explicit lightning and torrential downpours came and it still confuses me that our German themed building has: Italian Pizza (LaRosa's), Chinese Food (Panda Express), and a "British Invasion" show. all in all, It was a great day, all the way to the Fireworks going off 5-minutes early because "another" storm was approaching. One thing I did notice yesterday was a group of Park Officials (about 5-6 of them.... not Dippin Dots guy) in Action Zone overlooking the pile of wood, commonly referred to as SOB. Couldn't hear what they were saying (and didn't try to put myself in a position to hear)- but they were "getting into" hand motions while pointing at it.

that lends itself to the thought on another thread of those wish for a steel "giga" to replace SOB. That ship has sailed.

here's a lighter topic for you... and Flintstones were "ambassadors" for Kings Island back in the day- so... win-win. or however you post videos

as far as thrill rides go, they're 2 for 5. That's a 400 batting average, and yet still more accurate than the weatherman.

for 2013, I'll side with a decision to finally for that pile of wood. I honestly don't think that CF (even under Kinzel) had/has any intentions of reopening it (think about it- if you're KI's insurance company would you allow them to reopen a coaster with a law suit history?, it's a business not a charity). I think it's there until a larger "master plan" for the area can be developed/put in place. As for the thrill-seekers aspirations for a giga-hyper-mega and/or record-breaking coaster- the 1990's called, they want their dream(s) back. I'm going with IndyGuy on this one. new chief is building on families and less on the average thrill seeker. I'd look for a family-oriented dark ride of some sort to debut in the former Tomb Raider building for 2013 and perhaps a Action Zone (and former SOB site) overhaul in the 2014 range.

If you're going to have the areas, enforce it. If you have no intention of enforcing it- drop it. I do get entertained by people who disregard the notices as if it doesn't apply to them. It's not usually the under 25 year old crowd either.... it's the parents that I notice doing it. sigh.

meh- my only problem with the Smoking Only areas... the park employees don't enforce it otherwise. It's all open air, so if the smoking public is dispersed about the park... the smoke doesn't cluster. My thought: do away with the smoking only areas, smokers... use good judgment when smoking (ie- not while in line in tight spaces. We're not kindergartners- we can figure this thing out.

thats three LOUSY saturday's in a row.... but by FAR the most PUTRID!

was up in Put-in-Bay last summer and a random merry-go-round with about 2-3 riders per hour had a full-functioning organ/band playing. If this random location has one operating, surely a well-funded park can get theirs running...

image 12... I always wondered what happened to that.

so... does this mean this thread will be retired by next week? This has been GREAT with all of the history pictures. Really sets the bar high for subsequent off-seasons.

Well, the kiddie coaster in the Magic Kingdom just got a name change and the Tiki room is under new management. Magic Kingdom rides 2 rides, 2 name changes over 50+ years. Kings Island- countless rides, 40 years, sometimes as many as four name changes.

Something I like about Disney (like their really comparable...) - ride names don't change. They tend to stick with what they started with.

I believe the coaster in question opened with the park as the "Scooby Doo" didn't it? http://rcdb.com/72.htm?p=24537

3 quick questions...(1) Almost hard to see at first, but could anybody please tell me what the name of the sky ride that's going over the building and (in your opinion) why another one hasn't replaced it yet? (2) What were those red poles (3 in the picture) that are identical in the childrens area? (3) I don't see any fencing anywhere...where people polite enough to stay on the sidewalks and didn't need corralled back then? I remember some of KI, but being under 5 back in those days...I get KI and Americana memories mixed up. Coca-Cola had their employee days there at Americana and coming to KI was a bonus. All I can remember at KI at that age was the Log Flume, something with the Flintstones and seeing people walking their invisible dogs on leashes...oh the live water show. Thanks. 1) that's the old skyride brought from Coney Island to Kings Island. It stopped running late 70's or early 80's (can't remember) 2) the red poles held a sort of shade mechanism that came from the lone pole in the center 3) we used to be a much more intuitive society...

$12.7 million??? not bad for a bankrupt company. Not a bad idea, I should run my business into the ground, then list for sale...

... and the new entrance is aptly named "New Entrance."

I agree. if done right, KI (or any of the CF parks) could do great business for Winterfest. Went to the Columbus Zoo (I forget the name) last November and it was wall-to-wall people. Anyone who has seen the lengths that Disney goes to (if even by picture) for the Christmas season would guess that if done right it would be a cash-cow. Do they have the stomach for it? If led by Kinzel, no. With the new guy and a history of success (80's and 90's)- it is a possibility, though I wouldn't look for anything in 2012.

rust-yellow doesn't work either.

Maple Grove? Of course. No, I believe he was referring to Geauga Lake.