Outdoor Man

if i were a bettin person, i'd say that KI has replacement chain parts on site. As bad as it might have sounded, I'm sure this is somewhat common... that's why you hear that repetitive "click" on the lift hills... in the event the chains fail.... you don't go rolling back into the station.

actually i think the festhaus clock worked as recent as 2007 or maybe 2008. I remember watching it after the CF buyout and thinking that maybe the "little" things will be brought back up to speed. As Mr. Helbig said a few years ago, they were going to restore KI to the way "people remember it...." I would just like the simple things. Like- a GERMAN-themed "festhaus" feature something more german than "Panda Express." LaRosa's is pushing it... but at least they're European. I would have preferred restoration of some of the theming like the carousel organ to the millions invested in the Dinosaur attraction.... that doesn't really fit a theme consistent with Coney Mall, and I can't see it staying longer than a few years. Now, that being said, I have not been yet (though I intend to)- just saying I would have rather they put money into infastructure as opposed to an attraction that will likely expire in a short period of time.

I used to go to all of the outdoor music festivals back in the day: Creation, Ichthus, Alive.... i don't think i have it in me anymore. Plus, I think music today just gives me a bad case of gas.

i don't think so.

nope. pop music. HOWEVER, as a parent of small children I am ecstatic that they have brought more "kid" music to the snoopy area.

good topic Snowman. I watched the PBS documentary online about the beginnings of Kings Island yesterday. All I can say is, WOW. The level of thought and theming that went into building the park. Gary Wachs (i think was his name) traveled to EVERY amusement park in the US, traveled to Europe, etc... to get ideas for every themed area of the park to give it a "theme park" feeling. I wish I draw a line back to when it seems that the park overall started to drift from the theming concept. Maybe it was when they installed "The Bat" at the end of Coney Mall. Though a great coaster concept for its time, doesn't really fit with the classic amusement park theme. It was interesting, you could tell that he (as "founder" of KI) was very pleased with the project they conceived, happy for the park's success, but clearly reserved when speaking about the current direction of the park. That being said- I think the best way they can keep the theming up (decorations really)- is to keep them maintained. FOF is amazing, but the theming is a bit "off" from 1996 when it was installed. I personally would like to see International Street restored to some level of "international-ness"... and the grand carousel perhaps get its music playing ability back. I am intrigued by the Cedar Fair leadership coming (a disney executive)- it should be interesting. Richard Kinzel was about record-breaking height for the parks. Disney's concept is about the lasting experience AND theming. It will probably be 5 years before the new CEO's hand print to begin to show- but it will be interesting to see what creative direction the park-systems take.

actually, I think the tree-lined road is "Columbia Road."

any more pictures from old coney to share????

that was probably "tongue-in-cheek" - but KI isn't in jeopardy of closing.

i think it will overall be positive even if it is regarding SOB. Positive #1- refurbishing and reopening. Positive #2- demolition- BUT something large and new in its place.

I'm going to put my money on some sort of announcement regarding SOB. It can't sit there forever- they'll have to do something with it sooner or later.

same building, extensively redone.

when they bought it- didn't the guy at Sears say it should work just fine? sheesh.... it's taking forever to get these things running. So, next year when WindSeeker, version 2.0 comes out- will it obsolete the current CF editions?

still there. it's where those euro-bungee things are (at least I think those things still occupy that space). some other enthusiast can give you the exact global positioning of the line queue.

burial of an old dinosaur- COOL- in a few hundred millenia we'll have a fossil fuel deposit to pump some American grade oil!

first of all, i'm off on my abbreviations- could someone enlighten me of what "TG treatment" is. also- the removal of queue rails doesn't mean much. Those were constructed when SOB was "new" and atune to 3 hour wait lines. Even if it reopens and is hugely popular, it is doubtful that they will ever have 3-hour long lines again. The Beast is VERY popular, but even on crowded days the line rarely reaches the 1 hour mark.... and queue rails have been subsequently removed from The Beast over the years and it is still standing.

not too early for a 2012 coaster. Diamondback started going vertical the summer before.

But it was Dwight Schrute who said, "When I'm about to do something I think- 'would an idiot do this?' and if they would, I do not do that thing."

looking at webcam... looks like there are people in line for WindSeeker http://174.121.245.214/cfki/WindSeeker1/dino1.jpg?r=1307023703406 edit: strike that... those are water-dummy's.

Kings Island went too far into the reality of this exhibit and had actual Neanderthal and Cro Magnon peoples experimenting with creating fire. I knew this was a bad idea.

i don't think anyone on these boards intentionally throw darts at others. for the most part things here (from my perspective) tend to be benign exchanges. words on a computer screen, however, do not give the reader the benefit of facial expression or "tense" of the post. I differ with opinions of some (as they do me as well)- but just because we differ doesn't mean that the opinion is devalued.

good reply scott. i think most people are under the impression that this means that the Commonwealth of KY is going to issue a $40 million blank check. That's not how tax incentives work. The tax incentives apply to the corporate side of the park only. The state stands to make much more money from them to approve this: FICA taxes, sales tax, etc... Its not like this tax break would be channeled into something else if if weren't approved- that money currently doesn't exist. its money that upon operation the state says we'll give you a "Free Parking" (shout out to Monopoly) card for a set amount of time, after which the taxes will begin to accrue. if the park does not operate, there's no money. Church and state have nothing to do with this, its a cash flowing business looking for tax breaks that any company would look and apply for when looking to build; and as usual, because it is Christian in nature people can't get past it. And, i hear they can get those top spins pretty cheap.

as an adult, as a father, as a home owner with a dishwasher.... the souvenir cups this year stink. they are literally a hand-wash only item since they are about as tall as the Eiffel Tower.

good pictures it will be interesting to see how this develops. It would be nice if this were a precursor to a broader themed area development for #40 next year. Two other observations: Racer is really starting to resemble Top Gun, or whatever its called... in DIRE need of a decent paint job. It looks like they've painted it with a "flat-white-primer" #2- they have never really found a decent use for the old Flight Commander pad. They just need to go in with a number of jack-hammers and grade that whole area.

even if that isn't it- when my family and I were there Saturday night they had the "water" dummies on the seats hoisted about 15 feet off the ground... so they're going to be testing soon, if not already.