Outdoor Man

innovative at Kings Island used to happen. Cedar Point is the "franchise player" now. Don't get me wrong, KI will get good coasters, but the ultra-innovative, record breakers will debut about 4 hours north from now on.

i disagree a bit on the whole SBNO for a season. Cedar Fair tends to be pretty decisive when a decision is made. Examples from Geauga Lake: Close on Sunday, coasters begin remove following week Villian not sold at auction, demolished within a month. It's not like someone is going to buy Son of Beast and move it to another park. if they make the decision that it isn't in their best interest to keep, i bet its down by February. The decision to operate again isn't necessarily all in their hands; if i were to guess they probably are having difficult discussions with their insurance carrier. not to mention 9 years of bad press... and how old is it? 10?

Klockster. Awesome post. Picture's worth a thousand words. and KI Finatic.... it doesn't matter the likability fo the coaster. Cost/investment will reign. It's all about dollars and cents. The Villain, Big Dipper, and the entire Geauga Lake park were loved by many; but the cost exceeded the investment. The Bat had TONS of fans when it was able to operate. Just because a coaster is liked doesn't keep the wrecking ball from knocking on the door. SOB had problems from day one that never improved... and in the end it's name was attached to accident reports all through it's 9-year history. And if they continue to operate, with all of the bad press an injury may not even have been caused by SOB, but if someone has a headache after riding.... it could cost CF and the adjacent insurance company thousands to prove otherwise.

plus they'd probably have some die-hard SOB fans chain themselves to the physical structure.

kjkjkjkj- See "Geauga Lake's Closing" for the answer to that question.

well put Thrill_Biscuit! I'll just ditto those remarks.

i would seriously be shocked if the coaster ever re-opened. It really doesn't matter if the state cleared it or not, it has 9 years of bad publicity. I'm certain that Cedar Fair's liability insurance carrier will have a MAJOR say in whether it hosts another park patron again... And don't hold out for "one last ride." if it is determined that it is in the parks best interests to part ways with the troubled past of the coaster the last thing they're going to do is give park patrons one last opportunity to claim injury and sue the park.

actually dalefan, CF officials/employees do read the Geagua Lake Today site... and their subsequent forums. There was a guy named "Dave" who posted pictures of the park demolition, who didn't work direclty for CF, but for the contractor- who, as best I can tell, was released from his employment and the pictures on the site removed. unfortunately for this site, the days of Twitter, FaceBook, etc... and the relentless blogging of individuals leaves many to think that people care about EVERY opinion they have on any topic. I have someone on my facebook network that posted 5 times about laying his kitchen floor, and that he hopes he has enough time to finish it. I DON'T CARE... seems a simple solution to the time would be to STOP POSTING. so, if there is a thread about Firehawk... well I must have an opinion so why not post. and unfortunately for the Moderators there are more people and more threads to moderate than they have time to read after. There are a few newbies on here that have over 1000 posts in their first 6 months. I've been on here four years and I don't have 700 (i think).... i can't see my numbers. Granted, if I see someone is getting spirited I will be the first to try and push a button or come up with an obviously preposterous "factoid." Most will see right through it and "get" it- and I do it in good nature. This is still a great site. for the most part moderated pretty well (I about got "moderated" for a political avatar.... before (and I can't think of his name... Ronny maybe)- realized it was a Dwight Schrute mock up). The site is very respectable in that childish comments are tough to cut out, but it always seems that the heated debate topics are kept to a minimum. Go to the cincinnati.com or any news outlet "comment" threads from their stories. This site is Pulitzer-caliber compared to some of the dolts that post on those sites.

OK, I'll think about what I say before I type it................ When I'm about to do something, I think, "would an idiot do this?" and if they would I do not do that thing!

two observations. #1- an obvious case where the cost has exceeded the benefit of the investment. So, yes an amusement park is there to actually turn a profit, and once an attraction begins costing more than it's percieved benefit to said park. Removal. (sans Son of Beast- may be popular (to some)- but there will be a day in the not too distant future that it is no longer profitable to have operate. #2- Cedar Fair could take a lesson from Busch Gardens playbook. Announcing something closing 45 days out to allow guests to enjoy "one last time." ala Geauga Lake.

OK "Top Gun"- I'm going to have to ask the judges on this one. 7709 in 2008 just at KI???? assuming you went everyday in an estimated 110 day operating season (public days- it may be more/less)... that's 70 pictures per day. Really; are there that many things there to take a picture of at KI. let alone 18000 in 4 years. I hope that perhaps you are one of the "Keyhole Photo" individuals that snaps pics all day.

Two Words: TRIM BREAKS

I'll give you a dollar if they rollback the admission price when the license expires. But I do think that 50% off Nick merchandise in May probably means that the Nick Universe is in its farewell season.

was at the park tonight (monday) and I'm sure someone else has already picked up on this and probably has posted- but it doesn't look good for Nick Universe in a post 2009 world. It is only May and the Nick items are already 50% off. I can only hpoe they do a MUCH better job retheming than they have with TR:TR / Crypt.

Holy McCrap. i think there would be many sick individuals getting off that top spin. They should call that one "vertigo."

actually the Golf Center has more than 27 holes now. We host an annual Golf Scramble there and use the 9-hole "Bruin" course for our morning tee and the 18-hole Grizzly course for the afternoon tee. I think they also have 3-4 additional "practice" holes for overflow with outings. Its a pretty nice course..... and some of the best people to work with for events!

don't you suppose that in some attic corner at Channel 12 (near to the old Kings Productions office) thdere is a stash of moth-balled memorabilia. I say Channel 12- because weren't they part of the old Kings company back until sometime in the late-80's? My sister worked for WKRC until about 1987 and remember the Kings next door.

may not be "yours" - but "you" found it. That's something that according to his post, Boddah hadn't even come across.... and with KI History- that would be a tough feat to accomplish (then again I could be wrong on that). But from what I've surmized- if it has anything to do with KI- Ryan (i think that is his name) probably knows (and has) more KI knowlege than 99% of the KI staff- probably including administration.

I've organized and participated in events with entities along that exit quite a bit in the last few years. And from those experiences, stories of those who have been around... and now viewing that video (and this isn't a knock on what Kings Island currently is)- I think that Kings Island was meant to be much different than it has become. ie- more of a Mid-Western Disney Land. I think that entire exit was supposed to be the Ohio version of Lake Buena Vista in Florida.... and that the park was to be more about Fred Flintstone and Scooby Doo than record-breaking roller coasters. Good, bad, or indifferent- the park is what is today, and for that part we have nothing but reality to compare it to. It would have been VERY interesting to see what Kings Island would have looked had the US not slumped into a 2-year recession in 1973 (through 1975)- right after opening. Plus all of the fallout from Vietnam at the time.... Kings Island could have look A LOT different had the time period of 1973-1976 not existed.

i think for the members of this site- that video was likely the equivalent of Christmas, Easter, 5 birthdays, all the green beer one could consume on St. Patricks Day all rolled into one- WITH a cherry on top. You don't have a ton of posts to your name- but pretty much are a "lock" to receive icon status now!

according to the concept picture, apparently you ride the water slide fully clothed.

went to a "sister" park in Australia (Australia's Wonderland) prior to that parks closing (in 2004, i think)- from there I think it either got scrapped or sent to Malaysia or Turkey to another park. http://wonderland.octiva.net/ http://wonderland.octiva.net/zodiac/

those rides about gave me heart failure just watching them in action.... didn't even have to ride.

that was good. now, I'm from the days of the 5 1/4 "true" floppy. how many on this board have actually never seen one of those.

whats a floppy drive?