Outdoor Man

a few years ago my wife and I decided to go to the top level. it was one of those hot afternoons where rain could come at any minute. As idiots we weren't thinking about that- so with no hesitation we proceeded to the top floor. Half way up, facing The Vortex end of the park I start to wonder if it would rain later in the day and clear some folks out.... We exited the elevator, rounded the corner and........... my first words, OMG get back on the elevator.... rain.... HARD rain was a'comin. We didn't get on that ride back down and ended up being one of the sad saps to leave because of the rain. We got soaked more than WWC and Congo Falls combined.

i feel for those in the marketing department- because just because you put lipstick on the pig doesn't mean that it ceases to be a pig. Nothing wrong with KI at all.... still a tremendous park... i'm just playing with the whol "nostalgia" message. Other than new shows, and being cleaner, oh- and the reversal of The Racer nothing sticks out as historic/nostalgic. for example: Nostalgic: GONE: Swan Lake- what's nostalgic about that? Nostalgic: ARRIVED: new eateries and shops on IS.... nothing to do with original theme. Nostalgic: original landscaping- nothing really strikes me as original. and the list could continue- but I think it's interesting that that this message has become the marketing mantra for the season. Don't get me wrong- love the park. Family and I have been numerous times already with passes- it just strikes me as a lame marketing message for a new season. They are obviously building something BIG-- why not play off that? It's not like some day in July/August when they decide to come out with the details people are all of a suddne going to realize that they are doing more than scouring the bottom of the lake for bodies- or finally removing the Winterfest trees (after 3 seasons).

intriguing that the whole history, tradition, nostalgia card was played at Geauga Lake also.... where have I heard that before? off topic, but does anyone buy the whole tradition/nostalgia thing?

I have a few observations. The ride opps in NU were VERY kind, conversational, and overwhelmingly helpful. My daughter could not have been happier to be there... finally tall enough to ride the swings and Blue's Skidoo... much of the day spent in NU... I have no idea who Italian Chef is or seen him in person before... but were you at NU yesterday... if so I saw you buzz by. The park was CLEAN and well manicured. It appeared that Vortex AND The Racer got fresh paint.. which if so- Top Gun... er. Flight Deck didn't appear to be so lucky; why is that? The whole nostalgia marketing approach must be in the "eyes of the beholder." Maybe I just didn't make it to all the park- but nothing really stood out as nostalgic to me. Which isn't bad- not saying that. ie- International Street had not returned to anything remotely resembling the nostalgic International Street of old. Doesn't the "German" Festhaus still serve "Italian" pies (LaRosa's) and Chinese (Panda Express)?

what "private event" is happening on Saturday?

this is how stupid I am... i saw the title of the thread and thought "thank goodness it's finally getting cheaper..." how sad is that? I remember visiting Miami University back in the day (1998) visiting what would be my future wife filling up for $0.79/gallon. ah, glory days.

i would tend to side with the liability reason that was posted regarding original construction design. Although I thin kDon did a decent job of being genuinely enthusiastic about the change. As some of you in marketing will agree.... our companies try to get us to slap drastic amounts of lipstick on some pretty ugly pigs sometimes. While nostaglia is a decent gesture... it doesn't give me the warm fuzzies. If that were the case, Eagles would be coming back, the sky Ride would be re-installed- Lions, Tigers, and Bears would inhabit the Rose Bowl (of SOB), and Screamin Demon would fly once again. That's nostaglia. Essentially now we will have two identical rides for a coaster that hasn't had a line in years. But, Don's demeanor in the interview seemed genuine and believable. I'd give him 4-stars.

OK- didn't hear it live and the WLW podcast is all screwed up. So I heard half of it. It seems that the suggestion was from the marketing department to switch the direction in response to the mis-workings of The Bat. Don did mention that the "restoration" wouldn't really stop there.... I wonder what that means for the rest of the park. Now I'm not naive to think that our scouts in the sky have suddenly stopped doing fly-overs... more or less protecting the info for the park... and I respect that. What "other" things do any of you think are getting restored? I would like to think the following: - the landscaping on the fountains return. The paramount years really disintigrated the unique landscaping of the park.

gotta love his suit. I suspect that Kings Island probably welcomed the idea of having a marketing rep on the airwaves of a 50,000 watt station after daytime hours.... This is a windfall advertising opportunity for them... for FREE!

and by the way; I have no point in that comment.

forget "Sloan-y" - I want to hear Cunningham.

hmmm... I could live if I got "stiffed" over $20... to a lesser extent $200. $2,000 would suck but I'd deal with it. But I woul definitely "miss" $20 million.

not a good sign.

thats a good thought donnie.... if they were filed. some of the best plans never make it off restaurant napkins. The treasure trove would be in the bowels of Taft Broadcasting's artifacts.

unbelievable material. Dane- you, Ryan, et al really need to appraoch the CF management regarding a museum of sorts on the park grounds. CF actually gets into the history of their parks and may "dig" it. I used to interface with some of the old Paramount management and they didn't have a handle on any of the historical aspects of any of the parks. Individual people in the staff may have, but the overall culture of the Paramount management didn't have "room" for it.... and I about guarentee that NONE of the historical items that were around in 1992 survived to 2006.... this (your) site liekly has MORE history of Kings Island stored on your servers than the upper management of CF has of KI. On another subject- it would be interesting to see if anyone has the original "master plan" for the KI area from back in the 1970-1975 era.... Everything on this end was being pretty well patterned to Disney Land to be a resort destination.... ie- didn't one of the Disney sons consult on the construction of the park? It would be interesting to see where they began to depart from that plan. If you look at that media guide, things were strategically located to develop an overall vacation destination well away from the bustle of Cincinnati for ample expansion. Someone needs to find those drawings and pencil sketches!

Great report. I've stayed and held meetings and conferences there over the last year.... I'm not certain the rocks are fake. The decor is really nice, at least I thought. The rooms all come with essentailly 4 two-day passes to the park and I'm not sure if I am allowed to divuldge the amount that our groups have paid for the rooms when we've used them (though I'm sure they are standard group/conference rates- but I still won't)- but after you figure in a 2-day pass to the park the room actually is VERY reasonable.... granted- I will mentiond that our cost is no where NEAR $494/night.

yep, and ain't no one in the north know how to properly make sweet tea.

Woofer, it must be something about crossing the Mason-Dixon line and heading south. in Atlanta do they use the phrase- "can I carry 'ya' somewhere?" as opposed to something like "do you need a ride somewhere?" I remember trying to order a Coke at a restaurant in Nashville. simply asked for a Coke. the response.... "OK, what kind of Coke do you want?" I'm thinking they meant: diet, cherry, caffeine free, etc... so i respond "just regular." They proceed to ask if I meant "Sprite, Rootbeer, etc..."

my $0.05..... i don't want to lock horns in this discussion; but I know it is NOT all the same, but having spent some extended time in Nashville..... it's ALL "Coke" - almost like many people ask for a "Kleenex" as opposed to a tissue even though there is only "Puffs" available.... or can "you go "Xerox" this for me?...." Coke has acheived "generic" term status. In Nashville and many places in the south you have to specify which kind of "Coke" you want.... "Do you want a 7-Up Coke, Dr. Pepper Coke, or Red Coke?"..... uh, I'd like a Coke Coke please.

yes, and "Hootie and the Blowfish" wasn't made up back in the day. a great "oldies" band by the way. And while we're at it.... what exactly is "Metallica" anyway. and I noticed that the name "Hank" wasn't "Hank" at all... "Hawk."

I even listen to "that" kind of music and I haven't heard of many of them... Toby Mac and Newsboys, however, have been around longer than a good percentage of the membership of this board have been alive. Never heard of "Hank"- but with a name like that I'm guessing he's no spring chicken. Now, bring in the Steven Curtis Chapman/Michael W Smith and I'll fork over the cash.

yes, the "right hand of sarcasm" was waving proudly.

Rebel Yell has a pretty steep ascent to the top of the lift hill.... do you think that is "to scale?"

I have to agree with gamesguy.... this doesn't appear to be much creativity behind the layout... it's much like most CF roller coasters..... tall, lots of hills, no loops; and pretty much "out and back." This appears to be somewhere between Magnum and Millenium Force (which is almost like Magnum on steriods.

how ironic would it be if rides that left Coney for KI came back some 36 years later. About "Eagle" for sale.... Mr. Bombay, you've been near the coaster so you could probably tell better than I, but wood that old, not maintained for this long.... would it even be safe if they tried to move such a thing?