Outdoor Man

if i'm not mistaken Opryland was losing money because the market they were in didn't support it. Their attendance figures were paltry. The are an enourmous entertainment empire that is much larger than the Nashville scene. Anyway, it is intriguing. I think they would be good for atmosphere, as would Busch... the Dollywood people.... let's pray they don't buy- but they would be good for the "good ole country shows".... no offense to Ms. parton... but I can't handle Blue Grass music. My wife and I visited Dollywood once, and it was the longest day of my life.

Gaylord.... that is an interesting thought. They would be a good fit for the Paramount Park system. What area of the Park do you think they would focus on? ie- entertainment, thrill, etc... I know that more money would be invested in to the grounds crew (actually Busch would do that too). That's an intriguing thought.... they've got the capital to do it.

it does usually carry a line. I think though a re-theme is in order. uh... ooooh, how about Fairly Odd Coaster... Oh, yea- that one's already taken.

corporate decisions don't always make sense. ie- the Flyers..... if you look at their location, there was clearly room for it to remain where it was.... and PLENTY of room for it in other parts of the park (Flight Commander pad, for instance)... it was a Coney Island original and it got unceremoniously shipped out.

OK- FOF problems, TG problems, favorite rides getting removed, etc... This'll put that all into perspective, at least PKI is not suffering this fate: Astroland before: http://www.sixflagshouston.com/photos/Various-Park-Photos Astroland today: http://www.oldastroworld.com/album/index.html 7 months after the last coaster pulled into the station, the park went from lush trees, screaming patrons, and basic life to mud and rubble.... and not because of Hurricanes or earthquakes.... it was corporate decisions.

I didn't say their story was laced with facts. the one guy said that when the weather broke in late Feb/March, he was to start working to develop a walkway to the park but recently found out that plans have changed (whatever that means). I didn't know whether to believe them or not either... but these weren't fat guys, leaning on shovels, eating a danish.... they were mid-40 fourman-types. They weren't talking secretively... just very "matter-of-factly." It doesn't matter to me either way.. indecision did seem to explain why a great coaster was missing numerous levels of TLC for the past 3 years. I just looked at pics of Vortex and TG... you're right; the footprints look very similar... but the topography of the land under TG is unique to that specific location and I don't think could be duplicated economically. But then again, I am not in the coaster, amusement, or engineering business. who knows... just passing along a conversation.

just re-read my post... I'm sorry, my grammar is AWFUL! Need to proof read my crap before posting.

since they took the "over the shoulder" restraints out... it is hands-down the best thrill coaster there! ... uh maybe right up there with The Beast. No, removing it doesn't make sense, but then again removing "Stealth" (one of the first "flying" coasters for a water park didn't either. couple of things. i agree with titanic from earlier. Think about baseball... the Reds, they have those programs printed in BULK and hand out thousands each season. Think of 2000 when they had 2.5 million fans at the park. PKI had 3 million, I know- but when trades were made, those programs were updated the next day. PKI probably prints so many of them that they can take their pick of a number of Printing companies that would jump at the chance to do a print job for them. without knowing for certain, they probably wait until a few days out from major changes to get them printed. Also- speaking of a coaster in trouble. Was in a conversation with some guys on the Great Wolf work site... now this is from some "non-director"-"no-decision-making" guys, so take it for what you will... just relaying what I heard. Top Gun is in trouble. they said prior to this year they were to be working jointly with the park to create a North Entrance to the Park for Lodge (& resort) guests to use. Their thought was that the Top Gun area had a great gathering place because essentially to return to the main part of the park you had to go under the cement tunnel (from the monorail days)... which would make a good entrance, plus the line que area made a good gathering area. The plans (as they said) were to remove the excess line maze for Son of Beast behind the tunnel and make that an entry point. They said that they oriignally wanted re-theme and move Top Gun to another area of the park but the problem that they were dealing with was that TG was created specifically for that spot with the geography, which would make it almost worthless to another park (almost even to PKI). In essesnce they speculated that as to why TG has not received any TLC for a few years... because the park is not sure what to do with it. And now with Paramount Parks up for sale, they have heard that the park has stalled plans for the North entrance for now until they see what ownership is going to do... I guess CBS does not want to ride the expense of moving and re-tracking, and re-theming a ride. Like I said... these are site guys that have no authority.. and probably heard the story themselves from 5 levels down. May not be remotely close to the story... but it at least seemed plausible to me. take it for what you will.

i doubt that at this point paramount parks would be doing ride swapping... especially if they want to sell by mid-summer and there's no guarantee that all the parks will go as one unit.

supplies and materials for NOF this year have probably already been purchased months ago. The Enquirer interview with a PKI rep already made mention of the NOF 4-day run. My question is.... will they be shooting pyrotechnics off the sides of the tower this year? My wife and I saw pictures of that on their ads from years past...... and waited and waited and waited for the "money shot".............. and it never came!

isn't the slide on the wrong side?

i still think the name "Fairly Odd" could have been better themed on a Wild Mouse Coaster..... not much odd about the "Beastie's" layout.

question... this may go on to another thread, so I'm sorry if it is terribly irrelevant for this one. But as for the whole NU concept, if Paramount proceeds to sell off each park individually as rumored they may end up doing if they don't all sell as a package, would that change the creative licensing agreements for the current NU ride personalities / other rides (ie- Top Gun, etc.)? I could see a license agreement going with a package, but if they were to go independently, would Paramount dish out licenses to five different parks/owners? Retaining creative use of all of the paramount themes seems very advantageous... but would it be allowable? just wondering.

they probably didn't allow filming... but then again I was in 8th grade at the time- so I didn't recall studying the copyright laws of the time. If I do have it filmed it would be the end of the ride where you entered the Smurfs winterland. I seem to recall seeing that on film. It was shot during Winterfest so I do know I have footage of the park during Christmas for that year. I said 1988... but I think it was 1987... not that it really matters. Will check to see about getting a 8mm camcorder to play it.

i think i have some video footage of the smurfs enhanted voyager from back in 1988 on a "super 8" video... i don't even have a "camcorder"... but if I can find one.... and figure out how to convert the video to digital... I'll post it if anyone cares to take a gander.

what's wrong with The Bat??>#@$@> err, I mean SOB? still re-tracking?

thank you Interpreter.... you truly are an "interpreter." that's exactly what I meant. it wasn't typed real clear.... but no one would dispute the sheer size and length of SOB. and I agree. been to Busch Gardens - Williamsburg and it is one of the best landscaped and manicured parks anywhere.

Paramount's ownership has brought in some good all-around rides. honestly. my few gripes would be: 1. they've confused the theming of the park 2. and i don't feel that necessarily all rides need to have a Hollywood reference. lets take top gun for instance. this movie is good, but not yet on the classic reel and was out on VHS (& Beta... if anyone knows what that is) before some of you were born. 3. Festhaus shows. Most flat rides live up to billing. coasters are good but stop short of being great. TG... too short, FOF.... too short, FO.... too short, SOB.... IJST... too short. In somewhat of Paramount's defense on the theming/maintenance... if i'm not mistaken, that's a local thing. Suits in California aren't making trips to Cincinnati to fix theming elements. That's why there's local management. If a speaker is not working on IJST or a light bulb is out on an attraction, that's not California's problem.... that's local.

if you were to watch the scenes where they were trying to get the blue prints to their dad, assuming they were running a straight line to the location, KI should have been the length of the state of ohio.

had to pull this thread out of the archives. Season 5 featuring the Kings Island episode comes out Tuesday, March 7.... wonder if there will be special features? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CCBCH...&v=glance&n=130 i don't think that link will work. but check amazon.com for brady bunch season 5

i agree... most of paramount's moves have been to erase the "Theme Park" feel for that of a "Thrill Park." But some of the instances you mention I don't think are Paramount's fault, so-to-speak. King Cobra coming out was a maintenance issue more than anything... plus there was never a line for it anymore. Maintenance + lack of interest = removal. That will happen to any of the coasters once they reach that milestone. Now, i am one for calling December 25 exactly what it is... but even in the first run, I'm not sure that Winterfest ever actually claimed to celebrate "Christmas." I'm not a huge Nick fan.... but Hanna Barbera's days have long since been over. Scooby Doo is the only recognizeable HB character left... Not many kids under 10 know what Elroy Jetson is or Yogi, for that matter... and a lot less know who Scrappy is, so the NU is a great concept to go on... if the new owners keep the licensing. (though I hate the concept of rebadging Beatie to Fairly Odd.) I do agree, though that although Paramount is an entertainment company, the shows have drastically trailed off in recent years. There are a handful of good shows, but not like there used to be... but I'll be honest- unless it's raining or 20 degrees (winterfest)- i'm not even interested in going to the shows. From a marketing design standpoint, some of their moves didn't make sense. Action Zone prior to NU was the only section that seemed to be developed with a plan in mind to follow a set pattern. Coney Mall all of a sudden gets a FOF roller coaster (doesn't fit the Coney theme)... Tomb Raider in Rivertown (doesn't follow a theme). IJST in Coney (no theme relation). Seems that they should have massively expanded Action Zone to accomodate all of the movie-related attractions... and mobilized other things to keep with the themes of the other sections... or remodel/remove them completely. my 2-cents.

it's likely that if there is a coaster coming in 2007.... the company who is designing / building already has PKI's name on a contract to do it. so i'd say if we are to get jipped in a year, it will be 2008. My opinion is to just flat out spend good investment dollars on a ride that people will talk about over and over. IJST is intriguing, but I'd never wait hours to ride it again. Now, The Beast. major investment... i'd ride it over and over. Reseach and develop a ride like Spiderman at Universal Florida.... a water coaster.... something that raises an eye brow. SOB did that. In PKI's defense, it's not their fault (directly) that it fell short on so many expectations. (and a tunnel would be interesting... but your bones already get re-aligned on that ride... let people keep their hearing..... that would be deafening). - why hasn't there been a ride placed where Flight Commander was? It's a prime location with a line que already installed (I heard originally Drop Zone was to go there). - We can snag a flyers ride just up the road at the former Americana. Don't they have one? I hear not much goes on there these days. Out of curiousity... let's say Universal buys (long-shot, but let's go there anyway). Would Paramount's licensing agreement for ride theming follow it to a "competitor" of sorts.... would Universal even want it... (IJST becomes the Fast and the Furious.... any spongebob attraction given a "Chucky" theme... that'll be good for the kids. sorry, I got way off topic....

I skimmed through a few of the responses and didn't see this... and it's not a confidential item, as a matter of fact it was plastered all over the news when it happened.... but a WAH employee was mauled and fatally injured by a lion were they not? I'm not trying to arrogantly state that as fact... just asking- if memory serves me correctly, and it doesn't always- i think that's what happened.

you could be right, but I would assume it would be big news in the local media if it had. So are we to guess that "Paramount" is going to be dropped from the name... the press release said that their intent is to "go as Paramount" through opening day.... Do you think that they'll just go back to plain "Kings Island"... that would probably happen if Cedar Fair bought it; it would be odd as "NBC Universal Kings Island." And do all the "Nick-Themed" attractions go with the sale? When Cedar Fair bought Gauega Lake (SFO)... they re-themed everything away from WB.... maybe there were no naming rights and they had to, don't know.

hmmm... you know, if I had a profitable park system with over a billion dollars I would somehow find a way to incorporate that into my corporate strategy.