RailRider

I agree, great addition to the park. Love the front of the coasters.

I would like to refrence an early post from Gibson. Ping, Ping, Ping, Ping........... Cant believe this topic is going down this path again of why SoB is closed. We all know, we get it, lets move on. That skelton isn't coming out of KI's closet until the ride can be altered enough to gurantee a better and more safe experience. The less costly options have pretty much been exhasuted so now the park waits and evaluates the future of this ride. Or they hope if they ignore it long enough their decision will be more easily made...

^ Look at the Big Dipper and the stir it has created. Even when it has been purchased and repurchased nobody was willing to invest the capital necessary to refurbish it. SoB will eventually reach a point where to make it opperationaly will become to expensive and that is sooner than latter.

I was wondering the same thing. Is management now centralized? Not sure how effective that will be.

Holiday World just gets it.

^ Couldn't Agree More. Then again I think that is the idea.

^ What a show it will be...

^ The video that Kings Island is promoting shows other wise. Dont advertise bleeding midgets if you dont plan on having bleeding midgets.

I have no problem with "midget wrestling" I have a problem with violence for the sake of violence. I'm not talking movie production violence or haunt gore for entertainment and a scare. I am talking about individuals using office implements on one another to injure and draw blood. There is a difference between a stage production and the actual event. I just want to make that point clear.

The Tri-States own Larry Flint could even be brought in to help organize and plan such an event. Why not? Definately would make some nickles. How far is too far and when do you start to tarnish the reputation and brand of the park?

Love the post Gibson. All I can add is that I have experienced crowds like this. That have the kind of group mentality you mentioned and I knowingly do not wish to subject myself to them again. As I have stated my nickles will be spent elsewhere. I must ask. I know your passion for performing Irish music, any thought on a Traditional Death Metal Irish Folk group? Im thinking a great name would be "Death Pogues" or the "Irish Death Rovers" Just some thoughts...

^ Brings a very different crowd as well. Saw a few of the shows at CP and they were quite good.

Terpy I agree with your thoughts and I as well will not be attending KI for the rest of the seasson. On Saturday I went to CP for Halloweekends and the park was packed. One of the busiest days I have seen. Given the boat show was going on in the Marina, Pointfest in the Soak City parking lot and the opening weekend of their haunt activities. Very little blood and gore at CP and especially no midgets bleeding, yet the park was packed. The shows were mainly family friendly as well and my daughter loved the magic show. Also many famlies at the park all day because of the family friendly nature of the park and how haunts are located only in their area. Families were also spending their hard earned money and staying overnight at the park as well. I wonder if the park behaves this way because a certain person lives in the parking lot? Great family weekend at the Point and Im pretty sure families are who parks want to attract...

Rustbelt, I was at the park on 9/18/10. First, the park was extremely crowded, not sure how Sunday turned out, but the Saturday crowd was one of the biggest I have seen. MF has always been more of a speed coaster and not so much in the way of various g forces. Hence many calling it Minimum Force. I rode on Saturday and really noticed no changes except that the weather was cooler so the 2nd half seemed a little slower. MF runs this time of year like it does it the begining of the seasson. Also you will notice a big difference if you get off Maverick and go directly to MF. MF is great, it's just a different kind of coaster.

Gator I will be at HalloWeekends Tomorrow and Sunday. Staying at Sandcastle and enjoying Pointfest as well.

^ Now that would be entertainment!!! Seriously though reminds me of the bitter haunt they did the year after Winterfest was cancled and they had the drunken pedophile Santa Clause. Not the best of choices.

I'm not saying they weren't skilled fighters. I'm saying that the crowds they drew were there because of the violence, not because of the skill. Granted, there were a few who honestly had an interest in the combatant part of the sport, but the vast majority wanted blood. Plus, (and this is not directed at you), have you seen some of the people who walk the streets wearing UFC and Tap Out gear? Many of them would be the same people who I'd assume would show up to a midget wrestling event... As far as my relationship with the park goes, the only position I really have on this in relation to Haunt is that at least they're doing something different and thinking outside of the box. This could very well blow up in their faces... but I just run the fan site so that's none of my concern. There is also a big difference in the fan quality index (Thank you Richard from Indian Hill) for a UFC event compared to your regional "cage fighting" event. Think of the difference in crowd compared between a Dayton Bombers game and a Columbus Blue Jackets. Same sport, but vastly different crowd. Since we are on sports analogies, I think we can all agree that Midget Wrestling will draw Oakland Raider Fans instead of Indianapolis Colt fans, if you know what I mean. Is this really the crowd KI wants to attract?

^ And they were unskilled fighters competing for the sake of violence and entertainment and nothing more? Basically they won depending on how much blood they spilled? Sure seems like a great paralel to me. Sorry I fail to see the connection between skilled combat atheletes and "midgets" who climb in to a ring and make each other bleed with staple guns, chairs, and Im sure some barbed wire or something of the sort. I fail to see the connection. Violence for violences sake is not something I find entertaining. I think your position with this site and the relationship you share with the park clouds your judgement and opinions on many things, this being one of them.

^ Very true Gator. Would love to hear their thoughts today on this matter, then again not too many still banging that drum.

^ Spoken by someone who truly doesn't understand the amount of skill taken to compete in MMA at a high level. The fighters are not in there beating the crap out of each other for the sake of blood, typically fights end on the ground with fighters using bases of greco roman wrestling, juijitsu or striking background with strong ground defense. I am talking UFC caliber talent as well. Boxing is the sweet science and MMA is slowly taking over that spot, but only the uneducated make the arguement of blood sport. Please don't take this position when you know not of what you talk.

No one's forcing you to see this show. It's for some people and not for others. ...and even if you don't like the midget wrestling, the 'people watching' will be Olypic-caliber during this. You are very right and that is why I will not be visiting the park this fall. The first Haunt I am not attending since inception. I must interact with those people and I choose not too. I am with Gibson, I like beer and I like martial arts/ mixed martial arts, but I do not like violence for the sake of violence. There is no skill or entertainment value to using a staple gun on another human being.

^ Right to do their show? Yes they have that, nobody is questioning that as long as it doesn't infringe on my rights or anyone elses. Is this the right kind of event for Haunt at Kings Island? I think that is what a good number of folks are questioning. KI is responsible for asking them to bring their show to the park along with whatever else comes with it. I for one have the right not to attend and will not be because of the crowd this attraction will bring, I choose not to interact with that crowd. Especially after seeing an event like this and possibly beer fueld and then they wander to the closest haunted attraction. I feel bad for the workers of haunt who will have to put up with this. I have the right to voice my disgust with this decision and the possible outcomes that may come from it.

The 2010 Golden Ticket Awards have been announced and for the 10th year Kings Island receives award for best Kids Area. Other notable awards was the special Legends Series award presented in honor of the late Will Koch of Holiday World. Link to the article with further detail Here. The Awards Best Amusement Park Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio Best Waterpark Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels, Texas Best Children’s Park Idlewild and SoakZone, Ligonier, Pa. Best Marine Life Park SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Fla. Best Seaside Park Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif. Best Wooden Coaster The Voyage at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Ind. Best Steel Coaster Millennium Force at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio Best Kids’ Area Kings Island, Kings Mills, Ohio Friendliest Staff Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind. Cleanest Park Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind. Best Halloween Event Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla.. Best Landscaping Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Va. Best Christmas Event Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Best Food Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa. Best Shows Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Best Outdoor Night Show Production IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center, Orlando, Fla. Best Water Ride Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla. Best Waterpark Ride Wildebeest at Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind. Best Dark Ride Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla. Best Indoor Waterpark Schlitterbahn Galveston Island, Galveston, Texas Best Funhouse/Walk-Through Attraction Noah’s Ark at Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pa. Best Carousel Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa. Best Indoor Roller Coaster Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla. Best New Ride of 2010 - Amusement Park Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla. Best New Ride of 2010 - Waterpark Wildebeest at Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.

Terpy, I agree about not being at the park while this is being offered. For me this is saying something because the first date my wife and I went on was to KI for FearFest the first year. So this time of year at KI has some very special meaning to us, but neither I nor my wife want to see crap like this and experience the kind of crowd it will bring in. Instead we will head north to a classier event. I hope KI eventually gets the Point.

After mulling this over for a few days, I will not be visiting KI during Haunt for the first time since its start. Instead I will be spending an extra day at CP during Haloweekends. How times have changed and my lack of desire to deal with a crowd that has seen a midget bleed.