Oldiesmann

Finally had a chance to get down there today. Definitely looks like roller coaster track to me. If you're planning to check this out, here's my recommended route: I-75 South or I-71 South to I-471 South Take Exit 2 (US-27, Fort Thomas/Southgate) Turn right off the exit ramp and get in the far left lane Turn left onto Moock Road Follow Moock Road until it dead-ends at Licking Pike Turn left onto Licking Pike The crane yard is about a mile and a half down on the right. If you live near the southern half of I-275, you can take I-275 to Exit 77 and head north from there.

As a former ride op, I actually don't see an issue with KI's method of counting people. It's not that difficult to click a clicker or press a button, and writing down the numbers only takes a few seconds as well. Turnstiles do have their places - the train is a great example. Can you imagine trying to count all those people each time? I'm not sure what the actual "capacity" of the train is, but I'm guessing it's well over 100 people per ride, especially if you count the kids that ride on their parents' laps.

Why on earth would you try to lessen the crowds on a ride? Especially when that ride is likely the biggest reason many people visit that park? Doesn't make any sense to me, especially when you can pay $10 for unlimited rides on just about everything else in the park.

Did a little searching and found a photo of the sign from the 1981 park brochure... Original location: http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/photo.php?pageid=1&linkid=7014 This brochure also brags that The Beast could hold 40 riders per train at the time ()

I've got Gold, only because I don't have an easy way to get to Cedar Point and I live 4 1/2 hours away from it. If I lived around Columbus or so (about halfway between KI and CP), I'd likely choose Platinum.

This will help Sea World's bottom line simply because they get to take all those donations off their taxes next year. The guests purchasing the tickets also get to choose which group the donation goes to, which makes them feel good. It will encourage more families to go, which means more people in the park spending money (though I've never been to a Sea World, so I have no clue how it compares to a park like KI or CP).

One would think that inspection of the cable would be part of the daily maintenance routines, regardless of what the manufacturer recommends...

http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=79&article=55337 Also reported via AP, but this article is a bit more detailed than the AP's version. Didn't even know that Scripps owned the rights to Snoopy until now. This is particularly interesting as EW Scripps is based in Cincinnati.

More info on Hanson for those who don't wish to have "MMMBop" stuck in their heads: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanson_(band)

Whoops! Could have sworn that wasn't there when I posted. Oh well.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=387655381948

Outdated images: Back Lot Stunt Coaster - shows the cars with their lovely Mini theme Character Carousel - taken back when it was still HB Carousel, apparently during the short-lived Winterfest revival Other: The "On the map" thing for Shake Rattle & Roll doesn't actually show where that ride is, though it is centered on the proper section of the park.

There are a lot of industrial businesses in that area. Steel Plant Road is so named due to the steel plant at the end of it. That company apparently manufactures electrically-welded steel pipes and similar products (see http://www.tmk-group.com/tmk-ipsco_wilder.php for more info). The steel plant is down in the valley, so the coaster track wouldn't be at that plant.

If they do, it's not mentioned on their site. You should call the park at 513-754-5700 or 1-800-288-0808 to be sure.

I don't recall using much ketchup at KI either, but I'm even less likely to do so now that they've ditched the good stuff in favor of saving money. There's a reason you don't see Red Gold ketchup packets anywhere (except at CF parks now).

I post from work all the time - either from a computer in the office or from my cell phone

The best source for current weather conditions at KI is The Weather Underground. Sinclair Community College has a Personal Weather Station set up at their Courseview Campus which isn't far from KI (go north on KI Drive, turn left on Kings Mills and then left on Courseview). http://www.wunderground.com/US/OH/Mason.html

Its removal just shows that the powers that be at SF weren't thinking. At a time when the chain was in deep financial trouble, they had that ride dismantled to make way for a planned water park expansion which was to open next year.

I am wondering though. If that is indeed from SFKK, why would it be up here? Louisville is a good 90 minute drive from here. The state fair board is based in Louisville, and most othe state offices would be in Frankfort. Why would they pick a crane company in Wilder to dismantle it, haul it away and store it?

Thanks for the address. That's only 10 to 15 minutes from where I work. I'll go check it out when I have time. I'll also show this topic to my sister and see if she thinks it's Chang. I haven't been to KK in probably close to 15 years (before SF owned it and before Chang existed), but she was there a couple years ago, so she might be able to identify it.

If they want wifi at the park, they should talk to the folks at Lily Pad, who specialize in providing free wifi throughout the Cincinnati area. Good to hear they're working on it (and contrary to what was said in a previous 5@5, Starbucks at KI does not have wifi - or at least they didn't this past Saturday).

Where exactly is this place located? I work in Newport, so I might be able to swing by there after work tomorrow or Saturday to check it out.

Getting rid of Heinz shouldn't be much of a concern. They should be much more concerned with how they're going to get rid of all that Red Gold ketchup they ordered...

That's quite funny I should get in on that case - I got "abused" pretty badly after bowing to a dare from my sister to ride back seat immediately after riding front seat (back when it still had the loop). Big mistake. It's a shame the ride has had so many problems. I loved it when it had the loop. Sure it was a rough ride, but that was half the fun in my opinion.

Feel free to correct me someone, but they drained it due to the fact that it was a standing pool of water, no circulation system or anything. From what I have heard, on a hot summer day it could get pretty nasty. That's the most logical explanation. Mosquitoes love standing water, and mosquitoes + summer heat = not a very fun experience I would love to see the original queue setup. I know there used to be a snack stand there too.