ragerunner

I think Cedar Fair has aquired the other 4 parks already and that their is a bidding war going on between Cedar Fair and Busch for Kings Island. If this is right, we shall see, I sure hope Busch wins. If Busch buys the park you will see: Better food, shopping, landscaping, theming, shows, some Clydesdales, a seperated gated waterpark, a great B&M and the ability to pay for your pass by the month. Please let Busch by the park. Cedar Fair is a good company but I am not for an amusement park monopoly in Ohio.

Screamscape is reporting that StarParks, the owers of Movie World in Germany and the Walibi parks, may have sold most of their parks expect two. The rumor claims that they want to focus more on movie parks in the future. Do you think they may have freed up money to aquire the Parmount Parks? Just a thought.

I personally hope the parks are sold to more than one company. I feel this would be the best chance for a Busch Gardens or Universal to pic up KI. If they are all sold together I don't see either one of them wanting all the parks. But, I could see one of them being interested in KI and maybe Wonderland. I guess we will see in June hopefully.

I agree that in general Parmount Parks are not the type of concepts Busch has. But, Busch Gardens Europe has very few animals and Seasame Street Place in Philadelphia has no animals that I know of. So, they do have parks that are not centered on animals. Also, Busch runs their parks as seperate divisions. There is the Busch Gardens parks, then there is the Sea World Parks, and then there is Seasame Street Place, why not a Parmount division?

Who know? I sure don't, but I would say that if the parks end up going to different owners this might turn out to be the best for PKI. This is were a Universal or Busch could be involved. I don't think either one of them want all the Parmount parks but they may be interested in one or two of the biggest ones. If they all go together I say it turns out to be an investment firm. But, we shall see. Hopefully by June or July we will know.

I was thinking on the same lines for International Street. These ideas are only if the Parmount branding stays.

I would remove the Octoberfest section of the park and expanded the Action Zone into it. (from Adventure Express/Bubba Gumps). I would remove the Viking Ship and place it were Flight Commander use to be. I would then close off the entrance into Octoberfest from International street by expanding the shops on International Street. I would then change the outside of the feasthaus to look like a large sound stage on a studio backlot and expanded the current entrance in the Action Zone as the only entrance for the building. I would then remove the lake were the Viking ship is located and add a ride like the Adams Family Rollercoaster in the lake/viking area.

Very nice pics. Does any one know when Blue's Skidoo, La Adventura De Azul and Spongebob Squarepants Bikini Bottom Bash will be opening?

I sure hope Cedar Fair does not aquirer PKI. I really can't believe that any PKI fans can think this would be a good move for the park. Do you really think Cedar Fair is ready to downgrade Cedar Point to the third top performing park in their chain behind Canada's Wonderland and Kings Island. I doubt it. So, that means KI would be second class in the state, what a joke. It might also mean for all us coaster people out there, that Ohio will only get one coaster per year since they would not want to compete with themselves. I don't see how a true coaster fan could see this as positive. I think Cedar Point is a great amusement park, and PKI is a great theme park. I hope the new owners continue to see PKI as such.

Look impressive. Silver Dollar City has become one of the best theme parks in North America. It would be nice if PKI would add a Flying Elephant type ride. My kids love Dumbo, Aladdin at Disney and the Fish ride at Islands of Adventure.

I will be the first to say I wish NU had added certain other attractions, but, this concept that PKI is turning into a 'dump' is crazy. Yes, its is not Universal, or Disney or Busch Gardens but, it still is one of the top seasonal theme parks in North America. The park has attractions that most seasonal theme parks could only dream of. Yes, they need to work on integrating the themed areas with the theming of the rides, but overall I think PKI is in good shape.

I agree, music and sound can greatly add to a ride experience.

Thanks, Has there been anymore discussion from the zoo on this project or did it just seem to die?

Did I miss something? What article? What big safari type event?

I though Quick Draw's Railways was going to be La Adventures De Azul and Go Diego Go was going to be the old circular car ride (I forget its name)?

maybe the new owners will rename the park to 'Busch Gardens Ohio'. I can hope. I would agree that Paramount has done some really good things but they really don't seem to have plan for how the rides (some of them have good theming) should fit into the theme area. IJST, Tomb Raider, etc... So a new owner, unless it Cedar Fair would need to do some match theming to correct this problem, I hope.

While I don't see the Animal Habitat coming back, if Busch Gardens would accidently end up being the new owners I could see a Clydedale area being built and maybe a redue of say - Rivertown into a Jungle type area with some smaller animal exibits around a ancient city. They did this with the old castle ruins at Busch Gardens Williamsburg with the Wolfs and birds. If Universal, Cedar Fair or a investment firm buys the parks animals are probably not on the agenda, although I would love see it.

What do you think? If Blackstone would end up being the buyers of the Paramount Parks do you think they might decided not to open a new Legoland Theme Park (in the east) and just add Legoland themed areas at the Paramount Parks? Also, I know there has been a lot of talk about these investments firms, and I agree they are their to make money on a future sale but, Blackstone seems to be investing quiet nicely in the Lego parks at this time. So, I think they will, at least at the beginning, makes some good investments in the parks.

I agree. I think NU was being planned to be something more than what they end up getting to build. It would be fun to see the original plans and compare them to the final product. I still think from what I have read on the web that their were drawings of NU and their plans have changed enough that they could not release them.

Yes, I think the park would do better if it took the Busch Gardens, Sea World, Europa Park approach. Open a major new ride every two or three years but do it right. It would also allow the park to focus on maintenace, landscaping, retail, shows, etc... on those 'off' years. I am hoping the Six Flags takes this approach so that parks like PKI might feel they can afford to also take a similar approach. Only time will tell.

What about if we compare it to seasonal theme parks around the world. How about Europa Park, or Alton Towers both draw less crowds but from what I have seen on these parks WOW!! Or how about Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Darkcastle, Escape from Pompeii, there show and theming and they draw less then 3 million a year. I think the real issue is this concept that the park needs to open a new ride every year, that can get expensive. I would much prefer to see the park build a great ride every two or three years then a IJ every year. I am hoping that if Six Flags takes this approach the other parks in the US industry will feel some pressure is off to build a ride every year and focus more on maintenance, service, up keep and great rides every two or three years.

I just hope their budget and plans is still allowing them to hold to their original statement that "...we are creating the next level of family entertainment." If you want to talk the Disney and Universal talk then you have to deliver. IJ didn't do it in my opinion, but TR came really close if not all the way. I just recently move here from Florida were we had pass to Universal, Disney and Sea World and TR would not look out of place at Sea World or Universal. I guess in about 8 weeks we will see if this is a TR or IJ.

The pics had to been taken within the last 20 days or so because, winterfest didn't end until Dec. 31 and some of the pics are of projects that took place after then. Second, the fly over pics that were posted on the this site were taken at the end of January and they showed no major foundation work in progress. Foundation work is a huge undertaking at this time of the year. The weather can really make it difficult to dig and pour concrete so most major projects at parks in the northern areas of the US get that out of way before Christmas. I hope you are right and I am wrong. I hope they build SpongBob, along with a great kids play area and that the theming is Disney like. I guess we have about 8 weeks or so to find out.

CambatStupendous89: You are right, I don't have all the knowledge about the finished product. But, I do understand very well planning, construction timelines and development and if they plan on pulling off something fairly large time is running out for this year. Second, I am excited about the NU area not for me, but my young kids. I just hope they focus on the theming more than the rides. If you give the area a good 'foundation' to build from than one or two big attractions in the future can really make this area Universal like. I just hope 2 dimensional sets are not what their budget is calling good theming.

From the Photos I would agree with kjkjkj. Splat Zone will receive a Pineapple entrance with some general extra theming, outdoors. Also, it seems that alot of the earlier talk that the Nick Theater - Greet Area would be removed may not happen this year since they didn't take the bulldozer to it.