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Ok I know I replied to this once before, but no sweat, I'll reply again. According to a cicada expert at the college of Mt. St. Joe, the cicada's should not effect PKI too much at all. In fact he says "The most intense infestation will be west of 71. I'd be surprised if a place like (Paramount's) Kings Island got more than a few strays. But a place like the zoo, that was one of 1987's heaviest infestations." This was written in the Cincinnati Enquire a few weeks back. Here is the Link

I think it would be a great idea... but it would have to be Lexan or something similar to that. In fact, it may be safer than the steel mesh that is currently up there. Plastics do not corrode like metal, even if it is painted or stainless. Also, plastics don't conduct electricity!!! That doesn’t sound valuable now, but wait until a storm starts blowing in and you cant get down quick enough because the elevator is too small.

Skylab was a great ride. It was one of my favorites. The fact that no type of restraint system was used realy made it a fun ride. I wish PKI could add another similar to it one year when they can. I believe it was removed due to mechanical problems that plaqued it.

PKI used to have the largest hanging plant near the other old cars entrance (the closed down one). Its been quite awhile since I have seen it there but it used to be there.

I have also heard this sinking rumor about The Vortex for several years now. I don't believe it one bit. If The Vortex were sinking though, my best GUESS would be that PKI would use hydraulic jacks to move the supports up one at a time and then place steel spacers underneath. The lake or wetlands that were once there should have been dried up by now, unless a natural spring is underneath there. In that case the soil may still be wet enough to cause a problem. The past 20 years or so a coaster has been on this land and neither of the two seem to have much of a structural issue.

Ok, after a little research I came up with the following: Cicada's should predominantly be west of 71 and south of 275. This means that PKI should receive far fewer cicadas than us west-siders. The invasion should only last a month in a half or so, or until the end of June. Unfortunately, BB's opening is right on track for the beginning of the infestation. Here is the article from the Cincinnati Enquire that briefly mentions PKI and how few cicadas they should recieve.

I have to say Days of Thunder as well... What a great ride!

The article is very good. It just makes me more excited about opening day 2004. One question though... Wasn't FoF opened in 1996? The PKI web site has it listed as 96, but they could be wrong.

I don't think anything will be going anytime soon, but if I had to choose I would choose TG. The only reason KC was dropped was its high mantince and its prime realistate. Location is everything in an amusment park!

I did some calculations that might just help. Remember, these are just therordeical and may not be too acurate. I did not take into acount the evlevation of the land and anything else. By looking at the arial photo from TerraServer, you can see that the Eiffel Tower is approximently 1080 feet from the lift hill for SOB. If some one were to look down from the Eiffel Tower (I figured about 300 ft for the observation deck, correct me if Im way off) twords SOB, the lift hill would block about 2900 ft of ground (Compleatly flat structures little more than a half mile away). Assuming that that this plant is 50 ft or so, this would mean that as long as it is at least 2250 ft away from SOB it could be seen. Like stated earlier, this is only theroedical and several assumtions were made about heights, and that this structure is in a direct line with the SOB hill. Also, trees and other such obstuctiuons may be in the way that can not be accounted for. If someone can provide me with an arial shot of the plant (with SOB and Effel tower in them) and some better assumtions, please, by all means, give them to me and I'll try again.

If it is like anyother PKI map the new attractions (BB) will be at least a quarter of the map. And of coarse, all of the slides will stand as tall, if not taller, than Drop Zone on the map. That's just how they do it. Emphisize the new ride(s) is there motto!

For anyone that is unfimiliar with this area, I have provided a link to TerraServer here. Anyway, I do hope they used the land wisely, but at the same time I hope to keep The Beast the way it was ment to be. I think with a dense area of trees around The Beast a new midway can be built. This means that several yards of thick tree lines near the tracks need to be kept in tack in order to make The Beast last as the best wooden coaster ever. The Beast would not just be the same if the trees were not there. I think PKI will build a new coaster there, instead of a new midway with several rides. But, the option is there, to build a new midway, as long as they keep some of the trees.

That is correct fyrfyter. I believe most, if not all, jumbotrons are led's. As far as the price goes, I'll just have to take your word on it.

Even if you thought my last answer sounded good, this one is much beter and more accurate. It's time to settle this little squable ( I may have made that word up). Ok, if you look at the arial photo (click here)you will notice a scale at the bottom of the picture. Using this scale I calcuated the approximate square mileage of the parking lot. Then, I used a conversion calcuator (click here) to find the acrage. I came up with about 105 acres. This is just a rough estimate, and can change from person to person due to inaccuracies in measuring. That should settle it!

I also did some calculations using 8.5 feet by 18 feet as my parking size. This calculates out to be just under 40 acres in just regular parking spaces. This does not include isleways, bus parking, or handycap parking. These spots tend to be a little larger, more so in the case of the bus. I checked on the average lane size and came up with 12 feet, but Im not to sure the lanes are 24 feet wide at PKI so my best guess is 20 feet. I would have to say the parking lot at PKI is close to 100 acres. Plus, I think I have heard that somwhere anyway. If someone ever gets the chance, start at one end of the parking lot, reset your odometer, then drive, in a straight line, to the other side of the lot. Turn 90 degrees, and repeat. This is the only real way of coming up with a accurate number. There are just too many factors in deteriming the size of the lot.

The Vortex is a PKI, and formaly a KI, icon. This coaster is almost as important as The Beast. These type of rides are what people see when they enter the park. This ride draws a lot of attention due to its size, location, and it twisted track. Nothing compares to a visit to a unfimiliar park and seeing a huge coaster. This coaster is also one of the few entirely(sp?) visible, true coasters in the park. It would be a sad day in my life to see it go. Hopefully, a little paint and some new wheels can solve any problems the coaster might experince in the next few years.

Its called Cincinnati!

Yes. The best themeing I have even seen is at Universal's Islands of Adventures! It made the whole experince much more plesent. PKI needs to visit these places and take some serious notes on themeing. I felt as if I left Flordia and entered each one of there themed areas. Here are some sites I have found that show pictures of this park. USIoA and... USIoA I understand that PKI is more dedicated to building rides than themeing, but I think a little more themeing would be great for the park. Even just a little landscaping here and there would'nt hurt. If you build it, they will come.

Well said Homey! PKI is doing much beter when it comes to themeing than what it used to do. I do really miss the perfectly pruned gardens and shrubs that used to line the entire park. And of course, where did the worlds largest hanging basket go? Not that it was much to look at, but it was neat. The park, in my opinion, is attempting to spruce to the park up back to its former glory. Granted shrubs have givin away to big signs. I really enjoyed going to KI as a kid, and wondering how they carved Yogi out of some shrubs. PKI, please bring our beautiful park back to its former glory. O'yeah, and add a roller coaster too. Hey, had to at least try.

Yeah, Im an idiot. I found the original on this website already. Thanks!

How did you do that? Is it two diffrent layers? Also, what did the original look like? Im kinda curious(sp?) because I have done similar, but not as good, pictures of other things. I have a few programs including Adobe Photoshop, but have failed to produce any noteworthy work. Nice Job! mydreamrewrite, You must be there, because the fourth car is pictured. LOL!

I have worked with a few PLC's durring my last quarter in school. A PLC works by electrical impulses as stated before. A sensor (laser, temperature, weight,or whatever) detects somthing and will send or terminate an electical signal. This signal can then trip somthing else to happen. So, the only way the next step in the process can be started, is if the previous step is compleated. Several sensors can be tied in as well, and it goes somthing like this: If sensor one records a speed of 50 mph or more, or sensor 2 detects a coaster on the tracks(another train coaster 2), the output would be to apply the brakes to coaster 1 (so the coasters don't colide). Only one of these statements need to be true to make the output work. Or the PLC can use an "and" statment: If the sensor one dectets a coaster, and speed is recorded as 0 MPH, and brakes are fully applied, the output could be to release the restraints. All these things must me present or true for the output to work. *** I have no idea how PKI's coasters actually work. This is only an example of how it could be done with a PLC. *** This is just a basic idea on how a PLC works. This is very basic! There is much more to be considered when using Programable Loic Controll. If this is too hard to follow let me know and Ill try to do a better job next time.

Good Point! I Just would have like to have seen it as a terrain coaster since it is named after the greatest terrain coaster. It only makes sense to me. Otherwise, I dont think it should have been affiliated with The Beast. Other than that, your right; two of the same coasters, in one park, is not a good thing.

OK here is my two cents... SoB is a totoaly diffrent type of ride that The Beast. They do share some similarities but not many. First, SoB has a double helix, but it doesnt compare to The Beast's. Second, SoB needs tunnels. This is what makes The Beast so well known (along with many other features). Third, The Beast is known for its 2 lift hills and following the terrain through the woods, SoB doesnt do that! SoB is not a terrain coaster at all. It may use the terrain to lengthen some of the drops but a true terrain coaster stays close to the ground. Ok, thats my complaints here is what I do like about SoB when compared to The Beast. 1. Blazzin speed! 2. Invertion... SoB keept with the wood tradtional lab bars, even if there uncofotable. 3. SoB does attempt to recreate the thrill of the double helix(even if its just not the same). 4. The length of the coaster is great (even if it goes by as one big blur). 5. The only part of the coaster that can be seen is the lift hill... Just like The Beast. Everything else is pretty much left a mystery until you ride it. Over all I do really like the SOB. I just wish it was more of a terrain coaster with tunnels. The only reason, that I can think of, that it is not just like its father, is to bring some varitiy to the park. Two of the exact same coasters in one park is not a good thing. Plus, SoB feels like a controlled train wreck! Ill always ride it no matter what I like or dislike about it.

I remeber those brakes very well... It sounded like the train was being stopped by a bunch of 2x4's. It was still a good ride and I do miss it! Maybe a remake of it could appear sometime in the future (ok that might be a stretch). Was it just me or did the KC stop very quickly? Its ashamed to see such a influential coaster go to the dumpster. It was the first standing, looping coaster I believe. We got a great ride out of it anyway! Delium is a great ride but I woulnt want to give up the KC for it. Call me greedy, but I would have wanted both. Finaly, Im no longer a newby!!! I feel like one of the crowd now!