Browntggrr

I absolutely applaud them. The industry I am in, the last thing I want to do is walk into someone else's set-up halfway through. Obviously, SoB is a much larger project, and those guys were really given an almost impossible task. Given your information and going back and looking at this (see below), it makes more sense. http://www.daytondai...ays-391708.html

^ I figured that is what you meant, I just didn't want to *assume* anything. And with the risk of sounding insulting (honestly, that is NOT my objective here): Was it the same crew that you referred to earlier that took over the initial construction after Paramount "fired" Roller Coaster Co. of Ohio? If you don't want to answer due to risking friendship/ inside information, I completely understand.

You don't think the tracking SoB has received was due to the roughness, but the usual wear-and-tear?

http://www.4-traders...pcric-13407825/ Many have asked for it, and now it is here. Good things just take some time...

Sure they do, in certain areas and increase with age. SoB has been re-tracked in it's brief 10 year history much more than the average wooden coaster.

Almost every year, if not every year, large sections of the track were modified & re-tracked due to roughness. Extensive re-tracking in 2006 left SoB SBNO until Memorial Day. In 2000, the 15' transition to the loop. This constant modification left cranes near the loop for quite a bit of time. Extra padding added to the trains in 2003. New restraints in 2003. Removal of the loop. Removal of several support beams. Removal of last car on original trains in 2006. New trains in 2007. I'm sure there are things I left out as I came up with this list off the top of my head. I am also sure there many things done that we will never know about. EDIT: Or you can read Shaggy's post as he was much more defining than I was.

SFGAd I believe.... KK toppled TTD in height & speed.

There are numerous wood coasters that are rough, yet still fun. Voyage is a great example, yet, HW is getting new trains- but for what reason? And still, those same coasters have not had the issues SoB has had. Perhaps "Oops this was a bad idea" needs to be realized. SoB has been modified numerous times with the hope that it could become the coaster it was supposed to be. To this date, none have worked. SD's $50 million price tag had nothing to do with the wheel issue, but because the ride sits in a MAJOR earthquake area. BTW, SD is in Japan, not China. SP fell victim to Arrow's normal roughness due to age. SP was also an immensely popular coaster in it's prime. Can the same be said of SoB? Yes, Intamin has had a TERRIBLE track record with their new designs, but within a few years: MF, TTD, WT, and Maverick have undergone modifications and each is operating with great success. SoB is 10 years old with the same issues with two different owners. Is it just bad luck? Again I will ask: What other coaster has the same reputation (i.e. injuries, roughness, modifications, cost) as SoB and still operates today?

I'm sure someone will somehow blame Intamin...

CF also saved FoF at KD from being moved to another park after the purchase in 2006. They had the opportunity of continuing Paramount's direction, yet, chose to put the money in and open the ride back up. Sure one ride has nothing to do with the other, but the point I am trying to make is: CF is spending money where it is needed most- i.e. reopening a closed ride. FD is still operating. Sure it needs a paint job, but, the ride is also not a big eyesore given it's location. Also- I highly doubt a concrete decision for SoB has been made. Given your theory, that decision is done and it is combined with a decision for FD. Given the timeline of SoB's issues, I seriously doubt FD's status has anything to do with SoB. And just because FD has not had a paint job puts it into the "neglect to maintain" catagory? Really?

May I suggest reading the whole post (this seems to be a problem area for you) as I see no statement of a "fact": Yes, SoB is a failure. What other coaster has the same reputation (i.e. injuries, roughness, modifications, cost) as SoB and still operates today?

Actually, it wasn't "a comeback" at all, especially give the . But you can call it a lame attempt at humor, I have no problem with that. Yet, you did open the can of worms.... I already went through the "if it works" scenario. Perhaps you missed it. Here it is again: The percentage of another fix working is in the single digits. What is not in the single digits is the cost associated for fixing a ride that was not fun to begin with. I can relate with the disappointment with those you talked as I was disappointed back in 2000 the numerous times I went to the park only to find SoB down, and that was 10 years ago. And over those 10 years, the State of Ohio Dept. of Agriculture inspected SoB more than any ride. It is a magnificent ride to look at. Too bad the actual ride is not even close. After I finally rode it, the disappointment grew as I have never been on a ride that shook me up so bad that I actually needed a break. Sure, you can say that I can't handle a rough coaster, but as you can see from Mr. Scheid's comments, I am obviously not alone. I have also never called myself an SoB hater, just a realist. So please, don't put words in my mouth. The ride has been a failure from day 1. If it was successful at all, other parks would have jumped on the bandwagon as they all want to compete & 1-up each other. Don't you think it is strange no other park has been willing to even try to *resurrect* the "wooden looping coaster" idea?

Yeah. Jason Voorhees was resurrected in 'Friday the 13th pt. 6' and still went on killing unsuspecting teens at Camp Crystal Lake. I'm not sure CF wants to be in the same catagory as Tommy Jarvis.

This is not surprising. Those who want to ride it would certainly dominate the numbers, as those who don't care to ride it have no reason to say anything and just keep walking to another ride.

An announcment of SoB being closed for 2010 was made back in mid-March. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2010/03/kings_island_hopeful_new_owner_or_not.html Given this information, what else is expected? Sure, CF could announce that the ride is being torn down. People will then second guess that decision as too hasty and not enough time was given for more re-engineering ideas. Or CF could say the ride will re-open as is. Some will be happy that the ride is operating again. That is, until another guest gets injured. Then people will second guess not only the guest's injury but why CF did nothing to improve the ride. And also, CF could put in more money to improve the ride again. If those improvements arn't good enough, people will second guess the amount of money spent was not enough, and others will second guess why the money spent at all. And lastly, CF puts in millions more into a ride that has a black eye, and will very likely always have a black eye no matter if the re-engineering actually works or not. Given any of those scenarios, CF is doomed for failure. So exactly what motivation does CF really have making another announcement?

So you have seen it in person?

http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/conference_call/index.cfm

With video: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailynewsmckeesport/s_688124.html

What motivation does the park have to mention it? The ride is closed. "Come to Kings Island and look at the tallest and fastest wooden coaster!"

I am partial to HB since it has an indoor pool, TGI Fridays (and other restaurants), and is closer to Challenge Park & park entrance. The best deal? That all depends on what you are looking for. Also, DT is not as bad as some want to make it seem. No, it is not as thrilling as other coasters, but it still serves the younger generation of riders and gets you out of the sun for a period of time.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/entertainment/24066960/detail.html

That's cool. I'm sure you can still recite your lines to this day after all the shows you performed in.

I would say lack of entertainment shows in the park. When there are a lack of options, some will be attracted to the one thing that stands above the rest.

No, not all the shows were bad. And the handful of shows you mentioned were entertaining. Yet, given the amount of years Paramount directed the park, and that Paramount is an entertainment company I would have hoped that there would have been more than a handful of entertaining shows that would have been remembered. It is encouraging that CF has given more of an emphasis on the shows recently, and is utilizing venues like Festhaus that seemed to be put on the back burner under Paramount's direction. With any luck, CF's emphasis on entertaining the guests will continue to grow in the years to come.

And just think of how the attendance would have dropped even more if CF did not drastically improve the entertainment shows over Paramount.