standbyme

Another nice video! As I have stated in the past...I think a lot of people will appreciate your videos even more in the years to come as things change in the park. Personally, I like that you didn't add any music to this video...it's nice to hear the sounds of the park...especially now that we are in the off-season. Thanks for sharing!

I wonder if it still remains because someone thinks it's a nice nod to the past...or if for some odd reason it is too much of a pain in the butt to replace? That can't be true...because whenever I used to watch an old Tarzan movie with Johnny Weissmuller could hardly take 2 steps before he had to fight a lion!

I thought I covered my butt! And I might add that if Delorean Rider does a little googleing he will find a vinyl copy in excellent condition that still has it's shrinkwrap for sale for only $9.99 + shipping.

^Hendrick, thanks to your fade I see that the fenceline stayed pretty much close to the same thing between these 2 attractions...something that I found interesting...I really do need to get a life!

Good morning! First off I would like to say I am sorry that yesterday’s photos were so boring. (I should have trusted my gut instinct and just skipped them.) Today’s photo is another one from the former Lion Country Safari. (The person who took this batch of photos must have been impressed with that area. ) 1974 This photo was easy to duplicate. 2 obvious landmarks in this photo still exist, the Eiffel Tower and the Kafe Kilimanjaro Restaurant building. (Which is currently Stunt Crew Grill.) 2011 Here is my working shot if you want to get a feel for where I was standing. And here is a shot of The Stunt Crew Grill if you just wanna compare it to the old Kafe Kilimanjaro. Where would I rather be today? Since I not only love Congo Falls...and hate the thought of those poor little lion cubs stuck on that dinky little island, I will say that 2011 wins for my choice today. (Anyone know if the park brought the cubs in nightly?) Once again, a BIG THANKS to Hendrick’s continuing devotion to making the fades for me/us!

Ty, you beat me to it...I assume that's the human fly!

Nice find! The King Cobra one is tempting me!

That is a very charming way to describe the tunnel...oh to be a kid again!

Not vinyl...but plenty of CDs available: http://www.bandorganmusic.com/machines/mqueen.htm http://www.bandorganmusic.com/music/christmas.htm http://www.bandorganmusic.com/pcd2029__more_queen.htm http://www.bandorganmusic.com/pcd2038_more_from_the_queen_of_kings_2.htm http://www.bandorganmusic.com/pcd2039__more_from_the_queen_of_3.htm http://www.bandorganmusic.com/carnivalcuties.htm Shipping is a flat $5.75 no matter how many you order.

Well, as warned…today’s photos turn out to be a little anticlimactic. Ironically enough, the person who kind of killed the “interesting” factor of the 2011 shot is the same person that I originally went to for help months back when I was trying to figure out where to stand, Paul/TOPGUN1993! (The “interesting” factor for me was that the clock was not located over by The Antique cars as I would have originally thought.) After digging through all of the photos that I could find of 1974, I could not find a nice close-up shot of the clock’s 1974 position…so when I am looking for a certain shot of the park I have learned to go to Paul. (If you ever happen to see a “Hoarders” episode where the guy has thousands of Kings Island photos, you’re looking at Paul!) This is the shot that I had to give me the general idea of it’s location: And this is the close-up that Paul located for me. Let me say, that out of all 31 photos that I did, this was THE hardest for me…and the only one that I am still not quite sure of. When I look at the faraway shot I feel pretty confident that I succeeded in getting the shot…but every time I look at the overhead aerial shot I keep having doubts that I was quite in the right place. I look forward to hearing from the “experts” if they think this one is correct or not…I can take it! (I almost didn’t even post this photo because of my uncertainty.) 1974 Even if the next shot isn’t correct I still like looking at how nice the clock looked back then. 2011 I KNOW that even if this shot’s location is correct, I should have tilted the camera up a hair…but to be honest I just wanted to get this shot and move on! As I mentioned in my first post, when I took these I would look at my work photo…usually hold it up to verify I was getting what I needed…plus in this case I kept walking back and forth in about a 10 foot area trying to zero in on what I thought was the right spot. WELL, if you look at the photo you will notice the two people standing there. It started to get a little awkward for me because the guy kept looking over at me…so after finding what I thought was the correct area I quickly took 2 shots and moved on. And as for where I would rather be...1974 or 2011...some may find it surprising...but I choose 1974. I say this because I never go to the shows at the theater...and since the clock looks so good I choose it! I hope that you are still finding these interesting…and thanks for the feedback! (And to Gator & Paul I hope you know I don’t really think you’re stupid. )

I thank you for the thank you(s). I enjoyed putting this together…but when I read that it IS being appreciated it makes it all worthwhile. I can’t second this enough! I’m having fun sending you the pictures…I feel like I’m doing my part to “stick it to the man”! I love this quote…it’s cool that you are passing these on…and to someone who is probably closer to my generation! To everyone else who is still actively participating in this thread I once again say a BIG thanks! Now, onto todays photos… 1974 To me, this picture represents a park is at its peak, when the whole family is able to enjoy a ride at the same time. 2011 This is one of those shots where I know I was within’ 3 feet of the original shot. It took me a long time going through old photos to find landmarks…trees, bushes, signs…BUT this is also one of the shots where if I tilted the camera a few inches one way or another it turns out a lot different. I THINK I have it right…Shaggy, Ty, Paul…anyone disagree? As for where I would rather be standing today…just as before with the aerial shot of this area…when it comes to either the antique cars or Back Lot Stunt Coaster there’s no contest that i’m once again steppin’ back in time. P.S. Can you imagine taking the date off of these photos and showing them to a non-park enthusiast and asking them which one is from 1974…the one with Snoopy, or the antique cars…hmmm. P.P.S. WARNING: Tomorrow’s photos will be a little anticlimactic…but you only have Gator & TG1993 to blame!

^Maybe it's the "getting caught" which is news.

What are the odds? (Not literally.)

Never put off until tomorrow...

You would certainly know better than I...I just always thought it looked like the kind of a thing that would have been planned when they were laying out the park. Thanks for enlightening me.

^Hendrick, thanks again for doing these! (It gives ME something to look forward to! ) Cory, it's nice to see you pop in here! Today’s pictures are 2 of my favorites...for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that I have always loved the floral calendar. (I wish it were nearer to the front...I think it would be used as a photo op more than the park can imagine.) The second reason is because I had such a great day the day that I took the 2011 shot. When I was working on the logistics of taking the 2011 shots I thought to myself how cool it would be to get a shot of the calendar on the same exact day as the original. The problem with this idea was that my family already had a trip to the park scheduled for the week before July 24th which couldn’t be switched...and at that point I didn’t think there was ANY way I would be willing to drive all the way to the park just to take this shot...then came the announcement for this years’ “Coasting For Kids” event on July 24th! I had already wanted to do this...but when I saw the date I thought it was fate that I attend the event! SO, back I drove the following week. Not only did I get the shot I needed, I helped a great charity, had a great time riding The Racer...and of course had a great time talking to fellow KIC members that day! (Win, win, win & win!) 1974 2011 As for where I would rather be standing today...is there ANYONE here who can look at both pictures and not choose 1974? The landscaping department were certainly at the top of their game back then! Today’s version looks nice but it pales in comparison to the 1974 version. And here’s a side note, after studying these 2 photos I have an ever deeper appreciation of the floral calendar...and it has nothing to do with the actual calendar. When I walk through the park sometimes and notice something I will wonder to myself, “I wonder if that’s still the original...”. Some things appear to be original...but you never know for sure if they had to replace parts of something because they rotted or broke. (Re-paints are easy to spot.) Anyway, I was AMAZED that the stones in the wall are the same ones after all these years! One stone has broken in two...but other than that there is no doubt that these are still the same ones since 1974...and probably since 1972. How many other things in the park can you think of that have remained mostly unchanged? I like knowing that something like this has survived all these years!

It's nice that so many people have chosen the park's atmosphere. (That was my choice, obviously.)

It may be getting old for me to say...but since it is true, I will keep saying it...thanks to everyone who is participating in this thread. Today’s shot is not what I would call exciting...but I still like looking at it. 1974 As a kid I was amazed how they could trim their bushes to resemble things! It did kill the magic when I got old enough to realize that they weren’t sculpted bushes. (The strollers in this photo look so small compared to today’s monster-sized ones.) 2011 In the current landscapers defense, I don’t think my photo does this area justice, I think it does still look quite nice. If I had pulled the shot back you could see that it is quite colorful with all of the flowers. (But since I was trying to match the exact shot...this is what you get.) Obviously The Tower sculpture is more impressive than a tree...but since there is still a tower sculpture by the bumper cars I am not upset that it is not here...plus God knows I would NEVER be upset that there was another tree somewhere in the park! Here is 2011 version of The Tower sculpture. When I first looked at the 1974 tower sculpture I thought to myself...”Well that’s kinda phallic looking”...but it has nothing on the this version! This might be the only set of photos where it's a tie of where I would rather be standing...both are nice.

Very cool! Thanks for taking the time to take and post these. (It's gonna take me awhile to get used to the name Soak City.)

Somebody must have had an axe to grind that wrote some of that stuff. It is not anywhere that bad. We have stayed there about 5-6 nights a year every year since the campground closed. I have seen a continual decline...but nothing nearly as drastic as that. The "little" thing I notice are mostly how they repair things...kind of sloppy...like over caulking around the tub or toilet. The only problems that we have had that pop into mind over the last few years: TV wouldn't work...they brought us a working one. Refridgerator wasn't that cold...they brought us a working one. No towels...they sent them right over after we called. As for dirty, I wouldn't stay somewhere I thought was dirty. The ONLY "really? moment" was on our last visit...the carpet had a stain where it appears a kid spilled their juice. I was surprised they didn't clean it before they let anyone check in. As for the employees...no problem there. I have never had a rude employee....PLUS the bus drivers bend over backwards to get you there and back tothe park when you want. The oddest time was when I rode the bus over...but walked back to the hotel mid evening. It wasn't really busy that day...so I guess the driver was keeping track of how many people he was taking over & back. Near the end of the evening my family was riding back on the bus....my sister asked the driver how late he had to work...he said "Well, you are almost my last people to bring back...I just have one more guy over there, then i'm done". My sister described me and he said "Yep, thats the guy i'm missing". I think THAT'S customer service! I easily recommend the hotel as long as someone is not expecting a luxury hotel...and speaking of that, I once stayed in a hotel in Chicago that was about $200.00 a night...and something kept scratching me while I was in bed...I reached down to find a big old clipped toenail....i'm guessing they hadn't changed the linen. (So higher prices do not always mean better quality.)

^ I do not know my Kings Island golf history. I see that it still exists...which I must admit I wouldn't have guessed...but how long has it been since the park has had a hand in it?

Here is another item that I purchased recently that just arrived in the mail today. For most of you this will be pretty worthless...but I KNOW there are a few of you who would like to see it. This is a brochure from the Kings Island Inn. There isn’t a date on it...but it is obviously from the early 70’s. Whenever my family goes to the park, this is where we stay. Let me say that looking at these photos and the descriptions, the inn is a FAR cry from it’s hey-day. We still enjoy the ease of staying at the inn...but “classy” it is not...functional is a better description of it currently. I wish I could say that I had stayed in it when it was like this but I can’t. “It’s courteous staff ready to serve your slightest whim”...boy would they be asking for it today! Oh those busses! I love this section of the brochure...judging by the expression on the ladie's face, doesn’t it look like the husband just confessed to having an affair?! (And off to the right in the background, it appears to be Ted Kaczynski in better days.)

^Thank you for the compliments...but you have my head swimming with your offseason blues comment. I can't remember posting too many photos other than some random ones here and there. I think you might be thinking of TOPGUN1993's Flashback 'til opening thread that got us through the last offseason!

I on the other hand have probably only ridden BSC once since the last KICentral Day! I agree, that would have made a MUCH better location for it, the theme is perfect...although I personally keep hoping for the park to make Action Zone "warmer" in the future by adding some landscaping.

I remember how much of a thrill it was to drive my parents around. (I see the same thrill on my nephew's faces when they are driving us around at WDW's Speedway.) I understand that the cars were probably not cost effective to run...and the lines were usually bad...plus in the grand scheme of things they were not the greatest for the environment...but I still miss them!