markr

I have the same dream except I would prefer Bavarian Beetle over Wild Mouse.

Keep those photos coming, Paul. They bring back such wonderful memories.

In my opinion, Terpie, still one of the most incredible roller coasters even by today's standards.

I remember the drop being really steep. ( At least to a 7 or 8 year old kid as I was.) I remember the tunnel being mostly darkness with little or no theming. ( In other words, a great place to "make out"-of course, I was too young to realize that then.lol.)

I was eight years old when the park closed but I will try to remember the ride. You stepped into a model T type vehicle and pulled down a lap bar and the car made a sharp right under the overhanging vines through the old fashioned dark ride doors. Immediately there was a skeleton in a chair directly ahead of you. His jaw moved as he said "Welcome to the house of the dead" and you quickly turned right past a skeleton french maid. You immediately began twisting through a series of pretzels left and right through portraits on the walls. The you came to a skeleton playing an organ. From what I remember, you then turned into a banquet hall and circled the table in the room. It was skeltons sitting around the table much like the haunted mansion at disney. Then you went through a set of doors into a burning living room where a boy skeleton was watching tv and girl skeleton was sliding down the stair rail. Then you turned into a hallway that looked as if you were traveling downwards. You then turned left into a torture chamber. You circled through the chamber and into the dark. I then remember traveling through a pretzel area in total darkness. What I remember most was my sister screaming loud enough to break glass! Then you come out of the house on the opposite side a quick pretzel to the left and right back to the loading platform. I asked my sister why she screamed and she said that someone was in the dark and reached out and touched her arm.... I remember my dad and sister taking me on that ride when I was 7 or 8 and being scared half to death.

I remember riding Wild Mouse at Coney when I was about 7 and how it terrified me when it felt like it was going to jump the track around the curve. I few years ago, I rode it again at Hershey Park and couldn't believe it was so terrifying to me as a kid. I guess rides just look bigger when you are little.

One of the funniest old CP commercials. This is an example of how creative their commercials were in the 90's. A lot better than " The Fun and Only" and "Are you a ride warrier mumbo jumbo, in my opinion. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=video&cd=4&ved=0CEQQtwIwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBK6UMysDisk&ei=D5AmTdbPLuWynAf0lLyMAQ&usg=AFQjCNGxOTP0Ewg80EIQjsE3sj1wlYA2Xg

Thanks for the memories. One of my fav rides at KI.

Well, I would certainly say that it seems more than coincidental that Steel Dragon 2000 opened 2 months after Millenium Force to break its height record.

I recall that Millenium Force was announced toward the end of June, 1999 about 6 weeks after SOB was announced. I am sure KI was not building SOB to compete with Millenium Force since both coasters were likely in the planning stages for years. And I remember right after KI announced SOB the following was one of its statistics " Tied for most coasters in one park." I doubt they would have announced such a statistic if they knew about Millenium Force before its announcement.

Hits: The Beast, Diamondback,Drop Tower, Flight of Fear, Vortex, Delirium. Misses: Removal of too many of the wonderful rides over the years such as Enchanted Voyage, Bavarian Beetle, Cuddle-Up, Sky Ride-I can go on and on. The gradual disappearance of one of the prettiest sections of the park, Oktoberfest-In short, I think KI's biggest sin over the years is violating the rule " If its not broken, don't fix it."

As usual, outstanding photos.

Of course I would love it. Why wouldn't I like the idea of a new park? Why wouldn't anyone like that idea? I think they should maybe consider some arrant coasters that are sitting out there not being operated, like Screechin Eagle and others that seem to have no hope of survival. They could maybe play off some resurrection theme for them! Could be a great idea! I hope it works out. Never got to ride Screechin Eagle. Would love if they could save it in this way so I can get a chance to ride it.

I have read a good deal of negative posts on here about Dick Kinzel. Perhaps he has made mistakes in recent years but I think we should still acknowledge as park enthusiasts that a lot of the great rides that we take for granted now are a result of his vision: Magnum XL 200, Raptor, Millenium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, Maverick, Diamondback. I am not speaking as a money man, I just think we should give the man credit where credit is due.

Unless you are expecting a big refund from Uncle Sam.

^I never thought of it that way. Markr, who just wrote out his first check for AARP membership.

Speaking for the generation who rode Vortex when it first opened in 1987 ( when it was indeed a smooth ride ) , I am always afraid I am going to get whiplash whenever I get on the ride now. Also, I would like to add to the off season to do list: The parking lot is long overdue for repaving.

You make me sound so old. ( LOL.)

Thanks for checking. No, I've seen the Raptor promo you posted but that is not the ad I am talking about. This was a television commercial probably about 30 seconds long which showed a kid being chased in the woods by a raptor and appearing to be captured by its claws before an announcer says, " Raptor rules the sky. This summer at Cedar Point. " These ads were aired in the Central Ohio area in April and May, 1994 just before Raptor opened to the public.

I was just wondering if anyone remembered the old teaser commercials for Raptor and Mantis in 1994 and 1996 respectfully just before the rides opened? The one for Raptor showed a teenaged boy running through the woods (or riding his bike, cannot remember exactly) fleeing from a raptor and then appearing to be captured by the raptor, then you saw the logo, " Raptor rules the sky, coming this summer to Cedar Point. " The Mantis ad showed a smart alecky kid laughing and walking around in the grass. As he was about to step on a mantis, you heard the announcer say" Ever wonder why you were told never to step on a mantis? " Then you heard the kid screaming and the announcer continued " Find out this summer at Cedar Point." I would also be eternally greatful to any of you if you could find one or both of those commercials. I have looked all over Youtube and Google and no luck.

I know it is no longer at KI but I would imagine that operating the old Sky Ride took a lot of muscle. I have noticed how the Sky Ride operators at CP have to push the cars out and they look like they are pretty heavy.

i thought that final bunny hop was still there when Flight of Fear opened, and if it was, could someone here tell why it was removed later? i thought the path to x-base used to be a service road before anyway. If I am not mistaken, the bunny hop was taken out for the forward side and stayed on the backward side of The Racerwhen FOF first opened. Several years later, they took the bunny hop out of the backward side as well.

My main pet peeve about the layout and theming when FOF was built was the removal of that final headchopper dip on The Racer before the ride ended. That was one of the most thrilling parts of the ride.