silver2005

I want to specify my want for an RMC Topper Track coaster in Vortex's spot. 48" height requirement that equals Vortex's (as long as it isn't too crazy, doesn't need to be), would have crazy air on par with Vortex's first drop (except EVERYWHERE), fit in 3-5 inversions, something between 150-175 ft and a good length to match. Maybe go with orange and blue rails?

My list- KCKC, Tomb Raider with the original ride program, Phantom Theater, Skylab, recaR, the animatronics on KIMVRR, Sunshine Turnpike, the original Tiques and Flying Eagles.

To add to Vortex's removal, it is now absent from KI's ride listings as well as listed as defunct on RCDB. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/play/rides-coasters https://rcdb.com/4540.htm

I feel this is also true when those type of enthusiasts try to dissect the GP and fail miserably.

While you yourself have not made the incompetence claim, many on the side you're defending have, which is part of the broad scope of the argument many who are defending the park are trying to make. They're making comments based off of all those posts complaining about the webcams, not just individuals.

So is everyone here going on about KI allegedly being devious in their handling of the webcam keeping their season passes and still planning on going to the park in the future?

If Orion gets a tunnel, it better be longer than Leviathan's to have much of an effect. On Levi- its in and out of there in a fraction of a second.

Another bit of FoF trivia- the US Navy and NASA looked in on it due to the use of LIM tech since both could possibly utilize them.

I'm not convinced those brakes before the station are block brakes though. There are rides where it seems to stop at the MCBR and doesn't, but I think those are when the train ahead is clear of the unload station. I've had rides ranging from slow but still moving through the MCBR to being stopped for as much as 10-15 seconds on the MCBR. I'll have to experiment with it next summer in timing it.

It vibrates a lot, but I wouldn't call it rough. And there's not much you can do about the MCBR. The way it works, it has to stay there until the train in the unload station is clear, so if you have a slow unload like it tends to do, its likely to stop there, which is awkward in the first 2 cars. Other than that, I enjoy it a bunch still. EDIT: Crossed out due to inaccuracies, but leaving the text up due to the posts where its corrected.

I think it'll be Invertigo, not over any dislike of the ride, but the fact its running on a train with more mileage than the original train it was using and the fact its only 1 of 2 Vekoma Invertigo models still in operation.

To me, Steel Dragon 2000 is the steel structure equivalent to SOB in terms of massiveness (better designed obviously). Its ridiculous due to the earthquake proofing (which is why it got a nice $50 million price tag, too). I think I prefer the minimalist approach of I-305. Its a radical departure from normal supports which gives it a unique and maybe even an unorthodox look. You don't expect a coaster so tall to have so few support beams. It helps that its color scheme makes it pop more than the other gigas, too.

My 2nd entry.

To add to this, there are several tools on the forums which allows you to look up post history- the search engine on the forum as well as looking up individual members' post history. The later is under every members' profile page under the button to the right just under the cover photo labeled 'See their activity'. And the post history covers everything.

For those not in the know about this ride, this was the first coaster to hit 100 mph (this was built right before Superman: The Escape at SFMM), so its kind of a big milestone coaster coming down here. It also got the Drop Tower attachment before Superman as well. Its kind of weird to see all these high concept rides of the late 90's all coming down together.

^2nd tallest currently (kinda) standing? Yes. Overall? No. That honor went to Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure. I'm assuming you know the tallest is Viper at SFMM.

Think of the dueling coaster possibilities with this ride. You could easily do something where you have one track with 2 sets of running rails on it to have one train run below and one above. You could even make it mobius a la Kennywood's Racer but on steroids with the inversions and such. This as a dueling coaster would be much more compact than your Lightning Racers and Dueling Dragons of the world.

In addition to the terrain issue, Vortex was all welded together, possibly with some last minute adjustments done on site when it was constructed. Cutting it apart would be pretty meticulous. Most of the only Arrows that have been relocated are the smaller ones. Even if Vortex were in working condition enough to sell like that, it's never been done on an Arrow of that size.

I know many including myself attest to the back being the better part of the train to ride it because of that killer air on the first drop, but I was also fond of the front seat, not just because it was the front, but the way the nose is shaped in the front meant it really had a nice breeze to it no matter what time of day/year. It also had the most leg room of any seat as well to boot.

As much as it was a sad event, I felt a lot of good came from that night. I myself got to throw Vortex stories around with a lot of different people and stuff like this is the best of it. I'm glad a lot of people left last night on a high note given what it was, at least that's how I walked away thinking about that day. I know the park took some flak from enthusiasts regarding the timing, but given what they had to work with, I think the park did a great job.

Just out of curiosity @VortexBFForever, did you get to interact with the original Vortex crew at all that night?

I feel like DB has been a slight exception to the rule that B&M's are supposed to be reliable. Outside of their flying coasters, I haven't heard of a B&M with the frequency of problems that DB seems to rack up. Obviously, its not super bad and DB has been a fine ride, but sometimes it does leave you scratching your head.

So I went a bit overboard than I expected and took about 200 photos of Vortex on its last day of operations (and a few of Orion- when in Rome....). I took some of the more typical photos, but I also went around the entire park and took photos from spots we see it and take it for granted. There are some GLORIOUS spots that most people don't think of. I'll post my money shot here, but I will be posting them elsewhere as well. It was a real labor of love to really try to capture the ride in its relation to the park and its incomparable place in the park skyline. I hope you enjoy them and reminisce well in viewing them. Here's my favorite view- looking at Vortex at sunset as a train flies up the 2nd hill.

I stand corrected on the whole park not actually saying what it is issue. I'm going by the call @IndyGuy4KI made to the park, but to me, that was good enough and is still the park going out of their way. The other reason that's good enough for me is because I imagine Brad introduced himself as an admin here thus they knew in that context it would be spread as a kind of official statement. They didn't have to give him an explanation and it obviously isn't important enough to them given what they are working on currently, nor should it be IMO. They're still documenting Orion going up without the webcams which is good enough for me. I mean, if it is incompetence, then that's also a non-issue with me. Every park encounters that in some form. However, its still the case that the park doesn't owe an explanation and we're likely not going to get an explanation for something so insignificant. This whole thing is stopped cold by that fact.

@sixohdieselrage But they aren't telling you the exact reason a ride goes down and, again, aren't obligated to. If you know that's the way its going to be with the webcams and are just going to sit as patiently or impatiently for them to get back up like anyone else, why keep pressing on it? To me, the park went out of their way to say something at all, which, those can still be valid as the problem could be bigger than you're all thinking. Incompetence shows up at any park so that doesn't make KI any more special in this circumstance. Being a private property means they are allowed not to tell you everything. I also think the vast majority of you are blowing this webcam business way, way, way out of proportion in relation to how it affects the park's bottom line. Most people viewing the cams are already KI fans and a slight malfunction won't be enough for them not to come back and continue purchasing tickets/passes/merch, etc. Unless you can prove that correlation in a way that is meaningful to the park's well being, its a non-issue with me.