TombRaiderFTW

Are they, though? Really, they just put posters up in the park and made a couple of ominous posts on social media about Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown. The park didn't really get hypey at all until the last week or so--namely, right after that "field of dreams" tweet. Literally every other bit of hype has been enthusiast-driven. Which is fine! It's great to have fun getting excited together about what the park might have up its sleeve. That's, like, one of the bigger things that brings this community together. I'm just trying to offer some help in preventing anticipointment. There were people around here who were disappointed that WindSeeker was not a gigacoaster in Coney Mall--and there were literally zero hints that anything was coming until the park said they would be announcing something that week. Banshee had a specific number of owls hidden in trees, scarecrows hiding behind holes in the fence, multiple "field of dreams" tweets/other posts on social media, and so on. As I see it, this teaser campaign has been somewhat less energetic. Like you said, Beast Gal, a huge hint-dropping to-do would be disappointing if it just ended in a 100' tall coaster... But has this campaign actually been about dropping hints around every turn? And if the answer to that is "no," is a GCI really out of the question? I'd also like to submit, having ridden several GCI's, that GCI can do more with 100 feet of height than some other companies can do with 306*. If you haven't ridden a GCI, I wouldn't be so quick to be disappointed if that's what our coaster turns out to be. Thunderhead tends to be pretty well liked around these parts by those who have ridden it, and, in my opinion, it's not even GCI's best coaster. *Not a typo.

I wish I could say "Durga," but... TRFTW, always happy to be the guy to make TRTR references.

I'll give you the "hurting people" part, but when did anyone pull pieces off without equipment?

"Sir, the last time you refilled your 2016 souvenir cup was August 23, 1992..." (I realize what you meant... I just had to make the joke.)

Now seems like a good time to plug TombraiderTy's AWESOME "History of the Haunt" thread from 2011. The images have, unfortunately, since gone missing, but the content is still not to be missed. It's got a LOT of really good information about the history of Kings Island's Halloween events. Here's a link!

I305 no longer has the trims that were added to the first drop in 2010. It does, however, have the stretch of trims over the second-to-last bunny hop that it has always had.

Park says that a guest turned in a suspicious backpack. Link: Indiana state police are reporting that the scene is now all clear. Link: There's an important message here about how invaluable it is that park security is what it is these days. I absolutely agree with Thrill_Biscuit that it is sad that an unattended backpack is a cause for alarm, but it also makes me appreciative that parks have responses prepared for these situations, including bag checks and metal detectors. Stuff like this has the potential to be a lot worse without the security that parks put in place.

Holiday World (@holidayworld) is reporting on Twitter that the park is being evacuated due to a "threat." "All are safe." Link to tweet: If you are at Holiday World, stay safe. Follow all instruction from Holiday World and the Indiana state police. Comments on Facebook are suggesting that there was a bomb threat. Holiday World replied to another Twitter user and said that there was an "unsecured backpack." EDIT: The park has posted on Facebook:

I'm sure the mention of the Antique Cars is coincidental, but it made me think: wouldn't the woods around this potential new coaster be a cool location for some new Antique Cars? It brings to mind Blue Ridge Tollway at Kings Dominion--a nice, relaxing drive through the woods. Kings Island, make it happen, please!

*deep sigh* I really did like how many trees were around that part of the path. I really did. I'm excited for this new ride. I was just really hopeful that a new ride in that area wouldn't result in a Diamondback-like clear-cutting of trees in one of the few locations inside the park that still has lots of trees. Oh well!

Cool video! Quick question, though: when did CF ever state an intent to replace Son of Beast?

I think fryoj has hit the nail on the head--that image matches up to the existing clearings and the flags that can be seen from the train. That does beg the question of why the trees between the train and the reservoir are being cleared... Is it just for the aesthetics of being able to see the coaster from the train?

I was going to say "Diamondback on opening day 2009," but then I reread the original post. Hm... I know I've seen the Backlot Stunt Coaster queue filled before. I don't know what that would translate to in hours, but I'm sure it's no fun. I've also waited in either a completely filled or nearly completely filled Firehawk queue before (in 2008, I want to say), but I've repressed the memories of how long it took to get through that. The first time I rode Tomb Raider: The Ride, I was in line for probably two hours or more, including some downtime. That was in 2004 or 2005. I remember that specifically because I was sure it wasn't going to be worth it, but it so was.

Wow. Thank you so much for uploading those and posting about them here! Those are really great pictures! Kings Island of the 70's really had a charm unlike any other. It's truly a shame that changes in focus of leadership over the years caused the park to lose sight of the original theme. Also, did the train run the opposite direction back then of the way it goes now? That's kinda what the train pictures look like.

Great TR! Your pictures are incredible, as always!

It's "CAUTION: FROG." That's what the ride's going to be named. The new ride will be frog-themed. You heard it here first! It's also going to be a Frog Hopper. That's what all this hype has been leading up to.

I don't believe they're seasonal like Kings Island so a pass is good for a year from when purchased; not just for the Spring, Summer and Fall. Technically they are seasonal, as the park is closed from the end of December through the end of March, like Dollywood. I imagine the reason the passes work like that is just because the rest of their parks aren't seasonal. It would stink to buy a Platinum Membership at BGW and only be able to use it at the other parks for nine months instead of the full year like the other parks' passes.

[dramatic gasp] How could you not enjoy the cheery chimes of Gerta Schwartzwald?! She's glad to see you've escaped the forest! (And also the train behind you!) So much so that she's glad lift up to see on your you've escaped safety harness the forest and exit lift up carefully to on your your left safety harness and enjoy and exit the rest carefully to of your your left day at and enjoy Boosh Gahdens the rest AUF WIEDERSEHEEEEEEN of your day at Boosh Gahdens! AUF WIEDERSEHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN! I love Verbolten a whole dang lot, but I would rather be at Kings Island for twelve hours with bring-a-friend-free-level crowds who are all bouncing basketballs and the only ride operating is Son of Beast than listen to Verbolten's auto-spiel for anything longer than fifteen minutes. I don't mind themed auto-spiels, but I think the non-Verbolten ones have a tendency to blend in with the rest of the theming, which seems like it could be less than effective. I think I agree with homestar that the best spiel is a simple, straightforward, and automated one. Kennywood's auto-spiels do an alright job of it, although I think the ride ops have a tendency to talk over them, if I remember correctly?

Thank you so much for writing about your experience with your dad. That was beautiful. I am so glad you had a memorable time with him. This is the stuff amusement parks exist for.

I agree with marth555. If an RMC shows up at any Cedar Fair park in 2017, I would assume that it is only because the project was too far along to call it quits. This is the sort of thing that Cedar Fair has been avoiding with its choice in manufacturers.

I think about this show sometimes, and how much it (with due respect to those who liked it) wasn't my thing. It makes me all the more appreciative for Ouimet, Cirque Imagine, Origins, Jump!, and even Ed Alonso. I really appreciate the direction that Live E has taken in the last 4 or 5 years.

Okay! Thank you very much for looking into it and for the reply. I'll have to try some Shazam-like apps to see if I can ID any songs myself.

I tried out the new system. Last night was one of those every-once-in-a-while times when I feel like playing games in the arcades. I feel like the point of alternative paying systems for arcades and amusement park games is to make you as unaware as possible that you are spending money. For instance, I might not want to pay $1 for that game, but I might not feel as opposed to spending two tokens (even if their value is the equivalent of $1.) And while I might not want to reach into my pocket for $1 to try again if I lose, another two tokens might not feel like I'm spending more money. This system is very transparent about the financial price to play everything. You put $5 on a card at the kiosk. Skeeball costs 50¢. You swipe your card through the card reader on the skeeball machine, and it informs you that you have $4.50 left on your card. It's very... enlightening. Your card can be refilled at the kiosk. One other thing I don't think I've read around here: in place of physical tickets, games now reward you with points that are put on your card. The card reader on each game will tell you how many tickets each game awards you. You can check your point total on the kiosk that you get your card from. All the prizes are listed with their point requirements. It's an odd system to me. I suppose it works well enough for what it is. I'm just not sure where the benefit is over the token and ticket system that had been around forever, except that the same credit that people put towards arcade games can now be used for the Coney Mall games, etc. But you're also basically eliminating the ability for people to impulsively drop $2 on Bank-A-Ball and other games. And when people use the system, they're very aware of the money they're spending. In a world where places like Waldameer operate literally everything on a point system (only 4.5 points for Ravine Flyer II! Only 3 points for pizza!), this feels like an odd switch, like the card system people paid the park to switch to their weird financial transparency-oriented card system. Also of note: the cards aren't usable at the White Water Canyon geysers, which still firmly accept quarters only.

The ride op at White Water Canyon's pay geysers could tone it down, too. They're currently addressing and taunting every boat that passes, to the point that it's nearly a continuous stream of loud talking. It's not necessary, and, like others have said, it distracts from the ride op's actual job, which is to keep riders safe. It's also not just a Kings Island thing. They do it at SFStL, too. It's unnecessary there, too.

I got to see the new acts. They're both very good, but the ring lady is really phenomenal. The way she flips the rings almost feels like an illusion--the way she whirls and flings them around herself doesn't seem possible. Hand2Hand was great, but the only part of it I find myself missing is that momentary pause in the music where those two would quickly flip around into that lean--that was just a really neat effect that gave me chills. The ring performance is a suitable replacement in every other way. I love seeing the show reach a "sweet spot" as time goes by. Cirque did it twice, and Origins is doing it. Even the painting portion seems like it flows much better than it did during the passholder preview. It's still very much a pause in the action, but I think they've found a much better balance between the time taken to paint, the way they ramp up "decorating" the audience participant, the distractions in the background, etc. I do miss Yannick, though. He really did have a fun personality for the show. I'm sure the new performers will get better and better at putting their personalities into their performances. The juggler/painter (whose name I don't know) has really put a lot of charisma and fun into his role, too. Also, Magenta Lizard... If you wouldn't mind, I'm still dying to get my hands on the Origins song list. Pretty please?