TombRaiderFTW

The last time I went to a Frich's, there was an insect (something along the lines of a small caterpillar or worm) in my salad. I haven't been back. Apart from that, I also echo the statements here about there not being much that I really crave there.

Don posted here about Kings Island needing volunteers for photoshoots. Tony Clark posted something similar on Cedar Point's blog. The first photoshoot opportunity: "Sunday, August 30 (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) Wildwater Kingdom in Aurora, OH - looking for all ages and heights" Sounds like the future is, if only for one more season, bright for Ohio's Wildwater Kingdom. Unless they're for generic use across all of Cedar Fair's parks...?

At this point, I just kinda call them as I see them after experiencing them and deciding what fits best for me. It's entirely subjective, and I have no doubt that I'm probably inconsistent as all get out. Credits aren't really important to me; I basically only keep track of them out of curiosity and as a conversation piece (as some people I know ask for updates from time to time on how many coasters I've ridden.) I really don't feel like there's an objective means of setting criteria for when a ride is "new," except to set arbitrary guidelines. I don't really consider Rougarou a new ride, but RMC redos are definitely new rides. Fortunately, I never rode the original Hades, so I don't need to worry about whether or not it counts as a new ride now that it has its corkscrew. Same goes for Son of Beast; I only rode it without the loop. I have ridden Intimidator 305 both pre- and post-reprofiling, but that change seems minor enough to me that I don't consider it an issue. Then again, I'm also that guy that considers Racer at Kennywood to be two credits, so what do I know?

Plot twist: the Skeleton Key room in Blackout will be the only lit room in the house. Whatever they show you there will give you more reason to be afraid of what you can't see. (I'm making this up, of course.) In all seriousness, the idea of a house being pitch black screams low people throughput--pun fully intended. I won't be surprised if it's Fright Lane-only. Actually, I'm kinda expecting it. I could very well be wrong (I don't pay as much attention to Halloween events), but I believe that both Knott's and Dorney have both experimented with Fright Lane-only houses before. Honestly, the last Halloween event experience I had was Halloweekends last year, and the experience was enough that I'm a little intimidated by the idea of Haunt events (and especially Blackout) this year. On one house, I was the only one with Skeleton Key, and it included a pitch-black room with scareactors in it. I'm kind of a wuss about these things, and I don't think I've ever been so scared at any amusement park ever. Obviously, I wouldn't expect any different from the event, as that's kind of the point--it just made an impression on me. Whichever park it is (BGT?) that has a house you go through by yourself has officially presented the first haunted something at a park I would avoid purely out of fear. If I do Blackout this year, I will have a death grip on the shoulders of whichever unfortunate friend goes through it with me.

I could be wrong, but I think it's from Gerstlauer. There is one at Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America.

It does appear that Wildwater Kingdom will be receiving something next year... The cold shoulder. (I will be here all week.)

It didn't come from the park. It was a rumor posted on KIC's Twitter.

I keep trying to think of two somethings from 1972 related to the water park that might be leaving, and all I come up with is the two engines from the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad. I really, really hope I'm wrong. Unfortunately, they would seem to fit Boddah's clues...

The location for the announcement is in a place that can only be found by those who know where it's at. It's in the Room of Requirement?! I knew I should have stayed at Hogwarts over the summer.

Speaking of unusual member activity... Is that a troll I smell?

I'm a little emotional about it, but at this point, it feels like the end of one of the best books I've ever read. Cirque Imagine sits up there with experiences like Tomb Raider: The Ride for me, where you can feel the passion of everyone involved, savor it, and learn from it. It means so much more than that to me, too, but I truthfully don't know how to put it into words. It's something I'm going to hold onto for a very, very long time. I am so thankful for Kings Island for their decision to present this show, for Les Productions Haut-Vol for the amazing work they put into the show, and for the performers for their commitment to quality AND storytelling AND hard work AND fun. Truly, truly an amazing experience. Wow. I sincerely felt goosebumps every time I saw it, and, despite my typical interests, there is very, very little that manages to do that for me continually. I really cannot say enough good. If I were entirely honest, a very large influence on what parks I visit next year will be which parks have Haut-Vol productions (and especially other variations of Cirque Imagine/Cirque Ambiente.) If I could, I'd already have plans to be at Seabreeze and Canada's Wonderland later this year for their respective shows. Kings Island folks (including Don or Sara), if you are reading this: I am begging you to consider bringing a variation of Canada's Wonderland's Dimensions: A Cirque Experience (or another cirque-related experience) to the park in the near future.

Kings Island has announced on Instagram that Hot Blooded will be returning this year. I so hope that this will not mean that Skeleton Crew is out. I'm going to stay optimistic and hope that they will just move Skeleton Crew to the Kings Island Theater.

Not Just For Terp's Pleasure New Jersey Fills Thy Petroleum New Justiceleaguebattleformetropolisdarkride For The Park?

You guys are the best. Thanks for asking and reporting back here! Also, for what it's worth: the French translation of teeter totter is "jeu de bascule." So that line could be something like "C'est la jeu de bascule!"

I would absolutely die of happiness if Tumble Bug somehow made its way to Kings Island. That would be amazing, especially if it ended up in Coney Mall. And I would like Conneaut to make it, so it would make me very happy to see them make a big step in the right direction. Someone get in contact with Cedar Fair, stat! The idea of Cedar Fair folks wandering Europe, knocking on various parks' administrations' doors and asking for their old rides seems a little like an enthusiast's imagination getting away from them, but the source seems credible. If this is actually happening, I so hope it's successful. If it works, this could be one of my favorite moves any park/park chain has ever made.

In some weird way, I kinda liked Mysteria--not so much because of the quality, but because of how weird it was. It was a bit like walking through a Lady Gaga music video. It almost felt like the park had a few odds and ends and stuck them together and were like, "Let's go with it." And the actors pretty much embraced it by making the weirdest noises possible. I kinda miss it. Not strongly, but I do.

^ I was wondering about that myself. I honestly don't know if they would consider a Gravity Group coaster with Timberliners or not. It wasn't until Lori was in charge of Holiday World that that project was cancelled. Dan, in the other hand, hired TGG/Gravitykraft to retrack/redo Voyage that one off-season while the Timberliners were still being worked on. But, it does beg the question: was that cancellation all Lori's idea, or was Dan already planning it?

I am so happy. I really hope they put something worthwhile in its place.

Is it possible that the park is attempting to limit attendance for the inaugural event so as to test the event out before going bigger next year? That might explain the higher price to participate.

I really hope it's something with the quality of Madame Fatale's, Wolf Pack, Board 2 Death, or Slaughterhouse. I really like it when the houses go for quality instead of shock value like what Club Blood has/had. Shock value just cheapens the overall feel of the event for me. More importantly, it means we're one step closer to Sam showing up around these parts!

I don't know about this "RMC Vortex" thing, but I am IN LOVE with the name "The Hunter." That's such a neat idea.

Has anyone checked any major sport venues in or around Cincinnati? You know you love the stage.

Disclaimer: This post contains spontaneous sappiness and warm fuzzies. Cynics, grumpy people, and various Grinches beware. This stage discussion is another one of the moments where I remember how much I love this site, much like the noodle (#Jonathan) last summer. It's another one of those times where we're having good-natured discussion about something we're curious about, and it's not at someone else's expense. (Granted, there was some ribbing of jcgoble3 during the noodle discussion, but it was more about his dislike of hashtags than anything else.) No grumpiness or flaming of unrealistic ideas like what can happen elsewhere. And the fact that Don's in on it with that tweet just makes it better. It might just be a stage for some event, or it might be some weird teaser for a new ride. I just enjoy the fact that we're having fun with it. Basically, I just wanted to take a post to say that I like you guys. Also, I am entirely in favor of making #KIplatformwatch2015 a thing. Gotta keep an eye out. We're dealing with a park that drops hints by placing particular quantities of plastic owls in trees here.

I think Hurler was supposed to be in the spot where the Antique Cars were? I could be wrong. Jeff Gramke said at Coasterstock that there were plans to add a wooden coaster in the location that Diamondback currently occupies. I could be remembering this wrong, but I think he said Paramount bought the park while it was being planned and put a stop to it. (I was more interested in the fact that it was to be designed using John Allen's recommendations/rules of thumb that had been used to design Beast... Oh, the possibilities.)

To be fair, all floorless coasters are only partially floorless... They do have floors in the station!