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I guess I'm a little more optimistic than you guys, though I admittedly have only about two to three years of serious industry-watching experience and haven't visited Kentucky Kingdom before. I think the way they're approaching reopening the rides is clever; they're stressing that they're taking time to make sure they're running well. Yes, they're only going to have the Runs (I have been waiting ages to make that joke), but they've made it clear they've spent a sum to make sure that Thunder Run is running in top form. For a region that's watched the place go downhill for four years, I think that's a wise move. And Lightning Run is nothing you can find anywhere remotely near the park--there really isn't anything nearby it even looks like that it could be confused with. The first year's offerings are marketable to both the local area and beyond, and that's what the park needs. Whether or not those will bring in the figures Hart was promising months ago remains to be seen, but I figure from a construction/renovation standpoint that that's how I'd do things right now. If there's something that I'd expect that would limit them in the future (apart from the weirdly limited capital plans), it's the park's location/height limit and lack of any major marketing. It doesn't look like the park has a ton of space to expand into. The typical response to that kind of concern is "look at Indiana Beach," but the place is literally surrounded by suburban Louisville and the airport. The place can't build tall rides--and that can be fine, depending on what they build in spite of that--but it looks like the land would quickly approach capacity if someone gets remotely aggressive with expansion. How many rides can you stack on top of other rides before cost and height become too restrictive? Also, like others have pointed out: it feels like they're being incredibly quiet about the whole thing. If I'm in Cedar Point's marketing sphere (and USED to be in Six Flags' circa the original Mr. Six commercial) and Columbus is in Kennywood's, why haven't I heard anything about the place besides the Facebook posts I'm already subscribed to? I mentioned all that stuff about bringing the old stuff back while providing unique new stuff, but if no one outside Louisville knows about it, what's the point? If a coaster is constructed and no one's around to take pictures, did it really happen?

Chance posted a video on their YouTube page featuring several new views of Lightning Run, including an on-ride POV:

The definites (as definite as definite can be when we're talking six months in the future): -Kings Island -Kentucky Kingdom The probablys: -Holiday World -Waldameer -Cedar Point The possibles: -With how this year went down, anything is possible. No, really--anything. The really-want-to-but-we'll-sees: -Six Flags St. Louis -Canada's Wonderland -Kings Dominion -Lake Compounce -A Busch Gardens Possible events: -Banshee media day -Holiwood Nights -The ACE event at Kentucky Kingdom -IAAPA

I do like that story. Makes me laugh every time.I also find it really funny that the posting of The Sinking of the S.S. Gator is becoming an annual holiday tradition around here. Like, normal forum communities probably just post wishes of safe travels for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We do that, and then it's like "Gather around, children, for it is time to tell that timeless tale of December past when Gator took a swim in The Beach's lazy river."

So basically, they told him his idea was Knotty?

When the "No Limits Discussion Thread" thread finally rears its lovely head. (Or at least that used to be the case... Seems I'm the only one left here who still uses NL!)

The flash for the camera is a strobe light.

It's an interesting idea, but I would think you'll need: 1.) More financial support than what this board can provide by itself, 2.) A way for Kings Island to legally accept the money with terms of use it would feel safe accepting, and 3.) Clearance with the maintenance folks, as at least one other park in the country cites improved inspectability as the reason why it doesn't paint it's wooden coaster. Not saying that's why KI hasn't painted Racer, but it's a possibility. Not meaning to rain on the parade, but it's stuff you'd have to consider. I'd absolutely love to see Racer in new red, white, and blue some opening day, but there may be reasons why it hasn't happened already. Given how much Cedar Fair has spent in the last 4 years on repainting rides, I don't know that lack of money is necessarily one reason.

Hit the "submit" button too soon. See post below.

D'oh! Don't I feel silly. Guess my post about the supports being repainted was wrong--it really was just the light that made them look gray. Thanks, Don!

It is. The track for the start of the first drop was painted orange today. It's a similar orange to the orange and tan crane that used to be used for Banshee.

Used to. King Kahuna has since been removed. According to Wikipedia (I know, I know), KK's last season was 2009.

Which infernal contraption are you talking about? (Not that I'm defending Indiana Beach; that whole park is an infernal contraption to me. )

Yes, they posted regular ticket prices. Prices are as follows: General admission: $44.95 Children under 48": $34.95 Seniors 55+: $34.95 Military with proper I.D.: $34.95 Parking is "currently" $8.00 per vehicle. I'm guessing that's one of the things the fair board's in charge of. EDIT: In terms of live entertainment, I thought this was interesting: there's going to be a live sea lion show in the new Aqua Theater. Live animals are certainly something none of the other parks in the area have to offer. Second EDIT after a like by LoraX: Here's the operating calendar:

Did my research, and the official model name is the "Hyper GT-X Coaster" from Chance Rides. There's a video that I'm assuming is the "standard" model (and the video calls it a "HyperLite Roller Coaster"), but Lightning Run appears to be a custom version:

Is that a custom version of one of those Chance "hyper-lites" (or whatever they were calling them)? I literally was just thinking about those the other day as a possibility for Kentucky Kingdom, but then I was like, "Nah... It'll never happen." It's just been so long since Chance built a coaster that I didn't expect that model to catch on. (Shows what I know!) My initial reaction: considering how Chance doesn't have Intamin's reputation, it seems like they wanted the experience of a mega-lite without the gamble of an Intamin. But I'll reserve any further judgement until I ride it. Heck, I've never even been on a Chance/Morgan hyper before... Looks like I know where I'll start. EDIT: Gotta toss this on: I kinda like how the park's starting out with Thunder Run and Lightning Run. Could be a neat thing to play off of when Twisted Twins reopens. ("The Thunder and Lightning were just the calm before the storm...") Also, season pass information is up: Price: $59.95+tax Free park admission Free rides during the Kentucky State Fair Free sports bottle if you're one of the first 500 pass orders $1.00 unlimited 32oz. sodas all season long 20% discount on all park food and merchandise The park also boasts free tubes and sunscreen for the waterpark (sound familiar?) Terp will appreciate this: If you can upload your own photo, they'll mail your season pass to you. IF I buy one (not sure I want to try it yet), here's hoping they won't announce the closure of the park an hour later like Six Flags did.

Drove by the park tonight. The lift and first turn supports look like they may have been painted a nice charcoal gray color. (Visibility was a little iffy.)

Really not sure what you're talking about. There is no specialty in mechanical engineering for roller coaster design. Trust me, I've looked. I AM one of those mechanical engineer folk. Also, the calculus and trig you learn in high school is not irrelevant in engineering. In fact, they both play major parts in engineering. The calculus is where B&M would be getting their equations from. Everything else involving mechanical engineering they're doing, save for any dynamic analysis of structures, the lift, or the brakes, would be algebra. Even the stress analysis is algebra. Where do we start learning that, again? The posters here aren't incompetent, and I think you're over mystifying the whole thing.

^ Good point. I must have missed that post. Thanks for the reminder. The speculation continues...

I never realized how much of an Adventure Express purist/fanboy I am until I read this and was unnecessarily miffed. I guess this would explain the weird tree removal around the beginning of the queue (namely, between the queue and that service road.) Just don't get rid of that plaque mounted on the rock beside the entrance! (I love every inch of that ride. Seriously.) I continue to wonder if Slingshot's on its way out. The path by Adventure Express/Slingshot tends to crowd easily. I wouldn't complain if it were a bit wider at the expense of Slingshot; the views of Banshee would be improved.

You have been throwing around No and Maybe when it comes to this topic... I don't know what to think anymore.He hasn't been contradicting himself. Someone could ask if anyone has ever considered having me replace Ouimet as Cedar Fair CEO. If I met the right people, got the right work experience, and had the right attitude, then maybe it could happen. However, Cedar Fair is (presumably) not considering me for the position within the foreseeable future. It could happen, but no one who matters is banking on it happening soon enough that they need to start preparations for it. (Especially me!)One of the statements is opening the possibility that the event someday, somehow may happen at Kings Island. The other statement is telling you that that "someday" isn't going to be any day soon.

Three complete guesses concerning the wider loop: 1.) The trains themselves are wider than the old style of trains to accommodate the new restraints and new style of supporting the seats that Banshee will have. The clearance window would be widened accordingly, thus requiring a wider loop entry/exit. 2.) The new style of restraints offer enough arm movement that the clearance window must be widened for safety. 3.) There's a fish-eye effect in that photo, and the track spacing isn't as wide as it looks.

Those two turns into the "staircase" bit on Backlot Stunt Coaster. Also the "underground" portion. Beast's double helix. Firehawk's loop. The turn over the pre-lift portion of Adventure Express. The Bat's brake run, when seated in the front car. Flight of Fear's cobra roll, especially when seated in the last car. The more time that goes by, the more I kinda-sorta miss Son of Beast's pre-lift portion. It was nothing special, but it was always a little unnerving to new-to-roller-coasters me how that first drop/turn out of the station was WAY over banked. (Not that I think it was unintentional or something; you would just practically lay on your side going through that turn.) I don't know if I would feel similarly now that I've been on rides like Voyage or Ravine Flyer II; I just know I haven't experienced that kind of hang time on a wooden coaster since.

The Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad. (I don't really do waterparks much. )

I think you're right. It must have been the color balance of the camera at the time.