hosscat

The rumors ARE true. I'm curious where you heard it from actually. I guess word spreads around quick. I'm a member of several band organ organizations, and an avid enthusiast in the mechanical music world. I don't care about money, I just wanted the organ to play again for the general public and I'm incredibly thankful that the park granted me that opportunity. I'd even spend my own money on the instrument. Another 'organ technician' demanded big bucks to do the same thing I did - it's a labor of love, I don't care if money is involved or not. One of the rolls were actually changed within the last week or so judging from the video I see earlier in the thread. I hope this doesn't mean my own copy of 6512 ripped! (I'd feel bad if it did because whoever changed it would have to rewind it by hand, figures for a roll I got on Ebay!) Anyway, there will come a time where spending money to keep it playing is inevitable and the work needed is something beyond what I know, but I'm not going to make the park spend money when they don't have to. There will be an article on the band organ in the Cincinnati enquirer within a few weeks I've cooked up, so that should really stir up interest in the organ, hopefully to the point that there will never be a time the organ doesn't play again!

Thank you! I still want to do a few more things. The tubing is connected wrong at the moment so that the trombones aren't turning on, (the DEEP bass sound!) but I didn't notice that until AFTER the park opened. Also, the snare drum is playing, but not reiterating, which I fixed, but the part is corroded so it lasted about an hour. When I go back I'll fix that too. Just a few minor things, and a tuning is needed... All of this I'm doing for free by the way. I own a band organ, but it's not exactly the best sounding thing out there. (it's homebuilt and I got it for free - so I couldn't say no!) Kings Island's 157 is my favorite organ, so it's a labor of love! For the record... I also arrange new music rolls to be punched. I even discussed the possibility of a special Halloween roll that could be neat during Halloween Haunt!

I didn't even know it operated opening weekend. I hope it's been communicated with the operators to play it! It was radioed in Monday to let the employees know. Happily I have merit to come back to work on it as MY own rolls are what are playing on the organ! The park has a full cabinet of rolls, but it's in the storage facility as of right now. I think that should be moved back as there's a spot in the center of the carousel where it obviously used to be - and changing rolls is key for happy ride operators! (Nobody wants to hear the same 20 tunes for a whole season) I just bought a bunch of more rolls for the purpose of playing them here. It'd be nice if I'd be able to change them weekly... or something along those lines.

Hi All, my name is Mikey Mills and I'm an avid band organ enthusiast... So much so that I've been contacting Kings Island about theirs not working working since 2007 -- I was 9 then! In 2014, the band organ returned playing for half of a season, but was silent in 2015... That was until this Monday! I am humbled to have been approached by the park and given the opportunity to fix the organ and get it playing well. There really wasn't much wrong with it! Also, the maintenance department was absolutely fantastic to work with. I'm yet to meet another crew quite as friendly! Just letting everyone here know that the band organ is playing now - and while there's some work and tuning I'd still like to do, here's a video for you to enjoy also! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCAO2NNuvME

I don't think Cedar Fair would get KK, Six flags is obviously done with them, But I think Parc would be a possibility. Also palace entertainment, the new owner of Kennywood may be interested. there are about 5-6 owners that are a possibility but I think Parc may be thinking about it. The park itself though, has almost been completely destroyed by six flags, the Ferris wheel looks like it's going to collapse It's carousel is in bad condition, The organ isn't doing well either, the park used to do better than Holiday World, what company would you like to see at this park?

I don't think they havehad many unique things being added in the last 5 years. Paramount did a much better job on that EX - Italian job - Diamondback is a good coaster but I know i've ridden the exact same ride at other parks, very unoriginal.

I've heard for the last couple of years that there is going to be a new Looping coaster. Not like Firehawk (Which I absolutely love!) but a sit down coaster, kind of like The Vortex, I've seen signs of a new coaster through the park in the last 2 years. I imagine it will be near the SOB but I'm not sure, if I'm right, it would be a good one, and I though Diamondback was good! Comparable to Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia, both very similar. But I don't think they would try to beat out CP, as I know, but Kings Island has gotten More popular in the last couple of years, As popular as it was when Paramount just bought it. So I diffidently think there would be a big coaster coming, even if you want something else like some flat rides, but those tend to break down more and aren't as popular.

Okay, for a while no I've been looking into the Kings Island organ, the organ itself has been discussed before but not an actual buy thread, The organ is a 157 Wurlitzer playing 165 rolls originally from a park in New Jersey. It was in the Paul Eakins collection and then sold to Taft Broadcasting in the early 70's. The facade was originally gold and red but the White and brown seemed to look better on the carousel. (Well, that's my opinion) The organ was removed in 2007 when Dick Kinzel cut the organ contract with the Stinson organ company, the organ was moved into storage for 2007 at Kings Island and never returned to the carousel sense. Today the organ is probably not in working condition anymore unless it is in a safe environment which I highly doubt. The organ is rumored to be in Flight of Fear, I always try to look for it while riding, also some parts of King Cobra are in there. So does anyone know who to contact so I can acquire this organ? I wouldn't pay much if any of the condition, and I want to spend the money on maintaining the organ. I think a donate would be very nice or even if the park still wants the organ, I could advise them on how to maintain it, I just want it playing again, and again I know the organ has already been discussed but I just want to know. Thanks!

It was opening day 2010 and I rushed into the park, I headed straight to the carousel after eating La Rosa's pizza (Yum) Then I was unpleasantly surprised to still see the organ off the carousel. I thought 2010 was going to be the year. Then we checked out Planet Snoopy and come on, it went from hanna barbarra, (I liked it then) to nick, and then to snoopy... in 5 years. I could care less for every ride in that area except for Boo Blasters on boo hill.... What's with the name? (I'm suprised Flight deck wasn't Flight Dick!) The ride itself was great basically saying that they may sell the park... That would be great! Then we headed to The Beast which happily wasn't named Wooden Thrill Roller coaster in 07', plus it ran great and I was very satisfied. The Racer had only 1 car operating and that was bad news... Happily the manager wouldn't give up The Racer's because (I think) It's his favorite coaster, he's ridden it 60 + times before he was the general manager. Let's just hope the best for the SOB. It was very crowded that day so we left soon after but I was very glad The Beast had some TLC, just none on the organ... But It was good to have a ride on The Racer's, and I went to SFGA, and their wooden coaster was awful! The ride hadn't been maintained in years and is (Probably) Comparable to the Wild cat that used to be at Coney Island in Ohio. Kings Island will always have some of the wildest rides, just concerns me about the carousel and the band organ because when it left the carousel it was in fine shape.

I think it's going to be a new coaster unless they wait until 12', As long as Dick is the CEO, there will be nothing else... That's not quite a good thing...

They need to fix the band organ

They have the Funds... They just built Diamondback last year! Their organ is a Wurlitzer 157 with a Duplex roll frame. It plays 165 rolls. Strickers grove has a Stinson organ. Stinson is the company that used to fix Kings Island's and Cedar Point's organs.

Most Likely you saw a freighter, not to many steamship are to be found on Lake Erie or in the Sandusky Bay 1.3 owns 1.2 in air time, it is the only way to ride up front Although a top notch railroad, and my preferred mode of transport to and from Frontier Town, there are better amusement railways. Most notably, Dollywood Express also the Tweetsie Railroad (Name of road and park) come to mind. Both of those destroy CP&LE's scenery. The train however is the only ride to have it's own website http://www.cplerr.com/. What CP has done with that thing is just awful. The band organ is destroyed, the mechanics and floor were changed in the 1994 move which give it that horrendous groaning sound. At least they gave the horses fresh paint this year, but the new rounding board scheme is terrible. They best thing about the carousel, is that it still operates. Don't forget about the Kiddie Kingdom carousel, which is a Dentzel menagerie that operates nicely but for some reason has carpet on it. I might as well go for the Superfecta, Cedar Downs has been slowed down to much and the new music is awful; the Frontier Town carousel is all but one horse in Allentown. I also got a trimless ride earlier this year, with out that trim the first two inversion are highly forcefull. I even blacked out for second, however after that it is a headbanging paloza. I saw the carousel last year and it looked worse! Aside with the broken Wurlitzer 153 that angers me enough. There were obnoxious Kids jumping on the horses... Yes I cussed them out! The Kiddie Kingdom carousel is in better shape. Even though that organ isn't working either.

Thank you! I completely agree I am too tired of the carousel looking this way. Especially the organ, the carousel horses defidently are not properly painted...

CF 2002 and before was a lot better.

Compare Kings Island 2010 to 2005. THAT was a better year. Plus Paramount put a little bit different coasters in the park. Cedar Fair does the same thing over and over again. The Diamondback is just like Goliath at Six Flags over Georgia.

Kings Island is being destroyed I say. It was good back in the 90's. That's when the park was a bit more like Disneyland... I'm not kidding. Plus their band organ... ughh... I am so tired of not hearing it! Also the horses are looking like they are not being painted properly!

That better not be the case!

Maybe those were the same people on SOB.

Restore the band organ and Carousel add a Wild Mouse ride and Ferris wheel. Add more flat rides that Coney used to have like the rotor and tumble bug. Buy back the flying eagles that moved to Carrowinds and build another wooden coaster like The Racers. One more thing... change Nickelodeon Universe back to Hanna Barbara land!

I remember the band organ at Kings Island but around the 2006-2007 season it stopped playing. It's a rare band organ of it's kind and is one of 3 (or maybe now 2) Wurlitzer 157s in the world. PS I included a sound clip of what it sounded like. Sound clip