CoastersNSich

The Gary Burbank Show on 700 WLW, just ran a commercial parody for Kings Island. It's a new thrill ride called "Son of Drop Zone Beast Flight of Fear." It's a coaster that jumps the track, then drops one-thousand feet, in ten seconds, before ending up on the other side of the track. A death-defying experience that you should try before they close it down. "Only at Kings Island!"

I remember seeing signs throughout KI, either before or into the first few years of the Paramount ownership, that said something like: Anyone caught defacing park property will be ejected. There used to be signs at the Grand Carrousel, probably some other rides as well. There's one such sign that still exists somewhere in The Beast queue, before the "Beast Canyon Cold Drinks" building. I know you can't totally prevent vandalsim, but still, parks could do a little more to mask/erase/remove it - and rebuke those who do it. One way they could reduce it is to take down the tunnel walls surrounding the brakes at The Racer. No more "mArk LeviN wUz heEr"

They're probably marketing Kings Dominion as being in the Virgina/DC area - many of their guests come from the DC metropolitan area, including fromMaryland. Toronto, to many, is more recognizable and to the point than Ontario.

Why didn't I think of that?! I had a great meal at their Cedar Point Marina location, as well as some of their food at a Listener Lunch in West Chester this past week!

Hey, RingMaster really gave an honest explanation, rather than flaming, about why he likes the Paramount name, and the Paramount years. I, too, once liked Paramount's attitude - it may have been a real contrast of the previous two decades at KI, but it seemed that the new owners would seriously take stuff up a notch. Being able to simulate a hit movie, wheter in a theater or a coaster, was truly exciting to me. Of course, executing all this to its proper level required a ton of money - the money we'd expect a big conglomerate to spend - to be at the level of the full-blown Florida parks that Disney and Universal have, and be true to the slogan "The Best of Hollywood Entertainment." Unfortunately, the previous owners, Viacom and CBS, did not live up to the reputation and expectations that many guests, including myself, had expected from the park. On a side note, I am not asking Cedar Fair to rid the park of everything related to Paramount. Some of the ride names were great, such as Drop Zone and Top Gun, and I hope some of them stay beyond this season. However, I just feel that leaving the Paramount namebrand on the park name would be wrong for Cedar Fair and the five new parks they just acquired. Cedar Fair may try to prove me wring. They could make the parks worthy of the Paramount name, but knowing their history, they're better at running solid amusement parks than doing full-blown theming. And the former is what I want Kings Island to be more like.

Yes, restaurants like Bubba Gump's, Happy Days Diner, probably even Festhaus and Wings, usually close at 9pm. I'm sure that food sales sharply decline around then, but then again, operating hours at food stands will be evaluated by Cedar Fair...

The Kings Island/KECO/Paramount/etc. Ownership Timeline 1969 Taft Broadcasting acquires Coney Island, and begins planning a new theme park in Warren County, 25 miles north of downtown Cincinnati. 1971 Coney Island's final season, as its replacement, "Kings Island" is being built. 1972 Taft Broadcasting opens Kings Island on April 29 1974 Lion Country Safari opens as a preview section of Kings Dominion near Richmond, VA. 1975 Kings Dominion officially opens. Taft acquires Carowinds, which opened in 1973, and is located on the NC/SC border, near Charlotte. 1981 Taft and a Canadian partner open Canada's Wonderland near Toronto, ON. 1983 A group of park executives acuired Taft's theme park division, becomes the Kings Entertainment Company. 1985 Marriott sells its two Great America theme parks. The Gurnee, IL park is sold to Six Flags, and is rebranded SFGAm. The Santa Clara, CA park is purchased by the City of Santa Clara, to stop the park from being redeveloped. KECO assumes operations, whom several years later, purchases the park from the City. As part of a partnership, KECO opens Australia's Wonderland near Sydney. 1987 Around this time, KECO reluctantly sells Kings Island, to Great American Financial/Carl H. Lindner. KECO still manages Kings Island. 1992 KECO, including Great America, Kings Dominion, Canada's Wonderland, and Carowinds, sold to Paramount Communications. Australia's Wonderland sold (the park later closes for good in 2004). Lindner sells Kings Island to Paramount, forming the chain that will be called Paramount Parks. 1993 The five parks open as Paramount parks. I.E. Kings Island is now known as Paramount's Kings Island. 1994 Viacom Corp. acquires Paramount Comm.. Viacom properties, such as Nickelodeon, begin to appear in Paramount Parks. 2006 January Viacom splits into two companies. Paramount Parks become part of the new CBS Corporation, whom quickly announces its intention to divest the parks. 2006 May Cedar Fair, L.P., announces that it will purchase Paramount Parks for $1.24 billion. 2006 June Cedar Fair, L.P. completes its acquisition of Paramount Parks, and now owns twelve parks, including all three major amusement parks in Ohio: Cedar Point, Geauga Lake and Kings Island.

As I said in my last paragraph, I DON'T expect, or necessarily want, the parks to return to their pre-Paramount form. Of course, times and tastes have changed in the past 15 years. And also, I might have been unfair lumping every Paramount park into the same pile - some are better done than others - I sorta envy Carowinds! BUT, I have felt that in recent years, that the park (yes, PKI) never reached its true potential as a Hollywood theme park, but became more of a 'budget themer.' No doubt that 1993-2006 has been a successful era for the park. Some years, they out-drew Cedar Point! I just question it being "the best." I'm not in the "Hate Paramount Club," as I frequent the park to this day. But, if there's a choice between the incumbent and something else, I'd choose the latter. I've been to several other chain parks, including Cedar Point, and overall find CP better than PKI. My hope is that Cedar Fair would make it into THE regional theme park for families AND thrill-seekers that should be. Hell, did Cedar Point SERIOUSLY compete against KI? The two parks are about 4 hours apart. Those are my opinions, which I continue to stand behind. My thesis here is that if Cedar Fair decides to stay with the Paramount names next season, they may miss out on a great opportunity - a chance to expand their identity.

It is possible, as a rumor, though, that Cedar may keep the Paramount names on the five newly acquired parks, in the 2007 season. CF claims that it would cause confusion in the long term. What do you think? Here's what I think: How would dropping a name that most parkgoers don't use cause confusion? Do random surveys, among parkgoers, and ask them what they refer to the park north of Cincinnati as. I'm sure most don't outright say the full "Paramount's Kings Island" or even "PKI." I made my point earlier in them keeping the Paramount name for 2006, but I think it would actually hurt to keep it long term. Also, as many have argued, the quality of the parks has actually declined under the Paramount name - theming, attention to detail, live entertainment, food, capacity of rides, etc. I don't expect them to really restore Kings Island and other parks to their pre-Paramount ways completely. But please, CF, make the change - even if you DO keep Paramount themes in the park.

Now, Cedar Fair, might not do all these things, but since it seems PARAMOUNT may disappear, they should emphasize Kings Island. Here's some of my changes: - Repaint The Racer to its original color scheme, replace the trains with ones without headrests (still PTC 3-bench), possibly even return the South trains to forward operation. - Renovate the International Restaurant to a chain restaurant serving American food, maybe Friday's, have an outdoor seating section, and a passenger elevator (besides the existing service elevator) - Implode Son of Beast, if it is not possible to make it better. It would be the biggest show in Kings Island's history - even do it at night with fireworks, at night - Las Vegas style! Replace with a large B&M coaster. - Reprofile, improve Son of Beast so that mid-course and drop brakes are unnecessary. I've heard new trains (PTC of course) would help, too. - Return the style of International Street to its 1972-81 form, with the wide-open street and sidewalks. The trees are nice, but a wider street would better allow for parades, marching bands, and safer, easier movement. - Remove Tomb Raider, including the building, and give Rivertown its proper theme back. - Re-introduce the jungle theme to the Action Zone area, even if animals are not part of the mix. A. Turn Stunt Crew Grill back into Cafe Kilimanjaro. The original structure is still intact. Other buildings could be rethemed as well B. New paint schemes and names (even themes) for Face/Off, Drop Zone, and Top Gun, probably even Delirium. Relocate Xtreme Skyfler as Ripcord, and Days of Thunder as something better than an oval. C. Since Son of Beast may be removed, replace with B&M coaster. - Renovate Coney Mall into an mixture of an Art Deco/60's Contemporary style - the style Coney Island's mall was in the 1960s. Lots of bright lights, large signage, return the ginko trees, add a small fountain almost similar to the one Coney Island in the 1960s. - Build new flat rides surrounding what is now Italian Job, and other small to medium vacant areas. Currently too much dead space, IMO. - Re-introduce Oktoberfest by improving Festhaus, bringing back German food, adding some rides, re-theming Adventure Express. - General parking would be included with admission, with the option for paying extra to park in a preferred lot. - Regular size soft drinks for $1.

I'm glad to see so many trip reports from Holiday World this year. Although I got to ride the Voyage 50 times, it was on media day, so I haven't had the chance to experience the rest of the park. It's easy to want more after riding Raven. However, it's proof what a small coaster for just a few million dollars can do. I remember an old TV interview where Will Koch loved The Beast and wanted to have something like it, but being a small park, couldn't exactly build something of The Beast's scale. Thank goodness for some talented coaster designers and creative thought of a park owner. Without the Raven, I doubt you'd see the Voyage or even Legend. But no doubt that Holiday World has been put on map with at least one of these creations. Honestly, though, I think Legend is more exciting than Raven: and the helices on it beat even The Beast's! There's few better coasters that throw you around, and that's part of what I'm looking for in a wild coaster, besides great airtime, of course. Voyage is, of course, the result of finding the best of everything, more money, and so on - and meeting (and creating some of) the park's demand for rides. The Voyage loading platform is very big, just as it should be! I don't necessarily think the Raven and Legend were over-hyped when they were newer, but it sure seems so, now that something even better is only feet away! Splashin' Safari is another example of a successful water park: they've added new things for five consecutive years, especially duplicates of existing attractions, although bigger and improved. And I can't say enough about the free parking. Sure, the parking fee actually part of your admission price, but it really eases things for the park, and for their customers. They don't have to staff tollbooths, and instead can utilize the staff for directing cars to open spaces. Not to mention, it actually entices guests to spend money in the park, especially for food - especially with free, included soft drinks! At most parks, I have to wait in line, even if all I want is a tiny cup of free ice water. Here, I don't wait, or get that "You're a cheapskate" stare, if I just want water. Hell, it frees up their first aid workload on hot days, since people find it much easier to stay hydrated. Now if Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks would fold the parking fee into admission... Most of all, I appreciate your trip report having paragraphs and being very easy and correct to read.

At least they're doing this on a Monday - while a little busier than a Tuesday or Wednesday. Some years they've doe this on a weekend day in summer, when it got chaotic. You never know how it will really be, it could actually be a rainy/stormy day, driving a lot of people away.

Actually, one train does seat up to 30 riders. With six seats per car, and five cars, you have 30. Prior to 2006, maximum capacity per train was 36. We assume not every seat was filled in that last train, and there was at least one injured rider in the train before it.

Those changes were made prior to Winterfest last year. They kept the nice decor held over from Winterfest, but geeze, would it hurt to have some music (albeit recorded) playing? Now if they'd bring in live entertainment, like they had at Winterfest and previous seasons at the park. Somebody beat me!

If Son of Beast is removed, then the world's tallest wooden coaster would be Colossos at Heide-Park Soltau in Germany, at. 196' 10" Followed by El Toro at SFGAdv, Rattler at SFFT, Voyage at Holiday World, and Mean Streak at Cedar Point. Taking out the "Intamin Prefab" track, that Colossos and El Toro have, the true wood track tallest coaster would be Rattler at SFFT.

I'd happily ride it again. Of course, it all depends on what the Dept. of Agriculture, and authorities say as to when the ride could reopen, and then, of course, Cedar Fair's final decision. If they chose to permanently close Son of Beast, I'd greatly respect their decision. At least my last ride to this date was in the front seat on July 4.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Nationally, as well. WABCradio.com has it on their front page of headlines. Drudge Report as well

Listed at the end of the article on Enquirer.com:

I was in the park today from 4:45 until 6:30. mainly for the final run of the Nickelodeon Celebration Parade. After walking through the front gate, I got my tickets for Speed Lane, and chose Drop Zone. As I walked to the ride, a couple execs walking past. As I was on Drop Zone, I noticed a train parked on the lift hill of SOB, and some first aid vehicles. I then went to the Parade, and then the Eiffel Tower, where I saw some ambulances leaving/coming in the park from the observatory. This didn't seem like just one person was ill on the ride for all the attention Son of Beast was receiving. I haven't heard all the details yet, and I understand how the park, incluing Maureen, doesn't want heresay to get out. Let's hope everyone isn't hurt too bad. Has Son of Beast given its last rides? That's too soon to tell. I personally hope not.

Probably, but at least you hardly see anyone waiting in the exit ramps at CP. THAT is something that needs to change at KI! Can you say "safety hazard?" I knew you could. Responding to an earlier question, most CP rides/coasters now have storage bins for loose articles in the stations, excluding Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster, which have separate load/unload platforms. Geauga Lake, similarly, has shelves.

In 1994, Cedar Point held "Christmas in the Park," which was known by not too many... It was CP's first, and needless to say, last Christmas/holiday event. from PointBuzz: Why it failed: Sandusky has worse winters than Southern Ohio, and not as many people surrounding Cedar Point close by as Kings Island does. Plus, think about it: such an event works better in a theme park layout of KI than the amusement/midway format CP is. This is not to necessarily say whether or not WinterFest is coming back, which I think it should. It would be a good way for Cedar Fair to carry on the "Kings Island legacy."

I won! I won! -Ralph Wiggum

They could name the park after a famous celebrity and keep the "PKI..."

New Orleans Times-Picayune article (located halfway down)