jbeast

With KI being my second home, I still visit Kentucky Kingdom, Cedar Point and Holiday World every summer. And try to get to further away parks as much as possible...especially for Fury! KI has such an outstanding line up now. I am beyond happy it's my home park. Lightning Run at KK is one of my all-time favorite rides. It was a pleasant surprise the first time there. Love Storm Chaser (or whatever it is named now) too. RMC's are just so much fun. Voyage at Holiday World is probably my favorite coaster EVER next to The Beast at night. Rode Voyage 30 times one day last summer. Just love that coaster! And Maverick alone is worth going to Cedar Point each year. Love Steel Vengeance and looking forward to Siren's Curse and Top Thrill 2 in August also! So, each has something to offer and there have been times when I had Holiday World season passes, KK passes as well as KI passes just for those reasons. Just the KI all park passes now with weekday vacation visits to the others. Also, not likely ever, but I'd love to see KI get a ground up RMC so I could experience that locally instead of having to travel a few hours to enjoy that type of coaster. One can wish!

Thanks for the review! I figured as much. I'll just go to Holiday World if I want to ride a water coaster. Luckily, HW is not too far away. Living in Texas for awhile, Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels was amazing also. It baffles me that knowing what is only 2.5 hours away as far as amazing water coasters are considered, that KI could not get something that wowed us and was on par with what HW has.

As angry and sad I was about my beloved original Flying Eagles leaving the park, I never once thought about not getting a pass. KI is my second home and always will be. Rides come and go...there is always still a ton to do and enjoy at KI.

Thanks for sharing all those photos. It's nice to see they are planning on saving some of the iconic spots. I know progress happens, but it is so sad to see a place where I spent so many happy summer days like this. I spent my summers so many years escaping from boring West Texas and having my amazing grandma cart me around to Coney, LeSourdsville (Americana), and Kings Island because she knew how much each of those places meant to me. It breaks my heart that The Screechin Eagle had such an unceremonious ending. Absolutely loved that coaster...rode it well over 100 times in one day (back when I could do that...ha!). I miss that park so much! My family spent so many memorable summer days at Coney just in the rides section alone. Living on the east side of Cincy, it was a quick alternative to heading up to KI alot of times. Bumper cars off the hook, mini golf, The Python and so much more...such good times.

As a kid and teenager, hands down Rivertown. With The Beast, Kenton's Keelboats and The original Bat and as well so much more tree cover, it was my favorite area. Grown up me, enjoys enjoying a blue raspberry Icee along International Street and relaxing between rides. The spot behind Brewhouse is my other favorite to relax too.

I'll be there in August. I so hope it is up and running and reliable cause I cannot wait to ride it!

I have not gone to Passholder Preview days in a long, long time. The price point of a pass is set so everyone and their dog can get one now. And the amount of people in the park anymore on that day is insane. Especially when the weather is nice. My first trip to the park this year of many is going to be in early May.

I agree with the landscaping being a more important part of the park. When I was a young kid, KI was full of trees, I know progress happens, and I love the big coasters in my backyard. Just seems like there is not as much shade left on a hot summer day due to so many open spaces. It seems like a small thing in the big picture, but things like the vine tunnel back when I was younger make memories. Not only was it always cooler under that canopy, it was nice transition from one part of the park to the next. Always loved walking through there.

I'll be there in August, so hopefully it is working and proves reliable! Fingers crossed! The original Top Thrill was one of my favorite ride experiences. So, hopefully this will be just as fun. Looking forward to Siren's Curse too since I have never ridden a tilt coaster before. Then there is Maverick, which is my favorite ride in the park! It's been 2+ years since I made it up there so can't wait!

I'll ride a 500 ft. coaster that goes 200mph any day, but Ferris wheels, skyrides and WindSeeker just make me weary for some reason. Weird! I'm ok with heights as long as I feel like it's more of a controlled atmosphere. Being on a coaster for some reason doesn't bother me at all. I love being 300 plus on a coaster. But put me up 300 feet in a little chair with a long thin arm holding me up there...no thanks! Not sure if I will ever ride it. I know it's safe, but my inner self still says no way! Skyrides and Ferris wheels are the same, but I can ride them apprehensively. I don't exactly relish the experience though.

I'm sure RiverRacers are going to be fun, but compared to my most recent visit to Holiday World last summer, it will not come close to any of their water coasters. The other thing about their water coasters is that you don't need to climb a long flight of stairs to get to the launch point. Later in the day, it was nice to take a break from climbing a few flights of stairs and get a ride on a great water coaster. Absolutely love Wildebeest! The walkway up to Cheetah Chase was enough after being in the Splashin Safari all day. Of course, my son had no problem going up that many stairs...ahh, to be young again! Ha!

My vote for that spot is a Screaming Swing. Every trip I take to Cedar Point, Skyhawk is a must ride.

This will be the first year I miss the event since it's inception unfortunately. I'm going to enjoy going to the park as I always have throughout the season, but going Holiday World, Carowinds and Cedar Point instead this year. Going to get a little use out the all-park passport. I hope the tickets I won't get will go to someone who has not experienced the event yet.

My go to is the Brewhouse. Love the Pub Burger and the air conditioning as well as the bar. The burnt ends at the Smokehouse is another personal favorite. Over on the other side of the park, Potato Works has always been my favorite.

Don, As much as I hate to see rides taken out, my bet is Invertigo and Congo Falls. I only hope in the grand scheme of things that they would be replaced by something that really wows guests entering from that side of the park.

During my last visit to Carowinds riding Nighthawk wasn't even on my radar with Fury around the corner. And my old Eagles too. That said, I am sure some people loved the coaster and it is just a bad PR move to say too bad, no farewell tour and last ride announcements. So, deal with it. Just do not understand that mode of thinking. As bad as it stung for the Flying Eagles to get stolen from the park, the days leading up to and the last day to ride them was beyond cherished by me and others. Knowing one of your favorite rides ever is leaving and still getting rides in until that happens makes you appreciate that ride so very much more. I absolutely loved that ride. Like the bumper cars, every ride on the Eagles was a different one than before. I contemplated not buying a pass the following year I was so angry. But the park still offers a great day every time. So, I got my pass like usual. Now, if KI at the time, said out of the blue that the Eagles were being shipped out after the fact and did not let anyone know they were leaving until it was too late to get final rides. I would have been alot more hurt and angrier. I would have seriously reconsidered buying another pass. Of course, as I have said before, it still burns me after all these years walking past that stupid basketball game knowing the truly amazing ride that was once in that spot.

The last thing I want in the old Bat/Vortex spot is another family type coaster. That spot has been occupied by two of the most iconic coasters KI has ever had. I loved the original Bat. And while Vortex wasn't my overall favorite, to say it fit that spot and was an icon for the park is a vast understatement. It was just stunning to look at on the midway. I feel that a major coaster should always be reserved for that area. KI needs to step up and install a coaster worthy of that spot. I know the season pass numbers and families are key, but so are the millions that love big coasters. I will be so disappointed if it is not the case.

I make a point to go down to Kentucky Kingdom every summer. Stormchaser and Lightning Run are worth the 2.5 hour drive alone. Same with Holiday World. Have to get my rides on Voyage! Cedar Point is a every other year trip, and this year will be it.

As a much younger person, I can remember when KI announced The Beast, The Bat and King Cobra. It seemed like they were always trying to be on the forefront regarding new coaster installations back then. I am hoping for an incredible coaster in The Vortex old spot, but this news worries me regarding that.

Before my move to northern KY, I used to live on the East side of Cincy and would take a ride by the plant every once in awhile to see if I could spot any track outside. Coaster nerds unite! Ha!

I visited for the very first time last year and was blown away by the detail of the scenery and trains. I sat by the Coney Island scene for awhile just taking it in. It is a shame that it is closing, But it is what it is. I will make sure and get out there again before it closes.

The structural issues with both the original Bat and SOB doomed both coasters. If I remember correctly, part the lift hill structure for SOB fell over in high winds during construction. The design flaw in The Bat was what made it so much fun unfortunately. That wild swinging back and forth was what made the ride memorable for me. I'm sure it was slower and rougher than I remember...seems forever ago. But it was a new concept at the time that I was in awe of. I am really happy they brought back The Bat name at least. I agree. I think it would amazing if they could rebrand a new ride around the story of a doomed Son of Beast. I'd still be wary though since it does have such a negative light. I would love to see a ground up RMC there with some Beast theme.

Of all the coasters I have ridden, Son of Beast was just repetitive and had a somewhat boring layout. The first drop and loop were awesome. The rest of the ride was rough as hell at times. I rode it many times with and without the loop cause my oldest kid loved it. He liked jarring pain I suppose...ha! And the more I rode it, I just wished it was something so much more. I agree, times are indeed different and who knows what it could have been. Although with the negative PR the ride garnered, I doubt they would want to revisit the name again for another version. But as stated, look at Top Thrill 2. So, I could be wrong. Maybe because it was so big and such an intense and jarring ride is why so many liked it and it continues to be talked about. I was a young teenager when the original Bat was opened. And through the lense of a young kid, that coaster holds a special place in my heart. So, I do get the fascination with Son of Beast...as rough as it was.

I personally love Orion and enjoy it for what it is. The first drop and speed are amazing. I don't mind it may seem a bit shorter than Fury. I am happy that KI finally got a 300' drop speed machine. I love Fury too for the same reasons! I love Diamondback too for it's great airtime and fun ride. And my love for The Beast knows no bounds, but Voyage, for me is one of my favorites too. And thinking about it, just about any rollercoaster I have had the opportunity to ride through my life, I enjoy it for what it is and the park that it may be in. It's always a good day when I get to ride a good coaster. Each have their own great elements and that's why I travel to different parks to enjoy them. I just spent last Sunday at Strickers Grove riding Tornado (and the flyers). Not the biggest coaster ever, but so much fun to ride! I am and always will be a coaster geek, but as I get older and wiser I have fully realized that KI has been so fortunate to get the coaster installs it has. We are lucky to call KI a home park.

Don, My vote is for Son of Beast. I am still hoping they figure out how to make Top Thrill 2 a reliable thrill machine. I loved Top Thrill's speed, so it would be amazing for them to figure it out. Son of Beast was doomed from the beginning. I so wanted to love that ride and was genuinely excited about it. But then I rode it. That's all that needs to be said...ha!