jbeast

This is KI's comment on society today unfortunately. it's just sad it's come to this. I remember many days when I would go to the park as a young teenager and never cause any trouble at all, was nice to everyone I met there, and knew to behave myself or I'd have to deal with my parent's or grandparents' wrath. And that was not an option. Times have indeed changed. I know there are many respectful kids and teenagers out there...I have one at home. So, it is not fair to them for the idiots who cannot act right at the park. My kid knows better than to act stupid at the park and would never do it anyway...out of respect to others and the park itself instilled in him as a kid.

Going up to visit the park many multiple of times last year, I noticed line jumping increasing a ton. Just pushing through the line or trying to sneak through. I don't use Fast Lane very often so, I wait in line like everyone else most of the time (as long as it is not too long, of course). Watching people just blow through the line trying to line jump irritates me like few things do. What make them feel so special? In the past, being 6'4" and 230, I have called people out on it, especially if it's right in front of me. But lately, I do not feel comfortable at all doing that. People seem a bit on edge or crazier these days it seems. So, I call the KI hotline and let them know. It came in handy one day last season in Mystic Timbers line when a group of about 20 were trying to line jump...security caught them doing it. I think they were already in the area, so that worked! But, I have seen too many times last season where they just get away with it. Maybe it's just a sign of the times lately? Hopefully that trend subsides again one day. Also, as a kid going to KI in the past up till now, the fact someone tried to bring a gun into the park just saddens me to the core. Why do that in a place that brings so much happiness to so many? I just do not understand that thinking.

I cannot wait to see what occupies the old Vortex spot. From the good press and reviews from my oldest son, who lives in Florida, I'd love to see something like Velocicoaster there! Or a monster ground up RMC in that spot. There is so much potential there. Whatever it is, I hope it doesn't spin...ha! Ever since my first ride on the Rotor, I realized me and spinning do not agree. Build a 500ft tall rollercoaster and I'll be first in line though!

I was lucky with a grandma that realized how important trips to KI were. So, after I moved to Texas from Cincinnati when I was a kid, I'd come up every summer to spend it with my grandparents here in Cincy. She'd get me a pass every summer and just drop me off to have fun all day and pick me up after the park closed. I was a very responsible young teenager...Ha! KI was and still is my zen place...I would dream and could not wait till summer to get back up here and visit my favorite place in the world as was my grandparent's house. It was a world away from boring west Texas. So, yep, I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to ride The Bat, Beast when it opened, King Cobra and Demon. And very fortunate to live in Northern KY to visit my favorite place as often as I want now.

The mystique of the original Bat makes me happy. As a silly kid, somehow, I managed to get a lot of rides on it. Guess I hung out by it all the time. I was just in awe of it. As an artist and graphic designer, I came up with a similar idea of an unrealistic coaster that traveled below the track one day on vacation with my grandparents on their motorhome table on our way out west. Then wow, it was a reality! Like Shaggy said before, it was just fun to watch...I was in awe. Different time and place for sure. I had seen nothing like it before...same way I thought about King Cobra when it was announced. KI had a certain mystic to it getting those rides along with The Beast. The Bat was a slower ride, but the extreme swinging made it a blast to ride even though that was its downfall. I still remember the descent on the 2nd lift hill swinging through the trees. Growing up with the park, since it's very early days, I can still envision both of those rides when I walk through the park. Geez, I don't feel that old...and don't even get me started on how much I miss my Flying Eagles...ha!

Our old Flying Eagles! I sooo miss that ride everytime I go to the park. I cringe at that basketball game everytime I walk by it knowing my favorite flat ride ever once resided there. I feel the need to go back to Carowinds or Knoebels suddenly...ha!

Got my two for my son and me. I feel so lucky to be going again! we look forward to seeing everyone!

Count me in as one really missing the rides too! Spent a ton of summer days enjoying that side of the park. If we wanted to do water stuff, then off to KI we went...but those bumper cars at Coney had some kick! We had season passes every year, but when they decided to ditch the rides, that's when stopped buying passes for the family. I'm sure we were not the only local family to not get passes after that decision...but I guess their bottom line is ok regardless. We just spend those few summer days that we used to back there days for days at KI now. KI is my second home anyway, so Coney's loss.

I'd really like to see a water coaster added. When I visit Holiday World each year, a ride on Wildebeest and Mammoth are must rides. Plus, my time in Texas at Schlitterbahn showed me how much fun a good tube ride is too. Love that park in New Braunfels!

I received the book for Christmas. All I can say is wow! Such a fantastic job by everyone involved in the making of it. I could not put it down! As a person who has gown up with the park, it sure brought back a ton of memories. The addition of concepts and blueprints are some of my favorite parts too! I'm so happy a book like this was finally published about my favorite park I love dearly and home away from home.

Speaking of old shirts. As a young teenager, I had a Beast shirt that had Bengals stripes on the sleeves. At the time I thought that was the coolest shirt I owned! lol!

Shaggy, you're post brought back a lot of memories riding that ride! I used to be scared to death riding that thing as a kid. Being held that high by chains always unnerved me!

A new theme to that area of the park and two new flat rides...what's not to like? Even though I probably cant ride either one of them. I cannot, nor ever have been able to tolerate spinning rides. Even though I've tried, but my rides on the Rotor, Scrambler and a tilt-a-whirl in the past taught me and people around me that my equilibrium just doesn't like that spinning motion. Ha! Being from a predominately German background, It'd be nice to see Oktoberfest expanded someway. But, can't always get what you want. I do like the Dark Forest idea for Action Zone though. There is a ton of potential there. As someone who's grown up with the park since it's inception, I'm so loving the nods and attention to KI's past recently. It shows people that make the decisions do really care about the park. I've said that, as a kid growing up, the park always had a 'magical' quality back in the late 70's and 80's...current management has certainly brought a lot of that feeling back. I have always been so proud to call KI my home park.

Oh, The Rotor...I remember an unfortunate evening riding that after stopping at White Castle before heading to the park. Not my best moment! Ha! And a Kenton's Keelboats poster I would buy as soon as it would go on sale. I absolutely loved that ride!

My long lost Flying Eagles! And I agree, Viking Fury would be cool too!

That spot has been my sanctuary when trying to keep up with my teenager who runs me into the ground when we go. After a riding for awhile, a good beer and comfy chair under the Diamondback lift hill is needed...ha!

My son and I visited later that day around 5pm or so with the plans on staying until close. But the lines were insane...the park was packed! So we opted to leave around 7:30 or so. Love the park. but the lines for everything including the Tower were long! And, I saw more line jumping in one afternoon than I have ever seen since going to the park...big groups just jumping into the middle of a line. it was especially bad in Mystic Timbers que. We both saw a ton of line jumping waiting the hour plus to ride. Both my son and I were getting very annoyed by it since the line was already so long. I'm a big guy ( 6'4" 230lbs), but I never feel comfortable confronting people who line jump and especially in big groups doing it like last Saturday. I'm hoping KI has a plan to deal with this, cause it's only a matter of time someone is going to get mad and it escalates from there if it keeps happening like it did that day.

That is a stunning photo! brings back so many childhood memories as a small kid when the park first opened. Just beautiful! Thank you to the KI team that is taking so much pride in the park and its history to do all this for the 50th season...geez I feel old all the sudden...ha!

Just wow! So happy to see this! I cannot wait to see it in person. It'll remind me back to the days in the early 80's as a kid when Racer, The Original Bat, Beast and Demon ruled the park, (and the Flying Eagles too!).

Red Summit; That's what I'm thinking too. Cause by 10:05 that's the same error message I got when trying to purchase another ticket.

I got in on the waiting list and probably around 10:03 I was able to purchase. It took about a minute or so. Went into my other laptop to buy one more ( I forgot to add another shirt size), and was already seeing the season pass page when I clicked buy. So it seems, maybe the waiting list to buy was full already by around 10:05.

Yes I saw that too. Right at 10am the button vanished when I refreshed my page. I went into semi freak out mode. I had my other laptop open and I refreshed there and the buy button showed up. So I used that one to make the purchase.

Yeah, I was in the waiting que to buy for maybe 30 seconds. Got mine processed fast and then went to my other browser window to get one more ticket and the buy package info came up, but once you chose shirt size and clicked, it took me to the season pass page. So, guess the waiting que was full, cause no go on that second ticket I tried to get 10 seconds after getting mine.

I tried to get another ticket right after I got mine and it was already sold out. it would let me pick shirt size, but when I clicked purchase, it took me to the season pass ordering page. That took maybe a minute after I got mine. Whew! Glad I got in!

Got mine.! Wow they went fast!