jbeast

I was just looking at the webcam a few minutes ago. It's probably just me, but I get a little nervous seeing that crane extended out over the first drop. Hydraulics don't fail me now...ha! Still, it's really amazing how that drop is turning out and alot of fun watching it being built. Also from that view, you really get a good estimate on how big Diamondback really is!

That curved drop is looking wicked good! This coaster is going to be such a blast and It's alot of fun watching them put it together on my split screen at work! Those construction workers at the top of the framing right now are braver than me!

What a great addition to the park! I love GCI coasters and I agree, being low to the ground hauling butt over the terrain is always a winner. Like I've said before, I always wanted to see a coaster go back out there and it's finally happening! It's really a dream come true for me. And a nod by the park to The Little Miami River with the shed. It's beyond cool to see that since my coaster I drew up years ago for that area I named Little Miami Scenic Screamway. Great minds think alike...ha! I found it disheartening and incredible the negativity on Facebook (and some coaster sites) about the ride...just shows how uniformed the general public and spoiled people are about these rides. They act like KI owes them something and don't realize what a great park it really is. And Cedar Fair likes to make money....go figure. Do people forget how much of a debacle and PR nightmare Son of Beast was? I figure we'll see that Giga over on the other backside of the park in a couple years, so let's enjoy this! A new, modern twisty, fast airtime popped coaster through the woods...and instead of just rolling into the station, there's a surprise at the end...what's not to love?

I too remember the brakes! I rode this contraption with my oldest when he was little time and time again because he loved it. I learned the special braking position for a male adult real fast after the first ride.

I'm thinking RMC (I hope), named Wildcat with a height around 120'-150'. Although I'll be just as happy if it's a GCI.

I really like some of those names Thrill_Biscuit. I created a mock up drawing just for fun a few years back of a crazy, air-time filled wood coaster in almost the same place in the park and named it Little Miami Scenic Screamway. It's a long winded name, but it was an homage to Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal (one of my all time favorite rides) and the the Little Miami River. It's so exciting to see at least part of that dream maybe coming true. I cannot wait for the official announcement!

Yep, I know...but, If we were allowed to snap the 2nd set sure. It's really just were I envisioned them going if and when we received a new set, way before we saw the install in Planet Snoopy. The new flyers we currently have are fun, but just a pale comparison to the Flying Eagles.

Those are some amazing photos! Brings back a ton of memories of being there as a young kid. I love the park now of course, but it was such a different place back then.

That video is great! Well, it seems from all indications that a new GCI is coming our way, which makes me very happy! Just so pleased that KI may finally get an updated wooden coaster. With the first set of teasers, especially the kitten looking up at the fence, I wonder if the name Wildcat, or some version of that will be the name? I think KI will get a giga once Fury has that top spot for a another year or so. I can envision a new record breaker way on the other side of the park, out behind The Racer. Maybe as part of an expansion back by Firehawk or Flight of Fear. Seems like a logical placement to me. And while they are at it, put a snappable set of new Flyers on Flight Commander's old pad...I always dreamed of a great set of Flyers up there since they took it out and didn't put Drop Tower there. One can dream...

Hmm...Interesting to say the least. Could my dream of a new modern wooden GCI or RMC running rampant along the wooded backside of Rivertown actually come true? I'd take an 80' terrain hugging new wooden coaster in a second. There's alot of excellent wooden coasters out there around that height. Even as short a ride as it is, I imagine most of us would love to have The Raven in our home park. (Although is fits the park it's in now just perfect). So anything like that is a major plus in my view. If that blueprint is correct, which is up for major speculation, there's alot of wooded, steep hills over there that could make it very, very fun!

I finally got to ride Stormchaser last Saturday. What a fantastic coaster! The airtime on the 2nd hill is nothing short of amazing! It keeps it's speed up throughout with a little slow down near the end, but it's paced perfectly! Loved the first drop too! I'll say once again, I'd love to see a coaster like this at KI, whether it's RMC or GCI. This was my first visit ever to Kentucky Kingdom (I always past it on my way to Holiday World so many times), so it was Stormchaser that finally convinced me to check the park out. I was very pleasantly surprised. The park was clean with lots of shade in the back section, ride ops/employees were very friendly and mentioned how happy they were to see us from Cincy. The ride selection was great, especially Lightning Run...neither me or my ten year old was expecting that first drop! Wow, just wow does that coaster haul with a ton of airtime at the end. Also, at last, and had I known this I would have went before, I was able to get real snaps on a set of flyers again! That made my day complete! Got passes this year, so we will make a point to visit as much as possible this summer.

Being around since the early days of the park, and watching it grow into the wonderful place it is today, I am always happy with gratitude that a new attraction is on it's way, whatever it may be. Especially if it is indeed a new coaster. Heck, I remember as a wee kid looking at The Racer and thinking that's as big as a coaster could ever be! I love The Beast and Racer, but I have been wanting to see a terrain hugging GCI or RMC on either side of the park for years now. With all the steep grades and rough terrain, my imagination runs wild at the thought of a new, updated airtime machine rampaging through it all. A 300' plus steel monster is a ton of fun of course, so , if that's the case I'd be more than happy. But, there's just something about the crazy twist, drops and turns on modern wooden coasters that I absolutely love!

I think the coaster and the trains look great. I'm just so happy to see a really fun looking RMC close to home!

I got The Beast...very fitting!

I'm usually pretty easy going at the park. But, I really detest line jumpers. I'm a big guy 6' 4" 230lbs., and it still amazes me how many young kids or teens think it's ok to cut in front of me and my family. I usually stand my ground to a point, but often it's just not worth it. Not really the same thing, but it feels like it, is watching a horde people in the Fast Pass line get let onto a ride while I sit and watch. Last season while waiting for Diamondback with my son and with only maybe 10 people in front of us before it was our turn to get on the ride, a large number of Fast Pass patrons arrived up at the station. There were enough to fill up two entire trains, so we were made to wait until that entire line was done before my son and I could get on. It was only 10-15 more minutes max, but after waiting almost 30 minutes, another 10 just irritated me for some reason. I can see letting a few of them go before us and fill the train with half from the regular line and half with the Fast Pass people. But to let all of them through for that long was getting on my nerves a bit. There were quite a few others in line with me that weren't too happy either. I know, they paid for the priviledge, and I have had many an early ride or ERT time, so maybe I shouldn't complain too much. My only other peeve is walking past a stupid basketball game and knowing that that's really the spot for The Flying Eagles. As I've said before, I still have a hard time walking that back path and seeing all the basketballs that replaced my favorite ride other than The Beast. I know I should get over it, but that one still hurts...alot!

Wow...that's really a great tribute video! The Eagle was a treasure...still the best ' stand up' coaster built in Ohio (it had some of the best airtime anywhere!) That turnaround drop was legendary! Really miss Raging Thunder also and their flyers. Such a great little park with a wonderful past. As much as I love Kings Island, It's such a shame to see so many of these type of parks gone now. Spent many a summer day enjoying The Eagle, so sad its gone.

Thanks for posting that video of the old Flying Eagles! Wow, that brings back alot of memories of that day...so happy to see I was actually one of the people interviewed in it. Watching that video makes me realize, no matter how happy I am with our new flyers, how amazingly out of control and fun the Eagles really were. Absolutely cannot wait until my trip out to Charlotte later this summer...might just take a whole day to exclusively ride them and nothing else!

It's awesome that some of you have been able to or have seen someone snap...I haven't been so fortunate. Maybe with some more practice. It is nice to have a set back in the park. Ha! I get what you're saying shark6495. But, as far as the snappability of our old set. I had some just plain violent snaps and times when it almost came as a surprise. Riding the old set, it did not take much at all to get the snapping going...my oldest son, who was around 10 or so when he grew to love the ride, snapped the first time he rode it (with a little coaching from me beforehand, of course). Guess I need to get out to the park and try again...time to teach my youngest what it's all about.

My vote goes to The Flying Eagles. I still have a hard time walking by that basketball game knowing what a fantastic ride once existed there. Luckily, my parents moved out close to Charlotte this past year, so a trip to Carowinds is coming up soon with a free place to stay! Absolutely cannot wait to marathon my favorite non coaster ride ever! Second place is for The Bat. I was fortunate to ride that many times before it was dismantled. At the time, as an impressionable kid, it felt like a completely out of control ride through the trees, especially going down the 2nd lift hill. Ahhh Memories! Not a ride, but I also sincerely miss the covered walkway that used to extend from Hanna Barabara Land/Planet Snoopy. It had a great ambience, espcially walking through there in the evenings with all the soft lighting effects.

As a small kid, maybe 4 or so, my dad took me on what was then The Scooby Doo coaster. I was thrilled, but more on the scared side...I don't think my brain completely computed what I just went through. But, the thrill was enough to get me back on it over and over again that same season to where I really loved to ride it. But, I vividly remember walking next to The Racer, way before The Beast was built, and thinking there is no way I'm ever getting on that thing. It was just way too tall...it's funny to think, I know. Then, at 8 years old, my grandpa who used to take me everywhere on vacations and my uncle who lived in Los Angeles at the time took me to Magic Mountain. The Revolution was brand new at the time and man was it intimidating. After being there almost all day, my grandpa talked me into riding it saying the loop looks like fun. I was scared and I still, to this day don't know why I said ok. Happy I did though! For some reason it just clicked. I rode with my hands up the whole ride (before the shoulder restraints), and I've never looked back since. That's definetley the ride that got me hooked. Luckily it did, so when I got back to Cincy, The Beast, Screamin Deamon and Bat and all their aura and mystique at the time was waiting for me. I remember seeing tv commercials for each of those coasters as a young kid. And the artwork and logo designs for each also spurred me to get into the creative design field. Funny how it all works out sometimes.

I finally got a few rides in this past Friday. After a brief ride shutdown just as I got in line, I waited as more and more left the line and got my first ride about 20 minutes after I arrived. They are alot of fun...but ultimately almost frustrating to ride since I grew up riding our original version...not even close to the same ride experience in my opinion. Our old set had that uncontrollable feeling after about a minute or so in and it just got crazier from there untl the end of the ride. This version almost teases like you might get a decent snap, but I did not see anyone acheiving that. They ride cycle is very short, so once you really get going, it already slowing down. Like I said, it is a fun ride and is a hit with all the multitudes of children in line, but it pales in comparison to the original Eagles. I'll also note, due to the locking seatbelts, it seemed to me a very long wait time from midway through the que. The ride ops were fine, it just takes time to let the ride stop, unlock every belt as they were making sure the each flyer stopped swaying, and then letting the guest (and child) get out. Easily one of the slowest lines in the park...which I understand since it's in Planet Snoopy. I'm just jaded and miss the old days of unsnapping my own seatbelt, sticking my foot out and sliding to a stop ( think I ruined a couple pairs of tennis shoes doing that), then hopping out and getting back in line. I really don't want to come of as totally negative about the new version, as by the looks of the line, everyone loved it. Riding them just made me miss the original Flying Eagles that much more.

My family stopped by Field of Dreams on our last trip out to to see my parents in Clear Lake Iowa this past summer. As a huge fan of the movie and baseball in general, it was well worth the couple hours we spent there before heading back to Cincy. The kids had a blast. We played catch, participated in a game on the field with a bunch of new friends, took a ton of photos in the cornfield and around the farmhouse and came back with some great memories and fun souvenirs also.

Thanks for the reply Gabe. I did read that in the thread earlier, but as I watched some of the video out there, I was getting some doubts if these new versions did indeed snap. I have had, like so many others here, some near religious memorable rides on our long lost Eagles..ha! So, without having to travel to Knoebels or Carowinds to get a great flyer ride again would be a dream come true! Thanks again for the feedback!

Hi! I read these forums daily but don't post much, but with the new flyer addition, I'm pretty excited. They do indeed look nice. I liked the thought of calling them the Flying Beagles myself, but just so beyond happy to have a new set of flyers close to home. As a long time fan of the original Flying Eagles and their snappability, I have a question about the new Larson versions. Is it possible to snap them? I have not had a chance to get a ride on these new versions yet, and I've watched some video online of them in action. Looks like fun of course, but I did not see anything close to the wild rides that our original Eagles gave. Just wondering if there are versions of the Larson model that can be snapped? Thanks for any feedback!

I am also sorry for your loss. Those are some wonderful photos. I especially like the one from the tower's 50 foot level Looking out at the back of the park. Brings back alot of memories of what the park felt and looked like when I was a kid.