MommaBeast

nib: Got the pic! Thanks!!! Could you please send the one with water under The Beast? What a great vantage point you have, btw!

I remember the Ivy tunnel, it's still there you can just eat there now. Does any one remember the Hanna-Barbera Rainbow? Here is picture's of the Train ride theming, http://extremepki.houstonthrills.com/history_photos.php Ivy tunnel?? Where? Granted, I don't get to the HB side much, so if it's there, I'll have to make a special trek to check it out. Could be I've seen it a dozen times before and it didn't register. Imagine that.

The train was infinitely more interesting than it is today! I keep telling my kids how it used to be: "Now when we rounded this corner, these guys used to come out shootin...." They just look at me and roll their eyes. The train ride was interactive and fun. Now it's just an excuse I use to rest my tired feet. MommaBeast

No problem, friend. The only drawback is sometimes I want to *STAY* there....LOL. MommaBeast

I remember those German animated figurines like it was yesterday! Oh, how the memories are starting to flood my mind... MommaBeast

DARN! I'll give you another addy to use.....look for the email. Thanks!! MommaBeast

Haaaa haaaa, LMBO! We're as YOUNG as we feel, friend! Some days I'm a colt; other days I'm that ol' nag wanderin' in the field. LOL Though it would be at great expense, I kinda thought that returning The Beast to its original heyday would be the Great Anniversary Surprise they've hinted at. Surely just SIGNAGE and a documentary aren't all they're planning...afterall, this is The Beast! It is a grand structure; an ICON that withstood the test of time. It deserves *more* than just extra signs, sounds, and a 'how it was built' vid. I was thinking on a much grander scale...like filling the pond with water again, or --GASP! -- turning the trains backwards!! Thanks for responding.... MommaBeast

Thanks for the name of the ride I was referring to (the Rotor). If my memory stands correct, the area surrounding The Beast was all water. Speaking of water, I miss Kenton's KeelBoat Canal (or whatever the name was!). I preferred the log rides at treetop level to the White Water Canyon. MommaBeast

This website here has a picture of Beast over water, along with pictures of The Bat, Screamon' Demon, and The Racer http://home.fuse.net/brock/KI81Beast.html Thank you, FoF, for the link! I spent a good chunk of my afternoon trying to find a good pic of The Beast over water.... MommaBeast

Rockin' away, friend! LOL Was there ever a tram ride over the fountains, or do I need to adjust my meds? I *swear* I remember riding a tram, but I could be 'FON-CUSING' two different parks. MommaBeast

Euclid Beast...GREETINGS! A familiar face.... You know, I swear I don't remember the Bayern Kurve...but at the same time, I'm sure I rode it a gazillion times! As for the name change from Germantown to Oktoberfest...I don't know. Surely someone didn't get their PC panties in a bunch, now did they? LOL Nice to 'see' a familiar face.... MommaBeast

Yes, indeedy. Got any to add? How about the Antique cars? Didn't they used to traverse the other track? I wonder when it was switched over? MommaBeast

Hey, PKI Homey! Rattled your memory banks, too, I see....LOL I don't remember it being called the Demon, either. Apparently, it was a short-lived moniker. As for The Bat, I remember seeing it SBNO---never got to ride it (booooo hooooo!) and fully regret that to the max! Back in those days, I didn't get to the park that often. I was always a passenger, if ya know what I mean. Either my parents took me or my older siblings did the driving. Oh...being at the mercy of other people!!!! Bites sometimes, doesn't it? LOL Thank you for giving the floor-dropping ride a name! I would have never thought of it. Rotor, eh? Such a plain-jane name. That, and it didn't fit in well with the GermanTown theming....???...I mean, call it 'Schlitz's Revenge' or something like that...but 'ROTOR?' LMBO! All those other rides you mentioned I vaguely remember; when I was a little tyke, I seemed to prefer the big thrill rides so it's those I remember most vividly (and even those mems are quite dim sometimes, LOL). I've always enjoyed spinning rides, so I'm sure I rode 'em bunches...just don't recall it that's all. It's funny that you mentioned the monorail as a way to cool off....one of my 'fondest' (and I use that term loosely) memories of the monorail/safari adventure was being stuck in a section where a toddler had pee'd his pants...and reeked of urine. Now this wouldn't be so bad if it were not for the fact that the air-conditioning in the monorail was not working at the time!!! It was hot and oh-so-smelly! I remember not caring if I saw an animal or not (which we didn't, btw)...I just wanted to get off that ride!! And LaRosa's pizza is pretty good....sure beats that foul Skyline Chili...but that's only *MY* opinion. Thanks for your two pennies. Memories, indeed.... MommaBeast

Awww....LOL.... Just look at it this way: those times spent in HB land paved the way for the thrill-seeker you are today. Kings Island was beautiful back then...simple, clean, with crisp lines that delineated areas of the park. Now don't misinterpret what I just said. Paramount Kings Island is STILL beautiful and clean...it's just that back then the park was so uncluttered and, well....SIMPLE. Stuck on Nostalgic Street, MommaBeast

Yeah I am that old but I see you forgot the that It was The Demon frist then the Screamin Demon. Wildcat: I'll admit, I've forgotten alot of things over the years and the Screamin' Demon being called the "Demon" first is one of those things! I don't recall that, but I believe you. I especially liked the 'Monkey Island' below the ride---looked as though you were going to collide with one of The Beasts...LOL! Gosh, I remember climbing those rickety metal steps on that even rickety-er (is that a word? LOL) scaffolding that would shimmy and shake each time the 'turbo thrust' mechanism would launch the train! That thruster had such a distinctive, powerful, jet-engine sound. Ahhh....I can remember *all that* and not the fact it was originally called the Demon. Go figure. MommaBeast

My thoughts drifted off today of the Kings Island of long ago. I was curious as to how many posters on this website remember the following. Please feel free to post your own KI relic memory-joggers as well. Remember *WHEN The Beast had water under it? *the kick-butt SCREAMIN' DEMON? *the Monorail ride through the SAFARI? *Skipper and Dolly? *WHEN The Racer was the "IT" ride at Kings Island? *the stand-up centrifugal force flatride in Octoberfest (where the floor drops from under you)? MommaBeast

*sigh* Mentioning the 'Dolphin Show' brought back so many memories of PKI as a child..... If memory serves me correctly, the dolphins' names were Flipper and Dolly. Is that correct? I was sad to see that attraction go bye-bye. Of course, I still remember the monorail ride through Kings Island's safari attraction. MAN! Now that was some time ago. MommaBeast

I, too, appreciate the variety. It's a breath of fresh air. But it is time for a big steel coaster. MommaBeast

MommaBeast-- Some kids are Frightened to Death of Coasters like The Beast,SoB,Vortex,TTD,Millennuium Force Some Kids are not Ready for those Big Ass Titans PKI knows what they are doing Yes they have been the Champs of Family Themed Fun...Not all Familys go to the Point is TTD a family ride? in my eyes its not ...SOME of us have to Stay in HBL all day because are Kids are too Frightened or Get Motion Sickness to ride Coasters Thats just my two cents Revenge--- I can fully understand and respect your views concerning this. You are right: some kids LIKE HB and are perfectly content staying there all day. Right again---some get motion sickness and are unable to tackle the big rides. Some are frightened out of their wits just *looking* at the TITANS, as you so aptly put it. There's no argument from me on those points. My whole point was the HUGE demographic PKI has chosen to ignore for the past few years---those kids that LIKE 'big' coasters and those kids that can 'handle' the big rides. I feel for ya because towards the end of your post, you sounded like you almost REGRETTED having to 'stay in HB all day.' I empathize with you. I took my kids to WDW when they were 8 mos., 3, and 5 and my mouth drooled all day looking at all the rides I COULDN'T GET ON because of the kiddies. So, while I see your point, I hope you can see mine as well. TTD as a family ride? It is in ours. LOL MommaBeast

How 'bout that LOUD annoying "No Smoking" spiel in the Delirium Q? Utterly deafening. MommaBeast

Yes that is true Momma. I'm now 23 and even when I was 7, I found my love for coasters. I was only 7 back in '87 the first time I got on a big rollercoaster, and at that time it was Vortex. Back in '87 Vortex was a pretty big coaster. First one to take riders upside down 6 times. It was also one of tallest coasters when it opened too. We all wish PKI would bulid a new steel coaster. Hopefully 2005 will prove true. It will be 5 years since a big major coaster was bulit (Son of Beast). adbort and PKI Homey: Thanks for the nod. PKI needs to realize that KIDS love those kick-a$$ coasters just like their parents. And you, adbort, 'discovering' the record-holder (at the time) Vortex when you were seven proves my point yet again. Kids are gutsy. Give 'em what they want! Moms, Dads, Johnnies and Janes can all ride the SAME coaster and have a blast. Not all of us trek over to the HB side. Thanks again, peeps! MommaBeast

In my humble, humble opinion (and I've thought about this long before the SFWoA acquisition), PKI's got its work cut out. PKI has to step up to the plate. They've already carved their niche as a FAMILY park. Golden Tickets year after year pretty much prove this point. Ok, PKI...(and take this the right way----I love PKI)...you've got to grow up. Be competitive in this fierce coaster market. Let me emphasize that: Be competitive in this fierce COASTER market. Remember when you used to be cutting-edge, PKI? Cutting edge with COASTERS, not flats nor dark rides. Remember those days? I sure do. Many of us have been screamin' for a big steel coaster for a long, long time now (not a cookie-cutter one, either...that just wouldn't be your style). Yet instead of the big steelie, you've chosen to indulge your FAMILY market; chosen to carve your niche in that demographic deeper and deeper. Well ya know what? You're gonna carve yourself right out of the competition. Others may have their own say (they're entitled as I am) and may disagree with me on this but say it I will: COASTERS DRAW THE CROWDS. They always have and they always will. Coasters are also FAMILY rides...at least my family sure loves 'em. How many KIDS have you seen on Millennium Force? Tons and tons. How about Son of Beast? Tons and tons. Beast? "Billions served" to borrow a phrase from Mickey Dee's. Ok, ok...maybe not billions, but you get my drift. And the record-holding Daddy of all BIG coasters, Top Thrill Dragster, also has a tremendous kid-based ridership as well. My point is this: PKI, We've grown up; your family base has matured and while we enjoy the kiddie rides, it's time to move on. Grow up. Allow your big coaster market to blossom. Most, not all, kids these days go for the big thrills. I marvelled at my own children (ages 7, 10, and 12) tackling the likes of MF and TTD, SoB and Volcano; Hypersonic XLC and Dueling Dragons to name but a few 'adult' coasters. As much as I love coasters, I don't think at age 7 I would've found the courage to get on MF, let alone TTD. But that was THEN. This is NOW. Kids nowadays are different; willing and more apt to take risks... "tougher." Is it my imagination or do they grow up faster, too? Some may argue that NEW families will always be PKI's bread and butter and to that I cannot argue. PKI can and should keep their wonderful kiddie section; they should strive to win more Golden Tickets for the Best Kiddie Area in the amusement park market. But at the same time, don't forget those of us (and we represent thousands and thousands of paying patrons) who yearn for an innovative, cutting-edge big steel coaster. We feel silenced by your adamant attention to your 'other' interests: record-holding Giant Husses (FLATS), World-renowned Kiddie Areas, and now a World-Class (and much-needed I will admit) upgraded WaterPark. But don't forget about us...year after year we anxiously await for THEE announcement we've yearned for: 'COMING IN 2005, PKI PLEDGES TO RECLAIM THE STEEL COASTER MARKET.....' or something along those lines. *Sigh* I'm tired of just dreaming of the day. Come on PKI...you'd be doing the right thing by stepping up to the (steel coaster) plate and swinging that bat like you used to. MommaBeast

No way! I just received my first EVER 'In the Loop' (ezine) from SFWoA....in it they kept referring to changes and 'betterments,' but obviously didn't allude to anything of this magnitude! All I can say is "WOW!" Changes galore in the offing.... MommaBeast, first-time SF season pass holder (along with The Beasties, 'natch)

flyer06 ~~~ This is the boring off-season, so indulge our tub tawk, will ya? I *do* find a difference in the flyers. Now whether that means I'm not good enough to snap all of them, then so be it. I never said I was anyway. Just like there's a difference between driving a CHEVette and a CORVette, there's a huge difference between the 'performance' of the tubs (I avoid #1 at all costs---even giving up my place in line if I'm left with that one). And, I'm not sure if your post was directed to me, but please allow me to clarify a few things just in case it was: I am NOT an ACEr; and since I live out of state, I don't even know if you'd call me a 'regular,' even though I make several trips per season to visit PKI. I'm sure you can snap with the best of them. I've probably seen you and vice-versa. MommaBeast

derbeast: I know The Beast/Flyer crew are interchangeable entities. However, I haven't seen Matt on the Flyers in a coon's age --- and Daniel (I believe that's his name) was 'driving' The Beast the last time I saw him, and he used to be at the flyers all the time. Now I never see him at the flyers either. So while I know I've seen the crews float back and forth, there seems to be some of them that stay affixed at a certain ride. Is that correct? Or do I just happen to miss the shift changes every time I'm there? Likewise, I've seen the Delirium folks at SlingShot... MommaBeast