BeeastFarmer

I conjecture he is referencing a person who posts here on kic some times.

Ed brought the park back. He added lightning run, then reopened t3, then converted twisted twins and finally added ky flyer. He added things to draw the crowds in. But the park still had huge gaps to fill. Unfortunately, COVID happened, and Ed and his partners were tapped out. 2021 probably brought lots of debt that HFE had to absorb. We don't know the investment they had to make to assume the operating contract. They are wise to evaluate the market and move ahead in a calculated manner. That shows they are in it for the long haul. They've added a Halloween event and now a Christmas event ( 8 million dollars on hardware is no small amount) . They likely have upgraded infrastructure from deferred maintenance, invested in technology and worked to secure a friendly cooperation with the fair board. This is hardly Jack crap. I heard it stated before, if you compared ki and kk by acreage and dollars spent, you could see a different perspective. Ki is 364 acres and kk is 67 acres. So acre for acre, ki is 5.4 times the size. So by this comparison, the $25m over two years is the equivalent of $135m over two years at Kings Island. I don't think they have invested that much in the history of the park. I'd love to see kk have a quick expansion, but slow and steady wins the race. Stepping outside of the emotions, you can the logic behind what they do. They need a rebrand, inject the HFE influence, focus on entertainment, adding rides and attractions to the dry and water parks that will draw in the families. I think that is what they will focus on, and the next two years will do that. Or not.

Kentucky Kingdom needs entertainment options. I'm sorry to disagree with you about kk thriving. Ed Hart brought the park back from the dead. Had COVID not happened, he might still own the rights to operate the park. But a small non chain park can't survive, much less thrive without monetary input. HFE was likely a savior again. I wish we could have had our RMC single rail coaster. But it wasn't meant to be. HFE is taking things slow but steady. If they stay committed long term, KK will be in the best shape it's ever been in. 33 million dollars in three seasons is a great investment in this park. They likely will invest even more as the fair board evaluates and implements their long term vision for the entire property ( which included,big I remember correctly, removal of the road that bisects the park and a dedicated parking lot for kk in the empty land between storm chaser and Kentucky Flyer). When that is situated, it will give HFE a clear direction to go. HFE is not afraid of investment in their parks, so it will be interesting to see what transpires. They have much, much deeper pockets than Ed Hart ever did.

I've always enjoyed the Jeremiah integration. The same could be said that "raindrops on roses" or "what a wonderful world" as Christmas songs , but they work as well. I would draw the line, though, if they added a themed section to Natakomi plaza

Thank you for that! So weird to see that ceremony with a Six Flags setting! And Peanuts music...with Bugs Bunny:). But I'm glad the show is getting a brand new audience!

The drop into and the entire double helix on The Beast. I don't know if it would be an element, but leaving the brake shed on The Beast, building up speed, and going through the second tunnel is great for me. Before entering the tunnel, the train has this shimmy, like The Beast is trying to throw you off of their back. The noise, the smell, and the darkness in the tunnel, and then hearing the noise coming out of the tunnel and during day rides, the blinding brightness.

Yes. I'm hoping it will be a better show in person, video sometimes doesn't convey what it's like in person. But it just seems a little over the top trying to do musical numbers with an acting piece as well. The "old" ceremony was a bit cheesy, but it did pull at the heartstrings.

I have watched the new tree lighting ceremony and my oh my. They have some work to do. It's almost like they tried to marry the concept of tinkers with a musical. Maybe it will grow on me when I go this year.

I thought it was an awkward placement, but it did allow the performers to showcase their talent in one of the busier areas of the park. It was annoying with people talking, but I don't think this is designed to be a stop and stay show, rather it's a stop and enjoy and move on show.

Turnabout is fair play. Respectfully, the physician needs to heal thyself.

My only issue with it is that it's too small. They should have extended up to the funnel cake shoppe, rethemed the tie dye stand and put another flat ride on between the tie dye stand and Enriques. They also should have made the menu slightly different at Enrique's instead of just renaming the place from Hank's. ( But I do love that they continue the legacy of Henry in the name to the current time, Enrique was a perfect name!)

For context, when Kentucky Kingdom was reopening in 2014-15, I was very active in the KK thread here. I was excited that a park could be brought back from the dead and I was a new enthusiast. Most on KIC said the park would never open, never stay open, etc. I was "educated" that Kings Island does not consider the smaller parks as competition and they laugh at the efforts to reopen in their offices. To me, even in 10 people bought a KK pass and didn't renew their SF pass, SF looses revenue. I consider that competition.

I'll put it this way...I've bought a 2025 KK . I have not bought a Six Flags pass. Part of it is that the park is getting stale and absence makes the heart grow stronger. Part of it has been all this bickering about the park's communication ( I was guilty too, but there's enough division in the world today outside of KI fandom). I wasn't going to do KK either, but with their Christmas event and that pass will get me 50% off other Herschend properties, it's a no brainer. Getting back to KK, HW, Dollywood will be great next year. And maybe this will be the kick I need to get to silver dollar city. I think it works at Newport aquarium as well.

Yet Kings Island " laughs" at the thought of competition from Kentucky Kingdom!

As said above, I hope that whatever family thrill attraction or future coaster it is does not have a shuttle element to it. It seems that those are becoming oversaturated in the industry, and everytime I ride one, my mind goes to "I'm on a stupid boomerBANG". ( Yes I know that there is a difference, but that is just how my brain works)

Per Marcus LeShock on Facebook: JUST IN: The Village of Gurnee Zoning Board has approved a request from Six Flags Great America to build solar shade structures in their parking lot. These 6.4 megawatt solar systems would help lower Great America’s electric bill and provide shade for vehicles parked underneath. These structures would also have security cameras installed, along with LED lighting for nighttime hours. They are designed by a company called Solar Optimum, who also installed these carports at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. This project now moves to the Gurnee Village Board for full approval. It’s unclear when the carports would be constructed and installed on the parking lot. I wonder if the former Cedar Fair parks will see solar panels down the road?

If they are not going to use the building for public activity besides a Haunt, they need to either remove it or modify it so it's not such an eyesore. I'd love a Verbolten style coaster in this area using the building. It definitely would be a family thrill, but appeal to other demographics as well. Of course, they could remove it and replace it with Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal v2.0 on steroids and I'd be great with that as well!

Kings Island is and always has been a family park. Yes, we have had major, ground breaking rides, but the family demographic is their bread and butter. (I think an original tagline for ads in the early years was something along the lines of "America's Largest Family Entertainment Center") With the pass base we currently have, they will continue to cater to families as it works for them. If they cut hours, service, extras etc and it erodes the passholder base and they loose attendance numbers and revenue, they would reevaluate things. But with cheap passes, people will renew and buy in droves. CP is a resort destination, which Kings Island originally also intended to be. This never materialized for KI as there is not a resort draw to the area. Therefore, CP put in a concerted effort to draw people into Sandusky to fill up hotels. The locals won't stay in their hotels, but destination seekers will. That puts money in CPs coiffurs. They have to keep upping their game to maintain hotel occupancy. Hence they have winter entertainment with the sports and gaming complex and purchased sawmill Creek to use year round to compliment their indoor water resort. The concept that they want to sacrifice other parks only to prop up CP is ludicrous. They want to cater to each market base and capitalize on the benefits of doing so.

So far this Frankenstein merger is not off to a good start...

Not harm, per se. I should have phrased as "No shade at @OverlandTaxis30"

Personally, I'd remove the basket ball game and bring back the flyers from Carowinds. But that is just me. (No harm towards @OverlandTaxis30 intended). Even though I don't ride flyers, I have fond memories of watching them.

Cedar Point General Manager Carrie Boldman to step down - cleveland.com Sounds fishy to me.

New Orleans Six Flags site demolition halted (wdsu.com)

What makes you think we will get a major thrill coaster in 2027? After financing and additional 1.1 billion dollars in the next two years, they are going to be pretty judicious in where they spend money. Apparently, Cedar Fair may have failed in the due diligence of combing over the Six Flags portfolio and now are seeing that things were held together there with band aids and Great Value duct tape. You will see investment in parks like Chicago, Jersey, both Texas parks ( and maybe Schlitterbahn if they don't sell it), magic mountain, Knott's and wonderland. Ki will get money to get it by, just no Alpen Fury type rides for a while. As long as passes, add ons, blue ice cream, funnel cakes and merch is sold, ki will remain a cash cow. Or not.