BeeastFarmer

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.

The difference with Marcus is, however, that he understands the industry and is an enthusiast. We are not talking about John Mattress here. Marcus could very well be wrong in his interpretation, but many enthusiasts are as well.

#someoneatthetopneedstoretire #family #familyGiGa Cedar Fair was very good to Kings Island, righting many of the Paramount's Kings Island wrongs. It looks like KI will be the Kings Dominion of the chain for the next ten years, like KD was from '11 to '22. But ki will still sell passes and groups like bonkers and be a cash cow. It will take a serious decline for them to veer away from the family demographic.

What about the Prestige pass holders?

TRTR is one of the reasons that "Paramount" was a terrible operator towards their end of the stewardship of the park. Lots of $ spent, great idea, and the theme looks on point, but the ride itself was not a long term solution. It should have been built on the other side of the park where it would have loosely fit in the jungle theme of Adventure Express, and the viewshed would have been more appropriate with fof there. Kings Dominion version, while not in a box and not a giant, was much better done and area appropriate. It was a sight to behold...I wouldn't have the stomach to ride, but I enjoyed watching it in between Volcano: The Blast Coaster rides.

I said similar. When I saw this photo, it struck me how much I do miss Vortex. I am hoping that whatever replaces it will be worthy of the site.

I never really noticed it, but to me, Valrvyn's paint job is similar to Vortex's paint job.

If possible, outfit it with the surfcoaster trains.

Sierra Sidewinder was too much for me

For The Vortex plot...the GCI hybrid coaster that was introduced a few years ago. A climate controlled eatery to replace killmart, with patio views of The Racer, Antique Autos and Orion. ( We need a climate controlled eatery on that side of the park if Winterfest is going to be around long term). A Verbolten style ride in The Crypt building, but themed appropriately to Rivertown, with the building exterior themed as well While we theme outdoor buildings, redo the exterior of FOF and the back side of KI Theater. I think projection mapping would be a good idea along with go away green paint. Redo of Action Zone with a significant coaster, flats and trees. Front entrance enhancement...make the big roof look more European, replace the flags above the arches, and add pavers. Put the big Kings Island topiary back in on the landscape berm, renovate the buildings on the left side to be more international. Put in a new dark ride. Staff the park with varying demographics so that the park could have extended seasons when kids are in school.

I just think it will need to be reliable, high capacity, and have a commanding presence. That is, if they evaluate the portfolio and determine that the park is a keeper and worthy of investment. The boomerang they just got, the RMC they got before that and then the free spin should be examples of rides that would go to a WOF or St Louis park in their current iterations.