BeeastFarmer

Hmmm...I wonder who? John Mattress?

It's a great experience. And look at the bright side: if it's sold out, you can go ride Mystic Timbers, The Racer, flight of Cheer and get a meatloaf burger!

Isn't next year the 50th anniversary of the park? Or is it a year older than Six Flags Great America? I understand why, but it sux that they will be unable to celebrate the milestone.

Kinda my point. If decisions are out of park's local control but based by some one in Charlotte based on a spreadsheet, anything can happen. Money comes before sentiment and people away from the sentiment are concerned about short term. If they removed The Beast, I would venture their pass sales would decline significantly. But then again, Vortex was beloved if not for the ride itself but definitely for the sentiment, a local decision was made after a rough ride, and apparently attendance has only increased. I don't think The Beast will be removed

I can't remember...did Kentucky Kingdom give notice for final rides for T3? If my thinking is correct, they did not. But the ride didn't operate in 2023 , also trusting my shaky memory:) It's sad when any ride closes, because someone out there loved it. But, if the new, new,new, new Six Flags (under CF leadership) does the right thing , they will give notice. But they are likely not able to do this at a park level. Project Accelerate was announced at the third quarter earnings call, which is the first for the combined company. In this timeline, they are moving fast to retire costly assets on a park by park basis. In some cases, local parks may not even know what the plan is for ride removals. In some cases, these removals are a complete disaster ( removal of Kings Mills Auto Livery Stable, Les Taxis, Flying Eagles for Junkyard Coaster) and others, they make sense ( SOB for Banshee). Let's hope you get progress made in the parks is net positive instead of net negative. Since these seem to be driven by costs and non local people, could The Beast be in danger? It's probably one of the most expensive rides to operate and maintain at KI, even with the cuts in ride staffing over these last two seasons.

Louisville theme park donates thousands to Norton Children's Hospital | whas11.com

SIX no longer exists. It's now FUN.

I haven't heard much chatter about that. It's more about markets like Louisville, Lexington, Evansville and maybe Indianapolis that have been suggested.

I agree but am struggling to grasp how closing a ride like KK or NH, which are expensive to operate, would save money (in the short term) when you have a huge expense to remove the rides. One time cost vs cost runs over time, but in an era where they want to show financial results, why would they do a bunch of CAPEX right now? Or, are ride removals not that expensive? I follow Jazzland on Facebook and the group that is trying to buy the land to reopen the park (the city has not entertained their proposal and has awarded it to another). This group claims that the company that is doing the demo is paid by the scrap value.

I agree with this. I live about 2.5 hours from both KI and HW. I will drive to Louisville, but I wouldn't drive to HW...I don't think there is a large enough market for an event there. They could do a small event for locals, but nothing extravagent. I have not even been to WinterFest this year. Tuesday would have been a perfect night to go, but I just didnt feel like driving 5 hours round trip for a five hour event, and I am a passholder for a couple more weeks.

That's kind of my point. Social media did not exist back then, but did the greats of KI PR (Ruth Voss, Bill Mefford) have in park information or disseminate information to the media?

Little did the last train on Son of Beast know they would be last riders ever. But that one is easier to understand. Historical perspective: Did Bayren Curve, Flying Dutchman, Der Spinnin Keggers, Flight Commander, Cinema 180, The Bat(1.0), KCKC, Ohio Overland Livery Company, King Cobra, Screamin' Demon, Wild Animal Habitat, Bavarian Beetle, Scooby's Ghoster Coaster and Halley's Comet and The Crypt have a "proper" send off? Or were they quietly retired with no fanfare?

At least it's announced, unlike some other parks. Maybe they did learn to acknowledge emotions of folks. This is from the blog linked in the social post: "We know that saying goodbye to beloved rides can be difficult, and we appreciate your passion. These changes are an important part of our growth and underscore our commitment to elevating the park experience. We’re excited about the future, and we can’t wait to begin this journey with you at Carowinds." It's interesting that they use the terms "multi year expansion" and "evolve." Most of this park has been renovated since the Cedar Fair acquisition. Anybody want to speculate on how else they are going to shake things up?

Are you on a cruise or something?

Keep in mind, that our member here reached out to Over Texas and they denied that their coaster was leaving. Didn't Great Adventure do the same with Kingda Ka? Most of the steel coasters will leave Kings Island at some point in my lifetime. Diamondback, Banshee and Orion, I'm looking at you. Millie will die one day, as will SooperDooperLooper. There is a difference in an immediate closure and a planned obsoletion. Hopefully in the future, the chain will give cherished coasters a proper send off. I get that the two chains are figuring it out as they go, but if this is the new norm, it's not looking good.

They didn't proclaim, "Schell no!" ???

I didn't think he was saying this coaster will be reliable (the tech he mentioned is forward thinking, but so was the tech wit TTD an KK at the time). I think he was saying that its coming. Let's face it...if it happens, it will be at a place with lots of land, a backer with lots of money, and a company that is known for taking risks. This leads me to believe it will be in the Middle East, financed by an Oil Royalty, and designed by Intamin. Of course, it could be a new park in Kansas, financed by the Walton family and designed by RMC or Zamperla

I read "somewhere" that Nighthawk is not operating for WinterFest and that the area around it is fenced off. I also checked their website and it is not listed as a WF ride. If this is correct information, I['m sorry

Via Dennis Spiegel's ITPS Facebook page: A Sneak Peek into the Future: The 1000-Foot High Rollercoaster Dream For over a decade, I have been passionately proclaiming the imminent arrival of a rollercoaster that would shatter all records—a 1000-foot-high behemoth that would redefine the limits of thrill and engineering in our industry. We have seen several Mega coasters developed, such as King Da Ka, which is now being taken out of service. It was 456 feet tall and reached a top speed of 128MPH. We have also seen Top Thrill Dragster at 420 feet, and Superman Escape from Krypton at 415 feet. Currently, there is the new, under-construction “Falcon’s Flight” in Quiddiya, Saudi Arabia, which will be 640 feet high and reach an incredible speed of 155 MPH. Now, after years of anticipation and speculation, I have been privileged to witness a sneak preview of this incredible feat of amusement innovation, “The 1000-Footer”! The manufacturer has sworn me to secrecy regarding many details, but I can share some tantalizing hints about what’s in store. This rollercoaster, set to rise a staggering 1000 feet into the sky, represents the culmination of years of technological advancements in computer and AI-assisted design, a long way from the early Philadelphia Toboggan designs which in their day and age were overwhelming. These advanced tools have made the once-impossible 1000-foot dream entirely achievable. The project is still under heavy wraps, with the final international location yet to be announced, but the progress is quite well along and so far, is nothing short of breathtaking in every sense of the meaning! NEW [5:55 PM] Creating a rollercoaster of this magnitude is an engineering marvel involving a myriad of complex considerations. First and foremost is the land location, which must provide enough space to accommodate the massive incline leading up to the apex and the equally daunting first drop run out. The structural engineering design, which has proven feasible, ensures the coaster can withstand the immense forces it will encounter both vertically and laterally. The company indicated one of the primary challenges in developing such a high coaster is controlling the speed of the ride. The manufacturer has assured me that they have devised ingenious retardation / braking programs and systems that can adapt to temperature variations, ensuring a safe and exhilarating experience regardless of the weather. As we all realize, safety is paramount in a project of this innovation and design scale. It is anticipated that riders will be required to wear goggles, or some type of specialty safety eyewear to protect against the elements. I was told there may be infrared night vision devices incorporated into the eyewear to see during the night at these incredible speeds. Additionally, and most importantly, newly developed restraint systems have been created and rigorously tested to accommodate riders of all sizes securely and comfortably, from the minimum weight thrill-seeker to the largest coaster enthusiast. NEW [5:56 PM] We have long known that the design and manufacturing capabilities to create a 1000-foot rollercoaster were within our reach. Fast paced technological advancements have accelerated this dream. Now, it’s only a matter of time and financial investment before this aspiration becomes a reality. As the pieces continue to fall into place, the excitement builds for what promises to be a groundbreaking achievement in the world of amusement park rides. As I have always said….. in our world, “COASTER IS KING”! This new MEGALODON of a ride will certainly prove this once again, AND HEY! Mr. Manufacturer…..Not a bad name!! Stay tuned for more updates as this thrilling journey (ride) progresses. The future of rollercoasters is about to soar to unprecedented heights, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have been part of this incredible adventure from the very beginning.

If I remember correctly, the canvas "Congo" portion of the sign is removed each winter, similar to the removal of queue sunshades and famous Timberwolf curtains.

Well, Kentucky Kingdom sure knows how to throw a Christmas party! This year’s holiday event was a total blast, but it was packed. I mean, I’ve never seen the park so crowded, it reminded me of a KI Haunt Saturday night. The tree lighting ceremony was super cute. The Sugar Plum Fairy was a hit with the little ones, getting them all involved in the dance numbers. It was adorable, but let’s talk about the audio. It was really hard to hear her, even standing close. They definitely need to invest in some better sound equipment. The kids’ area was nice, I had never been in that area. The rides look fantastic, the landscaping is beautiful, and the holiday lights are just magical. The entire park was decked out in lights. Seriously, every almost inch was covered. The front of the park and Hurricane Bay were the busiest areas, especially the tubing hill. The carousel area to Swamp Water Jacks was also really well done. We also caught a show in the outdoor theater that was good and kept the audience engaged. I think it would get @brenthodge's stamp of approval. The carolers at The Bluegrass Bakery were fantastic, but again, the crowd noise made it tough to hear them. They could really benefit from some mics. And let’s not forget the cinnamon bread! Worth the long line, every time. We rode the Drop Tower and Kentucky Flyer, which were both great. We tried to catch the 5D theater, but the line was too long, and we missed the cutoff. Now, here’s where things get a little weird. The queue for the 5D theater was dark, quiet, and just plain boring. It needs some light, decor, and music to create a more festive atmosphere. And the strangest thing of all was the area around the mini WindSeeker and Kentucky Flyer. No lights, no music, no Christmas decor. It was like a forgotten corner of the park. I can only assume there was an electrical issue, but that’s still pretty concerning for two major rides. They need to light up that area and add some holiday cheer. Despite the crowds, we had a great time. I’m definitely planning to go back during the week to explore more and avoid the madness.

Agree agree agree. Make the entrance more thematicband reroute the traffic flow, but don't make it a modern wasteland. Don't put a coaster element there. I keep hearing that Sirens Curse would have been a great fit for The Vortex plot. I disagree. A tilt coaster, replacing Invertigo et al, would be a perfect skyline attraction as set the stage for coaster excitement. It's relatively flat, developed land there. Take advantage of the terrain at Vortex .

Absolutely! It is also the prettiest area of the park with the trees. Id venture a guess that they want to develop this area to drive traffic to Storm Chaser ...er Fire Chaser v 2.0

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.