BeeastFarmer

@Maverick44...Intamin also makes trees! I think they will be the coastal cypress trees but will be planted near The Crypt to disguise it. The new area will be called Kentons Cove Cypress Circus. It will have a lift similar to Millenium Force, and you rappel off the top of the trees and go through some pretty forceful turns. However, downtime will be expected.

The conversation began with me needing a green sheet. I would board at the assigned time and leave my phone at the operator's booth. But when I said that the phone has to be within 20' of me, they said to stop by Guest Services and get a laminated card of who to call if/when there were issues. Evidently, it had happened with a T1D with a Dexcom system before.

Since The Beast is the enemy of all that is good, if he had a son, I doubt that he could be saved. Mods: if this is a violation of TOS, please remove and accept my apology.

My cell phone doubles as a medical device. I contacted CP about that last year after the ban went into effect. They had actually heard of this app, and were supportive. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to the park again before the season ended. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I think many of us can point the finger and say "I'm not like THOSE enthusiasts." But truth be told, I think many of us can be "those" enthusiasts. For example, over the last week, I have had 4 or 5 friends post on my Facebook wall a link about Yukon Striker. My response was "meh." When asked to clarify, I responded that dive coasters are fun but boring. I base that on one ride I have been on. These people look to me as an "expert" on coasters, which I am not. But I may have steered someone away from a park because of my opinion. I have seen YouTube "stars" praise a ride when they first ride it and then berate it repeatedly. I generally pay them no mind after that because I realize that they have no inside information that makes them any better or worse than me. I have seen people belittled on this site, and I probably have contributed to it. Yet, I have made some wonderful friends on KIC and events like Coasterstock and Storm the Kingdom. Media day for Mystic Timbers was incredible. I have had many memorable times at Kings Island and other parks and usually can find an enthusiast when I visit a park like Conneaut Lake or Magic Mountain. Pre-arranged meet-ups or just random happenstance, you can usually find a friend at a park, or spot people to avoid. The industry is very subjective and I hope the people at the parks realize how much the majority of us appreciate what they do for us.

But Kings Island is not in an HOA.[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787] Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Right, especially Big Dipper and Raging Wolf Bobs. LOL

As I said in my post, I personally believe the new coaster will be a B&M coaster. I highly doubt that either one of our B&Ms needs significant modification such as a new chain or anti-rollbacks, but if they did, I would suppose they would have to be permitted but then again I don't know. Those specific items were mentioned as a "what if." As far as painting--I could see a permit needed for the painting above a certain elevation as @sixohdieselrage said. I don't know about Mason/Warren County codes, but I wouldn't think a permit would be needed. As far as painting a new coaster from B&M--wouldn't that be part of the initial build cost, and the painting happen at the factory? If so, why would a permit be needed for a new coaster?

But if it is "routine maintenance projects," why would Bayum Painting be listed? I happen to think the new roller coaster will be a B&M, but it could be for a new chain and anti-rollbacks and brakes on Diamondback for instance.

I'm no expert, but I would think the best we could wish for would be a franchise type of hotel, like Carowinds. It would make sense if KI had a type of ancillary business like the CP Sports Force park to drive more consistent occupancy rates.

I'd prefer the blue to be a little darker, like a galaxy blue. Then name the coaster Wildcat 345 in honor of the Big Blue Nation.

I think GWL is a preferred KI hotel. What that means, I don't know. I do know that I have stayed at a couple of Mom and Pop hotels there, and the innkeepers told me that KI had stopped promoting them when they wanted a lot of money--but they still promoted KI. I've been to GWL with my niece, color me not impressed. But I can see the family appeal.

Who is Vekoma piggybacking off of this time? Their new track design looks very B&Mish. But they did collaborate with RMC for Wildfire, didn't they?

Great photos and video, Matt. I'm glad the naysayers who said the park would never reopen, then said it wouldn't come back for a second and third season, were wrong. I also like that Cedar Fair and Kentucky Kingdom allow employees reciprocal free admission.

@starlitfire, thank you!

I chose the 80's because that was the KI of my youth. I went from being a child to an obnoxious teenager to a misguided young man during those years. I rode my first roller coaster, The Beastie, in 1980. I was scared to death, but by the end of the day, I had ridden The Racer and The Beast. I remember riding Vortex during its initial year. I remember all the rumors swirling around school about Mr. Jon Harter on grad night in '83. I remember the "oom-pah" music on IS, the meeting at the ET at certain times of the day, parking in Scooby Doo Row 3. I remember the time our tram stopped in the safari and a bison rammed into the side. I remember the paw prints that lead to The Beast and the iron fist that lead to Vortex. I remember Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal. I remember Enchanted Voyage and the Smurfs. This is my nostalgia. For KI, I definitely think the 10's have been great. I think the park has a great future. It is the decade that I became obsessed first with roller coasters, and now parks and their stories. But I couldn't vote twice.

Does anyone here know what attractions were new to KI in 1983? Or was there anything specific that happened at KI on 4-15-1983?

I'd like to see the blue area and the area behind the floral clock developed at some point. And interesting to note on your photo...look at all the trees around the tower. I don't think they made it less photogenic. I guess we will find out as the new linden trees grow that were planted a couple of years ago. I am glad they got rid of the burning bush hedges. I think it looks much cleaner without them. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

If you are talking about in the area in front of the Junkyard Stunt Coaster, would a Mouse fit there? I think, and this is stretching it, maybe a smaller Ferris Wheel there with extensive landscaping and a couple of flats behind the International Showplace, where the Salt Water Circus was, and kind of tie that area into IS with the landscape theme.

I'm sorry to turn this into a tree thread, LOL. But I think some gingko trees, shaped into topiary like the ones that were brought from Coney Island, would look great around the tower. And add in some weeping fir for contrast. I do like the weeping white pines over near the KI Theater and the Chicken Shack, but I think they would be distracting around the tower.

I think there is or was a Japanese Maple near Graters or Street Pizza. I'd like to see more ornamental trees on I-Street, like the weeping fir that is/was near the Emporium. It's going to be a great surprise. I kind of hope they don't release too many details.

It depends on the tree. I'm not sure what the wholesale market dictates in the Cincinnati area, but we could get most 15 gallon trees (usually about 8-10' tall) for around $50. But that was several years ago and in Arizona. But if the cost was $100, and they planted 50/year, the cost would be 5k/year or about $417/month, which is a pretty easy number to swallow. The in house landscaping team could handle the labor as part of routine maintenance. They could do a mixture to include ash, maple, fir, pine, redwood, and gingko. Those are all attractive, give good shade and are low maintenance. But, then again, I am just an armchair enthusiast and don't know budgets, needs etc. I do think the park is doing a great job and I am more excited about the future of KI than I have ever been.

I wasn't and haven't been annoyed by you, @Maverick44. @Rivertown Rider, I doubt the trees would have been relocated. The one picture that was released by the park had a decimated tree near Sweet Spot. The trees were fairly old and likely wouldn't survive a move. Plus the cost is outrageous (or at least it was 15 years ago when I was in that industry), not to mention the potential to damage utilities and infrastructure. I wish the park would set a tree planting goal of 50-100 trees per year throughout the park. That way when things like the emerald ash borer take out trees, or they become past their prime, replacements would have been growing in. I have posted a link I found of a pin oak being transplanted, smaller than the linden trees that were on IS. As you can see, about 75% of the root mass is left behind. Plus, those trees probably had a very extensive root system that went under the pavers and towards the Royal Fountain, looking for water and nutrients.

In my world...If BLSC has to stay where it's at...a full retheme would involve somehow tying it into Rivertown with a mythical theme that is loosely connected with The Beast, D-back and Mystic Timbers. It would also be heavily relandscaped and softened. Maybe some flats up where Salt Water Circus was and gardens that would evoke the granduer of Les Taxis/OOAL. If not a retheme, soften the area up by planting trees, shrubs and flowers. Maybe tie in the area closest to the ET to IS.

I don't consider it a rumour, I lean more toward speculation. Maybe it's just semantics, but I see a distinction. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk