KIghostguy

Steel Vengeance has been having a ton of issues. It isn’t even opening until after noon every day now. I would love for Cedar Fair to work more with RMC, but since Steel Vengeance has not really pulled large numbers and has been beset with problems, I would honestly be surprised to see Cedar Fair work with them again.

I have it confirmed by Mike Koontz that Firehawk’s trains are incompatible with Nighthawk.

The building was painted green about 10 years ago and repainted a lighter shade of green for this year. I believe that the bronze has oxidized and turned more green.

Will you need to consult your husband about that?

If anything, he’s “greener” than that photo. But nothing has changed with that statue between 2017 and now. Perhaps it was a trick of the light.

I’ve walked past Don Quixote twice a day for the past two years since I work at Emporium. He has not been repainted.

Thank you for adding so much to this conversation!

He is talking about the 265-foot level. There are two decks at the top at 275 and 265 feet.

I do agree that those lighting trusses are awful. I also wish they had brought back the gas lamps. I do wish they had brought back those landscaped bushes around the Royal Fountain, but at least a few more flowers and bushes are better than just entirely flat grass like before. I think the park knocked everything else out of the park. The paint jobs are colorful, but not gaudy like the hideous ‘90’s paint schemes previously. They have been careful to really bring out the details and craftsmanship of the buildings. The Royal Fountain is spectacular, especially at night! The new pavers are very nice. The umbrellas color-coded to the buildings are a nice touch. I get why people are upset. It’s a change. It’s different. But the argument that “I don’t like it because it’s changed” is not even a real argument. Gary Wachs loves the whole renovation, which is probably the highest praise the park can get.

Um, okay? Not really sure what you are getting at. For all those coming because of the thread bump, this post came when I did not have as much information as I have now. A much, much better, more accurate account is here: http://kingsislandghosts.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-truth-behind-tower-johnny.html?m=1

Those are the outlines of the two planters formerly in the midway and now incorporated into the attraction.

Vortex comes really close to the station and lift. Diamondback “towers above the tree line” in multiple spots. This is not going to affect the ride experience.

Sure beats the fountain doing nothing during the fireworks like last year.

Does Vortex affect The Beast’s night rides? WindSeeker? Diamondback? I’m not expecting this to significantly affect it.

Mystic Timbers resulted in the park’s largest attendance since 1998. I don’t know exact attendance figures, but I can assure you that TEA’s numbers are off—sometimes by a little, sometimes by a lot.

The Royal Fountain is still there, it’s just improved and reimagined.

It’s possible, but unlikely. Diamondback was filed as “Project Rivertown” IIRC, but we all know that’s not what it ended up being named. Same for Banshee, Mystic Timbers, etc.

Anyone at the park right now who can get photos of the nighttime fountain?

The bottom has been painted white for a long, long time. The piping was visible of the old fountain. And I found new "movements" today spectacular! I can only imagine what they will look like tonight.

I think you can see me a little in your video, but I took mine farther back, from the overlook. And yes, videos do not do it justice!

I actually took the video, we must have been shooting it from the same spot!

That’s strange, it’s showing up and playing on my device. See if this is any better: 6FD8E735-641C-4E5C-A374-247EA64D292E.MOV

It’s beautiful! BF8584C7-76C5-4238-AE19-C3E9049288C1.MOV

Backwards Racer, the Royal Fountain, and trams were all under Taft.

Exactly. Great American Financial bought out Taft, who had a 30% stake in Kings Entertainment Company. At the time, KECO was not looking for another corporate partner and the two companies got into a debate. The way to resolve this debate was to sell Great American Kings Island, with the stipulation KECO would be left on to manage the park.