theultimatefan Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 This is one of the Kings Island rides that i know almost nothing about. My Dad told me it was a rollercoaster that went around in circles. They have described as a Galaxi type roller coaster but they said they were not sure. Does any one have any pictures or info? Anything would be appreciated. Thanx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitch Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Unfortunatly I don't have or know any place for pictures of Barvarian Beetle but I do know it was either a stock Preston Zyklon or a Schwarzkopf Wildcat. Look at pics of Coney Island's Python or CP's Wildcat to see what it was like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Panther Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 It was located where the Festhaus is now and it was moved from Coney Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 Bavarian Beetle was a Schwarzkopf Galaxy coaster. It was originally built for Cincinnati's Coney Island and was added to that park in the early 1970's just before it closed. It was then dismanteld and moved to KI. At Coney, the Bavarian Beetle was called simply "Galaxi." At Cincinnati's Coney Island, the Galaxi was located near the turnaround of the Shooting Star, at the end of the midway. At King's Island, it was placed (along with the Rotor to it's right) where the Festhaus now stands. The front of the coaster faced east, or towards (then) Octoberfest Gardens. There was a path that led between the Beetle and the the shops on International Street. In 1974, the addition of Lion Country Safari necessitated the re-location of the Rotor from the right of the Beetle, to the left. This was done to allow an entrance path to LCS. With it's re-location, the path behind the International Street Shops was closed and an additional path leading from the main gate was placed running behind the Beetle. Although RCDB.com list's it's operating years at KI as 1972-1979, the ride actually lasted through 1981. It was closed, removed and replaced with the Festhaus. Festhaus, if my brain serves me well, was opened for Winterfest in 1982. No one is sure of the wherabouts of the Bavarian Beetle or the Rotor. There are many rumors that indicate they were sold or moved to another park elsewhere, but all of that is unsubstantiated. Fun Trivia fact: PKI's Head of Park Operations, Don Miller, originally started work at KI as a seasonal employee. He was a ride op on Bavarian Beetle. Out of all the rides at KI, Bavarian Beetle, IMO, is the most elusive. It's blurred history far outweighs the significance of the legend of The Bat. Why? Well, Bavarian Beetle was the least photographed and least documented ride in the park. There is no info about the ride in old newspaper articles and it never had it's own postcard or merchandise. I am an avid KI memorabilia collector and have been fortunate enough to locate a few items, but BB easily presents the biggest challenge among all of the defunct KI rides. I do have a postcard of the Screamin Demon that has the best shot of the Bavarian Beetle (at KI) I have ever seen. Actually, I was more excited about the postcard because of the glimpse at the BB than the Demon! I also have many park maps that show artists renderings of the ride. I have a park booklet that has a very obscure picture of the coaster and the Rotor. And finally, I have found only one print ad with a shot of one of the cars going through a turn on the Beetle. Actually, Charlie Jacques' book on the "History of Cincinnati's Coney Island" has terrific shots of the Galaxy before it became the Bavarian Beetle. However, when the ride was re-located to KI... it was eventually re-painted and given an "Alps" theme complete with flat mountain "peaks" and mountain climbers at the top of the station. Also, PKD (Or King's Dominion then) opened in 1974 with an indentical clone of Bavarian Beetle. It was called simply "Galaxy" like the former Cincinnati Coney Island ride name. It lasted for many years, and was located where the Shockwave standup coaster is. It was dismantled in 1985 for the addition of "Shockwave." Ironically enough, one reason for it's removal from KD was due to a fatality on the coaster when a young boy foolishly squirmed out of the restraint and stood up. The young man was partially decapitated and thrown to his death. It is ironic, because on the very same plot of land a few years back, another foolish young man squirmed out of the restraints on the Shockwave. He too was thrown from the ride. Again, PKD's is pretty elusive as well, and not much documentation or not many pictures can be found of the ride. But much more information can be found about the KD ride than the KI ride simply bceause of the accident, which the National News and Associated Press reported. I did ride the KD version many times before it closed. I did not ever ride the Bavarian Beetle. However I do recall seeing it at PKI during my first visit to the park in 1981... it's last year of operation. Shaggy 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy31088 Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 From the pictures I've seen of it, it looks like an exact clone of the Python, which is now at Coney Island. Are they the same model, or is the Python simply a recreation of Galaxi/Bavarian Beetle? What was the Rotor, anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOF Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 What was the Rotor, anyway? The "Rotor" was a ride in which where you stood up against the the wall of a circular ride, and the ride started to spin, and eventually the floor was lowered so there would be no floor below you during the ride leaving only centripetal force to keep you against the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Panther Posted May 3, 2003 Share Posted May 3, 2003 From the pictures I've seen of it, it looks like an exact clone of the Python, which is now at Coney Island. Are they the same model, or is the Python simply a recreation of Galaxi/Bavarian Beetle? What was the Rotor, anyway? Python at Coney Island was originally at a casino pier in New Jersey. It was moved to Coney Island a few years ago. It is similar to Bavarian Beetle, but it wasn't even made by the same company. Many coasters were made that are similar to that design (quick short drops and many helixes). LeSourdsville Lake has one too, called Serpent. Cedar Point has Wildcat, which is probably most similar to Bavarian Beetle because it was made by the same company, Schwarzkoph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBEASTunchained Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 I know that there is hardly anyone who knows this, but to this day, I'm still curious as to what ever happened to Bavarian Beetle....Whether it was scrapped or sold to another park or sent to KD for Galaxy? or something else?.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 I really thought this had to do with KIC's Bavarian Beetle! Glad to hear he is ok! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Shaggy's post above gives the best information I have seen. As he documents, KD's was not Bavarian Beetle. Epic bump! And I, too, was concerned this was about our poster here... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BavarianBeatle Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 I am alive and well! I rode Bavarian Beetle many times as a small child who longed to be tall enough for The Racer! Galaxi at Indiana Beach is similar, if not a clone of, KI's Beelte. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Similar, but different manufacturer. Indiana Beach's is an S.D.C. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanna Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 It had this cute sculpture on the top of a smiling bug wearing lederhosen and holding a mug of beer. I loved this ride. I mistook the Serpent at Americana for the moved Bavarian Beetle, but it was not, I was told. It was a small, close, ride, and part of the fun and fear of it was the illusion that you were going to hit your head. Sorry to hear that someone actually did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikejenkins1 Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Just curious (shaggy lives near by), are the old shoes from KI still on the Kentucky Kingdom property? We rode those on Easter many years ago when KK was still in operation. Actually rode most rides there. Not a big fan of T2 and hoping the sisters get a good makeover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Back Fan Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 It's funny to read this now since we were sitting in KI's first aid office yesterday. In the waiting room they have an old park map framed on the wall. I was remembering back to those days as I was looking at Bavarian Beetle and Rotor. They aren't photos, just sketches. There's a site called "theme park brochures.net" that probably have something to help you out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE_BEASTmaster Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 This is the only photo I found of the Bavarian Beetle from RCDB.com. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanna Posted July 28, 2013 Share Posted July 28, 2013 Funny how memory fails us- the Beetle is smoking a pipe, but holding no beer. I wonder how I got that imagery in my head. Thanks for the pic. That ride made me so happy. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 This auction has a great pic of Bavarian Beatle...http://bit.ly/14sZOYD I also found this one from my aunt's collection: 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharleyTheDinosaur Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 I remembered seeing this video a while ago and I just came across it again the other day. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upstop Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 I remembered seeing this video a while ago and I just came across it again the other day. Excellent video!!!! Thanks for posting!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharleyTheDinosaur Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 I remembered seeing this video a while ago and I just came across it again the other day. Excellent video!!!! Thanks for posting!!! I assumed everyone on KIC has seen this already. Its excellent but I am a big History nerd. If you've got the time though watch the whole thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homestar92 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 While we're on the topic of the Bavarian Beetle, did anyone notice that it, along with Ghoster Coaster, are the only defunct KI coasters that didn't get any love in the Banshee teaser? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwitb Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 I remembered seeing this video a while ago and I just came across it again the other day. Excellent video!!!! Thanks for posting!!! Wow! I do remember the old Oktoberfest...So much different and kind of "empty" anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim58hsv Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 This is the only photo I found of the Bavarian Beetle from RCDB.com. Just wanted to comment on the photo and say that it comes from the 1977 edition of the Kings Island View Master set but isn't on an earlier View Master set of Kings Island which came out in 1973 or '74. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McSalsa Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 While we're on the topic of the Bavarian Beetle, did anyone notice that it, along with Ghoster Coaster, are the only defunct KI coasters that didn't get any love in the Banshee teaser? I did! I'm guessing it's because they were more along the lines of family coasters, where King Cobra, Bat, Demon, & SOB were major thrill rides...and Banshee is a major thrill ride itself so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thoe124 Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 This is a pic of the old map in the first aid building. It's really cool. But the beetle is in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markr Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Just an interesting tidbit which I am sure Terpie and, of course, KIC's Bavarian Beetle know: Bavarian Beetle under the ride name Galaxi replaced The Wild Mouse at old Coney Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoaster Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 This auction has a great pic of Bavarian Beatle...http://bit.ly/14sZOYD I also found this one from my aunt's collection: Great picture find, not only of the beetle but the rides next to it: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikejenkins1 Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Yes the old shoes are (were) at Kentucky Kingdom when were there years ago. I saw them and realized we had to relive old memories. I am not sure if they are still there however. They were in the back area of the park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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