I found this book called "OHIO: a picture book to remember her by" under my bed a while ago. I didn't even know we owned it! As I was looking through the short picture book, I found a small section featuring Kings Island back in the day! They are really cool pictures and I'd like to share them.

Awesome photos! And even a rare view of the Ferris Wheel!

Thanks! I think I had only seen like one photo of the Ferris Wheel before I stumbled upon these pictures.

International street looks awesome in those pictures. I love how nice everything looks, not to mentioned how well themed it looks! Even the trashcans look cool! haha. I love how International street used to look like a street. It used to have sidewalks and everything. I also like the landscaping around the fountains, it looks really cool. I guess one thing I really enjoy about today's version of I-Street, is that it now has the trees fully grown, they provide nice shade on those hot summer days.

Thanks for posting the pictures!

I also prefer having the shade trees...it may not be as picturesque with them all full grown...but it IS nice when you are sitting under them on a hot day. Many a time I will just sit on a chair watching the fountain while waiting for a family member to finish shopping at The Emporium, the trees make it not only bearable, but enjoyable.

Sweet find. I-Street had so much personality back then.

Thanks for posting that! Awesome memories!

Awesome pictures kjkjkj! Does anybody have a ballpark of what year these pictures were taken?

What are those rail-looking structures right behind the I-Street buildings and in front of the Music Hall?

From what I can tell from the other pictures, is it looks like bleacher seats for some kind of show?......

edit: looking at the picture with the ferris wheel, they look like the same bleacher seats that are in the background of the ferris wheel picture.

Glad to see a picture of the ferris wheel havent seen many of them!

The photos were taken sometime In between 1982 and 1986.

Now that's nostalgia

The photos were taken sometime In between 1982 and 1986.

What makes you say this timeframe? I was thinking it had to be around 1981 and 1982 due to the existence of the Ferris Wheel (new for 1982?) and The Racer running forward (I thought 1981 was last year for this?)

The photos were taken sometime In between 1982 and 1986.

and The Racer running forward (I thought 1981 was last year for this?)

Until 2008.

Sorry couldn't help it

Racer has run forward every year of Kings Island's history.....just not on both sides!

Terpy, who also just HAD to...

Ok - you guys both got me (and I try so hard to avoid this kind of response)

Let me try again. The train of The Racer, that is on the right hand side track, as you look down the first lift hill, from the top, etc... is going forward. Therefore, since the book was published in ~1988 (which rules out the picture being taken over the last couple of years) makes me guess that the picture was taken before 1982. Does this satisfy you

The photos were taken sometime In between 1982 and 1986.

What makes you say this timeframe? I was thinking it had to be around 1981 and 1982 due to the existence of the Ferris Wheel (new for 1982?) and The Racer running forward (I thought 1981 was last year for this?)

=

Ferris Wheel was new for 1982, and the Slide was moved to HBL in 1987.