DragonLord Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 From channelcincinnati.com, Storms Cause Significant Damage Thousands Left Without Power CINCINNATI -- Thunderstorms caused significant damage in the area overnight -- particularly in the areas of Mason and Montgomery -- leaving about 13,000 customers without power Saturday morning. At Kings Island, a storm was powerful enough to knock down the park's large sign outside the complex. National Weather Service officials were in Warren County to determine whether a tornado formed and caused any of the damage. No tornado was immediately confirmed. Cinergy crews were working to restore power Saturday morning. I can't belive that the sign is gone! It's been up for over 30 years! I hope the park finds a suitable replacement for it soon. None of the rides were damaged, Jeff Siebert was on the news this morning stating that the park would be opening at 9am and all rides and attractions would be opened at 10am. The damage was only in the parking lot and the surrounding areas of Mason, Lebanon and Deerfield Township. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SML828 Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 I just heard the very end of the info on Channel 5...All I heard was 'the park is still open' - came straight here then I was gonna check Ch. 5's website.... I can't believe the sign is gone...especially after just re-doing part of it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DegenRider Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 They just replaced boards on em ouch. Well maybe we will see a sign with the new logo on it and a color board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonLord Posted September 27, 2003 Author Share Posted September 27, 2003 I just drove by the park and getting there was an interesting drive... Western Row Road, past Mason Montgomery, has a lot of branches and stuff down and the old part of WRR has a tree down that is laying across the power lines. Mason Montgomery is shut down off of WRR, and I'm not sure how far that goes, but there was a Group Health Associates building down there that I know got hit pretty bad and some of the light posts, signs and trees are down as well, probably some power lines too, although I didn't see any. KI Drive has a few light posts down, but of course you really miss seeing the sign! I couldn't belive it, it was just bent over, broken at the base! The 12 news van was there doing broadcasts and the parking lot is being cleaned. None of the toll booths looked like they were hurt, but the Gold Pass booth outside the GP parking lot was being picked up and moved by a crane, so it was probably knocked down or blown off it's supports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CYoung2003 Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 It was a pretty interesting storm. Driving home in it from KI wasnt too fun either. Its a shame the sign is gone. It was a great looking sign, plus its been up for so many years. Oh well...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 I'll be heading up there today, I got to get a shot of this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StXBomber Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 I take backroads to Kings Island every day for work, and the first thing I see is the sign. This is really a weird event. I hope they get a new sign soon, or else my trip to the park won't be the same without seeing the sign as I crest the top of a hill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic41445 Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 (edited) Yes, the sign was as much a part of KI as the eiphel tower though of course less predominant. But I will definately miss it. And like Jeff Seibert said on channel 5, it will be great to look forward to the development of a newer, more modern sign. Already there is a bit of competition to the north on 71. Those of you who frequently travel the stretch between Cincinnati and Columbus know what I mean. If a little off of the road exit can have a mammoth, Las Vegas type of video board sign for its convention center, then I would think that the midwest's largest amusement park should deserve no less. So just like anything new at PKI...Stay tuned....... Edited January 1, 1970 by Magic41445 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanner Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 I was in shock to hear this when I got home this morning. 32 years of history is gone. I guess you could call it history. One eyewitness said on the news that she saw three tornadoes on the ground at one time through the area when lightning struck. I know over here in Kentucky it was a light show around midnight when I fell asleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanner Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRickster Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 wow that sucks. Its amazing how sob stays up in that kind of wind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanner Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 You can bet there werea whole lot of inspections going on this morning of every ride in the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraderJake Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 I bet the rides weren't the only things inspected, I for one can tell you that this morning we were searching for water damage in our stores. Luckily for us my store had no apparent damage, probably as it is underneath the gate and IR. But the damage was impressive between the sign and other things, I just can't believe that the winds actually took down the sign, driving past it on KI Drive is quite the experience, it's hard to believe that winds could have been strong enough to cause the structure to fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRickster Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 I take it they are probly still inspecting sob and The Beast? Probly closed them today to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastbreakdown Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 ya that is prety sad that the sign is gone thats a lot of history ob that sign. its been there sence the park first opened. but the question is what are they going to do to replace it are they going to make the exact sign or are they going to make a differnt style or size or design? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterrz Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 It will be odd to pull into the parking lot and not see the sign! I am sure they will build a new sign (maybe not for this year) which includes some sort of message board, like the upgraded one they installed for this season. Also, the new sign will probably have the new PKI logo as well. That sign looks pretty damaged for just having blown over in the wind. It looks like somebody squeezed it with their fist! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRickster Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 The new one will probly have a giant lcd screen in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraderJake Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 If I remember correctly in the enquirer online edition Jeff Siebert is quoted as expecting "bigger and better" with the sign situation, so time will tell what cool things they'll do with the sign. Source: http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/09/2...7/loc_mday.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpoompah Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 the rickster, do you ever go to the Underground/Otherground? your signature ("AYBABTU") sounds familiar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRickster Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 Its from the old school sega genesis game zero wing it normally say's all your base are belong to us. But no I dont go there. I wander if they would just get a regular sign or do some really fancy sign with fountains in hte base and stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fyrfyter Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 I hope the new sign is color. That would look awesome coming up I-71. I know this much, I'll bet they build it stronger than the previous sign. and I would bet, the park doesn't have to fork a ton of money out for it, since it is probably covered by insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DegenRider Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 Jeff Siebert was out there for a LONG time today. We chatted when I was there. 31 years of high winds took it toll on the sign. The new one will most likely the biggest tallest fastest and only looping sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastbreakdown Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 hahaha it probaly will by the way Kings Island does stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightrider19 Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 with insurance money and a little out of pocket expense, i think they should use some scraps of the old sign, even if they hafta melt them down and pour them into the metal, and still have some of the old historical sign there, yet a bigger better one in apperance. Really like the worlds tallest fastest and only looping sign remark, verry creative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SixFlagsMasta Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 i'm gonna miss that sign . i mean i know it's only a sign but it was still cool. well i hope the new sign is the same as the old but with the new logo. or well i don't really care what they do to the sign as long as they put one up. it's gotta be big though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fyrfyter Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 The old sign is completely gone, including being removed from the parking lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beastfreak Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 It was completely gone at of 9pm Saturday September 27th. Only thing left was a tarp covering the spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fyrfyter Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 All I sazw today when I was there, was caution tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
italianchef Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 PKI lost its sign...but hey, they'll get a new one. Hence, PKI is better off than Little Bo Peep who lost her sheep and didn't know where to find them. Have a great day and thank you for your kindness, Italian Chef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightrider19 Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 Hey does anyone have a good recent picture of the sign standing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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