Kings Island August 1972

[standbyme]

I haven't contributed much lately…unless you count the (seemingly) never-ending slams against Planet Snoopy…so I figured I would share one of my latest eBay purchases.

I picked these photos up last week…with a little assist from Paul/TG1993...whenever he notices an interesting auction he usually gives me a heads-up just to make sure I don't miss it…which is appreciated.

I would also like to thank TopThrill for recently taking my old photos and improving them GREATLY!

Anyway, here are 11 shots of the park back in August of 1972...enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed the photos!

[jandyb79]

Nice! I love seeing those perfectly sculpted ginko trees. Thanks for sharing

[chaddie]

WOW, those are great pics!

[TOPGUN1993]

Thanks for posting JD! I've always thought the massive flume que was interesting. Notice the pavement in rivertown had a red tint to it.

[irishfirefighter]

does anybody got or have any pic or videos of old rides from Kings Island [pki] if so i would love to see them to see what they were like. year 1972-2007 thanks

[TopThrill]

Coney Mall looked great! the tall rounded trees. It looks nothing like that today.

[The Interpreter]

And what is so sad and very odd is that Kings Dominion's version today far more resembles old Coney Island of Ohio than does what passes for Old Coney at Kings Island.

[CedarPointer]

Coney Mall looks so nice! I love the International Street landscaping, I would gladly trade shade trees for those AMAZING hedges!

[LongliveKingsCobra]

Coney mall's Topiery (sp?) Looks very nice and sharp. I think that if they were to re-add that style to CM, it would really enhance it's over all apperance, AND bring back some nostalgia

[Oldiesmann]

I think it's really odd to see sidewalks on I-Street. They've long-since paved over those, sadly.

[The Interpreter]

The park had curbs, sidewalks, arched bridges...

Adding both fall hazards and obstructions that would not pass the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements nowadays...

[Lakota88]

Great pics. Thanks so much for sharing those.

[Purplehaze]

Whats the person doing in pic number 8? Looks like they are rubbing the bushes for good luck.

[standbyme]

^I have wondered the same thing...I kind of picture him saying to whoever is taking the picture "Yeah...their real all right". (It's either that or he has a shrub fetish.)

[TopThrill]

Hope you don't mind standbyme, I put one of your pictures into photoshop and just added Auto Levels. As you can see the pictures doesn't not have the yellow haze over it.

[standbyme]

I don't mind at all...thank you! (I don't have Photoshop.)

[acbjones1983]

It's common to see the curbs, sidewalks, and arched bridges at the Orlando parks. Its a shame they did away with those things here. Really adds to the ambiance of the park.

[KIfan73]

Notice how big of a line there is too ride both The Sky Ride & The Kings Mill Water Flume.

I don't think us "younger" members on here can probably imagine how popular some of the early rides were.

According to visitkingsisland.com, the KMLF's biggest year was 1973 with 2,267,188 rides given, or 414,357 more than Diamondback did last year!

I also can't imagine a year (1982) where over 1.5 million people rode Viking Fury.

I really don't think anyone can complain about any lines at KI in 2010.

[TopThrill]

Notice how big of a line there is too ride both The Sky Ride & The Kings Mill Water Flume.

I don't think us "younger" members on here can probably imagine how popular some of the early rides were.

According to visitkingsisland.com, the KMLF's biggest year was 1973 with 2,267,188 rides given, or 414,357 more than Diamondback did last year!

I also can't imagine a year (1982) where over 1.5 million people rode Viking Fury.

I really don't think anyone can complain about any lines at KI in 2010.

Yeah those numbers back then for KMLF and Viking Fury are just amazing, just goes to prove when ride is newer the line for it will be long.

[TopThrill]

No problem Here's the rest that I ran though photoshop.

[KIfan73]

^That is true, but I think an understatement, especially comparing now vs. then.

Diamondback, a very large, very major, very expensive cutting edge rollercoaster gave 1.7 million rides.

In 1986, nearly the same amount rode White Water Canyon.

In 1976, nearly a million people rode Shake, Rattle & Roll, for crying out loud.