Refresh my memory -- log flume(s)

[Lakota88]

Am I crazy or weren't there two log flumes back in the late '70s and '80s? I see by the park map posted here that one still exists (renamed Race For Your Life Charlie Brown) but I don't see the other one. The other one had a much larger drop, IIRC.

I can't even remember if both were still there when I went in the mid '90s.

[Shaggy]

Yes, there were two...

The current "Race for your life" flume started life at KI as "The Kings Mill Log Flume." It was originally built at Cincinnati's Coney Island in 1968, but was transferred to KI when it opened.

The other, was "Kenton's Cove Keeboat Canal" which bit the dust for Tomb Raider (now Crypt.) It was installed for the 1973 season. It was also unique because it utilized a turntable load station.

FYI, KCKC was actually a hydroflume, one of only a few in the US. Most are gone now, with Hersheypark still having one and, I believe, Great America in CA. Cedar Point had one for years, but it was removed to make way for Maverick.

Shaggy

[jzarley]

For some reason, when I was a small child I was allowed to ride the KMLF, but I wasn't considered old enough to ride KCKC (height restriction...or maybe just over protective parents?). Anyway, I think it was the Summer of '76 or '77 before I was finally allowed to ride KCKC. Of course, by then a friend(?) had told me that sometimes snakes would fall from the trees in the wooded part of the ride, so I was always paranoid looking for falling snakes and could barely enjoy the ride.

What's really funny is that even though I knew it wasn't true, I thought about the snake story every time I rode KCKC right up until the time it was removed

Ahhh...good memories

[CoasterKrazy]

What's the difference between log flumes and hydroflumes?

[Lakota88]

That's it! I remembered the name Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal but I couldn't remember if that was the larger one or the smaller one that's still there.

Thanks!

[alluna]

This ride was awesome, up in the trees... one of my favorites that I really miss. The kids still don't believe me about it being there. Maybe I talk about it a bit too wistfully.

[Lakota88]

Yeah. I remember that nice little cruise through the treetops on the way to the drop. That was a terrific ride.

[Dbfan]

I rode KCKC once, the year before it bit the dust. It was a good ride, better than the post-transformation crypt imo.

[Oldiesmann]

I thought Race For Your Life was located where King Cobra used to be. Did they move it after King Cobra was taken out?

[Coney Islander]

Kings Mills log flume was located in Rivertown before Nick Central moved in, but the actual ride was not relocated. Nick simply swallowed up part of Rivertown.

[The Interpreter]

What's the difference between log flumes and hydroflumes?

Arrow was responsible for many of the former (and the original) and for all of the latter. A hydroflume was much larger, the drops steeper, and seemed to float on far less water. A hydroflume had a tendency to skip over the water as opposed to plow through it. Some even had airtime! Hydroflumes were also known for the bump at the bottom of the first drop! (Say hello, Hersheypark!)

Terpy loves hydroflumes!

[Oldiesmann]

Kings Mills log flume was located in Rivertown before Nick Central moved in, but the actual ride was not relocated. Nick simply swallowed up part of Rivertown.

Where was King Cobra located? I rode it a few times before it got removed, but I don't remember where it was.

[The Interpreter]

Where Delirium is currently situate...you can see some of the footings yet today.

[Buckeye Brad]

This

shows what the drop was like. As Terpy said, the boats skipped over the big speed bump at the bottom. I recall getting wetter on the Kings Mill Flume, but the drop was more fun on the Keelboats.

Another neat feature (like the video) was the dual drops. A flipper gate at the top determined which drop your boat used.

Another memory I have is that the Keelboat water was stinkier, while the Kings Mill water smelled fresh.

[CoastersRZ]

And the reason for that is that Kings Mills Log Flume (now Race for Your Life Charlie Brown) essentially uses pool water, that is drained for every off season. Kenton`d Cove Keelboat Canal was situated in a lake/pond that was NOT drained every year. In fact, there were fish in that pond, and you could often see them when you were in the queue. I still remember riding Kenton`s Cove Keelboat Canal very fondly. It did not operate the last month or so of the 2000 season, and was in the process of being removed at the beginning of the 2001 season. The ride was certainly showing its age in its last few seasons.

[Shaggy]

In addition, the last 2 or three years of operation KCKC only used one chute.

What I'll never forget is the clinking sound of the conveyor carrying boats up the lift right next to Beast. That jingling sound coupled with the lift spheel "Sit down, please remain seated etc etc" is something I must have heard 20,000 times.

If you want to take a nostalgic (virtual) ride on KCKC, then follow this link. Wait for the :30 mark and enjoy. (Old 35mm home movie, but terrific nostalgia!)

Shaggy

[KIfan1980]

Of course, by then a friend(?) had told me that sometimes snakes would fall from the trees in the wooded part of the ride, so I was always paranoid looking for falling snakes and could barely enjoy the ride.

What's really funny is that even though I knew it wasn't true, I thought about the snake story every time I rode KCKC right up until the time it was removed

That must have been the ongoing Kings Island rumor before Vortex is sinking. I remember being told the same thing - and having the same fear!

If you want to take a nostalgic (virtual) ride on KCKC, then follow this link. Wait for the :30 mark and enjoy. (Old 35mm home movie, but terrific nostalgia!)

Shaggy

ok - that video helps bring back some awesome memories of a time gone by at KI, although it left me with a question I've wondered about for a while. Early in the video (0:15), it shows a Racer Red train on the current "Blue Side", later (2:25) it shows a Racer Red train on the current "Red Side". So what is the history of Racer colors?

• Current: Two Red Trains on Right Side (Former Backwards Side), Two Blue Trains on Left Side
• During Backwards Operation: I recall there being one Red and one Blue on each side. Is my memory correct?
• Prior to Backward Operation: What is Red and Blue sides back then? Same as today?

[Oldschool75]

Man I really miss KCKC!

[sheikra_rocks]

I rode KCKC in 1996 I believe. went looking for it in 2005 and it was gone

[Delirium13]

I loved KCKC, I'd certainly take it over the Crypt!

[brick52]

I remember KCKC, it used to be my favorite ride, because I was afraid to ride large roller coasters like Beast and Vortex, sometimes going down Diamondback's hill always make me think what it would look like if KCKC was there.

[m2raptor]

Man I really miss KCKC!

Yeah I would have to agree with that one. Such a great ride. I also remember that it had the round about type thing (not for sure what this really is called) for the loading platform like White Water Canyon has.

[The Interpreter]

... So what is the history of Racer colors?

• Current: Two Red Trains on Right Side (Former Backwards Side), Two Blue Trains on Left Side
• During Backwards Operation: I recall there being one Red and one Blue on each side. Is my memory correct?
• Prior to Backward Operation: What is Red and Blue sides back then? Same as today?

I believe that to be correct...it's the way I remember it, anywho.

[Shaggy]

... So what is the history of Racer colors?

• Current: Two Red Trains on Right Side (Former Backwards Side), Two Blue Trains on Left Side
• During Backwards Operation: I recall there being one Red and one Blue on each side. Is my memory correct?
• Prior to Backward Operation: What is Red and Blue sides back then? Same as today?

I believe that to be correct...it's the way I remember it, anywho.

Originally, there was one red and one blue on each side. The theory was to race a blue against a red, but that didnt' always happen. You can refer to the Brady Bunch episode for confirmation of this. In the episode, the red train is racing the other red train.

[bkroz]

You'd think that, if racing red-vs-blue was the intention of the ride, they'd have just corrected it for the Brady Bunch shoot... Of course, today, the theory isn't to race them at all.

[Shaggy]

You'd think that, if racing red-vs-blue was the intention of the ride, they'd have just corrected it for the Brady Bunch shoot... Of course, today, the theory isn't to race them at all.

I doubt the director/producers were THAT concerned about continuity for the park's sake. That's apparent by The Racer on-ride footage actually being a mirror image of reality. (When you watch it, you'll notice on the reverse pov that the image was flipped and the park... when it should be on the left, is on the right.)