Early Memories of Kings Island

[jzarley]

Reading the topic about old maps, I started to think about my early memories of Kings Island. KI (long before the "P" <g>) was the first park I ever went to, and is probably responsible for my fascination with the amusement industry today!

I was five or six the first time I went to KI, so I'm guessing it was probably '74 or '75. I was tall enough to ride The Racer, and I thought it was the most thrilling thing I had ever done. (Which, at the time, was probably true). I rode it with my Dad, and I remember at several points thinking I could actually come out of the seat. Back then, the trains only had one large lap bar that went across both seats, so a six year old riding with an adult got some serious air time!

I also remember the "Enchanted Voyage" (what is now the Scooby Doo Haunted Castle). At that time is was a dark boat ride, and you rode through different scenes with Hanna-Barbera characters. I thought it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen!

When I went home, I was determined to build my own theme park in our backyard. I convinced a neighbor kid to get in a bucket on the clothesline (a basic "sky ride") and I pushed him across. Of course, the clothesline broke, the kid got hurt, and I got in trouble!

Later, I realized that my "park" needed paved paths, so I took sand from my sandbox, mixed it with water, and attempted to pave a portion of the backyard. My dad came home that night and wanted to mow the grass, but of course a part of the yard was coated with wet sand! (And, yes, I got in trouble again <g>).

These days I just play RCT to fulfill my park building fantasies—it’s a lot safer that way!

So…what about everyone else? What are your early memories of KI (or PKI)?

Joel

[coasterrz]

My first visit to the park was when I was six months old, so i naturally don`t remember that visit. However, I first took a spin on The Beastie when I was two and a half years old. I don`t remember that but I do know I was terrified of the ride for the next five years.

I remember the blue elephant by the Hanna Barbera Bathroom as well as riding the smurf`s Enchanted Voyage. I also remember playing in a pen of plastic balls in Hanna Barera Land. I especially remember the ice skating shows in The Festhaus. I wish they would bring back true shows in the Festhaus and not just QTV (although recently they have been televising sports games such as the World Series and Football games in there). Also, when i was six, I was tricked into riding "a train." This train wasn`t the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad or another kiddie ride but it was Adventure Express.

I always visited the park once a year in the fall. I finally got enough courage to ride The Racer and enjoyed it somewhat but I was too scared to ride it again. I had ridden Top Gun, Iron Dragon @ Cedar Point and The Racer along with some kiddie coasters, but I wasn`t fascinated with coasters yet. I fell in love with roller coasters and Kings Island when I first encountered The Beast in the fall of 1995. I don`t know what it was, but I enjoyed that ride and wanted to ride again. The next season I only visited two times, but I rode FoF and King Cobra and myenthusiasm for coasters was blooming. In 1998 I got a season pass and well, I have so many memories from PKI that i could write a book on them.

[bradb055]

My first experinces were with KI. I loved to ride the slides in HBBL, walk through the ivy tunnel, and drive the old race cars. There was also one ride where you could pedal your own bike with your hands. The smurfs voyage was by far my favorite, but I was scared of The wicked Gargamel. This was in the mid 80's. The Iron Dragon @ Cp was my first coaster, but I was scared of coasters so I didnt ride many until I found out they were not that bad. The Racer made me a believer of coasters, and ever since I cant get enough of them.

I loved HBBL when I was younger. I still have some great pics of me at KI when I was a kid. It does bring back some good memories. I still wish that Rugrats runaway Reptar was there when I was a Kid. That would have been one hell of a ride for a 5 year old!

[Beastfreak]

I wish they would bring back true shows in the Festhaus and not just QTV (although recently they have been televising sports games such as the World Series and Football games in there).

The reason the games are on in the Festhaus is because the managers wanted to be able to get score updates every so often. The games were on at Bubba Gumps as well (only on certain TV's), since they were mainly at those two locations.

[IcarusLives]

I always remember going to KI and riding the "Big Roller Coaster", which is what we called The Racer. When I was about nine years old, we were having dinner at Columbia Palace (Wings now I think) and my brother and sisters convinced me to ride The Beast. I just remember holding onto the lap bar for dear life and being too scared to even scream. After we got off though, I loved it and demanded we ride it again.

The not so pleasent memory is when my brother and sisters rode the Witch's Cauldron one year. Withch's Cauldron was a spinning ride in HB Land (Remember the cat that used to jump out of the tree?). Anyway, if you asked the ride op, he would get your cauldron spinning before the ride started. You then could make it spin more by using the disk in the center of the cauldron. Well, my siblings had the ride op spin them and then got it going pretty good where they were almost a blur during the ride. After they got off, my sister puked by The Flintstone bumper cars. After that, my mom put a ban on all spinning rides, which included Witch's Cauldron and Der Spinning Keggers.

[BoddaH1994]

When I was young, my family used to go to Americana every year. I thought it was the greatest place on Earth! We used to go for one precious visit every year. All of my neighbors used to talk about KI, but I couldn't relate. My family is and was well off, but my parents were always really cheap. My parents said it was too expensive.

On year, my aunt announced that she just wanted money for her birthday because she was going to buy some piece of art and it was expensive. When she blew out the candals, she said her wish was good weather for the next Friday, because what she was really going to was take me and my sister for our first visit to Kings Island. You wouldn't believe how excited we were!

--Side note: Believe it or not, I didn't make that story up. My aunt is really messed up on the social side. She used to "borrow" my sister and I for different social things with her church and tell people that we were her kids. My sister even recalls my aunt instructing her to call her "mom" if the situation arose.

Anyway, leaping ahead about a week, we set off for Kings Island. We rode most Hanna-Barbarra attractions. I remember specifically riding that stupid slide and getting my hand burnt by it rubbing up against the side. We did get to ride the monorial though. At the end of the night, I wanted to do the most thrilling thing that I could possibly do, which was The Racer. I rode that and it scared the crap out of me, but it did top off my day.

She took us once a year for the next two or three years. I believe the last year she took us was the year of the Paramount takeover. After that, my parents finally started to take us.

Needless to say, I fell in love with the park and as soon as I was old enough to get my first job, which was cutting grass, I bought my first season pass. Probably went 15 times that year. Not bad for a 12 year old kid who had to talk his parents into driving the just under and hour drive up there to drop him off and pick him up. I did the same thing for several years. After a while, I took a few years off... well, I guess you could say that I was off my game. Maybe going to PKI once or twice a year with the family.

Anyway, wiz a few years into the future... I decided to buy a season pass this year. I probably went twice a week or so. Once again, not bad for a guy who lives all the way in northern KY. At this time, I also found the PKI fan pages on the internet. Through that, I was able to meet a bunch of you people... I guess you could call us freaks or something, but we're a rarity. I finally met other people who knew what year most of the rides were made, or who manufactured The Vortex, or could name all of the sections of the park, etc. Thus furthering my love for the park.

I have always been good with computers, so I majored in computer science. Let me tell you, it's miserable! Imagine staring at thousands upon thousands of lines of code all day. Around June, I was on Top Gun and I had an epiphany. I realized that making people happy through the amusement industry was my calling. I immediately droped the computer science major and picked up engineering. I have always, and continue to realize that working in the amusement industry is a long shot, but I'd say it's worth it just for that hair-line opportunity... and so you could say that PKI has changed my life.

wow.. this post really turned out to be WAY more than I expected..

You guys had BETTER be at the next PKIC meeting day next season!

-Ryan

[jzarley]

Also, when i was six, I was tricked into riding "a train." This train wasn`t the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad or another kiddie ride but it was Adventure Express.

I did the exact same thing to my nephew when he was about seven. I don't think he rode another coaster until he was 14! (My neice, on the other hand, would ride anything that she was tall enough!)

Joel

[DegenRider]

Like others I went to Americania instead of Kings Island for many Many years. Problem wasn't that my parents were cheep it was that we didn't have the cash to go there(americania was a better value when you had 6 kids with you at one time).

I 1st went to PKI in 1992. I was tall enough to ride The Racers and beast. I passed on The Beast. I road alot of the stuff in HB. I remember begging my aunt to take me up in the tower but alas she hates heights.

I went I believe in 1994 for the star trek earth tour(correct me what year if I am wrong). I loved Star Trek when I was little and I thought it was cool. Still couldn't muster up the courage for Vortex or The Beast.

I was about 4 years before I went again. We went in 1998. At that time I was with my brother and there was no getting out of any of the rides. My 1st looper was to be Vortex but alas It was broke. We waited 2 hours for FOF and I was scared out of my mind. I came off with a stiff neck.

That Night I took my 1st rides on Top Gun,King Cobra and The Beast. I don't exactly remember too much about my Beast ride but the Top Gun and King Cobra were memorable because KC brought my brother great pain going into the loop and top gun was the 1st coaster I EVER road alone.

That was the only time we went that year. In 1999 I got my 1st season pass. I used it about 4 times. Memorable moments were Seeing bolts fall off face/off while in line and Seeing SOB start rising into the sky.

2000 I went 1 time. SOB's media day. It wasn't done yet though. The park was only open a bit as well. I never used my freebies.

2001. I went to the park 1 time. My uncles works picnic day. It rained and poured so bad it was not funny. BUT A few weeks later I became employed by the park. I needed a job and PKI was what I wanted to do. Hatesfully trained and put to work on gay pride night in 2001 I had no clue what I was doing. Check bars and thumbs up I had very little off time but managed to ride alot.

2002 I returned to the park as a ride op. Didn't go as planned. I ended up quitting. One day in Aug I was REALLY REALLY bored and I couldnt take it anymore I found my comp Tickets and I went up with no money and a PB&J packed lunch. I also attended the last ride of the year on Beast via help from my GF(she had some freebies)

2003: Ok I know this is earliest memories but Over 30 visits not bad. Sometimes riding SOB 20 times in a day. Also my 1st timberwolf concert

[pkifamilyguy]

Well, I went to King's Island alot, I really don't remember much the early years except that my dad would fly us over from our home in North Central Indiana. He had his pilots liscence and we had a private airplane. We would land at a small airport next to King's Island. I don't even know if it is still there. And the guy who ran the airport would drive us over to the park, or something like that.

ANYWAY

The first time i really remember KI was in 1979. I was 9 years old. We rode the Flying Dutchman, the Barrell ride, The Enchanted Voyage, Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal, the giant slide and all those great rides they use to have. About 3pm my older brother and my two cousins, my brothers wife and my mom headed over to Rivertown to check out a rumor we heard about some monster lurking about in the woods.

It was brand new. It was a world record breaker. It was FREAKIN HUGE...and it would be the first rollercoaster that would, in my life, begin an on going addiction or love affair with rollercoasters...however you want to look at it.

3 hours in line for a 4.5 minute excursion into terror (remember, i was only 9) and I loved it. From that moment on every coaster that I would ever ride would be compared to The Beast. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING can live up to the great wooded behemoth of King's Island.

I have been back to KI almost every year since. I have seen rides come and go. FLIGHT COMMANDER, SKYLAB, King Cobra, Screamin Demon.

The park is still my favorite place on earth. And now, I am taking my wife and 2year old son (we drive). My son loves it. Every time we reach that spot on I71 N where you can begin to see the Eifel Tower I still get a lump in my throat and butterflies in my stomach.

Thanks for all the memories King's Island both for then...and for now and for the memories that are created everytime we walk through the gates.

(sentimental crap I know, but darnit there just aint nothing that can compare to a persons favorite place on earth is there?)

[DegenRider]

(sentimental crap I know, but darnit there just aint nothing that can compare to a persons favorite place on earth is there?)

No there isn't and I doubt anyone would object here.

[BoObKiNoS]

I wish they would bring back true shows in the Festhaus and not just QTV (although recently they have been televising sports games such as the World Series and Football games in there).

Wont ever happen. the reason the shows were taken out was becuase they realized that they can make more money buy just having people eat there than by having shows...and they do. Funny how that works isnt it. True story though.

[coasterrz]

Didn`t the Festhaus used to open for fodd even when there were no shows going on? Seems to me that the shows would bring in more people to eat at the Festhaus since you could eat and watch a show at the same time. However, they probably got ride of it because it would be hard to serve food when the show is going on. Alas, your right and they probably did discontinue the shows because they could mkae more money this way. I think it would be cool if they returned an ice skating show, maybe in the Parqamount Theater.

[PKI Homey]

My earliest memories date back to early KI(before Paramount). I remember that the first thing my family would do upon entering was to walk over to LaRosa's to have lunch. Then we went to ride. I remember my mother used to have to bribe me with a dollar or two to ride The Racers. I thought that it was the most terrifying roller coaster ever. I recall riding the Rotor, the Bayern Curve, der Spinnin' Keggers, the Skyline, the Tumblebug, the Bavarian Beetle. I remember being greeted at the front gates by Dino, Fred Flintstone, Captain Caveman, and other HB characters.

[coasterrz]

I still remember visiting when I was younger. Its amazing how much the park has changed since 1990 when I was 5. I sure wish they would have had their great kids area when I was 5! Unfortunatly I am too old to get the most out of the kiddie lands, and too young to have experienced The Bat and Screamin Demon. At least I got to experience the awesome, IMO, ride that King Cobra gave.

[StXBomber]

Let's see... Where to start...

Well I was not always the thrill seeker I am now, I used to be horrified of coasters! Yes, I used to look at Vortex and think it WASN'T fun! Yes, I was that little guy in RCT that said, "Vortex looks too intense for me!" I wouldn't even ride AE! And this was in about 4th-5th grade! Well one year, my parents decide to buy a family season pass to KI and I thought, well, maybe I should try some of the lower ones.

We bought passes late season, so we could use them at the end of the season and the next, so we go in one day and I convince myself to go on Racer, and loved it. But thats not my story, that's just the background...

Next season rolls around and I'm making progress in facing my fear of coasters. I had ridden TG, AE, and a few more tamer rides, but one thing was missing: a loop. It was time for me to tackle the challenge of going upside down. Since there was only one ride that looped only once, I chose King Kobra for my first loop ever. A friend and I get in line, and all I could look at was that loop. As the first train went by, I jumped because of how loud it was as it went by. As we got closer to the station, I got even more scared. I got to the point that I was about to cry. My friend said we didn't have to go on if I didn't want to, but I wanted to face my fear and got in.

I get in the train, and prepare for hell. As we go up the hill, the only thing I look at is that loop. We turn around, and drop into the loop. I hold on for dear life and scream like a little girl. I walk off and my friend asks me if I liked it. One sentence sums it up: "WE GOTTA DO THAT AGAIN!" After that, I was hooked. Thank you King Kobra, I miss you, and thanks for getting me hooked on coasters!