Most of us knew from the beginning this would be a failed venture. It's only a matter of time, sadly.

...and money.

Very, very little of it Mr. Hart's or Mr. Lunsford's. The loans are backed by state property.

Apparently my perception of large crowds was due to the weather forcing people inside.

4 days at the fair and I only ventured outside once, at closing time, because I foolishly walked out the wrong side of the South Wing.

Such a shame because the few people I know that have visited KK this season have NOTHING but good things to say about the park.

Noises Being Made To Exempt Kentucky Kingdom From Propsed Louisville Minimum Wage Ordinance:

http://m.wfpl.org/?utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3D%2522Kentucky%2BKingdom%2522%26gl%3Dus%26hl%3Den%26tbm%3Dnws%26ei%3DYhQDVL6nNYvpggTtzIK4Bw%26start%3D10%26sa%3DN#mobile/10090

I was at the fair and KK on the last day. Curiously we were given free fair tickets and parking right before we were to pay at the gate...I am still not sure what that was about. Kentucky Kingdom had a decent crowd. The last time I was there during the fair was in 2007 and even with no admission back then the place was completely dead. We bought two meals, a few drinks and a stuffed sea lion for my daughter. Hopefully other folks were spending some money too. I really do want that place to succeed. Now I need to figure out how to squeeze in one more trip to get that 2015 season pass deal

Noises Being Made To Exempt Kentucky Kingdom From Propsed Louisville Minimum Wage Ordinance:

http://m.wfpl.org/?utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3D%2522Kentucky%2BKingdom%2522%26gl%3Dus%26hl%3Den%26tbm%3Dnws%26ei%3DYhQDVL6nNYvpggTtzIK4Bw%26start%3D10%26sa%3DN#mobile/10090

I doubt that will hurt Kentucky Kingdom. The reason why is because the park is already paying $1.25 over minimum wage.

Beautiful Kentucky Kingdom\2014 Kentucky State Fair footage. Everything after the last Breakdance footage is from the carnival:

Wow that is a pretty good video!

Nice video! Starships are such beautiful rides at night!

I wonder if Cedar Point is removing Mantis in hopes of purchasing Lightning Run? Seriously though this is not good news in any way for Kentucky Kingdom. Been a rough end of the season. PR admission baffoonery (Thanks for that one Terpy), Thunderbird craps all over next seasons possible improvements, horrible fair attendance, and the Kingdom finds itself soon to be at the center of a charged political environment.

Compare Hard Rock Park and Kentucky Kingdom respectively after their first season. HRP was better positioned to succeed at this point then Kentucky Kingdom is.

I've been trying to read around the theme park website interwebs to see some more input on the bad season KK is having, and to my surprise, I think KIC might be the only website covering the debacles.

And do those other sites play a song of rousing KK success or do they say little to nothing at all about the park?

Terp, who wonders.

^They still think KK is the best thing since the wheel and sliced bread. It reminds me of how ESPN has been hyping the college football playoff system lately.

Read the fine print and between the lines, people.

The really telling thing would be to know the attendance figures. I wonder if those will be released. I would assume they will be if the numbers are good or at least manage to beat what Six Flags did.

Is it true that Kentucky Kingdom is quietly, very quietly being shopped?

Terp, known for asking questions.

Being shopped for what?

I would presume a buyer, but with Terpy who can really say.

Its sad to say about Kentucky Kingdom, but I also must say a lot of their failures is the land they sit on, between Nashville / Louisville there seems to be a great need for a Park. Dealing with the KY State Fair Board has to be hard indeed. To the hopes of continued building, operating, or a new buyer that maybe just gets to buy the land and build their own parking lot?

Ever hear of Beech Bend?

I hear it's between Nashville and Louisville.

I also hear great things about a Rumbler.

Then, up Santa Claus way? Nashville and Louisville are both prime markets for that place.

No doubt just think a big park between Louisville, and Nashville could do a new Kingdom, where they own the land, they the investors private or public make it happen.

If KK does not make it hopefully Kings Island could buy back the shoe ride!

I'm going tomorrow to take advantage of the season pass special. The weather is supposed to be perfect. It should be a good day.

You know, while I'm a raging Kings Island fanboy, I really like Kentucky Kingdom a lot. And I think I've figured out why. Their ride selection covers pretty much everything that Kings Island is missing. A fun, compact Woodie, a solid ejector airtime machine, a ferris wheel, FREAKING FLYING SCOOTERS, and a good selection of unique small flats.

You know, while I'm a raging Kings Island fanboy, I really like Kentucky Kingdom a lot. And I think I've figured out why. Their ride selection covers pretty much everything that Kings Island is missing. A fun, compact Woodie, a solid ejector airtime machine, a ferris wheel, FREAKING FLYING SCOOTERS, and a good selection of unique small flats.

Minus the ferris wheel and flying scooters and voila, Kennywood!

And I love Kennywood. It's my favorite park. But it is also over twice as far from my home as Kentucky Kingdom. I can go to KK 3 or 4 times a year and it would be pretty affordable. A bit harder for me to make it to Kennywood more than once a year, tops.

Something to ponder in the coming weeks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MEpeyqjV1Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Video prepared by Mr. Hart's minions several years ago.

I wonder if Cedar Point is removing Mantis in hopes of purchasing Lightning Run? Seriously though this is not good news in any way for Kentucky Kingdom. Been a rough end of the season. PR admission baffoonery (Thanks for that one Terpy), Thunderbird craps all over next seasons possible improvements, horrible fair attendance, and the Kingdom finds itself soon to be at the center of a charged political environment.

Compare Hard Rock Park and Kentucky Kingdom respectively after their first season. HRP was better positioned to succeed at this point then Kentucky Kingdom is.

How is the decision to remove Mantis in any way bad news for Kentucky Kingdom? I don't think anyone on here can say exactly how the Kingdom is doing financially, especially considering your statements are based off of a few** PR mistakes/ perceptions. I think you all will be mighty surprised when next year rolls around. I'll leave it at that.

Serious question, I brought up earlier and never really got an answer.

How long does this version of KK have to survive to be considered a success? I mean they have managed to keep the lights on all summer, is that a victory? Will 2 years be enough or do we need 5? What if it's sold, is that a success? Does it need to turn a profit? KI is a success and many would say it is even if tomorrow it was announced that KI would never reopen. GL was a very successful park. Even in the last few years. So the What about the new KK

More than 5 years.

Just throwing a number at you.

I would say that you can't put a specific number on it. There is really no objective way to determine success or failure here. It's all subjective. One person might already consider them a success simply because they managed to re-open. Another person might deem the venture a failure the moment they close, even if that's 20 years down the road. Ultimately, you have to decide on your own criteria for success or failure, and accept that others might disagree with you.

The park simply being there and open has brought happiness to many people.

To an extent, that's enough for me to call them a success. Now, from a business standpoint, I think my general way of thinking is, if you are staying afloat, you are currently a success. Once you no longer can, you have failed.

Arrow Dynamics and Saturn Corporation are my favorite companies in any industry. Neither exists anymore (though in both cases, their assets were absorbed by other companies, and the situation is a mess). From a business standpoint, both of these companies have failed. That doesn't mean that their successes can't be boasted in other areas.