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Did anyone who's a little fluffier have any problems riding Lightning Run? I saw a tall man get off because he didn't feel safe first time I rode but that's it

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I'm on the heavier side, but have no problem with the ride.  Granted, it takes the ride op to push (I have a bad shoulder, so I can only push so far) and they look concerned and ask "Is this OK?" but it doesn't seem to slow down operations too much.

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It was noted on their map as a "Coming 2016". I'll post a picture tonight when I get home from work. 

 

Edited to add - actually, it is on their online map here: http://www.kentuckykingdom.com/experience/park-map/

There was  work being done on the coaster with track missing. I did take a picture of that and will post one later today. 

 

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The land being used as collateral was NOT offered to the Kochs, was NOT part of the Request for Proposals that Mr. Hart responded to, and was only reluctantly agreed to by the Commonwealth as Hart and Co. could not get financing without it. Even then, the lender offered far less than was requested.

I am not an attorney, or a finance guru.  I am sure I wil be corrected if I am Interpretting these sources incorrectly.

 

1.  Page One, paragraph seven:  Bluegrass Boardwalk's starting rent of the KK property was to be $400,000.00 and increasing each year the park is open.

2. Page Two, paragraphs two and three:  Bluegrass Boardwalk WAS offered this option to finance improvements.

Source:  http://finance.ky.gov/services/ofm/Documents/4-27-12_SPBC_Min.pdf

 

The statute that allows using of the KK land to be used in this way:  http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Statutes/statute.aspx?id=22653

 

This statement is, of course, from the perspective of the current operator of KK, when BB withdrew and a proposal was in the process of being resubmitted:  "The new partners said they are asking the board for essentially the same lease terms the state approved for the Koch family. Their new offer is to invest $10 million in upfront equity, with the other $30 million in money that would be provided by an unidentified lender. The Koch family had offered to invest about $16.5 million."

Source:  http://www.frostbrowntodd.com/newsroom-172.html

 

To protect the Fair Board and by extension, the taxpayer, all improvements made by the operator become the property of the fair board, including leased rides once the lease is paid off:  

Update 2:35 p.m. Here’s the Fair Board’s Summary of the Terms

1.  Kentucky Kingdom LLLP to invest $45 million to improve amusement park with 

opening in spring 2014. 

$20 million in equity investment and a $25 million loan.  All improvements become 

property of Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB). "

7. All rides/improvements purchased with $45 million will become the property of the state.  Kentucky Kingdom may lease future rides with other development funds in order to leverage more new rides to increase attendance.  When the leased rides are paid off, they also become the property of the KSFB

 (Interesting side thought:  If improvements are leased but not purchased (ie: a flat like Cyclos is leased for five years to bolster attendance, what happens if the operator fails during that five year lease and the park closes?)

Source:  http://wfpl.org/kentucky-kingdom-lease-plan-hart-led-group-gets-approval-re-opening-targeted-2014/

 

My opinions:

The controlling poiltical party will have little influence over the future of the park after th election.  The current governor was pulling out all stops for casino gambling and was repeatedly rebuffed by the public.  I would conjecture that this property would have been an important piece of that puzzle and hence his lack of support in the earlier part of his terms.  One of Mr. Hart's partners is a political rival of Gov. Beshear so that did not help.  If conservatives win the governorship, it would not behoove them to interfere; they would not want to be seen as the party that closed the park.  I am really not sure how they could circumvent signed leases anyway.

KK will never be a KI.  Never.  But it is a good option that it closer to home (for me!)

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Worst production value for a coaster reveal I've ever seen.

 

Horrible.

 

Between this, the website, and some of the other posts made by the park's social media, it really is next to impossible to take this park seriously.

 

I mean, come on. Couldn't even afford to use NoLimits 2? It at least looks nice. And at an acceptable frame rate, no less.

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Worst production value for a coaster reveal I've ever seen.

 

Horrible.

 

Between this, the website, and some of the other posts made by the park's social media, it really is next to impossible to take this park seriously.

 

I mean, come on. Couldn't even afford to use NoLimits 2? It at least looks nice. And at an acceptable frame rate, no less.

It would look a ton better if it was uploaded to YouTube in a higher res. The pics on their site clearly come from the video but are a lot sharper. 

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