I love that pic above...Can anyone tell where it was taken from (to get that angle)?

Skyride 1973

Wow. That totally went over my head! (My brain must still be back at the office, since I got to leave early today for Christmas). I thought you were referring to Coney Mall, not "Old Coney," aka, Coney Island, the place that "has it." A little known fact. You can actually see some of the old red sealant on a small section of pathway at Coney to this day. It is located by the fountain near Moonlite Pavilion, right by the Racing Rocket and Super Round Up ride. For those curious, the Monster ride that was located at Coney (and later moved to KI), was located where the Round Up is situated today.

Uh....no...no...no.

Coney Mall was named that later...when Kings Island opened, the area now known as Coney Mall was called Coney Island or Old Coney. The park by that name was, of course, closed at the time. In 1986, Coney Mall got its current name.

Skyride 1973

Thanks!

So, I'm confused. Did the "Coney Island" section of KI used to have red pavers?

I wouldn't call them pavers...I'd call it what it was, I do believe....brick. Pavers as such were relatively unheard of...in any event, it was most definitely red...I only got to Kings Island once a year most years back then...and the surfaces didn't get as much attention from the younger me as they do now! But yes, Old Coney aka Coney Island had a red hard surface...

A-ha, thanks. Very interesting! The sad thing is that I probably walked over those bricks, but just can't remember it!

I wouldn't call them pavers...I'd call it what it was, I do believe....brick. Pavers as such were relatively unheard of...in any event, it was most definitely red...I only got to Kings Island once a year most years back then...and the surfaces didn't get as much attention from the younger me as they do now! But yes, Old Coney aka Coney Island had a red hard surface...

I thought it was acid-stained concrete... much like what was used in parts of the then-new Walt Disney World?

I don't think so...if it was, then why on earth would it have been removed so soon....

1975 Photo

1978 Photo

Sometime between 1975 and the 1978 season it was tinted red.

**Notice the square tree planters in the bottom photo

**Addition of the Shooting gallery (behind the current Juke Box Diner)

**Removal of the sign on top of antique cars building

I don't think so...if it was, then why on earth would it have been removed so soon....

I can't imagine they would use brick pavers for the ride pads... I'm sticking with stained concrete.

Then I still have the same question...why was the midway CONCRETE removed and replaced with asphalt so early in its life?

Then I still have the same question...why was the midway CONCRETE removed and replaced with asphalt so early in its life?

I would guess that the concrete was deemed too expensive to maintain (especially with the addition of restaining it every few years), and was replaced with asphalt to simplify surface maintenance park-wide.

Back to the songs...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQAfkYJdbrM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpJMOb4TZGc

Second one might be a bit of a stretch since it's mostly instrumental, but it's an awesome tune nonetheless

Great Choices!

Thanks. Glad you like them

I don't know if this will help, but I attached a more clear photo, of that same angle, I had of the Coney Mall from around 1980. Note The Bat construction underway in the background...

1975 Photo

1978 Photo

Sometime between 1975 and the 1978 season it was tinted red.

Note, that in that last picture, it appears as if the park is open. (There are some cars on the course of the Antique Cars.) But notice how empty the place is! And the Flying Eagles do not have their tubs on yet.

Concrete tinting was very popular among parks in the '70s, but it needed to be restained every 2 years or so. It didn't take long for parks to go back to the old standby asphalt.

What's in the old Flying Eagles spot now?

The highly profitable basketball challenge thingy....

Oh, you mean the original spot? Isn't that a refreshment stand?

1986 was the relocation of the Dodgems to the "then" flying eagles location.

Ah, thanks Paul!

Terp, who was a once a year visitor back then...and never was much of a fan of Kings Island's slooooow (and even slooooower now) Dodgems....

Nope. The original site of the Flying Eagles at Kings Island (as seen in that pictures) is now the home to the very mundane Dodgems ride. The concession stand on either side of the Dodgems, can be seen in that same image (the Skyline, originally dubbed the Lunch Basket) is visible in the lower left corner of the image. The Coney Refreshments stand is visible right by the `Tiques station building.

The original Dodgems building is now the home to storage and also serves as the home for House of Darkness/Massacre Manor during Haunt.

(Pretty sad it is that whole generations of park fans have grown up thinking Dodgems are supposed to be painfully slow and boring. Kentucky Kingdom's were even worse...)

(Terp, with an aside...)

Don't forget that building also was once home to "Cuddle Up" It was once of the least recorded rides in Kings Island History and many people forget about its existence due to its short stay at KI. And yes those are Racers brake levers.

Dodgems..aha. Even though I have so many pics of that from overhead, I couldn't place the building (doesn't help that I've only rode Dodgems once or twice).

Another shot of this area from 1972:

And, for good measure, 1992:

According to KI's Twitter feed, WindSeeker's foundation is to be poured Thursday...

I cannot wait to see the new Coney Mall in person! Moving it back to a nice, high class amusement park area over the old, run down area it was last year sounds good to me! I can't wait to see what the pavers do to the area. It'll be like adding new carpeting to an old room.

I'm waiting for the comments after opening day... "It's ugly, I liked the old asphalt better"...

I'm also hoping Tower Gardens fka The Paramount Story has better things in store for it than its most recent usage, as well....

Even though it may seem like forever away to some, the park has a truckload of work to finish in 116 days.