Yes, I love the cartoon maps. Not really, but those are the only maps I've collected.

Actually I think the Cedar Fair maps are kind of cute in their silly cartoonlike portrayal of the coasters.

Actually, Kings Island's current park map is still Paramount-style. They have simply "updated" them with the new paint schemes and rides since 1999, which is when the current map made its debut, or so I think...could have been 1998. Know it was 1997, though.

Photo 53

Ah yes, spring, before the plants covered the entire walkway. Between that beautiful arch structure and the nice, arched wooden bridges that used to cross the creeks, I don't know which I miss more...

Thanks for that! (Several of these still exist, including at Six Flags Over Georgia and at Carowinds. After KI removed the covered archway from the location shown in TOPGUN1993's photo, they relocated a portion of it over by what is now Chick-Fil-A, but several years ago, that portion, too, was removed, I believe)...

I believe they didn`t relocate it. Rather, they shortened it. Instead of being a connector to Rivertown, they cut it in half, and put tables in it for the food stands in that area.

I believe they didn`t relocate it. Rather, they shortened it. Instead of being a connector to Rivertown, they cut it in half, and put tables in it for the food stands in that area.

Is there an area like that still at KD? I was watching roller coaster the other day, and I had seen something just like that.

^ There is. If I remember correctly, it's by Shockwave, their TOGO stand-up coaster, and located in The Grove, their Coney Mall equivalent. The Grove is directly behind the Eiffel Tower, and I want to say their tunnel is off to the left in The Grove.

Ah yes, spring, before the plants covered the entire walkway.

There are only 4 things that I still remember vividly from my very first trip to Kings Island ever...the site of the fountains & the Eiffel Tower as I entered, riding the Rotor & The Enchanted Voyage (over and over) and walking underneath the vine covered walkway. As a kid I didn't comprehend how they made the plants grow in a tunnel shape. (Which made it even more amazing to me.)

That is why whenever I see a tree...or in the case of Cedar Fair lots of trees removed I grieve because landscaping IS a big part of the magic of the park, even from the point of view from a kid.

Paul, thanks for the continuing cool photos.

I believe they didn`t relocate it. Rather, they shortened it. Instead of being a connector to Rivertown, they cut it in half, and put tables in it for the food stands in that area.

I was thinking that I didn't remember the arch being that long as seen in the picture, but now that you mentioned that it was shortened I feel my memory is not as bad as I had thought.

My biggest memory of the arch walkway was it being cooler under there on those hot days! Anybody remember what year they took it down completely?

Anybody remember what year they took it down completely?

I'm surprised that you would phrase your question like that knowing how it might be answered.

Anybody remember what year they took it down completely?

I'm surprised that you would phrase your question like that knowing how it might be answered.

I'm surprised that it hadn't been answered yet!

Anybody remember what year they took it down completely?

I'm surprised that you would phrase your question like that knowing how it might be answered.

I was hoping it would be answered before a certain Terpy showed up!

yet another part of Kings Island that Paramount destroyed....

yet another part of Kings Island that Paramount destroyed....

Eventually someone who has a better memory than I will supply the answer of when the first part of the tunnel was removed...but Paramount is not responsible for putting the tunnel to rest, Cedar Fair is. The (half) tunnel was still at the park through the 2007 season...it was gone when the park opened in 2008.

Too bad I never really noticed that covered walkway.

I believe there are some photos of it in the photo gallery.

Indeed, the tunnel was split directly in the middle, which then they could convert the other end into a dumpster/freezer area for the popular food stand.

And coincidentally enough, the arch seen in that first picture is almost the exact spot that the new arch was built for the entrance to Planet Snoopy this year!

Anybody remember what year they took it down completely?

I'm surprised that you would phrase your question like that knowing how it might be answered.

I was hoping it would be answered before a certain Terpy showed up!

This certain Terpy is now here with a new and different answer, apparently.

No....not that answer...a different question! When it was first partially removed? I don't know.

But I bet someone does!

And TOPGUN1993, thanks so much for the comparison pictures...I LOVE those....

Indeed, the tunnel was split directly in the middle, which then they could convert the other end into a dumpster/freezer area for the popular food stand.

Am I being too cynical if I think that they got rid of the tunnel to force more people (especially those with kids) to walk past the ice cream stand?

^could be...but I personally think trees must be like Kryptonite to Cedar Fair execs.

Wouldn't that be hilarious if Kinzel fell out of a tree or something as a child and has been exacting his revenge all these years?!

but we wouldnt have a ride called "kite eating tree" then.

Touche!

Photo 52

At first I wondered how they took this shot, but you can easily tell the two Banana Splits characters didn't actually ride.

^After all these years I never actually studied the postcard that closely...thanks for ruining a piece of my childhood.

The tunnel side by side shots are great, thanks TOPGUN1993. It's funny that the tunnel dead ends into a wooden fence. Usually a tunnel refers to an object with 2 openings... not an opening and a fence! Did they rename it "The Shady Cave"?

CoastersRZ, Im glad I'm not the only one who noticed the arch. Weird how little details like that stand out.

This is the bestest thread ever!!!

now that you got me looking closer @ it; it has 2 blue trains instead of 1 red & 1 blue.

What a great thread! This brings back so many wonderful memories.

Thanks to everyone that has shared their photos and videos.

now that you got me looking closer @ it; it has 2 blue trains instead of 1 red & 1 blue.

The Racer had one train of each color on a given side until Cedar Fair turned recar back forward.

This thread keeps getting better and better, I love the side by side comparison shots, really gives me an idea of how the park looked.