Rumors about Coney

[westcoaster]

For a park like coney I have to agree it is a substanial investment for a coaster, plus it probably would have started construction soon?

However I'm for one that would like a nice dark ride, a coaster, or a good capacity flat for this park.

I'm sure they will announce something soon!

[TheCrypt]

Things often change rapidly. I know at Canada's Wonderland, their Haunt plans have changed immensely, even at last minute.

[Outdoor Man]

Just got back from Coney today. It was nice, quiet and a good day

for a stroll around the park. Unfortunately, I did not find anything

of substance in new construction. I started by the west parking lot

and circled the whole park. Not one single new concrete footer.

There was some trees being removed by the basketball courts

and Putt-Putt Golf, but nothing substantial.

In addition, I worked Children's Hospital Day last Saturday and

heard from a pretty good source the roller coaster might be

nixed because it would come in over budget. I hope this is unfounded,

but they have been right about The Twister, the floral clock and Zoom Flume.

pilotank

I'm sure that whatever they're planning to do was finalized months ago and they wouldn't be "nixing" anything in the 11th hour.

[The Interpreter]

Um, okay.

Terp, who "learns" a lot about the park business here, much of it not correct.

[CoastersRZ]

And who is to say if it was nixed, that it was in fact in the 11th hour? Any new attraction is a big investment by a park. They are going to do their due dilligence. If something comes up that causes them to think that their investment will cost more, or that the cost of the investment will not provide the necessary return on investment, then the smart decision would be to not install said investment.

Then again, a park must invest money in order to lure in group sales and new customers, as well as to keep existing customers coming back. Fresh paint and new kiddy rides alone will not keep people coming back.

[ConeyKing]

So since the Previous rumor has been put on the self for now is there anything else new that could quite happen at Coney?

[CoastersRZ]

Sure, lots of things could "quite happen" at Coney.

I haven`t heard anything recently talked about.

The interesting thing to watch will be what happens with River Downs next door since they apparently are going to be installing some video slots at some point. I`ve heard rumors that they maybe doing something this winter construction wise. (I did see some survey crews in River Downs parking lot and some soil cores being done back in the summer months. Not sure what impact that will have on Coney, but for sold out Riverbend concerts, cars do park in Riverbends lots...

[ConeyKing]

What kind of options would Coney be exploring if the parking lot's for River Downs can't be used?

[westcoaster]

A few things first glad to see this http://www.coneyislandpark.com/event_calendar.php?cID=37

Secondly flooding is still something that has to be dealt with. Could Coney just thinking build the largest retractable dome over sunlite pool, year round Coney fun.

Maybe a highly themed kids land to return, licensing would be expensive , would spark kids to beg their parents to come to the river.

A river boat return from Banks to Coney the B &C ferry.

A coaster would be nice but like my pike dream of a tretractable dome its beyond cost for a gem of a park.

The most suitable thing would be a small licensing deal for a real kids land.

[CoastersRZ]

Really? Where would the return on investment in that be? The money would better be spent on adding a new ride, or fixing up some of the existing infrastructure. Given the cost of licensing, it simply isn`t worthwile for the return. Not to say Coney is cheap, but for a smaller park, licensing is just out of the question in most circumstances.

And this past weekend, they had Curios George and the Cat in the Hat having lunch, and then walking around the park. They also had "Big Boy" from Frisch`s there this past weekend walking around.

[westcoaster]

My best educated guess for Coney in 2013 would be to spruce up paint, and decorate the park, as I'm sure their new busy neighbor to the east will be the RIVER DOWNS RACINO, part track part casino.

But again to put to much of an investment in LAKE KOMO, SUNLITE POOL, or CONEY we still have to remember flooding.

Could Coney a generation from now be so busy, so incredible, that it brings in 1 million or more folks a year.

Never count this never die even moved park out.

[TheCrypt]

I think Robbie summed this up best. Paint and decorations won't cut it.

Then again, a park must invest money in order to lure in group sales and new customers, as well as to keep existing customers coming back. Fresh paint and new kiddy rides alone will not keep people coming back.

[ConeyKing]

1 Million Visitors, that would be a couple of generations of waiting! The park knows what it's purpose is and that is to be a family friendly park, they still have plenty of room in the back to keep expanding but the park needs a ride with that WOW factor that is unique only to the park that you can't get anywhere else!!!

[TheCrypt]

*cough* Full scale woodie *un-cough*

[ConeyKing]

Does anyone have an estimate of how many people visit coney? I was thinking between 200,000-300,000 people.

[CoastersRZ]

That is a tough thing to deduce. Why? Well the rides side is an open park, meaning there are no admissions gates. Grandparents can stroll the grounds of the ride side without paying admission (they must pay to enter the Sunlite Pool area). Only people that ride rides must have a wristband.

The other reason that it is difficult to figure is what exactly constitutes attendance. Riverbend, located right next door utilizes Coney`s parking lot. Many of those concert goers will stroll through Coney`s property on their way to the concert (often stopping at LaRosa`s in the park, to buy some pre-concert food), and to use the restrooms. They technically aren`t visiting the park, but Coney still makes some money off of them.

I`m choosing my words carefully here, but I`d say your numbers are on the low side of things for attendance (excluding the effects of Riverbend).

I agree that Coney could use a signature ride. Heck even a good family ride like the Flying Eagles would be a good hit. Coney never will be a big amusement park like it was in its heyday (and even the Coney of the 1960s would be small compared to Kings Island today). The rides are primarily there to help sell season passes and group sales.

[ConeyKing]

Besides the rides section of the park and riverbend ect.... How would you say the pool does in attendance maybe around my numbers? I think truly if Coney does't start invest a little more into the park than they have been, that attendance my start to go stagnant within the decade and maybe even decline. Especially if companies that do picnics get tired of the park and maybe want something new.

[CoastersRZ]

Sunlite Pool is not my area of expertise. I work on the rides side and the differences between rides and pool is night and day. The pool make a lot more money than the rides do. They have been investing money in the park. Its just not on flashy new rides. Keep in mind that they did spend close to $2 million on the Twister water slide back in 2009, replacing the Zoom Flume that had been at Coney since 1977.

[pilotank]

I agree that Coney has to improve or stagnation will rear it's ugly head.

I was at the Firework Competition and I bet there was 30,000 people in attendance.

CI has the ability to draw large crowds from southeast Oh and northern Ky.

However, it is going to have to expand in a timely fashion or be taken over by River Downs.

I don't think the current owner is interested in improving the park, but just to

maintain the status quo, which is sad. CI has the potential to be so much more.

pilotank

[The Interpreter]

Coney Island of Ohio is open.

Many parks that overexpanded....aren't.

There's a point in there somewhere.

[CoastersRZ]

Yes, there is a fine line between expanding and over expanding. And Coney will not ever be Kings Island or like it once was back in its hey day as America`s Finest Amusement park.

That being said, I think that there are certain things that could be added to improve Coney and bring in customers. Hopefully something big comes. It has been quite a few years since they added an adult ride to the rides side of the park. They added River Runner (along with Eurobungy and Turtle Parade) back in 2008 and then installed the Twister in 2009. Those were the last major ride installs that Coney has done. Granted Twister did cost a lot of money (just shy of $2 million). But since those years, the park has added a kiddy swing ride, repainted some rides, renovated the picnic grove, and general sprucing up.

Would I love to see a new roller coaster at Coney? Absolutely! Do I realistically expect to see a new coaster coming to Coney any time soon? Not really. I think part of it is a reluctance to put in a big ride like that because they don`t want to overstep their target market as a family friendly park. And a coaster is a big investment. But I also think that the park is a little tentative especially given the future of their neighbor to the East. I don`t think River Downs will swallow up Coney, but the relationship between the two certainly is evolving and could have some pretty interesting impacts on Coney. Only time will tell what will happen. But something is up at River Downs, that much I`m sure of.

I`ll pass on anything that I hear about Coney for 2013 when I find out about it. Right now I have not heard anything.

[TheCrypt]

A roller coaster could come to Coney, depending on the model. After all, something of Woodstock Express' caliber fits both the bills for family and thrill, plus it should be substantially cheaper to build that kind of roller coaster vs. a ride like The Racer (Racer is longer, taller, faster; Woodstock is shorter, slower, less materials needed, etc)

[ConeyKing]

Even building something like Woodstock express would cost around a million dollars! If they are going to spend that amount of money I would suggest two Adult/Teen friendly flats and maybe even a kiddy ride. The park in my mind is no where close to over expanding and may need a ride or an attraction that will bring in more revenue to insure a successful future for Coney!

[TheCrypt]

They spent 2 million on a waterslide, so why not a roller coaster? The dry park deserves a roller coaster other than Python.

[ConeyKing]

I agree with you they need something besides the python, but the pool brings in wayyyy much more revenue than the rides do, so that's why they invest more in the pool. Let's say they do build a good size roller coaster and attendance goes up only by 2 or 3 percent, then the park would have a big problem because if they were going to invest 3 or 4 million into a ride they would Probably like to see 10% + rise in attendance and season pass sales and that could put the park in a financial bind. Another thing the Python has almost the same layout as Woodstock Express so I would like to see something a lot more different.

[CoastersRZ]

Have you even ridden Woodstock Express at Cedar Point? It is a completely different layout than wha tht Python is. The Python certain packs quite a punch for a coaster its size.

And I think your numbers are a little off. You are just speculating and do not know anything about the park`s finances or attendance projections. Heck, I work sesonally at the park in the rides department, and don`t even know if attendance was up or down this year, let alone compared to what they were projecting.

[ConeyKing]

I'm talking about Woodstock Express at Kings Island the figure 8 layout which is kinda like galaxy coasters! Also the python does pack a punch and I enjoy the ride a lot. My numbers are just IF numbers not real numbers just pure speculation. For the parks finances I truly don't know to much about BUT just saying the park isn't going to make a big investment especially while the economy is still in recovery.

[CoastersRZ]

Well, usually when the economy is down is THE time to make a big investment. That would give people a reason to visit the park, who otherwise think they do not need to visit the park. It is all about creating percieved value. If people think that a new attraction adds value to a day at Coney, they may be more willing to splurge and make a trek out to the park. Had they not added anything new, they wouldn`t necessarily have the desire to visit.

[Buckeye Brad]

How great would it be if Coney could build something similar to Quassy's Wooden Warrior?

Pros:

-Fits family demographic (42" height requirement on WW)

-Appeals to thrill seekers too (based on reports of Wooden Warrior)

-Fits in a small area

-If designed by Gravity Group, it would make a great story (local company designs their first local coaster)

-They could name it "Shooting Star"

-It could look and feel unique compared to the coasters at KI

Cons:

-$2 million+ price tag

-Flooding (would using steel supports be better, more expensive?)

I know it is just a dream, but it is a fun dream....

[Vortex]

Wish Coney Island would get a little train ride like it used to have. You see very long lines at the zoo.