I'm starting a thread that I'm going to attempt to update daily (or as close as possible) until Kings Island opens for the season.

I, as I know a lot of you did, really enjoyed standbyme's 1974 thread. I'm in no way trying to compete (which I'm not sure is possible!), but just give everybody something to look at on a regular basis. I'm also wanting to test your knowledge of KI history!

Each time I post, I'll feature a pic from my own library, and your job is to figure out the year it's from. Feel free to post with guesses or comments. If you prefer to just think on your own and wait for the answer without posting, that's fine, too.

On a lot of pics, I may add some mild vintage effects to it, to try and make it a little trickier. Some pics may have some obvious hints, and some may not.

After today, I'll begin new posts with the year that the previous post's pic was from.

Here's the first pic...what's the year?

I'm not very good at dating pictures at all, especially when it's pictures like that where there are no obvious landmarks or references. Besides perhaps the lack of Invertigo which signifies pre-1999, however that's obvious. I'm going to guess sometime in the 1980's, perhaps later in the decade? I could be way off though.

1986! completely random guess.

Cool! I will absolutely suck at this. I have never been good at picking out details.

As always, I look forward to seeing your photos and will comment on them...but I will not even attempt to guess. (Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.) There are people on here that will probably pinpoint the exact date based on something that I would never guess...like the water level in the fountain.

As for my thoughts on this photo...I am not thrilled with the bushes around the fountain compared to 1975...I wonder if they looked nicer from the ground?

Thanks for giving us something to look forward to!

92

Sweet! I'm hoping these types of topics continue every offseason. As for my guess, no idea. 1982?

Ill say 1984.. Not sure when the Topiaries were fully removed around the fountain. but there still kinda there in that pic..

Well I notice that there have been some pavers installed, so that puts it post non paver area, but old enough to still have some design around the fountain. As to the time frame of years this would give you, I would have no idea But maybe I have helped someone out

I would say 1987.

My guess would be 1992. It looks to be anniversary banners up below international restruant!

I have no clue, So...1993! Why not?

I can see the entrance to the American Heritage Music Hall, changed to The Paramount Theater, so it is 1976 or later.

I do not see the Skyride, which was removed at the end of the 1979 season, so it has to be 1980 or later.

It looks like there are TV monitors in front of the stage at the fountain, which I believe was a Paramount thing (1992-2006), so that makes is after 1992.

I see the tram pick-up and drop-off circle with people waiting there so it cannot be later than 2005.

So, I am stuck in-between 1993 and 2005.

I will take a WAG and say 1994.

I see what appears to be the KI Inn bus in the park lot area. But that doesn't help me because I have no clue when they started using it. So I'm going to take a wild guess and say 1993.

Season pass entrance is blocked, so I would say 1991

1990, no one's guessed it yet.

My guess, 1986? I know jdawg posted it first, but that is my guess as well.

1992 was my gut insinct, some others have said it as well.

Well... judging by the Sepia color tone of the print, which Eastman Kodak altered in the chemical processing of Kodachrome film in 1985 to more of a magenta spectrum, I would say 1984.

BTW, the whole first part of that sentence is complete B.S.! I thought it sounded good though.

• trams were still in use
  
• special banners are in place
  
• season pass entrance is blocked
  
• fountains look great
  
• fountains still have internationally looking shrubs & there are trees up & down I-street
  
• stage appears to have an 80's design in platform & color
  
• umbrella's (w/o logos) on tables
  

not sure the year, but it appears to pre-date paramount days

Well... judging by the Sepia color tone of the print, which Eastman Kodak altered in the chemical processing of Kodachrome film in 1985 to more of a magenta spectrum, I would say 1984.

BTW, the whole first part of that sentence is complete B.S.! I thought it sounded good though.

You got me.

(I am guessing that there is probably a photography forum out there somewhere that you could read observations like this though.)

In case you missed it though:

On a lot of pics, I may add some mild vintage effects to it, to try and make it a little trickier.

I think that WILL make it tougher for some.

1992 was indeed the correct year for yesterday's pic! That was Kings Island's 20th anniversary.

Now for today's pic:

2008!

Yeah. 2008.

2008

2008...in...June?

Can someone tell me how they know it's 2008? Is it because it looks new -Diamondback? Edit: oh, I think I know now, Diamondback construction?

This may be the only year I know. 2008

1972.... KCKC construction. Or early in the 2008 season!

^Good idea! Thats my guess 1972!

I ruled out 1972 just because of the strap on the baseball hat of the person in the photo...it doesnt have one of those plastic "push the dots in to fit your head size old school" type adjustment straps.

(Every now and then I have a Columbo moment.)

P.S. Yes...I know the 1972 guesses were a joke.