KIfan73 Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Whether the good old Kings Island Inn/Resort gets demolished or not, it probably deserves its own photo thread. Here's what I've got: These are from 1972, from a visit made by my mom, aunt, and uncle (before I was born!): From the parking lot (it really doesn't show much, except for just how much there wasn't across the street): 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 For comparison, here are pictures from 2013: 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoor Man Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 ok.... this is the type of thread I had in mind. ok... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTD-120-420 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Basketball court right next to a pond. No fence. Not great planning. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medford Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 perhaps it was designed for guys who couldn't "throw it in the ocean" 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted October 21, 2014 Author Share Posted October 21, 2014 An overhead current shot of KII/R: It's always amazed me at what a sprawling complex the Inn/Resort is. When you look at an overhead shot of it, you can see it really quickly (and every section visible has two stories, I believe!). When it was the only show in town, it's size would have made sense. I've wondered how, for the last few decades, it has been able to support its footprint. I don't know how hotels rotate which rooms they rent, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's entire sections that haven't been used in years. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McSalsa Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 From the parking lot (it really doesn't show much, except for just how much there wasn't across the street): Off-topic but: I spy a Pontiac GTO "Judge" in this picture. Awesome old muscle car. Sadly in 1972 they were starting to go "out of style" as the Muscle Car Era was dying...also nice photos of the resort, though to be 100% fair I have never stayed at ANY hotel near KI (we are close enough to drive there and back within a reasonable time fame) much less this one. Edit: Wow, it really is a small world after all. Seeing this picture, I decided to look up "Pontiac GTO Judge commercial" on Youtube for some reason, and guess who did the music for the 1969 GTO Judge ad? Paul Revere and the Raiders, who's lead singer would go on to get married at Kings Island (and then he recently died). So the car has a link to Kings Island History to boot! Here is said commercial: 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted October 21, 2014 Author Share Posted October 21, 2014 Yeah, my mom gets a little ill when she sees what GTOs go for at Barrett-Jackson. She bought hers nearly new from her soon-to-be brother in law who worked at a Pontiac dealer at the time. 1970 GTO Judge Ram Air III 4-speed. I guess in the early '70s none of these cars were really worth anything as insurance rates began to soar. She sold hers for $1500 (in almost new condition) in 1973 or '74. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Count me among those who didn't know that this was a humongous property with grounds, a lake, and nice recreation amenities. A shame that the hotel wasn't cared for. It could sincerely be a premium destination for families. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Had Mr. Lindner not retained it when he sold the park, it too could have been as well maintained as the Kings Dominion Best Western. Oh, wait... See also the Six Flags on-site gasoline stations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted October 21, 2014 Author Share Posted October 21, 2014 The last time I stayed there was last year. That's the first time that I felt like it was just a bit "rough around the edges". While I don't doubt that there have been some people have some bad experiences, it isn't a place you'd walk through and think that it is dilapidated. It is just so (sorry to use the word again) sprawling, that all the small maintenance things it needs kind of adds up. I hope someone on here may have some more in-depth pics of it in its prime. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McSalsa Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Yeah, my mom gets a little ill when she sees what GTOs go for at Barrett-Jackson. She bought hers nearly new from her soon-to-be brother in law who worked at a Pontiac dealer at the time. 1970 GTO Judge Ram Air III 4-speed. I guess in the early '70s none of these cars were really worth anything as insurance rates began to soar. She sold hers for $1500 (in almost new condition) in 1973 or '74. Oh dear- I just looked some stuff up on a web site called Nadaguides which games you a basic estimate of what a car/classic car is worth, and based it on these comments: today that GTO, according to them... Runs but could def. use some work: $39,620 Runs great and is in good shape with only minor issues: $71,820 Excellent Condition with only VERY minor issues: $173,320 Then again, some solace: your mother is likely not the only one kicking herself as many of these old school classic cars were once around, then sold thinking they would never be popular again. The price tags they get these days however suggests otherwise. Here's the link where I got these prices: http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1970/Pontiac/GTO/2-Door-Hardtop-Judge/Values Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 A price guide is one thing. Getting a willing buyer to actually pay the so-called value for a collector's item is often another. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 As a person who dabbles in collectible a (model trains, slot cars, comics, etc) something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it..... In my years I have vastly under and over paid for collectible items. I sold a non-running 65 Mustang for $250 cash and an old train.... The train is worth, in a book, $400-700... To the kid who traded it to me, it was probably worth $100.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI-ORIG-EMP Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 That is why I always laughed at Auction Wars and all the value of the items that those junk hunters gave. Yea, you say it is worth that much, but how long did it take for you to sell those items and what was the dollar amount you received for them. But I once paid $200 for a 67 Mustang that was a piece of junk but I put 10,000 miles on it to and from work and leisure. But to me, it was worth what I paid. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 Just found some photos from a trip in October 1994. A photo from the front: For those of you not familiar with the Resort, you can get an idea, from this angle, how many rooms are in just one of the front buildings (that I have circled in pink in the photo below): A shot of the old sign, along with the bus waiting to take guests CLOSE to the front gate, back in those days: A shot inside: 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 I guess the real question is this: Was the hotel so overrun by competition, upkeep, changing business models, etc that it was unprofitable, or was the land simply much more valuable than the hotel itself? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Or...did someone else make an offer the owner\operator couldn't refuse...for whatever reason? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 A shopping strip developer would kill for that plot of land. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted November 5, 2014 Author Share Posted November 5, 2014 Well, it looks like it's fate is sealed. This is really too bad. The Kings Island Inn/Kings Island may just as well been Disney World when I was growing up. In case you're wondering what kind of place it was in years past, here are some pics from a menu from the "Alpenhorn" restaurant inside the Kings Island Inn from 1980: Sorry about the sideways photos. I've tried several times to rotate them in Photobucket, but they just keep coming back like that. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Kinda Guy Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 www.queencitydiscovery.com for an awesome article on the resort. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgoble3 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 www.queencitydiscovery.com for an awesome article on the resort. Awesome article, indeed. Plenty of history in there. Since that article will eventually fall off the home page, here's a direct link to it for the permanent record. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 Here is a short video I made from some footage I took from 2011 that I came across: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalefan Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 When i went to KI yeasterday for a season pass, Kings Island Inn was still standing. It looks like they are clearing out the rooms and areas right now. The only thing that was torn up was a divider that went to the lobby and some rooms. I just can't see apartments being in that spot due to the freeway noise. If they are going to build them, then they are going to have to build some sort of noise reduction wall. The area needs more hotel rooms then anything. With Kings Island Inn now closed, the other area hotels will be booked full. When was the last time a new hotel went up in that area? Super 8 can use that area for a new hotel. The one they have now is just too run down. I know that there are other hotels down the freeway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsus Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 I hear that nature offers some great visuals while dampening the sound caused by a freeway. Think it's something green and tall... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Kings Island's Eiffel Tower was once greener and taller... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsus Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Ooh, I got this one! It's sinking into the beach! Wait, wrong park. That's Cedar Point and Magnum XL-200.. My bad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upstop Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Heck, in the inns current state, the experience could be right up there with Motel 6... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 Took these photos a week ago...a sight that I never thought I would see. From the photos from when it was new in my original post, to the ones at about halfway through it's lifespan, and now completely gone. Strange they have left up the sign next to Kings Island Drive, as well as the one visible from I-71. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 Came across some more pics of the Inn/Resort when I was browsing through iCloud photos today. These are from 2009 and show both indoor and outdoor pools, and other general views around the property. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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