Reimagining the front gate at Kings Island.

[Tr0y]

I know there is a decent amount of support wanting a coaster to interact with the front gate but in my opinion it would ruin the atmosphere of international street. I’ve always loved the idea of having easier ways to be transported around the park, and what better way to do that than incorporating a current ride Kings Island has, as well as changing the look front gate. As much as it would pain the coaster enthusiast. I think they should greatly expand Kings Island Miami Valley Railroad. What are you thoughts on this?

 

Yes that is the Magic Kingdom station. I sent the Mouse packing, and placed the floral clock in his spot. 

 

[SonofBaconator]

Sure just acquire two more locomotives and passenger cars as well as a few more miles of track

[OverlandTaxis30]

While this idea of expanding the railroad to encompass the park has been talked about before, in the end, it faces a lot of hurdles.
For one, you would need tons of infill dirt to create a smooth gradient for the line spanning the perimeter of the park which has varying topography. 
 
And before you can even consider that, there is the fact that the original manufacturer of the railroad, Crown Metal Products, went out of business in the late 1980s. The current owner of their assets, the Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock NC, uses them only to maintain the currently running Crown trains. And even then, it takes a while. It took them two years to replace the boiler of the engine on the railroad at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City.
 

I hate to be a downer on this, but that’s just the way it is. Kings Island just wasn’t designed to have in-park transportation. The closest thing it had to such was the Skyride which spanned from Octoberfest to then the Happy Land of Hanna Barbara. And even then it didn’t even last a decade. 
 

However, if by some miracle, a mode of in-park transportation can be built, whether it be train, chair lift, or even monorail, I would be behind it. 

Also, I think that the people who think the entrance should be changed don’t fully understand the reason why it was designed the way it was. 
To be a kind a of cavernous gateway between the real world and the park within. As you enter the dark and “see the light at the end of the tunnel” you are at first treated to a small glimpse of fountains and buildings which entice you to continue forward. Then, the buildings, fountains, and Tower at the far end are slowly revealed, and once you are fully in the light, the full view of the street and tower is revealed, creating a grand entrance which welcomes you to explore what is there. 
 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2023 by OverlandTaxis30
Added some more details for clarification.

[BeeastFarmer]

2 hours ago, OverlandTaxis30 said:

 

Also, I think that the people who think the entrance should be changed don’t fully understand the reason why it was designed the way it was. 
To be a kind a of cavernous gateway between the real world and the park within. As you come out of the darkness and into the light, you are at first treated to a small glimpse of fountains and buildings which intice you to continue forward. Then, the buildings, fountains, and Tower at the far end are slowly revealed, and once you are fully in the light, the full view of the street and tower is revealed, creating a grand entrance which welcomes you to explore what is there. 
 

 

 

It's such a Wonderful World of Fun! That entrance is so key to that!

[Tr0y]

2 hours ago, OverlandTaxis30 said:

While this idea of expanding the railroad to encompass the park has been talked about before, in the end, it faces a lot of hurdles.
For one, you would need tons of infill dirt to create a smooth gradient for the line spanning the perimeter of the park which has varying topography. 
 
And before you can even consider that, there is the fact that the original manufacturer of the railroad, Crown Metal Products, went out of business in the late 1980s. The current owner of their assets, the Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock NC, uses them only to maintain the currently running Crown trains. And even then, it takes a while. It took them two years to replace the boiler of the engine on the railroad at Worlds of Fun. 
 

I hate to be a downer on this, but that’s just the way it is. Kings Island just wasn’t designed to have in-park transportation. The closest thing it had to such was the Skyride which spanned from Octoberfest to then the Happy Land of Hanna Barbara. And even then it didn’t even last a decade. 
 

However, if by some miracle, a mode of in-park transportation can be built, whether it be train, chair lift, or even monorail, I would be behind it. 

Also, I think that the people who think the entrance should be changed don’t fully understand the reason why it was designed the way it was. 
To be a kind a of cavernous gateway between the real world and the park within. As you come out of the darkness and into the light, you are at first treated to a small glimpse of fountains and buildings which intice you to continue forward. Then, the buildings, fountains, and Tower at the far end are slowly revealed, and once you are fully in the light, the full view of the street and tower is revealed, creating a grand entrance which welcomes you to explore what is there. 
 

 

 

I didn’t mean changing the effect the entrance has. Just changing the parking lot side we see. It’s very underwhelming. The Magic Kingdom train station does the same effect our current entrance does. Disney’s is just much better looking tho.

they wouldn’t even need to tear down the old entrance, other than just having a train station being added to the parking lot side of it. 

[SonofBaconator]

That’s a major elevation change between being above the park gate to Rivertown station. Disney World’s 4-4-0 Baldwin struggles up a 2% grade.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

While it would be cool, it would probably cost more than several of our coasters combined to do this. Also they would need to probably have to build an incline bridge for the train to go up and down for it to be able to have an elevated station over the entrance. While it would be cool, I doubt it would be worth the ROI. Our entrance is good the way it is, I just wish they would find a way to make the facade facing the parking lot look better and get rid of the ugly banners. You can advertise the new additions in other ways. 

[burlguy41005]

Really hope its left as is....still has the function of hiding the street as was intended....

[Tr0y]

37 minutes ago, SonofBaconator said:

That’s a major elevation change between being above the park gate to Rivertown station. Disney World’s 4-4-0 Baldwin struggles up a 2% grade.

Because of the positioning of the round house the train would be going downhill from the Main gate station heading towards Soak City and Rivertown. From what I’ve measured there is roughly over 1600ft of space between the first turn from the Soak City station and the walkway of the main gate area. I don’t think the main entrance ceiling is 20ft above the walkway more like 12-15ft. Which with that amount of space should equate to roughly a 1% grade. Should be doable, but then again the train would be descending from that direction.

[Cedar Fair Fanboy]

For all the entrance prediction that I see, the most realistic thing they can do is to decorate the entire front entrance with Facades. I think Bryan-Jay 1's version got potential. But if I going to add a few things. Have the windows to be monitor screen promoting different areas and coaster in Kings Island.

[Tr0y]

The station wouldn’t actually replace the current gate, instead it would be in front of it. Therefor keeping international street still hidden.

[Cedar Fair Fanboy]

41 minutes ago, Tr0y said:

The station wouldn’t actually replace the current gate, instead it would be in front of it. Therefor keeping international street still hidden.

Well good luck with getting the track to go through hills, Adventure Express, Banshee, Bat, Part of the service road, Disturb The Beast's forest, along with Mystic Timbers' again, and cut down the prefer parking and also skip the entire train scenery and theme in the original track. I hope it goes well.

[beastfan11]

4 hours ago, burlguy41005 said:

Really hope its left as is....still has the function of hiding the street as was intended....

This 100%. Leave it alone. It’s fine as is. 

[silver2005]

6 hours ago, burlguy41005 said:

Really hope its left as is....still has the function of hiding the street as was intended....

So they can't both hide I-Street and give the front gate a much needed modern facelift?

silver2005, asking questions.

[Tr0y]

4 minutes ago, silver2005 said:

So they can't both hide I-Street and give the front gate a much needed modern facelift?

silver2005, asking questions.

Only if it’s RMC’d 

[BeeastFarmer]

12 hours ago, silver2005 said:

So they can't both hide I-Street and give the front gate a much needed modern facelift?

silver2005, asking questions.

But why?  If anything, remove the vinyl advertisements, add appropriate European accents (shingles) and bring the flags back. Put in pavers, renovate or remove the ticket building and relandscape the berms.  Oh, and add the ornate lamps back.  Update to the past, not to a post modern wasteland that's not fitting to Kings Island.