RiverRacers coming to Soak City in 2025

[johnjniehaus]

I do think that some guests might get disgruntled or choose not to renew passes but it's probably not enough to negatively affect the park. I don't think anyone should be told they have to be happy about some of the ways the park has cut corners in recent years such as less staff on the rides (I'm looking at you monster and at you dogem!) and reduced operating hours/days but despite some things I think the park could do better (have ice in the drink machine), Kings Island is still holding an above average standard in the amusement park industry. I understand the age old argument of "you could have Michigan's Adventure as your home park" but if I did, I think I'd just drive 4hrs to Cedar Point. Eventually long periods of not investing in a park or subpar investments results in some people just taking their business elsewhere. If Kings Island became Six Flags America bad in terms of ops, food, and investments, I could see myself looking into going to other parks in the area instead. However, KI is nowhere near that point for me. I renewed my pass the other day, added on the all park passport, and got both the drink & meal plans. I'm going to thoroughly enjoy the end of this season and I look forward to making new memories next year too! 

[DispatchMaster]

13 hours ago, DonHelbig said:

Nobody should be expected to just be happy the park is here and take what they're giving you with the product.

That is not at all what I am saying. If I were defending the park for adding nothing, sure, this would be a fair response to that. They have objectively improved the water park with this addition.

13 hours ago, DonHelbig said:

if it's just going to be a commitment to mediocrity.

That adding two water coasters and expanding a kids' area with a new set of slides "a commitment to mediocrity"? You're free to critique, of course, but calling a significant water park expansion "a commitment to mediocrity" does not strike me as a "fair" critique.

13 hours ago, DonHelbig said:

The standard used to be higher. That's the park I grew up with. 

Respectfully, the park you grew up with in the 80's and 90's was a far less mature park with fewer rides, areas, and attractions that what exists today. As such, the potential for growth and rate of growth was much higher then compared to today.

Take the coaster roster for example. It's true that from ~1990 to ~2000 the park's net coaster count went from 5 to 12, and since has gone only up to 15 (forgive me if my quick math is incorrect, but I think I'm close enough), but to expect linear growth would mean the park should have ~25 coasters today, ~10 more than they currently have. While I'm sure those who think RCT sandbox mode is real life would think they should have ~25 coasters, any reasonable observer should, I think, realize that such growth is not sustainable (see: Geauga Lake). Heck, even CP, the so-called "Roller Coaster Capital of the World" hasn't seen nearly the same rate of growth in recent years that it saw in the 90's.

Growth is not, and can not, be infinitely linear. The fact of the matter is that there are few "holes" in the park's lineup compared to the 80's and 90's, and that, I think, is also true of the water park.

[Skyrider]

On 8/8/2024 at 4:41 PM, Gabe said:

The coaster says it's 530 feet long. Is that per side? Cheetah Chase is 1700 feet long, so you'd think if this one is 530' per side, the park would advertise its (longer) length? smh.

The space they are putting the water coaster seems really small.  I hope I am wrong and it will be bigger than the space looks.

[KIBeast]

16 hours ago, johnjniehaus said:

I'm an enthusiast and proud to be one. I think enthusiasts can be picky but they are also the ones devoting much of their time traveling all over the country and in some cases internationally and in general hold the industry to a very high standard. I think the addition of river racers was needed, it was good, but it could have been better. Other parks have clearly done it better. 

I often judge how successful an attraction is by if any of my family mentions it or if people at work or church walk up to me and mention it. For example when Mystic Timbers was announced literally everyone was asking me if I'd heard about the new coaster Kings Island had announced and then when it opened everyone wanted to know if I'd ridden it and what I thought. In 2018/2019, again there were many people asking if I'd heard that they were bringing back the antique cars. Then the Orion announcement dropped and everyone was sending me povs and news articles and asking me what I thought about it. When adventure port was announced I had less people approach me but people were still interested. So far I've only had one person bring up the new water coaster to me... I'm not sure if that speaks to everyone I know being uninterested or maybe the park hasn't effectively reached them and they are uninformed. Keep in mind these people I'm talking about are not enthusiasts. My family members, coworkers, and friends go to KI maybe once a year and CP every couple years and never go to parks outside of Ohio. It doesn't take an enthusiast to tell you Diamondback and Orion are similar rides or that the park needs to have ice in their soda machines. Heck everyone I know was upset about The Vortex closing and they probably couldn't even tell you what year it opened or who manufactured the ride. I think the general public has feelings about things they just don't always have the platform that an enthusiast might have to make their thoughts known. 

In all fairness, a new waterpark expansion/attraction is going to be far less headline grabbing than a new coaster. In your own statement, you mention how the new Adventure Port drew less attention than a new coaster. A new waterpark expansion/attraction is going to fall in line with that as well. 

[johnjniehaus]

19 minutes ago, KIBeast said:

In all fairness, a new waterpark expansion/attraction is going to be far less headline grabbing than a new coaster. In your own statement, you mention how the new Adventure Port drew less attention than a new coaster. A new waterpark expansion/attraction is going to fall in line with that as well

I'm just shocked that only one person has approached me to even start a conversation about River Racers and that individual heard something about it on the radio of all places. I agree that a new coaster generates a lot of conversation but I'm telling you people were excited about the antique Cars. Everyone was talking about that when it was announced. I'm hoping that maybe more people start coming up to me about river racers in the coming weeks because I like to see people getting excited about that park but so far I have yet to see the enthusiasm from the GP people I personally know (not that they are a reflection of the GP as a whole)

[KIBeast]

Sure, but I'm willing to wager a new water park attraction/expansion will garner less attention than any flat ride addition. It sounds to me like that is exactly what is going on. It also seems to me that new water park additions are not going to be a huge draw from any kind of long distance customers. Yeah, they will advertise the new addition in those areas, but is that going to really be the reason anyone that hasn't visited in a year or 2, bring them back? I just don't see it. I could be wrong. I'm not privy to the internal numbers that their marketing department has. It just seems logical to me that water park additions just aren't going to be a huge draw.

[BoddaH1994]

On 8/14/2024 at 11:40 AM, DonHelbig said:

Their marketing department doesn't respond to inquiries from me or @BoddaH1994.

Which of the shills was it that suggested that you only got stories outside of the park’s back yard to justify your job, in defense of the park’s inability to do so with its current personnel?

[DonHelbig]

1 hour ago, BoddaH1994 said:

Which of the shills was it that suggested that you only got stories outside of the park’s back yard to justify your job, in defense of the park’s inability to do so with its current personnel?

I don't recall any of the shills suggesting that, but I do recall being told by someone at the park that the success I had in PR and social media was because of where I worked, not because of anything that I was doing. 

I got stories outside of the park's backyard because it sold tickets and season passes in Indianapolis, Columbus, Louisville, Lexington, Huntington/Charleston WV, Fort Wayne, among others. I used to make annual media trips to each of these cities to meet with producers and assignment managers, share what was new that year at the park. While I was there, they'd do an interview with me, or I'd be a guest on the morning or noon news. These stations haven't been visited by Kings Island PR since I left the PR side in the fall of 2017. 

[DonHelbig]

5 hours ago, DispatchMaster said:

That is not at all what I am saying. If I were defending the park for adding nothing, sure, this would be a fair response to that. They have objectively improved the water park with this addition.

That adding two water coasters and expanding a kids' area with a new set of slides "a commitment to mediocrity"? You're free to critique, of course, but calling a significant water park expansion "a commitment to mediocrity" does not strike me as a "fair" critique.

Respectfully, the park you grew up with in the 80's and 90's was a far less mature park with fewer rides, areas, and attractions that what exists today. As such, the potential for growth and rate of growth was much higher then compared to today.

Take the coaster roster for example. It's true that from ~1990 to ~2000 the park's net coaster count went from 5 to 12, and since has gone only up to 15 (forgive me if my quick math is incorrect, but I think I'm close enough), but to expect linear growth would mean the park should have ~25 coasters today, ~10 more than they currently have. While I'm sure those who think RCT sandbox mode is real life would think they should have ~25 coasters, any reasonable observer should, I think, realize that such growth is not sustainable (see: Geauga Lake). Heck, even CP, the so-called "Roller Coaster Capital of the World" hasn't seen nearly the same rate of growth in recent years that it saw in the 90's.

Growth is not, and can not, be infinitely linear. The fact of the matter is that there are few "holes" in the park's lineup compared to the 80's and 90's, and that, I think, is also true of the water park.

It's things like drink stands being closed, out of ice, short show runs and theaters dark for good portions of the year, watered down events that put the park on the path of mediocrity. The loyalists may disagree, but those that look at things objectively know it's not what it could be. 

[DispatchMaster]

Well on that sort of thing I am definitely in agreement! In fact, I would trade several years worth of new marquee rides for a renewed focus on those things, especially live entertainment. Things were trending that way under Ouimet, but that focus has been all but abandoned since, at least at CP. As much as I love rides, it's the other stuff that creates lasting core memories, at least for me.

[IndyGuy4KI]

4 hours ago, DispatchMaster said:

Well on that sort of thing I am definitely in agreement! In fact, I would trade several years worth of new marquee rides for a renewed focus on those things, especially live entertainment. Things were trending that way under Ouimet, but that focus has been all but abandoned since, at least at CP. As much as I love rides, it's the other stuff that creates lasting core memories, at least for me.

I think there are a lot of people that share your sentiment about this. 

[Tr0y]

So for comparisons sake in terms of size this is similar to Rocket’s Canopy Coaster at Castaway bay.

Rocket’s Canopy Coaster is 35 feet high, and 520 feet long. It’s a two seater tube that too uses water jets to propeller riders.

Difference being that Rocket’s Canopy Coaster also features a tube lift. 

 

[rexpostal]

On 8/14/2024 at 5:43 PM, silver2005 said:

Just look what happened with the Reds a few years back with the whole "where are you going to go?" remarks and their attendance cratered.  I feel Kings Island is inching closer to that territory as of late. 

The "Where ya gonna go" comment happened in 2022.  Their attendance dropped by a few hundred per game that year. Their attendance has soared since.  From 17,000 that year, to 25,000 a game since.  Their attendance absolutely didn't crater.  

[silver2005]

On 8/20/2024 at 1:03 PM, rexpostal said:

The "Where ya gonna go" comment happened in 2022.  Their attendance dropped by a few hundred per game that year. Their attendance has soared since.  From 17,000 that year, to 25,000 a game since.  Their attendance absolutely didn't crater.  

Nope, I stand by cratered.

Reds attendance lowest mark in Great American Ball Park history (cincinnati.com)

[rexpostal]

12 hours ago, silver2005 said:

Nope, I stand by cratered.

Reds attendance lowest mark in Great American Ball Park history (cincinnati.com)

You think dropping 1,000 fans a game is cratering?  From 18,000 in 2021 to 17,000 in 2022?  And then up almost 8,000 the very next year?  I guess.  I see it as barely negligible attendance variance in one year to their highest attendance in 9 years,  but I guess we just disagree on what cratering actually means.  

[KIghostguy]

Today was the last day of operation for Lookout Lagoon, which is being replaced by Splash River Junction. It opened in 1997 under the name Buccaneer Island. The name was changed in 2004 to Kangaroo Lagoon, and then to Lookout Lagoon in 2012. Probably the most notable thing about it is that it was featured in a couple shots of the Ghost Hunters episode that was filmed in November 2011.

I took these photos a few weeks ago, on August 5. It obviously wasn't the flashiest or biggest thing in the waterpark, but I'm surprised the park didn't put out any notices or anything about it closing today. 

[LuvingKI]

4 minutes ago, KIghostguy said:

Today was the last day of operation for Lookout Lagoon, which is being replaced by Splash River Junction. It opened in 1997 under the name Buccaneer Island. The name was changed in 2004 to Kangaroo Lagoon, and then to Lookout Lagoon in 2012. Probably the most notable thing about it is that it was featured in a couple shots of the Ghost Hunters episode that was filmed in November 2011.

I took these photos a few weeks ago, on August 5. It obviously wasn't the flashiest or biggest thing in the waterpark, but I'm surprised the park didn't put out any notices or anything about it closing today. 

Ghost Hunters did a episode at Kings Island?

[KIghostguy]

Just now, LuvingKI said:

Ghost Hunters did a episode at Kings Island?

Yes, season 8, episode 1, "Roller Ghoster."

[IndyGuy4KI]

On 9/2/2024 at 9:42 PM, LuvingKI said:

Ghost Hunters did a episode at Kings Island?

Absolutely a terrible episode in my opinion. 

[Orion-XL200]

I legit keep forgetting that we're getting a new water "coaster." Since the announcement there's not been anything from the park about it. @IndyGuy4KI has been doing more updates than the park has.

[disco2000]

45 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

I legit keep forgetting that we're getting a new water "coaster." Since the announcement there's not been anything from the park about it. @IndyGuy4KI has been doing more updates than the park has.

Um, your FB site since its inception in 2016 has given more park updates than the park has.... Jim is on top of it with his daily posts...

[Orion-XL200]

2 minutes ago, disco2000 said:

Um, your FB site since its inception in 2016 has given more park updates than the park has.... Jim is on top of it with his daily posts...

Tis true, but I was focused on this site when I typed that

[Tr0y]

56 minutes ago, disco2000 said:

Um, your FB site since its inception in 2016 has given more park updates than the park has.... Jim is on top of it with his daily posts...

Wasn’t Jim invited to media day for SSBR?

[marineman]

On 10/21/2024 at 8:15 PM, Orion-XL200 said:

I legit keep forgetting that we're getting a new water "coaster." Since the announcement there's not been anything from the park about it. @IndyGuy4KI has been doing more updates than the park has.

Honestly, and I may be wrong here, I just don't think it's a "home run" build that warrants a lot of attention. Even the layout compared to many other water coasters is frankly pretty uneventful.

Of course, I may be biased because I am not a big fan of water parks. Maybe I will go ride it and be pleasantly surprised?

[WoodVengeance]

17 minutes ago, marineman said:

Honestly, and I may be wrong here, I just don't think it's a "home run" build that warrants a lot of attention. Even the layout compared to many other water coasters is frankly pretty uneventful.

Of course, I may be biased because I am not a big fan of water parks. Maybe I will go ride it and be pleasantly surprised?

If I'm going to be honest, this addition doesn't seem like it was added to make Soak City a competitor for the best water park in the area. More like "well it's been nine years since we added Tropical Plunge so we might as well add something to Soak City so it doesn't look like we forgot about it".

[marineman]

7 minutes ago, WoodVengeance said:

If I'm going to be honest, this addition doesn't seem like it was added to make Soak City a competitor for the best water park in the area. More like "well it's been nine years since we added Tropical Plunge so we might as well add something to Soak City so it doesn't look like we forgot about it".

Agreed! It feels like yet another filler project, like many of our recent ones unfortunately.

And also, they TOTALLY missed an opportunity to play off The Racer red and blue theme... LOL!

[BB1]

18 hours ago, marineman said:

Agreed! It feels like yet another filler project, like many of our recent ones unfortunately.

And also, they TOTALLY missed an opportunity to play off The Racer red and blue theme... LOL!

If you're coming from a park centric view then it's easy to assume that. I've been going to the waterpark for well over 20 years (I only recently learned that I did go to Water Works as a child which I remembered vaguely), I've worked both sides of the waterpark besides the new slide installation with the Tropical Plunge addition. I have been wanting a water coaster for years now, so I can't honestly complain much besides having to lug a tube up which honestly I already do that with several other slides in the park to begin with. The lack of a water coaster in a park is tantamount to lacking a Hyper in the line up. Sure you don't need it but it stands out when you get it. For water park enthusiasts like myself this is a welcomed move, just not where I believed it would venture to. Although, from a logistical standpoint it makes sense as the "shallow" side of the waterpark (think of everything left of Smokehouse) it is non stop slides, meanwhile "deep" (which is everything right of the Smokehouse) has a lot of scanning positions so having a slide complex like this gives lifeguards a breath instead of going from scanning position to scanning position. This is definitely a solid move in the right direction, the name stands out like a sore thumb in the tropical "city" theme they have but I think to say that this is a filler project is complete nonsense from a waterpark standpoint.

Virtually major waterpark around Kings Island has at least a water coaster for years now, we're seriously behind on that front. 

[coastergoblin]

Anyone else gonna miss Lookout Lagoon?

Something about that yellow pirate ship…it’s hard to put into words, but to me personally it had the same jaw dropping effect that could only be compared to seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time. As a kid I one day dreamed of setting sail and climbing on those masts, and dreamed of taking over the seven seas, plundering and pillaging for treasure and gold.
 

I will truly miss the racing exposed water slides attached to the ship, they were slick, fast, and WET, everything you could want in a slide and more. The interaction between you and the person next to you made it feel like The Racer, and I’m glad to see this specific slide of Lookout Lagoon set the blueprint for RiverRacers. The design team KNEW they had to honor the legacy of these yellow racing slides, and will it live up to the legacy? We will find out…

 

Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “well I think you’re forgetting something?” And for those weary eyed readers, you are correct. I’m talking about: the enclosed slide attached to the pirate ship in Loookout Lagoon. Oh, where to begin. See this attraction was like if you put FOF in the water park and cranked it up to 10. I remember opening day 97 rope dropping this attraction in my swim shirt and making a mad dash (walking, of course) to that specific slide in Lookout Lagoon. I remember standing on that deck looking into that black hole of mystery and intrigue, wondering what would happen when I send my body down that serpentine slide.

There I was, grasping the yellow fiberglass tube with both of my hands, feeling that cool chlorinated water against my feet, sending tingles down my spine, the rush of the water was deafening. A guard said “you can go.” And then I went. I remember that intial drop giving a slight hint of floater airtime and just being transported to another world, another time. The bright yellows of the slide disappeared into a black hole, I didn’t know which way was up or which was down, it was like a warm blanket of mystery and intrigued enveloped me, and let me know I would be okay.

This drop then turned into a 90 degree turn to the left, the laterals pushing me to the right, yet my body turned left, a sensation I have yet to experience on another slide. This lateral sensation quickly turned into a drop heading into the Lagoon. A subtle change in angle lead to the lagoon, or the pool as some may say, and SPLASH! A Great Wall of water overcame my body, and there I was, drenched. 
 

From there on, I knew I was in the right place, I was in Lookout Lagoon, while this may be a telling of my story from the first time I rode it on opening day 1997, that story remained the same each time I rode that enclosed slide up until 2024, it’s a shame the park didn’t do a send off, maybe sell pieces of the slide?

 

It just shows I come from a different time, when the park just put a little more care into the guest, now it’s all about shareholders. I wish RiverRacers well in its journey in continuing the story of Soak City, but for now, a large, Lookout Lagoon, sized hole in my heart will remain forever. Never forget the yellow enclosed slide.

Edited 3 hours ago by coastergoblin
Misspelling

[Diamondback_Is_King]

Welcome to KIC @coastergoblin!!! Hope to see you in the park!