BoddaH1994 Posted November 21 Share Posted November 21 Kentucky Kingdom announced on a live feed that Herschend, the parent company, had committed to $25 million in capital over the next two years. That likely eclipses the total investment that Kings Island has had since 2021. Silver Passes on sale now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeastFarmer Posted November 21 Share Posted November 21 Yet Kings Island " laughs" at the thought of competition from Kentucky Kingdom! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted November 21 Author Share Posted November 21 2 hours ago, BeeastFarmer said: Yet Kings Island " laughs" at the thought of competition from Kentucky Kingdom! I suppose that's kind of like when you pick on that kid in high school, then they come back to school 50lbs heavier, all muscle. Got into CrossFit over the summer. But let's be honest, that park is in capable hands with deep pockets now. If they didn't pay attention before, they should now. Kings Island's offerings have been complacent at best for half of a decade. A good percentage of their market is in KY and IN. Those people may look for alternatives if Kings Island doesn't make any waves in the near future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivertown Rider Posted November 21 Share Posted November 21 I think KI is concerned with both Kentucky Kingdom and Holiday World. Which I believe is the reason why KI is doing more attractions with Winterfest this year. Also there is part of me that thinks they are holding the family thrill attraction piece close to the vest until they get confirmation on what Herschend is doing. I don't think it was a coincidence that we have gotten many of the same flats (in the case of Kentucky Kingdom) and a coaster (in the case of Holiday World). I just need one of those parks to put in a Screamin' Swing so they'll add one to KI. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeastFarmer Posted November 21 Share Posted November 21 I'll put it this way...I've bought a 2025 KK . I have not bought a Six Flags pass. Part of it is that the park is getting stale and absence makes the heart grow stronger. Part of it has been all this bickering about the park's communication ( I was guilty too, but there's enough division in the world today outside of KI fandom). I wasn't going to do KK either, but with their Christmas event and that pass will get me 50% off other Herschend properties, it's a no brainer. Getting back to KK, HW, Dollywood will be great next year. And maybe this will be the kick I need to get to silver dollar city. I think it works at Newport aquarium as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivertown Rider Posted November 21 Share Posted November 21 It does work at the Aquarium and SDC is fantastic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonHelbig Posted November 21 Share Posted November 21 6 hours ago, BeeastFarmer said: Yet Kings Island " laughs" at the thought of competition from Kentucky Kingdom! Kentucky Kingdom, Holiday World, Dollywood, and Kennywood are very much what Kings Island considers as competition. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeastFarmer Posted November 21 Share Posted November 21 29 minutes ago, DonHelbig said: Kentucky Kingdom, Holiday World, Dollywood, and Kennywood are very much what Kings Island considers as competition. For context, when Kentucky Kingdom was reopening in 2014-15, I was very active in the KK thread here. I was excited that a park could be brought back from the dead and I was a new enthusiast. Most on KIC said the park would never open, never stay open, etc. I was "educated" that Kings Island does not consider the smaller parks as competition and they laugh at the efforts to reopen in their offices. To me, even in 10 people bought a KK pass and didn't renew their SF pass, SF looses revenue. I consider that competition. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonHelbig Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 2 hours ago, BeeastFarmer said: For context, when Kentucky Kingdom was reopening in 2014-15, I was very active in the KK thread here. I was excited that a park could be brought back from the dead and I was a new enthusiast. Most on KIC said the park would never open, never stay open, etc. I was "educated" that Kings Island does not consider the smaller parks as competition and they laugh at the efforts to reopen in their offices. To me, even in 10 people bought a KK pass and didn't renew their SF pass, SF looses revenue. I consider that competition. On the outside, I can see where people would think it's not competition. Having been on the inside, it is. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyano Posted Friday at 07:37 PM Share Posted Friday at 07:37 PM I'm hopeful Herschend will make the right moves for Kentucky Kingdom. I've always felt like the park was rundown under previous ownership, even though they were building new rides. As for what I would personally like to see added to Kentucky Kingdom, I definitely think something a bit more family friendly is on the horizon, maybe an Intamin/Vekoma full scale family coaster themed to the Kentucky Derby? They did say this investment would be specifically in rides and attractions after all. Hopefully this means Deluge finally comes down too. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted Friday at 10:54 PM Share Posted Friday at 10:54 PM There is a certain vacant spot that's in the zoning necessary for KK to build at taller heights which would be perfect for something cool... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortex1987 Posted Saturday at 02:39 AM Share Posted Saturday at 02:39 AM Its probably going to be another show or something. Kentucky Kingdom cant thrive without Ed Hart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeastFarmer Posted Saturday at 03:48 PM Share Posted Saturday at 03:48 PM 13 hours ago, Vortex1987 said: Its probably going to be another show or something. Kentucky Kingdom cant thrive without Ed Hart. Kentucky Kingdom needs entertainment options. I'm sorry to disagree with you about kk thriving. Ed Hart brought the park back from the dead. Had COVID not happened, he might still own the rights to operate the park. But a small non chain park can't survive, much less thrive without monetary input. HFE was likely a savior again. I wish we could have had our RMC single rail coaster. But it wasn't meant to be. HFE is taking things slow but steady. If they stay committed long term, KK will be in the best shape it's ever been in. 33 million dollars in three seasons is a great investment in this park. They likely will invest even more as the fair board evaluates and implements their long term vision for the entire property ( which included,big I remember correctly, removal of the road that bisects the park and a dedicated parking lot for kk in the empty land between storm chaser and Kentucky Flyer). When that is situated, it will give HFE a clear direction to go. HFE is not afraid of investment in their parks, so it will be interesting to see what transpires. They have much, much deeper pockets than Ed Hart ever did. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortex1987 Posted 7 hours ago Share Posted 7 hours ago On 11/30/2024 at 10:48 AM, BeeastFarmer said: Kentucky Kingdom needs entertainment options. I'm sorry to disagree with you about kk thriving. Ed Hart brought the park back from the dead. Had COVID not happened, he might still own the rights to operate the park. But a small non chain park can't survive, much less thrive without monetary input. HFE was likely a savior again. I wish we could have had our RMC single rail coaster. But it wasn't meant to be. HFE is taking things slow but steady. If they stay committed long term, KK will be in the best shape it's ever been in. 33 million dollars in three seasons is a great investment in this park. They likely will invest even more as the fair board evaluates and implements their long term vision for the entire property ( which included,big I remember correctly, removal of the road that bisects the park and a dedicated parking lot for kk in the empty land between storm chaser and Kentucky Flyer). When that is situated, it will give HFE a clear direction to go. HFE is not afraid of investment in their parks, so it will be interesting to see what transpires. They have much, much deeper pockets than Ed Hart ever did. Herschend hasnt given KK anything at all so far and its been what, 3 seasons already? Under Hart it was growing fast. I'm pretty sure KK is going to be the next Wild Adventures where it gets ignored in favor of the larger Herschend parks. Hart had KK thriving. HFE hasn't done jack crap for KK and its been 3 years now. It's not looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeastFarmer Posted 6 hours ago Share Posted 6 hours ago 39 minutes ago, Vortex1987 said: Herschend hasnt given KK anything at all so far and its been what, 3 seasons already? Under Hart it was growing fast. I'm pretty sure KK is going to be the next Wild Adventures where it gets ignored in favor of the larger Herschend parks. Hart had KK thriving. HFE hasn't done jack crap for KK and its been 3 years now. It's not looking good. Ed brought the park back. He added lightning run, then reopened t3, then converted twisted twins and finally added ky flyer. He added things to draw the crowds in. But the park still had huge gaps to fill. Unfortunately, COVID happened, and Ed and his partners were tapped out. 2021 probably brought lots of debt that HFE had to absorb. We don't know the investment they had to make to assume the operating contract. They are wise to evaluate the market and move ahead in a calculated manner. That shows they are in it for the long haul. They've added a Halloween event and now a Christmas event ( 8 million dollars on hardware is no small amount) . They likely have upgraded infrastructure from deferred maintenance, invested in technology and worked to secure a friendly cooperation with the fair board. This is hardly Jack crap. I heard it stated before, if you compared ki and kk by acreage and dollars spent, you could see a different perspective. Ki is 364 acres and kk is 67 acres. So acre for acre, ki is 5.4 times the size. So by this comparison, the $25m over two years is the equivalent of $135m over two years at Kings Island. I don't think they have invested that much in the history of the park. I'd love to see kk have a quick expansion, but slow and steady wins the race. Stepping outside of the emotions, you can the logic behind what they do. They need a rebrand, inject the HFE influence, focus on entertainment, adding rides and attractions to the dry and water parks that will draw in the families. I think that is what they will focus on, and the next two years will do that. Or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted 6 hours ago Share Posted 6 hours ago 58 minutes ago, Vortex1987 said: Herschend hasnt given KK anything at all so far and its been what, 3 seasons already? Under Hart it was growing fast. I'm pretty sure KK is going to be the next Wild Adventures where it gets ignored in favor of the larger Herschend parks. Hart had KK thriving. HFE hasn't done jack crap for KK and its been 3 years now. It's not looking good. You're saying that in a thread which has the title of having Herschend giving a major investment to KK. Kinda falls flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortex1987 Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago 1 hour ago, silver2005 said: You're saying that in a thread which has the title of having Herschend giving a major investment to KK. Kinda falls flat. That "major investment" is probably going to be more shows or something. Not a flat ride/rollercoaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago 6 minutes ago, Vortex1987 said: That "major investment" is probably going to be more shows or something. Not a flat ride/rollercoaster. @BoddaH1994 posted its $25 million over 2 years. Must be some expensive shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortex1987 Posted 4 hours ago Share Posted 4 hours ago 1 minute ago, silver2005 said: @BoddaH1994 posted its $25 million over 2 years. Must be some expensive shows. I can bet though its not going to be anything good. KK is my actual home park and I live right down the road from it. It hasn't gotten anything good since 2019. Lol. We'll see though......... Also, this might confirm that the Drop Tower is fixing to get relocated: ParkFans.net on X: "Any @KentuckyKingdom fans out there? If so, we got a bit of news for you! Kentucky Kingdom is planning to either add a new OR relocate an existing 129-ish foot tall tower ride to one of three locations within the park. Work is set to happen between 12/2024 and 5/2025. https://t.co/i4BmW2VPNV" / X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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