kingsislandfan1972 Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 So I have a fun topic to post, what if Phantom Theater wasn't removed in the early 2000s? What if the Scooby-Doo ride never happened? Do you think Kings Island would have still replaced it or do you think it was already on the chopping block? Would it have made it to 2025? Well I'll let all of you decide that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastfan11 Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Even if it survived Paramount, I’m not confident it would’ve lasted through the beginning of the Cedar Fair era. If the ride survived Kinzel, I think it could still be around. But I’d like to visit a Kings Island where the ride wasn’t removed, and instead invested into. There are plenty of seasonal parks with iconic, historical dark rides that have become classics and it seems unfair that Phantom got the axe when it did. 20+ years later and it’s still being talked about. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Phantom Theater was on the chopping block because it needed an massive refurbishment and overhaul. I know people love to look back on the ride with rose colored glasses.... and I agree that it was one of KI's all-time best attractions... but by the end of its life it was in really gross/terrible shape. Over a third of the PT effects/figures either didn't work - or were in such presentably-poor condition that it was pretty embarrassing. Had the park maintained the ride and budgeted for its upkeep the way they could, and should, have... and had the guests respected the ride... it would still be there today. However, IMO it was a victim of laziness on behalf of the maintenance staff, poor budgeting (so figures/effects couldn't be repaired/replaced as needed) and disgusting abuse. That was the overall main issue with Paramount ownership. They budgeted huge on new attractions, and installed some pretty darn incredibly themed-attractions. But to make up for that, they massively cut corners on general upkeep of the park. Attractions, once opened, fell very quickly into disrepair and legacy attractions weren't perceived as worth re-investment. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterJack Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Yeah under initial Cedar Fair ownership, I'd be worried it would go the way of Knott's Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, where it sat abanonded for about a decade and slowly decayed past the point of saving until Matt Ouimet brought in the Iron Reef dark ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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