Kings Island's Trash Cans

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Trash cans: the useful waste bins that help to keep refuse off the paths and out of sight. Some guests would never think twice about how a trash can looks, so why should anyone care? What does a trash can have to do with how a park looks or feels? Well, it turns out that a nice looking waste receptacle might actually do a lot of good for an area. It can be used to beautify sightlines by making itself less visible across a wider view, or as an easy reminder of what area you're in (think about the bins on International Street vs. Camp Snoopy vs. Area 72). A well-designed bin can block the sunlight from heating the trash inside it while also keeping some smells better contained. 

 

Something I've wondered for a while is this: What roller coaster was used as the inspiration for the Cedar Fair trash can decals beginning around 2008? The different variations of the Cedar Fair icon show a mix of generalized steel and/or wooden roller coasters. There is also a non-descript "roller coaster and waves" logo that I've most associated with Dorney Park. After the Paramount Parks acquisition and CF park logo standardization, one specific decal began to pop up on every new trash can until parks like Kings Island and Carowinds started to introduce metal trash cans that looked more refined. We can see that the roller coaster depicted on these bins is clearly wooden (or has a wooden structure) and has a lift hill that drops toward a left-hand turn. It isn't entirely straightforward since the area where the drop might connect to that turn seems very tight, but part of me wants to chock that up to artistic liberties. Could this be a generic "coaster" only designed for this graphic? Yes, but I want to make sure.

Bin #1 at Kings Island and its counterpart from Carowinds (#2) were introduced sometime between 2008-2011 after the new park logos were finalized and put into use. I believe bin #3 is a former Geauga Lake trash can (#4) brought in after that park's closure, especially since it resembles the pre-Paramount Cedar Fair trash cans with a new sticker. #5 is a rebranded Cedar Point bin while bin #6 shows a somewhat unique white background variant of the decal. Bin #7 from Worlds of Fun uses the 2008-ish Cedar Fair logo and includes the "Cedar Fair Entertainment Company" name in smaller print. Dorney Park's bin (#8) uses the amusement/waterpark icon also seen in bin #4. 

So far I've ruled out: Mean Streak, Gemini, Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Blue Streak, all Woodstock Express clones, all Racer variants, Son of Beast, both Hurler clones, Zach's Zoomer (MAdv), Prowler, Timber Wolf, Excalibur, Renegade, Grizzly (CGA), and Mighty Canadian Minebuster (CW). I could see an argument for: a heavily stylized and reduced Beast, a stylized Shivering Timbers (looking at the lift from the helix), High Roller (again, missing the station and looking at the lift), GhostRider, Grizzly (KD), Wilde Beast (CW). (All being stylized and generalized in some way, shape, or form.) This could absolutely turn out to be a nothing burger. If it really was just designed for the bins then I'm still at least holding out hope for my KI Fun & Safety Guide research. 

 

Kings Island has had a number of trash can designs around the park since 1972. During the Taft/KECO era each land seemed to have its own bin design. It appears that trash cans may have been standardized during the Paramount era, but I haven't seen enough to say for certain. Cedar Fair obviously brought in a ton of trash cans, even slightly changing designs around 2008-2011 and again in 2020. Festhaus received its own style of bins during it's most recent refresh. The new metal bins started to pop up around the park around 2022 and look really good. I wish the brown ones on International Street had some decals on them. Some I-Street text (as seen on some of the 80s maps) would be nice to see.

Do you have a favorite "look" of Kings Island trash cans?

[CedarPointer]

I'm still confused why there was one (1) photo floating around when they did the botched International Street makeover that had the newer trash cans with the classic International Street paint job, and then it was just never discussed again.

[DonHelbig]

Even the trash cans at Dollywood tell a story, reflecting the park’s attention to detail. They’re designed to blend seamlessly into the rustic Appalachian and Victoria-inspired setting and feature natural-looking wood or dark metal finishes that compliments the surrounding atmosphere rather than distract from it. The trash cans at Kings Island and other Six Flags parks distract from the atmosphere. They stick out when they should be designed to blend in. Details like this matter. 

 

[Oldschool75]

25 minutes ago, DonHelbig said:

Even the trash cans at Dollywood tell a story, reflecting the park’s attention to detail. They’re designed to blend seamlessly into the rustic Appalachian and Victoria-inspired setting and feature natural-looking wood or dark metal finishes that compliments the surrounding atmosphere rather than distract from it. The trash cans at Kings Island and other Six Flags parks distract from the atmosphere. They stick out when they should be designed to blend in. Details like this matter. 

 

I miss KI's old trash cans that blended in. 

[beastfan11]

As asinine as it may be, there may be an ROI on theme park trash cans, outside of adding to the park experience…

Read More About Disney Trash Cans, I Guess

Quote

Back in May, Walt Disney World released a Main Street trash can-inspired candy container that quickly took over Disney Parks fandom. Now, guests visiting the resort can purchase new mystery boxes filled with a collectible miniature trash can.