PKI open year around?

[JPButler365]

People will not go to Paramounts Kings Island for the food or shops in the park during the off season. They are not going to go pay $20 for a meal that they can get for $5 outside of the park. All the shops are over priced on merchadise too. Does anyone else think it is a stupid idea to have Dippin Dots and Grater's Ice Cream open during Winterfest? I have been to Winterfest twice and there were no customers at any of these locations. What a waste of money for the labor to staff these food stands.

[CoastersRZ]

The thing that boggles my mind is that they actually are selling Graeter`s at two locations for WinterFest. There is their normal spot on International Street, but they are also selling it in the Festhaus, right by the entrance doors.

[WooferBearATL]

You're still thinking inside the box on the topic of year round operation. Every proposal I had ever seen only had International Street open year round - though I could see extending it through Rivertown.

The concept of International Street would need to be revised and revamped.

Anything is possible.

The businesses that survive and prosper are those that operate outside the box.

[CoastersRZ]

Yes, I remember hearing rumors about opening up I-Street year round. But as others have said, PKI`s shops don`t offer that big of a value (overpriced) and there is nothing unique to the area on I-Street. Now it would be different, if say a Hard Rock Cafe, was built back behind Face Off, in the valley that used to be the picnic grove, and Columbia Road. (It could also take up some of the preferred parking area. If they had a draw like that, then it could definantly work year round. But I don`t see a Hard Rock Cafe, or anyother of those upscale themed type restaurants moving into or near PKI in the near future. Which is in a way a shame, because those restaurants are usually heavy on theming and the experience, which is the direction that PKI has been taking with some of their rides of late. They would fit hand in hand with each other.

[ragerunner]

I think the best place for a CityWalk or Downtown Disney Concept would be next to the movie theaters by the Kings Island Inn. Remove the Kings Island Inn after the Great Wolf Lodge is done and I think there is a real market for a dining, shopping and entertainment area in Cincinnati. Along with the movie theater add a Hard Rock Cafe, a Parmount Movie Store, Nickelodeon Store, and two or three other themed restaurants like, House of Blues, Nascar Cafe, Rainforest Cafe, a few night clubs and some other retailers like Great Basin. This is very workable as far as the complex goes, getting the Inn's land I don't know about that.

[jzarley]

In the 80s, a year-round themed retail "experience" would have been very unique. Now, however, it's a concept that can be found in pretty much any city of reasonable size. For example, why would I want to drive to PKI in January to shop on International Street when I can have a bigger, better experience at the Easton Towne Center in Columbus--arguably a "theme park"-like experience itself?

I read a great book a few years back called "The Theming of America" which basically made the argument that retail and food service was morphing into themed experiences of their own, and that eventually the lines that define a "theme park" will become increasingly blurred...

I agree with ragerunner's assessment...for something like this to work at PKI a new, much more elaborate facility would need to be built. And, I agree that the area by the KI Inn, the theaters, and near GWL would be the perfect spot.

Unfortunately, I think the idea of just opening I-Street for shopping year-round has missed its opportunity...

[WooferBearATL]

Yup.

I can't see an entertainment complex with the likes of the mentioned places being successful that far up I-71.

Esentially, House of Blues and Rainforest type establishments are more successful in more urban type environments.

[ragerunner]

You are correct that House of Blues does like more urban setting over all, but Rainforest, and Nascar are very much into suburban locations. Example: Mills malls, etc... While people might not drive from Columbus just for this people in the Cincinnati-Dayton Metroplex would. And yes, I think if you combine PKI having parts of it open year round with the GWL people from Columbus, Indy and other place would visit to experience all the attractions next to each other.