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Stiff competition with SFKK and Beech Bend Park (this is the first time I have even heard of this park)? Is he kidding?

And thus the topic name: Experts Guess....

I thought about putting quotes around the "Experts."

Beech Bend did just get a new wood coaster this year. Kentucky Rumbler...You may have heard of it.

But Beech Bend is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Honestly, either Six Flags St Louis or Six Flags Great America probably is four times the competition for Kings Island that Beech Bend is. Heck, Wyandot Lake is probably more!

Experts, indeed.

Thanks for noticing!

I bet people are losing sleep deciding Beech Bend or Kings Island. <G>

Well, now they're more or less losing sleep over whether they want to ride the newly refurbished Son of Beast, or take a crack at the two new woodies that have been built this year, Beech Bend's Kentucky Rumbler and Holiday World's The Voyage.

Has someone forgotten El Toro...which opens very, very soon?

(In a park that is also probably about as much competition for Kings Island as Beech Bend is)

Stiff competition with SFKK and Beech Bend Park (this is the first time I have even heard of this park)? Is he kidding?

Expert my a--. Neither park is competes with Kings Island. Never before have I read that SFKK was a "fierce" competitor of KI. They are 3 hours apart and draw different crowds.

Don't get me wrong. I like SFKK - but it is not a major competitor of Kings Island. They serve different geographic markets.

Have a great day!

Italian Chef

In fact, many people have driven those three hours up to Kings Island to ride our coasters--and they the PKI coasters are better than their KK rides!

I, for one, wish that Thunder Run had two trains and ran closer to home!

Competition? My guess that KI's most competitive market is the greater Columbus area, where it's Kings Island vs. Cedar Point. KI with a 1.5 hour drive, and over 2 hours to CP. Wyandot Lake, of course, best appeals to the locals, rather than as a destination.

In Cincinnati, KI "somewhat" competes with The Beach and Coney Island. The Beach offers a complete, waterpark-only experience, while Coney offers rides, and a large pool with slides. But they can compete for those who are looking for a day or less of fun at a budget - and a lot less walking and hassle! But around here, no park on a similar level.

Indianapolis? Most from there may choose KI, but Indiana Beach and Holiday World are, in a way, competitors. IB offers a more traditional amusement midway, as HW is a family-friendly, "laid back" theme park.

Louisville? I can bet that Kings Island, Holiday World and Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom compete, having seen billboards for HW across the street from Twisted Twins at SFKK. Just like the Fox News billboards outside CNN Center in Atlanta. HW gives guests free soft drinks and parking, plus a large water park and highly-ranked wood coasters, while SFKK has large, fast steel coasters, a waterpark, at an accessible, easily located location at the Expo Center near the Airport. KI is of course the destination we've all come to love for almost 35 years.

Stiff competition with SFKK and Beech Bend Park (this is the first time I have even heard of this park)?  Is he kidding?

Expert my a--. Neither park is competes with Kings Island. Never before have I read that SFKK was a "fierce" competitor of KI. They are 3 hours apart and draw different crowds.

Don't get me wrong. I like SFKK - but it is not a major competitor of Kings Island. They serve different geographic markets.

Have a great day!

Italian Chef

I disagree. If PKI draws mostly from the south, I'm sure they'd love to have a better grasp on the Louisville market.

Believe it or not, one of SFKK's and Holiday World's MAJOR markets is Nashville.

Has been ever since Opryland closed.

And what would those patrons pass on the way?

Beech Bend...now with a reason to STOP. That park needs to advertise on I-65!

I don't think parks 3 hours apart are that competitive. I live 200 miles from PKI and Cedar Point and about 135 miles from Kenneywood and Geauga Lake. There is nothing competitive here as no one goes and most don't even know what they are.

We may hear a add on the radio once in a lifetime. Last thing I seen on tv for Cedar Point was the year they put in Demon Drop.

My 2 Cents.. I live in Eastern Kentucky.. about 3 hrs from either SFKK or Kings Island.. I'd rather drive to PKI when given the opportunity.. having been to SFKK I'm not impressed.. I've heard about how rough Son of Beast is.. but my neck was killing me after riding Chang and other coasters at SFKK... no competition.. PKI wins Hands down for my time and money

Well on my way home from Holiday World last weekend, I passed through Louisville. Right off of the express way I saw two billboards. One for Holiday World, and the very next one was for Paramount`s Kings Island. So both of those parks are definantely competing with Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.

On I-64 in WV between Huntington and Charleston last week, I saw billboards for Paramount's Kings Island and for Cedar Point.

None for Six Flags, though....

Heck, I even saw a Camden Park billboard!

camden park.. they are still running???

Yep. They even got Flying Scooters this year.

From Larson.

I bet people are losing sleep deciding Beech Bend or Kings Island. <G>

ROFL!