Need help with old park maps...

[standbyme]

I have been meaning to post this for awhile now…and finally I have gotten around to it. I collect Kings Island memorabilia. I have been attempting to acquire all of the old park maps…both the free handout type, and the big type that you purchase in the shops. I have a couple of questions that I am hoping someone can answer.

First off, the free handout type…the earliest one that I own is 1984. Some of my questions about this type are:

#1. Has the park always given out the free maps since they opened in 1972?

#2. Have they always been about the same dimensions as they are now? (I have seen some “Fun Guides†on Ebay from the early ‘70’s that are more rectangular…and I didn’t know if that was what the original freebie type looked like.)

Secondly, as for the big maps that you purchase:

What years POSITIVELY exist? The years that I know for sure are: 1972, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 2002. (There have been no new ones since 2002...correct?)

[Flying Eagles 1972-2004]

The last big map was for the 20th Anniversary in 2002.

As for the free ones, they have existed since the park first opened.

Dimensions have varied a little I think. The 1972 one was more of a vertical layout, with a squareish map. All of the more recent ones (Since Paramount Purchase) have been rectangular, I believe.

Themeparkbrochures.net has a decent amount of old maps/brochures.

[TOPGUN1993]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1984-KINGS-ISLAND-SOUV...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/1986-KINGS-ISLAND-SOUV...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/1987-KINGS-ISLAND-SOUV...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kings-Island-Souvenir-...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-1978-Kings-Island...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1977-Kings-Isl...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...OSI_PR4_PCN_BIX

I have bookmarked these.

[TOPGUN1993]

LOL you bought some of these

[standbyme]

Yeah...I go to Ebay all the time. One of the tougher things is that some people who have maps call them brochures and vice-versa, so that gets a little confusing.

[TOPGUN1993]

I have a 1982 big map

[coastermike]

I have the information booklet from 1974, the first year I visited Kings Island, and it was pocket-sized for that year. It was posted on the old Pkiconnection site a few years ago.

Mike B.

[Robert_Waring]

I've been trying to get an old map off Ebay for well over a year now, but they go for insane prices. I'm willing to pay 20-30 bucks, but I've seen them go for as high at 142.00 dollars. that's a bit more than I'm gonna pay for a map, but I keep my eye open for one to come along at a decent price.

[A_Titanic_Mess]

The last big map was for the 20th Anniversary in 2002.

The map produced in 2002 was for the 30th anniversary, not the 20th. I was on the team that designed the map for the souvenir shops. It came out late in the 2002 season due to a delay in the Paramount Pictures approval process. TRTR was new, and everything with TRTR on it had to go back to the studio for approval. Around 1000 to 1200 souvenir maps were printed, but only a few hundred sold. You could probably contact PKI merchandise and purchase one if they have not wrote them off the books and trashed them. They tend to keep merchandise for several years even though it is outdated. It usually is about 5 years after an item is introduced before they can write-off and dispose of old inventory. You might get lucky and be able to still get one.

[Robert_Waring]

You could probably contact PKI merchandise

Do you have a contact, or can you tell me how to contact them? I'd love to get hold of one of those maps. You can email me at Rookies@ToppsRookies.com and let me know anything you can.

[Shaggy]

Sorry, I just noticed this post.

I, like you, have collected KI park maps and brochures for years. Actually, it's the only "must have" park-related items I collect.

My collection is virtually complete, and I own a park map and brochure from each season since KI's opening, as well as all of the Winterfest years. Actually, I even have the promotional brochures and maps that they offered at Cincinnati's Coney Island before KI opened.

I have not looked at them in a year or so, they are safely tucked away at home. So to fully answer your questions, I'll have to do some digging.

Answers that I do recall off of the top of my head are:

#1. Yes, they have always given out maps since the park opened. At first, the maps came in booklets called "Fun Guides." These were little pocket-sized handbooks that had all of the park info as well as other handy things. For instance, there was a spot on the back for you to write down where you parked your car (i.e. Bamm Bamm Row 3.) This also leads one to believe that originally the park handed maps to guests as they entered the parking lot, which is a courtesy that has come and gone and come and gone, over the years.

#2. They have changed size and proportions over the years. In the late 1970s, the park maps became more brochure-like. Then in the mid 1980's, the park went back to more of a "Fun Guide" styling although not as small as the originals. In the later Paramount years, park maps took on the brochure fold-out format and they have maintained that layout most recently. However, since 2000, the park has started issuing date-specific park maps. One for each month of the season, that way they could include references and times for attractions that were only there for specific time periods (like the Nick Parade, Titanic Exhibit, etc.)

I'll have to check into the jumbo park maps for you. I have those too, but really there have not been as many as you think there would be after nearly 35 years of business.

I know there was the original jumbo map, then it was altered when the Wild Animal Habitat was added, then again when Coney Mall was expanded. They sold a jumbo map when Screamin' Demon was built, then when Beast was built, then Bat. Next, there seemed to be a lull between maps. They sold one when Coney Mall was re-done, blah blah blah. The only jumbo park map sold in the Paramount Years TMK was the recent 30th anniversary one still offered at the park.

Here's an interesting item of trivia. When Paramount took over, the jumbo park map ceased production because the park switched printers. I was told that originally the park had signed a long-term deal with a local printer to print the jumbo park maps. When PKI singed on with a new printer, the old park map deal still stood. So PKI refrained from business with the old supplier, and could not outsource it to a new printer. Also, the cost of printing the park maps was outweighing the profit they made from them.

One thing I am most anxious to see with the CF takeover is a new park map potentially being sold at the park every year, and updated each season. CP annually produces an up-to-date jumbo park map and sells it for around $1.00. It's one of my favorite things about Cedar Point.

Actually, most of the knowledge I have about ride locations, remodels, installs etc at KI through the years came not only from visiting, but also studying and collecting the parks maps and brochures through the years. There's lots of interesting things to be found just by looking at them. For instance, did you know that Hanna Barbera was originally supposed to be called "The Happy Kingdom?"

Finally, I was terribly dissapointed when I recently obtained this year's promotional brochure for PKI. Instead of the fold-out detailed brochure the park has ALWAYS offered, this year it's literally a one-sheet, brochure sized card-stock piece with hardly anything but the park name and the calendar on it. It's a sad piece (obviously produced on the cheap to cut costs) compared to what the park has always previously offered at various tourist info centers.

Shaggy

[KIBeast]

Great info, Shaggy. I usually grab a park map every time I go, but I don't have them for every year, just when I have been. Mostly, I collect on-ride photos. I have one for Vortex, IJ:ST, Face/Off, Son of Beast. I have others, but they were taken with ex-girlfriends. Now, I have learned a lesson. Only buy on-ride photos with friends, not girlfriends. Now, I need to go back and get one for The Beast, again.

[standbyme]

Shaggy....I knew that I could count on you...and I always do! Your info was real helpful. If you ever feel like digging out your "big maps" and figuring out the years that would be cool....until then I will just keep checking Ebay.

I have bought several publicity folders....and as you know those come with the brochers not the map type...so currently I actually have more of the '80's brochers than I do of the hand-out maps.

As a side note, which would also qualify for the "You know you're a PKI addict if..." thread...I spent $74.00 for my 1972 "big map" about 5 years ago...and then over $200.00 more to have it framed & matted with ultraviolet light proof glass...but it does look great!

[KIBeast]

As a side note, which would also qualify for the "You know you're a PKI addict if..." thread...I spent $74.00 for my 1972 "big map" about 5 years ago...and then over $200.00 more to have it framed & matted with ultraviolet light proof glass...but it does look great!

Obsessed, are we?

[Shaggy]

LOL, his post has me thinking I may need to sell off some of my KI items... that's a lot of dogh! Ha Ha!

Shaggy

[TOPGUN1993]

As a side note, which would also qualify for the "You know you're a PKI addict if..." thread...I spent $74.00 for my 1972 "big map" about 5 years ago...and then over $200.00 more to have it framed & matted with ultraviolet light proof glass...but it does look great!

I did the same thing with my 1982 PKI map LOL

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pkiguy1/deta...re2.jpg&.src=ph

[Jasper]

I have one of the big 30th Anniversary maps and it is hanging on my wall and to the right of it is a free one.

[A_Titanic_Mess]

Here's an interesting item of trivia. When Paramount took over, the jumbo park map ceased production because the park switched printers. I was told that originally the park had signed a long-term deal with a local printer to print the jumbo park maps. When PKI singed on with a new printer, the old park map deal still stood. So PKI refrained from business with the old supplier, and could not outsource it to a new printer. Also, the cost of printing the park maps was outweighing the profit they made from them.

The 30th anniversary map cost close to $1.05 to have made. The maps retailed for $2.99 I believe. The whole printing issue still existed when the last souvenir map was printed. The issue is that the design studio that actually illustrates the map is the only one that can print them. It is written in their contract. PKI does use a local printing company to do all of their other collateral. The local printer was going to be able to print the souvenir maps at a cost of less than $.40 each. However, given the existing contract, this was not permitted. Thus the maps cost close to $1.05 each to print, and resulted in a $2.99 retail. A small price to pay though for a souvenir from PKI in my opinion. By the way, the price for the map illustration was incredibly outrageous, in the tens of thousands if I remember correctly. The good part is that only small adjustments needed to be made each year since most of the artwork stayed the same, so no additional major costs were incurred.

[CoastersRZ]

The printer that PKI uses is Spring Dot. They were formerly called Sidney Printing Works prior to 2000.

[RingMaster]

Mostly, I collect on-ride photos. I have one for Vortex, IJ:ST, Face/Off, Son of Beast. I have others, but they were taken with ex-girlfriends. Now, I have learned a lesson. Only buy on-ride photos with friends, not girlfriends. Now, I need to go back and get one for The Beast, again.

....since when did Face/Off have an on-ride photo?

[The Interpreter]

Since its media day?

[GrandPoobah]

Does it still have ride photo?

[CoastersRZ]

No, they removed it in 2002 or 2003. The supports for the cameras are still there between the vertical loop and the lift hill. Also, the conduit is still visible over next to the restrooms where the photo booth actually resided.

[TOPGUN1993]

Did AE have a on ride Photo ?

[Shaggy]

Yes, Adventure Express used to have an On Ride Photo as well. The booth was located where the remote control car attraction now is.

Shaggy

[CoastersRZ]

And the location of the camera was at the drop right before the first tunnel, if my memory serves me correct.