The Interpreter Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.d...0369/1085/Local Coaster could be closed for a month BY ROB DOWDY | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER MASON -- The Son of Beast roller coaster at Paramount's Kings Island could remain shut down as long as a month. State ride inspectors are trying to determine how more than 20 riders were injured July 9. LeeAnne Mizer, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, said the state's inspection of Son of Beast could take anywhere from a week to more than a month to complete. The roller coaster was shut down about 4:45 p.m. July 9 when riders exited the roller coaster complaining of injuries. Joe Kelly, spokesman for TriHealth, said all but two of the passengers were treated and released that day for nausea bumps, bruises and minor abrasions. The remaining two riders were kept overnight and did not have life-threatening injuries. Kelly said one was discharged from the hospital on July 11 and the other on July 13. Mizer said inspectors found a cracked vertical wooden beam on the ride during an early inspection July 10. Maureen Kaiser, spokeswoman for Paramount's Kings Island, said the beam is in the double-helix area, which is part of a corkscrew turn of the ride. "The evidence indicates it would not have been visible during the morning inspection," Kaiser said, adding it probably cracked during the roller coaster's final ride. Kaiser said workers perform a three-point inspection -- mechanical, electrical and operational -- on each ride every day before the park opens. She said workers also walk the track of each wooden roller coaster and use a boom lift to inspect any loops on the rides. Mizer said inspectors are looking closely at the ride's structural integrity, but will also interview the ride operator and riders as well as perform an entire review of the ride before drawing any conclusions. Whatever problems are plaguing the Son of Beast, Mizer said the ride will be shut down until those issues can be resolved. The Son of Beast takes riders down a 214-foot hill at more than 78 mph and includes a 118-foot tall loop, a rarity for a wooden roller coaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 "During a corckscrew part of the ride" do journalists not do any research anymore? Since when did a turn become known as a corckscrew, I know when I hit an exit ramp at high speed in my car and make atight turn I dont go "im getting on the corckscrew of exit 15" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 19, 2006 Author Share Posted July 19, 2006 You didn't catch the part about a loop being rare on wooden coasters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIBeast Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Interpreter, what is wrong with this phrase? The Son of Beast takes riders down a 214-foot hill at more than 78 mph and includes a 118-foot tall loop, a rarity for a wooden roller coaster. I'm not sure what you are getting at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 19, 2006 Author Share Posted July 19, 2006 It's a rarity all right. It's the ONLY one in existence in the entire world. . . Not the first, but the ONLY one currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 It seems to attribute it to Marueen that said the corkscrew. I do not think she would have said that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIBeast Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I get it now, Interp. I was sitting here thinking, well, it is a rarity. I guess so much of a rarity that it's the only one. Wooferbear, I was kind of thinking the same thing. I can't really tell if what she said ended at "double helix area", and the rest was the reporter saying it was some kind of corksrew element. Or, did she say the whole thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becca011906 Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 oh i hope it will be open by the second week of aug. we were supose to go next week monday and tuesday but it had to be pushed back 2 weeks b/c of my dh's work so there MIGHT be hope it coudl open by then being that it would be about 1 month... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKlockster Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Come again? It may or may not be open... My money is on may not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster-chickie Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I personally hope that it stays closed for the rest of the season so that they can get it in good enough condition that by next season it won't have to be closed like this again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 Even if the state were to clear the ride, that does not necessarily mean that either Cedar Fair, Paramount's Kings Island or any insurance company(ies) would. . . I am sure the ride will not run again unless and until everyone concerned is happy enough with it they would let their own kids ride. At Cedar Fair, safety is paramount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby_Doo Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I just LOVE how the media blows things up to make it sound like the ride was never safe ...oh well live by the sword die by the sword Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becca011906 Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 oh there is no way i would let my kids ride it... my child is only 6 though he is tall enough to ride I wouldn't let him, although i wasn't going to let him before all this happend... but me on the other hand hope i can ride it this season b/c i don't think we will make it back next seson due to a trip to FL in feb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenban Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Inspection ending does not mean that the ride will just reopen. If something is found that needs fixed or changed it could take a while. After the changes have been made the state will come through again to reinspect the ride. The only way that it could just reopen once inspection is over is by assuming that there are no problems or only minor problems found. Its too early for ANYONE to guess when the ride will reopen. Once inspections are over the park should know what needs fixed and will then be able to say how long it will take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 Where and what did the media "blow up" in that article? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I don't think it will reopen this year and if it does probably not by Labor Day weekend or October. Then they may not even worry about it. Only time will tell when SOB will reopen if it does reopen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenageninja Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Personally, I didn't even think the ride would make it past this season with the Cedar Fair purchase. I don't see it reopening, I see it being torn down over the off season, and landwork starting mid-season for a new coaster in the same spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheeMatt Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I see it being torn down over the off season, and landwork starting mid-season for a new coaster in the same spot. That would be awesome... Cedar Fair could build a coaster a million times better... an Intamin Giga or a Mega coaster with awesome airtime. Kings Island really needs a smoother, bigger ride... Italian Job is smooth... but pfft... it's Italian Job and it doesn't matter because the ride isn't good anyhow... I think they're up to date enough with the family stuff to go ahead and build a new thriller... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstrwomann Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Son of Beast needs to reopen the article the other day said it would reopen this season. This is a signature ride at the park and it's awesome! It's the only wooden coaster in the USA with a loop. We have enough hyper coasters in the USA keep the woodies that we have there aren't too many left. If they do decide to take it down I hope they rebild another one just like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 The article did NOT say it WOULD reopen this season. It said industry experts believe it could reopen this season. There is a world of difference. To begin with, the investigation as to what happened and how to keep it from happening again isn't even complete. NO ONE knows what is going to happen to Son of Beast. First of all, it almost certainly hasn't been decided yet. Second, when it is, the park will announce what is going to happen when they are ready to do that. At least until then, no one can state with certainty what is going to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 It just hit me. SoB now actually has more downtime than TTD. That really is amazaing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 I doubt seriously that is true. TTD is down quite a bit, even now. Do you mean more down time since it was built? Or more downtime this season? If the latter, it could very well be true. Especially since Son of Beast opened late due to the rehabbing that wasn't over until May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I doubt seriously that is true. TTD is down quite a bit, even now. Do you mean more down time since it was built? Or more downtime this season? If the latter, it could very well be true. Especially since Son of Beast opened late due to the rehabbing that wasn't over until May. Actually TTD has been running consistantly all year. And I am even thinking since each has opened in their respective year. SoB was up and down all the time even in 2000 when the track before the loop was always being worked on. Now Millenium Force is a whole different story. It has been down at least 3 times this year for 5-7 days each time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 SOB is like one of those little nick nacks on your coffee table. Really doesn't do anything. Really doesn't work or have a purpose. But boy, it's nice to look at! <G> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzarley Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 SOB is like one of those little nick nacks on your coffee table. Really doesn't do anything. Really doesn't work or have a purpose. But boy, it's nice to look at! <G> Yeah, I think SOB and Mean Streak both are absolutely beautiful coasters to look at...practically works of art. I'm just not wild about riding either one of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Yeah, I think SOB and Mean Streak both are absolutely beautiful coasters to look at...practically works of art. Exactly- looks great. ... tastes like $%@&. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Bowser Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Where and what did the media "blow up" in that article? I think scoob is talking about how the news channels 7,2,22 and dayton daily news blew the news about SoB outta the water.Sob may be rough but I'll still ride it I dont care what the media says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheeMatt Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Son of Beast needs to reopen the article the other day said it would reopen this season. This is a signature ride at the park and it's awesome! It's the only wooden coaster in the USA with a loop. We have enough hyper coasters in the USA keep the woodies that we have there aren't too many left. If they do decide to take it down I hope they rebild another one just like it. I agree that I would be happy if they did rebuild a woodie... but not exactly like SOB. Add some more airtime spots... make it more of a terrain coaster like its father... and keep the loop... We have enough hyper coasters in the USA keep the woodies that we have there aren't too many left I don't think we're running out of woodies... I don't think we ever will... the builders know better than that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow2k3 Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I'd honestly be suprised if CF would do anything positive for SOB. On one hand, you could demolish the ride and "magically erase" all the bad publicity surrounding it. Then again, they'd have to figure in how much it would be to demolish it, but CF is in the hole with this purchase as far as I know. Best case scenario: SBNO... that's about all the faith I have for it. ~S~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 SOB is like one of those little nick nacks on your coffee table. Really doesn't do anything. Really doesn't work or have a purpose. But boy, it's nice to look at! <G> I also couldn't agree more...I really don't like the ride, but I like the "skyline" that it makes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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