fact and fiction

[Purplehaze]

Reported by: Deb Silverman

Web produced by: Mark Sickmiller

Photographed by: 9News

First posted: 7/26/2006 5:33:09 PM

If you've visited Kings Island lately, you might have picked up on some changes.

There's a lot of speculation on how new owners and the shut down of "Son of Beast" could change things at the park.

On Wednesday, a park spokeswoman sorted out what's rumor and what's fact.

You may know them as "litter getters" but Kings Island management calls them ecologists, cleaning up after those who don't pick up after themselves.

A Kings Island spokeswoman says with Cedar Fair taking over about a month ago, the new management company challenged its employees to make the park sparkle more than ever.

"Their expectation, like ours, is to provide a very clean and top notch park," said Maureen Kaiser of Kings Island.

"I've noticed the park's cleaner," commented visitor Darla Coberly.

Full time male workers have even turned in their khaki's and polo style shirts for button downs and ties.

These changes may make you wonder what else the new owners have planned.

At this point, the name will remain the same, Paramount's Kings Island.

And we're told there's been no talk of getting rid of Son of Beast, which has been shut down since earlier this month after a very rough ride sent more than two dozen people to the hospital.

Kaiser also says anyone who thinks the Son of Beast incident has led management to slow down your other favorite rides, like The Beast, is wrong.

She says if the ride feels different than it did a few years ago, that's because the brake system was upgraded about three years ago.

The investigation into what happened on Son of Beast is expected to last several more weeks.

[CoasterXtreme]

Thanks for the update but really still don't tell us anything that has not be said before. I wish they would just tell us what they are going to do!

[The Interpreter]

Thanks for the update but really still don't tell us anything that has not be said before. I wish they would just tell us what they are going to do!

That assumes they know what they are going to do.

Many things remain to be decided. Why can't some people understand that?

There are meetings galore, arguments and decisions that have yet to occur.

And even decisions made may be changed. . .

[CoasterXtreme]

I understand that, but kinsel knows really what is going to happen he has been doing this for along time.

[The Interpreter]

Dick Kinzel said during the conference call that he values the input of the Paramount Parks people as the company goes down this new course.

I, for one, believe him.

At least as to the Paramount Parks people that survive the initial parts of this journey, as the company gains "snyergistic benefits." (AKA layoffs, streamlining and ending what the British call 'redundancies.')

[Kenban]

I used stand that, but kinsel knows really what is going to happen he has been doing this for along time.

There's a VERY simple reason why they can't do that. They don't know what is going to happen to SOB yet. Until the state and engineers finish their reports Cedar Fair has nothing to base a decision on. Once the reports are finished they will then know what the problem was and how to prevent it in the future. Its possible though that the investigations will find other problems its just too early to say. For all we know it could be an easy fix or it could cost millions we do not know and neither does Cedar Fair. I bet CF has preliminary reports but we are not going to hear anything at this point until the final reports are finished and as it says in the article that's is expected to take several weeks. Plus preliminary reports can change as they find out more information.

What if they announce that they are going to repair the ride during the off season and plan to have it open first day next year? Then a month from now a major problem is found that is too expensive to fix and Cedar Fair decides to just close the ride? It's better to wait and give out correct information then say something now and have it turn out to be wrong.