Great Memories Trip Reports

[Avatar]

Well I have been going to Kings Island since 1972; I was almost 8 years old. There is in no way that I could only pick one favorite memory, because each and every great memory comes with a wonderful story and I would not trade one for the other. It would take me days to type every great memory with a related story to go with it. Besides I don't think anyone would want to read a post that long. I;ll start by typing out some great memories at Kings Island then start telling a story about the first great memory. If anyone would like me to tell about one of the great memories on the list before the others just let me know. Also this might make it so that I would haft to double post, to be able to keep the stories apart. So I hope you all don't mind.

MY Kings Island GREAT MEMORIES LIST;

1) First trip to Kings Island, My Grandfather brought everyone

2) Twenty-man Indian war canoe trip

3) Old Train trips with onboard interactive live shows

4) Rivertown live shows

5) First trip without parents

6) First trip with a girlfriend

7) Going with work friends in our early 20’s

8) Stepson being called up to the Nickelodeon Theater Stage

9) Watching my daughter on her fist trip

10) Watching my mother with her grand-babies

11) Will add more later

Well I'll start with were it all began: Kings Island sometime in the summer of 1972

My Grandfather who was a teamster truck driver and drove a route daily past Kings Island. As he drove by everyday he watched the progress and the birth of Kings Island from the interstate, So he decided to take the whole family including his wife 2 daughters, his son and 6 grand children at that time. This was an extremely rare occasion. Well I being from Indianapolis and my house sat almost right next to the Indianapolis 500 3rd turn, I had no idea what to expect so arriving at Kings Island was like walking into another world. I'll try to keep to my grandfather, he was what you would say an old fart!! He loved his beer and spent little time with his family but loved us dearly. So he paid for all us to get in, everyone took pictures and we all marveled at the International Street and the spectacular fountain under the Eiffel Tower (keeping in mind this was in 1972). He quickly gave all the parents some money and sent us all on our way, because his first stop was going to be the Oktoberfest Der Alte Deutsche Bier Garten to belly up and swap stories with the other old farts. After a short while we meet back up with him and we were so excited and were telling him stories about what we had been doing earlier in the day at the park, (next is one of the great memories) I never seen that man smile and have such a proud look on his face, he had that look like he was going to get the grandparent of the year award. I'll never forget it in all my life, I can still see it as if he was sitting right her next to me now. He decided to take a ride with us, and since we were right next to the Swiss Sky Ride that went across the park that's where we were going, plus he could ride right back!! I was in the same Swiss Sky Rider car as he was, and when we got to the higher part and at one of switch poles he started to sweat and gripping the hand rails real tight. We didn't know if it was the alcohol so we asked him if he was ok and he answered with (another great memory) the following I'm so scared and my ass is so tight that I couldn't sh*t a BB right now if I wanted!!!! Well me being almost eight years old, and hearing him say that was pretty big stuff and very funny. Needless to say he didn't ride back but instead opted to walk all the way back to the Der Alte Deutsche Bier Garten and the rest of us went on with the rest of our day.

I'll pick another great memory soon and expand on it. I hope you all enjoyed the first one as much as I enjoyed reminiscing about it.

[beastbreakdown]

6) First trip with a girlfriend

Wow that brings back memories of my first kiss, which was on the Tiques.

I havent seen that past girlfriend in ages! but on a serious note I'm Glad that Kings Island has made a special place in many peoples memories, that shows you what a great park it is, and how it can touch many people with its inviting atmosphere.

-Chris

[The Interpreter]

...somehow, a first kiss on Italian Job: Stunt Track just doesn't seem anywhere near as romantic or special.

[Pkirocker77]

...somehow, a first kiss on Italian Job: Stunt Track just doesn't seem anywhere near as romantic or special.

Hmmm... Maybe not romantic or special, but strange. Imagine kissing someone in that dark tunnel. Creepy.

[ZosoBeast]

My first trip with a girlfriend:

I want to say this was in 1989-90.

Along time ago, my Dad worked for a place called Ohio Blue Print in downtown Cincinnati. At that time, Kings Island had a lot of work done there with Blue Prints and such. When they needed something in a rush, they would call my Dad and he would have the job done in a jiffy.

As a reward for a job well done, KI would give my Dad free tickets every year. Well, one year my Dad gave me a couple and told me he would take Sandy(my girlfriend at the time) and I up there. This would just be Sandy and Me and I could not wait!

So he drops us off and he heads back home. Sandy and I walk up to the park and give the lady behind the turn style our tickets. She looked at them and said "wait right there"

All of a sudden, park security comes over and takes us to a room behind guest relations.

"where did you get these tickets?" he asks.

"Um, from my father (telling him the whole story about Ohio Blue Print)" I said.

"well, these tickets are stolen so you have to be honest with me" He says

Ok, at this point, I start to panic! I was looking forward for the past few months to being able to take Sandy to Kings Island and I am being accused of stealing?

So they try to call my dad who is still on his way home from dropping us off. I think he could see how visibly upset I was. He decided to let us into the park, but to not be shocked if we were brought back there by park security.

I was thinking to myself, GREAT! They are letting me in the park and I look like a criminal in front of my girlfriend. fun fun!

So a few hours go by and I decide to call my Dad.

"dad, they say the tickets are stolen, what gives"

"nothing to worry about" he says

"WHAT? How do you figure?" I ask

Well, it seems that the lady at the turn style for one split second was reading from the wrong list and she tagged mine as being stolen. The whole thing was a total mis-understanding!

WHEW! At least NOW I could start enjoying myself!

That will just be one of those things that I always remember about the park.

Thanks for reading!

[Avatar]

ZosoBeast; that was a great story, I was hopping for some stories like the one you just shared with us. It’s not a traditional Trip report about a rides and time lines, but about a trip report of a personal moment in our lives revolving around Kings Island.

I would enjoy reading more post like the last several posts.

[KDogg]

I don't have too many memorable trips to KI but I do have some highlights...

Way back when I was a little kid, I didn't want anything to do with the Screamin' Demon because it went upside down. Demon, known then as Thunderbolt Express at Camden Park, would later become the first upside-down roller-coaster I ever rode.

My youth group visited the park back in the late 80's, possibly early 90's. I don't like it when people say they'll ride stuff with me but then don't. One friend did just that on Amazon Falls, saying he didn't want to get wet. So, I had him stand on the overlook and swore he wouldn't get wet there. For some reason he was all wet when I got off the ride...

My best friend and I visited the park a time or two. I never could understand his fear of wooden coasters but had little problem with The Vortex (after I finally coaxed him onto it). As much time as we spent together in the few short years we were friends, the only picture of us together in existence was taken on The Vortex. He wanted to try the EXtreme Skyflyer and I promised him we'd do it the next year, but he was killed in a car accident before we made it back.

A few years ago, when I was in college and on the Student Activities Programming Board, several of us took advantage of the college discount thing they had. One girl wouldn't ride much of anything for fear of going upside-down; we swore to her that Tomb Raider didn't go upside-down. For some reason, she was quite upset with us after that ride. Oh, and my wife learned that when they say put your head back against the headrest on the Flight of Fear, they mean it.

And finally, my trip this year. There's nothing like your kids' first ride on a major coaster, or their first ride on anything for that matter. Only problem is, every time we get in the car their hands go up in the air, and all I hear is something about riding The Beast or Vortex. Come on, CF, announce the season pass deals already!

[ZosoBeast]

Demon, known then as Thunderbolt Express at Camden Park, would later become the first upside-down roller-coaster I ever rode.

Same goes for me! I rode it with my eyes closed the entire time.