Tower Lights

[Shman]

I'm kind of surprised that no one has said anything about the colored tower lights. Starting last weekend the park began to use the colored lights on operating nights. They basically scroll through all the different colors and word has it this is going to be a permanent thing during operations.

[The Interpreter]

Oh, joy. Welcome to the Millennium Force Eiffel Tower!

[Delirium13]

That's great news, I really like the pictures of the tower lit up during Winterfest and I had hoped that they would use them on regular nights.

I think this is an early sign of Cedar Fair improving the atmosphere of the park. (And yes I know the lights were installed before Cedar Fair bought the park, but they hadn't been used this whole season.)

[CoastersRZ]

Actually, that is incorrect. They did use the lights this season, for Nights of Fire. And I think they had planned all along to use them for FearFest. I certainly won`t have a problem with them using the lights on normal days throughout the summer, as they definantely make the Tower look cool at night.

[Delirium13]

You're right they did, I forgot about that.Of course Nights of Fire took place after Cedar Fair took over so technically...

[CoastersRZ]

Yeah, technically. But I believe it was their intention from the time they were installed to use them for special event. It just looks like they may be used all the time the park is open past dark, instead of on those special occasions like Nights of Fire and FearFest.

[Gordon Bombay]

They are also only using one light from the ground as well as only a few in the tower itself, not the whole elaborate set up Nights of Fire used. Last year at Fearfest as well they had special tower lighting. I have a picture somewhere, ill try to dig it up.

[CoastersRZ]

I believe then that they are using the same setup they had at WinterFest last year, perhaps? I did not attend Nights of Fire this year, so do not know how they had the lighting set up. I know that at WinterFest, they had one light next to the International Band Stand, I believe on the the left side. Then there was a pair on the ground by each leg as well.

[Firefall Pkd]

I honestly hope someone from KD takes notice of good lighting on the Eiffel Tower and brings that cool effect to VA. I didn't get to see KI at night when I was there this summer, maybe next year.

[TheKlockster]

Oh thats awesome! M Force Tower!

One of the things that really made me think Cedar Point was such an awesome park was that as I was leaving the park, after an amazing day (and I didn't even ride their star attractions) - I turned around to see the whole park lit up. Its like looking at a sculpture in light and steel. Kings Island is ugly. Maybe they'll fix that - but they'll need to do something about the lack of skyline at Kings Island.

[The Interpreter]

Lack of Skyline?

They going to Gold Star?

Be still, my heart!

--The Interpreter...who really ought to be looking for the exits, after that one.

[WooferBearATL]

Oh thats awesome! M Force Tower!

One of the things that really made me think Cedar Point was such an awesome park was that as I was leaving the park, after an amazing day (and I didn't even ride their star attractions) - I turned around to see the whole park lit up. Its like looking at a sculpture in light and steel. Kings Island is ugly. Maybe they'll fix that - but they'll need to do something about the lack of skyline at Kings Island.

Well KI did once look beautiful at night.

I'm certain that under the guidance of a firm like CF (as opposed to the great Satan - Paramount) it will again!

[The Interpreter]

Actually, until Paramount came along, Kings Island subscribed to the older Disney theory that a theme park should be a hidden escape, with NOTHING visible from outside the park other than the Eiffel Tower, beckoning one and all to "Come on, get happy!"

[WooferBearATL]

Actually, until Paramount came along, Kings Island subscribed to the older Disney theory that a theme park should be a hidden escape, with NOTHING visible from outside the park other than the Eiffel Tower, beckoning one and all to "Come on, get happy!"

Take a look at the older photos at night.

Outline of International Street was always clearly evident. Tower was prominent. Racer could bee seen for miles. Lights on top The Beast. At one time even the Sky Ride.

[The Interpreter]

Yeah, at night.

Visitors to theme parks came mostly during the day.

The hidden park (like the hidden Beast) was very much a part of the fantasy of unreality that Paramount single handedly and determinedly removed from the park, bit by bit. From altering the skyline by placement of Face/Off to Son of Beast to taking out the Tiques, to removing the Flying Eagles to renaming the American Heritage Music Hall then changing the sponsor to Toyota, Paramount bit by bit took out much of what was Kings Island.

Oh well. At least we still have most of the trees!

They did a lot of good things, too. But aesthetics and the illusion of fantasy were not two of them.

[WooferBearATL]

Yeah, at night.

Visitors to theme parks came mostly during the day.

The hidden park (like the hidden Beast) was very much a part of the fantasy of unreality that Paramount single handedly and determinedly removed from the park, bit by bit. From altering the skyline by placement of Face/Off to Son of Beast to taking out the Tiques, to removing the Flying Eagles to renaming the American Heritage Music Hall then changing the sponsor to Toyota, Paramount bit by bit took out much of what was Kings Island.

Oh well. At least we still have most of the trees!

They did a lot of good things, too. But aesthetics and the illusion of fantasy were not two of them.

You are completly right.

It's mind blowing that there was not more of an outcry when they changed the name of American Herritage Music hall.

Face/Off was ill placed. As ill placed as Italian Job. It only shows that Paramount had no concept of "the big picture."

I think that Son of Beast, though a worthless ride, is artistic. It did work towards destroying the subtle beauty of the skyline, but what is done is done.

I agree with you completely Interp.

[TheKlockster]

I actually think that Son of Beasts structure looks awesome. If they put the Millennium Force lights on it - it would look great - as opposed to now. Right now its totally dark, and you can see the lift hill lights every 20 feet or whatever they are.

[BoddaH1994]

Lack of Skyline?

They going to Gold Star?

Be still, my heart!

--The Interpreter...who really ought to be looking for the exits, after that one.

Dude... get off the stage...

One of the things that really made me think Cedar Point was such an awesome park was that as I was leaving the park, after an amazing day (and I didn't even ride their star attractions) - I turned around to see the whole park lit up. Its like looking at a sculpture in light and steel. Kings Island is ugly. Maybe they'll fix that - but they'll need to do something about the lack of skyline at Kings Island

The only problem I see is that they use those specialty lights for special events and it could take away from the experience if the phasing tower becomes the norm. I'd say use the lights but make the tower just bright white until Fearfest or Nights of fire.

[Avatar]

Boddah1994; you make a great point about using the special lights just for late evening events. During normal operational days they only get an hour or two when it is dark enough to notice. But I think it is a special time for guest each time they come to the park especially for those who only come once a year. I think it would be a memorable touch if that was what they remembered as they left the park.

[RailRider]

There is nothing more amazing than to stand over in Battery Park on the shores of Lake Erie and look at the CP skyline at night. The light show on Milie is amazing, with the towering structure of TTD flooded in bright white spots.

I think the lighting of the structure on Sonny along with the lighting of the Tower would add a great visual to KI at night. Even if you were to only do floods on SOB, would look better than nothing. The lighting on the tower for WinterFest was amazing. I think a strobe effect on the Tower would look amazing at night. Also the same strobe effect on the SoB structure would look great too. The addition of lights on a nightly basis would greatly add to the night time atmoshpere at KI.

[PhantomTheater]

SOB would look good in just spots, like Mean Streaks lighting. Vortex could also use a new lighting package, maybe like corkscrew's with the red lights in the corkscrews or some strobes. The tower must look cool now lit up, it looked cool during winterfest last year when it changed colors.

[adam47303]

Why dont they just repair the existing mercury vapor lights that are original to the tower itself. I like those lights that hang from the top only if all eight of them were lit up and the lenses on them cleaned up properly. Get all twelve of the mercury vapored lights just above the platform refurbished. I like the way those lights put out the green hue that they put out. It is cheaper than putting new ones on the tower. Put new bulbs in every socket on that tower.

[The Interpreter]

Mercury vapor lights are kind of a thing of the past. Lower wattage metal halides could put out essentially the same level of illumination more reliably and more inexpensively. If colour you want, lenses can provide that.

I would have liked to have seen the original tower colour (the darker green) come back, but that isn't going to happen, I figure.

[adam47303]

Mercury vapor lights are kind of a thing of the past.  Lower wattage metal halides could put out essentially the same level of illumination more reliably and more inexpensively.  If colour you want, lenses can provide that.

I would have liked to have seen the original tower colour (the darker green) come back, but that isn't going to happen, I figure.

I would like to see Kings Island Place Solar Panels on the Tower to Power It for a form of Energy Efficiency. I thought of this on how engineers are thinking green technology. As a way to gain a rebate on their taxes. Maybe get Kings Island Off the Grid, Maybe add solar panels to other rides and attractions.

[The Interpreter]

...which brings up the interesting question of what Cedar Fair will do with the few remaining gas lights in the park. . .

[CoastersRZ]

The ones that haven`t been taken out by vehicles in the park running into them. And a few years back, the park installed new floodlights ontop of the Eiffel Tower, above the top 275' platform.

As far as green technology and taking KI off the grid. That is highly unlikely. You are lucky with modern LEED accredited buildings that they are able to be taken off the electric grid. Not to mention the higher upfront costs. A place like Kings Island with lots of rides does not really offer a potential for green design strategies or green ways of producing electricity. The demand for electricity by the rides is simply too much for a lot of these passive systems like photovoltaics. Rides like Flight of Fear, TR:TR, IJST, among others use a lot of electricity. Additionally, most of these rides probably run on 240 or 480 volt service. (I know almost every ride at Coney uses 240).

[adam47303]

...which brings up the interesting question of what Cedar Fair will do with the few remaining gas lights in the park. . .

Maybe they will convert them to electric, but I hope they can refurbish those lights the best way that they know how. If they convert those lights to electric I hope they use those flourescent light bulbs like you can put in a household lamp. I have seen some that can be used for decorative purposes too. For this case to make it like they have never converted they should use halogen vanity lights in them to mimic the original gas fixtures inside the lights.

[adam47303]

Yeah, at night.

Visitors to theme parks came mostly during the day.

The hidden park (like the hidden Beast) was very much a part of the fantasy of unreality that Paramount single handedly and determinedly removed from the park, bit by bit.  From altering the skyline by placement of Face/Off to Son of Beast to taking out the Tiques, to removing the Flying Eagles to renaming the American Heritage Music Hall then changing the sponsor to Toyota, Paramount bit by bit took out much of what was Kings Island.

Oh well.  At least we still have most of the trees!

They did a lot of good things, too.  But aesthetics and the illusion of fantasy were not two of them.

You are completly right.

It's mind blowing that there was not more of an outcry when they changed the name of American Herritage Music hall.

Face/Off was ill placed. As ill placed as Italian Job. It only shows that Paramount had no concept of "the big picture."

I think that Son of Beast, though a worthless ride, is artistic. It did work towards destroying the subtle beauty of the skyline, but what is done is done.

I agree with you completely Interp.

The Italian Job should have gone behind the go cart track and between the Son of Beast right where the King Cobra used to be. The Face off should have gone next to Flight of Fear. Where the face off is now there should be like a little rest park in that area make it a tranquil area of the park. That way the park guests should be able to unwind when necessary. International Street has a reputation to be crowd pleasing and tranquil at the same time. Where the American Heritage Music Hall sits that is technically International Street that also includes the site of face off. I would like to see Kings Island Modernize but maintain its former glory.

[TheKlockster]

The ones that haven`t been taken out by vehicles in the park running into them. And a few years back, the park installed new floodlights ontop of the Eiffel Tower, above the top 275' platform.

As far as green technology and taking KI off the grid. That is highly unlikely. You are lucky with modern LEED accredited buildings that they are able to be taken off the electric grid. Not to mention the higher upfront costs. A place like Kings Island with lots of rides does not really offer a potential for green design strategies or green ways of producing electricity. The demand for electricity by the rides is simply too much for a lot of these passive systems like photovoltaics. Rides like Flight of Fear, TR:TR, IJST, among others use a lot of electricity. Additionally, most of these rides probably run on 240 or 480 volt service. (I know almost every ride at Coney uses 240).

Youre totally right. They run on 480. Even most if not all of the trash compactors run on 480. Tomb Raider, Delirium and Avatar all use electric motors to get them moving - and use enormous amounts of power. I believe the two biggest power hogs in the park however are Flight of Fear and Drop Zone. I heard somewhere that Flight of Fear uses 5 megawatts of power per launch - but don't know accurate that is. Either way - its an enormous amount of power - a need that solar power could never fill.

[adam47303]

The ones that haven`t been taken out by vehicles in the park running into them.  And a few years back, the park installed new floodlights ontop of the Eiffel Tower, above the top 275' platform.

As far as green technology and taking KI off the grid.  That is highly unlikely.  You are lucky with modern LEED accredited buildings that they are able to be taken off the electric grid.  Not to mention the higher upfront costs.  A place like Kings Island with lots of rides does not really offer a potential for green design strategies or green ways of producing electricity.  The demand for electricity by the rides is simply too much for a lot of these passive systems like photovoltaics.  Rides like Flight of Fear, TR:TR, IJST, among others use a lot of electricity.  Additionally, most of these rides probably run on 240 or 480 volt service.  (I know almost every ride at Coney uses 240).

I saw those flood lights being installed before they even painted the tower. That was in October of 2004. Kings Dominion al ready did their lights that way in the late 1990s. Summer of 2005 is when I saw the new flood lights completely installed. They had two of them on the rear on the northeast corner. But all of the rest were still the old rectangular floodlights above the 275 observation deck. I was also talking about the flood lights below the 265 observation deck. And the twelve flood lights above the base platform that are grouped in three on each side. get those four lights underneath the needle on the summit of the tower working to shine on the needle at night. Those red lights just above the middle platform could use attention if you have noticed those they have not been lit since 1999 when they changed the beacon at the summit. I have no problem with that beacon. But one of my wishes is to get an LED twin color beacon a red and white beacon white during day, red during night hours. By law the mid-level beacons need to be lit as well as the top one at night to form that pyramid shape of lights from the view of an airplane to identify the tower on foggy nights.