Im just wondering what the park has in mind for the 20th birthday for Vortex. are they going to do the same as The Beast on The Beasts 25th An. we'll just have to see when 07 season opens!!!

Oh I see, you want some biiiiiig thing for Vortex' 20th birthday, but do you care for my 20th birthday? Nooooooo. Man, I thought you were a friend. That hurts man, hurts.

I turn 20 a few days after The Vortex and no one cares. Anyways I doubt they will do anything for its 20th year of operation.

It'll be nice if they at least say something in the park map next to the description of the ride. It's hard to believe that I've been riding Vortex for all 20 years of operation, or should I say I will be LOL.

I don't think you'll see as much recognition for The Vortex's 20 year anniversary as you did for The Beast on its 25th. The reason is simply that, while The Vortex is a beloved ride, The Beast is something that people see as very special to the park. It put the park on the map, it's still voted one of the best wooden coasters in the world. It's like how Walt Disney studios would throw a huge bash for Mickey Mouse's 25th birthday (although he's much older) and probably just do a mention of Donald Duck's. Still, I would hope to see some kind of recognition for the ride. It's arguably one of the best coasters in the park.

That is crazy that The Vortex is 20 years old this year. Man do i fell old.

Hard to believe I started riding it at 7, and I'll be 27 the day before the park opens this year.

The Vortex maybe 20 years old soon but its still going strong. Way to go Kings Island maintance team!

Other than The Beastie The Vortex was the very first rollercoaster that i ever rode.

Arrow's may not have been the best coasters of all time, but they keep going and going and going. Look at Corkscrew at CP or Cedar Creek Mine Ride at Cedar Point. Both rides are way older then Vortex at KI.

Oh I see, you want some biiiiiig thing for Vortex' 20th birthday, but do you care for my 20th birthday? Nooooooo. Man, I thought you were a friend. That hurts man, hurts.

lol well lets see Vortex is better than The Beast, but we need to have a big PARTY for my 20th your 20th and others 20th B-day.

Whoa! 20 Years?!? Crap I'm old! I still think of Vortex as one of KI's newer coasters. Better go take my geritol. Sheesh!

To quote Neil Peart: "Time Stand Still!!!" (Ironically, that song came out in 1987, too!)

Oh well, happy 20th...

Well, The Vortex is the oldest steel coaster in the park (which is hard to believe). King Cobra was the oldest until its departure after the 2001 season.

For Vortex' 20th Birthday: FIX IT!!!

Sure it's still running, but it could use an overhaul... and a paint job. Keep the same colors, just brighten them up and make it look new again. That goes for the trains, too.

But rest assured, so long as it's running when I'm there, I'll be on it!

A paint job? It just received a total paint job for the 2002 season. It still looks fine, compared to the way it looked prior to that paint job!

I agree CoastersRZ Vortex looks fine the way it is. The blue actually looks blue and not gray. The rails do have paint chipped off, but what do ya except when the wheels run over those tracks thousands of times in a given year.

I have a banner that might be instore. Any help to get the idea going again would be nice. Vortex 20th Bday banner for ride station.

Ya very true before they painted it in 02 it looked horrible. The trains do look kinda rundown though.

How about a PKIcentral 20th Vortex B-Day Party?

How about a PKIcentral 20th Vortex B-Day Party?

Okay, I'm in. I just need a ride. Anybody willing to drive 4 hours from Cincy?

I've been riding it for 15 years. I just found out during FearFest this year what an awesome ride Vortex becomes in the back seat!! Only took me 15 years to discover it...

I only ride it in the back seat anymore.

Wasn't The Vortex the tallest coaster in the world at one point in time?

I think it was the tallest looper...

Big dipper was once the tallest and fastests and it was built by john A Miller, my grandma was friends with him. ! and now Im Team lead of it

Tallest looper not tallest or tallest loop.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/617/scan0087bk6.jpg

I only ride it in the back seat anymore.

You will find the front seat of car five to be much smoother. It is the seat around which Ron Toomer designed the ride...

The back seat though is like riding The Vortex normally, but with a shot of boost on different parts of the track. Its like you think you're going as fast as normal, then, BAM, another big shot of speed. Quite startling, actually.

And the front seat of car five has long, sustained floating air...it's quite amazing and unexpected...

I'll have to try that this summer.