Reclaimer Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 MASON — Visitors to Kings Island will notice the new owner making changes at the 35-year-old amusement park. There's a new name, new ticket prices and admissions policies, a used roller coaster trucked in from another park and more shows added to the entertainment. Paramount's is gone from the name, after Cedar Fair LP purchased Kings Island along with CBS's amusement park division last summer for $1.24 billion. The Sandusky company also owns Kings Island's long-time rival Cedar Point. Both parks competed for attention and customers by building bigger and faster roller coasters. This year, the new ride is an old ride Cedar Fair officials decided to move to Kings Island. Trucks are hauling more than 300 pieces of the coaster, to be renamed from X-Flight to Firehawk, from Geauga Lake in Aurora near Cleveland. The ride is scheduled to open Memorial Day. Spokeswoman Maureen Kaiser said she rode the coaster at Geauga Lake and calls it awesome. Readers commenting on the newspaper's Web site cheered the addition of the ride while others said that Kings Island and Cedar Point used to try to out-do each other with new coasters instead of offering a ride already seen in another park. "This is very disappointing. I now live in Columbus but I grew up in Trenton and have been to KI many times. My wife has family near Cleveland and we have been to Geauga Lake several times as well," reader Michael Hansford wrote on the Web site. "Now that Cedar Point owns both KI and Geauga Lake, instead of investing in new rides, they are going to scavenge from one park and 'invest' in the others. This does nothing but hurt those that enjoy the lower cost of Geauga Lake, forcing them to pay higher prices and travel further for the better rides." Kaiser defended Cedar Fair's move and said that it is commonplace in the amusement park industry to move rides from one property to another. The move from Geauga Lake, which has about 750,000 visitors a year, to Kings Island, with more than three million visitors a year, will cost about $750,000 — far below what a new coaster would cost, Kaiser said. That doesn't mean Cedar Fair is not investing in Kings Island and its other parks. The $21 million Maverick ride opens this year at Cedar Point and a wooden coaster is under construction at Valleyfair in Minnesota, Kaiser said. "You can't just keep swapping rides around, that would be silly" Kaiser said. "Cedar Fair is very focused on bringing in new products." At Kings Island, the company will spend $10 million this year, with most of the money to restore the Son of Beast coaster and add an ice show. Son of Beast was closed after 27 people were injured on it in July. Its steel loop has been removed and other repairs to the wooden structure are underway. Son of Beast is not expected to be ready for the park's April 21 opening but could be ready later in 2007. Cedar Fair is also chipping in for a new ice show as part of the capital investment, but details have not been released. Four other new shows also will be introduced. Last year, Kings Island offered a rock music show and a parade, Kaiser said, "so this is a major expansion of our show programs." The Firehawk coaster is going in next to and slightly behind the Flight of Fear. Work crews are setting up footings now and the ride assembly should begin soon. Kaiser said the ride takes up about five-and-a-half acres. "You are sitting four across in the seat and have a shoulder holster and lap bar holding you in. The ride starts out and you are leaning back as you travel up 115 feet. You are facing the sky and going up backward, when you get to the top it turns over and you are facing the ground and go through five inversions at 50 m.p.h.," Kaiser said. "It really feels like you are flying. I've never felt anything like it before." It will take about 2 1/2 minutes to jet through the half-mile track. Also new this year â€Â¢ Ticket prices: Kings Island offered a two-day ticket for $44.99 last year. Now, one- and two-day passes are available for $44.95 and $54.95 respectively. Tickets will still be available at a $10 discount through the park Web site and at Kroger and Meijer stores. An adult season pass for Kings Island will cost $89.95 — $4 more than last year. Passes for admission to all Cedar Fair amusement parks include the new Cedar Fair Maxx ticket for $125 for an adult. Cedar Fair also owns five water parks. The Cedar Fair Maxx Plus adult season pass will get you into any Cedar Fair park for $149.95. â€Â¢ Gold Pass is back: Cedar Fair also listenened to customers who wanted the Kings Island to continue to offer its Gold Pass. A Gold Pass costs $84.95 for the season if four or more adults purchase the package together. The Gold Pass also offers deals on parking, prime parking spots, early water park admission, double-ride days and other perks. â€Â¢ Season passes good at 12 parks: Kings Island plus Wonderland near Toronto, Canada; King's Dominion near Richmond, Va.; Carowinds near Charlotte, North Carolina; Great America in Santa Clara, Calif.; Cedar Point in Sandusky; Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif.; Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom near Allentown, Pa; Valleyfair near Minneapolis, Minn.; Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Mo.; Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom in Aurora, Ohio; and, Michigan's Adventure near Muskegon, Mich. http://www.western-star.com/n/content/oh/s...0807kiride.html So, X-Flight/Firehawk - $750,000 with most of the rest of the $10mil going to SoB and the new entertainment. (Of course, some of that $10mil will go to general park improvements, as we've discussed all along) But darnnnn Sonny, watchu costin'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenban Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Thats the second time I have seen a paper say the move is costing $750,000 except they are wrong its $7.5 million... Thats where most of the money is going SOB is coming out of the rest (2.5 million). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reclaimer Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 7.5mil would more sense, it seems... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIMaureen Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Greetings from the Island. The previous poster is accurate. The new ride will take the majority of the $10 million dollar investment. Have a great day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastfan11 Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Thanks for clearing it up Maureen! Wow 4 new shows... Im excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 WHEW...thats a relief! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Cedar Fair is also chipping in for a new ice show as part of the capital investment, but details have not been released. Four other new shows also will be introduced. Last year, Kings Island offered a rock music show and a parade, Kaiser said, "so this is a major expansion of our show programs."If I am reading that right it talks about the Ice show then say’s 4 other shows. So I guess hat means a total of 5 shows. I’m looking forward to hearing more about those! ⦣8364;? Gold Pass is back: Cedar Fair also listenened to customers who wanted the Kings Island to continue to offer its Gold Pass. I wonder who they are referring to when they say they listened to their guests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mutedarkness Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Didn't i say they paid for sob's repairs out of there? I wonder if maureen really rode x-flight before. Or maybe just borg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 The paragraphs about ticket pricing and season passes are all messed up. The last paragraph would have you believe any Kings Island pass would get you in any Cedar Fair park...which isn't right. And the Maxx pass, the article earlier calls a Maxx ticket. Dollars to donuts the park gave the writer the correct information, which, for some reason, the author chose to re-write, incorrectly. At least CoastersRZ should be proud. They used the word footings and not footERS, as most reporters would have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubaman Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 But, why wouldn't they be called footers? That's what I always thought they were called. Oh well, I guess you guys know more about the construction industry than I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Great job Maureen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Tubaman asked: But, why wouldn't they be called footers? That's what I always thought they were called. Oh well, I guess you guys know more about the construction industry than I do. I'll let CoastersRZ tell you...he knows all about that kind of stuff. But, rest assured. The correct term is footings. In the old days, footers were either: ( a ) foot long hot dogs or ( b ) the things that go at the bottom of a formal research paper that denote the title, page numbers, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reclaimer Posted February 9, 2007 Author Share Posted February 9, 2007 But, why wouldn't they be called footers? That's what I always thought they were called. Oh well, I guess you guys know more about the construction industry than I do. Uh oh. What's that sound I'm hearing? Why...It's CoastersRZ coming to explain the wonders of footings. Oddly enough, even though this article botched up so much info, they're one of the few media outlets that I've seen use the correct term. Maybe, so that everyone is happy, they should change the official term to "footerings." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwarry Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/footing http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/footer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 1. the basis or foundation on which anything is established. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 1. the basis or foundation on which anything is established. Yeah, that's number 1 under footING. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 See PKIC is even educational. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubaman Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 I'll take your word(s) for it. Footings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 I am also looking forward to having 5 shows in the park this year. So where are all the shows going to be held this year? 1. Paramount Theatre 2. International Showplace 3. Nickelodeon Theatre 4. Band Stand 5. Back Porch Stage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Just to clear things up: The article says it is going to cost $750,000 less to move Firehawk than to build a new one, not that it costs that much to build it entirely. Also to the poster above, the Back Porch will not be used this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI-ORIG-EMP Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 I am glad that more shows are being added. Thanks for the update Maureen..... Mike P.S. I have not gotten stuck in quicksand at Kings Island since that last time back in 1974! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstrwomann Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Maureen hinted that SOB would not be open in April. Can she give us further details on what is happening with SOB and if it will reopen this season? I hate to think of this but it might be inevitable because of the money involved to fix the coaster and the accident last season are they going to take out SOB because they gave us Firehawk? I would hate to see this happen. I love SOB and it is one of the major reasons I visit the park. I like to ride coasters that aren't the same at every park. I usually visit KI a few times per year because CP doesn't have any good wooden coasters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Alright. Time to do the clarifying that my architectural education has provided me with the knowledge of. Yes, the correct term is "footings" while the term "footers" is slang termininology. I`ve sat through plenty of Structures classes about the detailing and concepts of various types of foundations, and have had professors harp on people for saying "footers" instead of footings. It is akin to people saying the cement sidewalk. Cement is merely an ingredient in the concrete mix. Which, by the way, is composed of aggregate, cement and water, with the cement being the glue that holds the aggregate together. Also, concrete doesn`t "dry" or evaporate but it cures. It is a chemical reaction between the water and cement that is known as hydration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Attack! Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 I am also looking forward to having 5 shows in the park this year. So where are all the shows going to be held this year? 1. Paramount Theatre 2. International Showplace 3. Nickelodeon Theatre 4. Band Stand 5. Back Porch Stage If the Back Porch will not be use then it would either be the nick parade or they would double up on a location for the last show i guess??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsktgrvy Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Not to get too far ahead of things, but I would certanly hope that King's Island gets a true "new" ride for next year. I think it would have been too much to ask to get one this year and by adding Firehawk they did the best they could in the time frame that they had. A ride like Maverick requires more design and planning time than just moving X-Flight to King's Island took. I would hope Cedar Fair is already planning something for 2008. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplehaze Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 I am also looking forward to having 5 shows in the park this year. So where are all the shows going to be held this year? 1. Paramount Theatre 2. International Showplace 3. Nickelodeon Theatre 4. Band Stand 5. Back Porch Stage I was heart broken when a few years ago I go to the Nickelodeon theatre to find all the seats taken out and the house was filled in with concrete to a flat slab even with the stage...How disapointing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplehaze Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 As for planning for the 2008 season, I am sure they are. Most things are not planned overnight then implemeted the next morning...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 "I wonder if maureen really rode x-flight before. Or maybe just borg?" Maureen has definitely ridden X-Flight. How do I know? I was present during her 1st ride on the coaster. Actually, Jeff Seibert, Maureen, two Martketing interns and myself spent the day at GL 2 years ago. I have to say, that day was an absolute blast... and Maureen's reaction to the initial "flip" on X-Flight was priceless ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Not to get too far ahead of things, but I would certanly hope that King's Island gets a true "new" ride for next year. I think it would have been too much to ask to get one this year and by adding Firehawk they did the best they could in the time frame that they had. A ride like Maverick requires more design and planning time than just moving X-Flight to King's Island took. I would hope Cedar Fair is already planning something for 2008. "Real Ride" ????? I hear they Blow Firehawk up every morning. <G> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplehaze Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 They do woofer then they use popsicle sticks and duct tape to hold it together for the remainder of the day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.