Strolling down Memory Lane at PKI

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Ok so I decided to show my age here. I have been going to PKI since the late 70's and have been desperitely trying to remember alot of things that aren't there anymore.
So enjoy the stroll with me and feel free to add!
Do you remember:
The root beer barrel ride by Schmidts?
The ladybug ride outside the entrance to the Racers?
The safari?
The safari monorail?
The Bat?
Screaming Demon?
When there was water and fish under the Beast walkway?
When the "waterfall thing" by top of Beast platform actually worked?
Flight Commander?
When they sold beer on stands?
Line for the Beast was clear back by Vortex?
When the Beast didnt have the high head rests?

See I have tons of memories of the "old" PKI
and looking forward with great anticipation to the new and improved PKI with the addition of SOB!!!

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Welcome back Raptor riders-how was your flight?

LuvRaptor:
How can you forget the original Enchanted Voyage and its successor Smurf's Enchanted Voyage? Those were 2 classic rides, even if the Smurf's theme song did get stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Now Phantom Theater resides in that building (which I have always enjoyed, but find it to be nothing more than a cheap imitation of Disney's Haunted Mansion). I also remember the blue ice cream they sold outside the ride......

The Screamin' Demon was never a favorite of mine. I remember walking up the never-ending stairway to the top and feeling the entire platform sway each time a train was launched. That always scared me!

Other old things I remember about Kings Island:

* The Wheel of Fortune (standard Chance Casino ride- ran forwards and backwards)
* The Zodiac (Intamin double ferris wheel similar to the one at Hersheypark)
* The Tumble Bug in Oktoberfest
* When the Vortex actually had a nice paint job

I liked Kings Island a lot better prior to the Paramount takeover. I will visit this year for SOB and give them another chance...... but the more I visit PKI, the more I wish it was still just plain old Kings Island.......

ray p.

Ray--I cant believe I forgot the Smurf thing!! THANKS!! Also-did PKI ever have a aqua show of some sort? I am seeing dolphins but not sure if it was there or not....
I didnt go to PKI last year at all-but will have to go this year to check out SOB-
not to mention it opens in April and if I have to wait until May to ride I will go NUTS...
I think PKI still sells the blue ice cream-
I think the never ending stairs to Screamin Demon are now the never ending stairs to King Cobra.
(My kids and I personally love that Phantom Theatre-it is always cool in there-you can sit and honest to goodness-we know each and every line by heart!)
thanks for the extra memories!
Jo

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Welcome back Raptor riders-how was your flight?

They did have a dolphin show, it was located just past the Eiffel Tower. Now, however, the amphitheatere holds stage shows. Last year it was an "Amazing Animals" type show.

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UCSigep

wow what a great thread thought i would resurface this one.

I remember the long slides. And the Scooby Doo card house thing. That was a really crazy fun house. Also there was a blue elephant fountain in Barbara land that shot water out of its nose every 30 seconds or so.The Smurf ride is what I wish they'd never gotten rid of. Phantom Theater is a joke compared to the Smurfs. I always wondered what they did with all those smurf-bots and Gargamel and the cat. Are they in some junk yard or something? I'd sure like to have one. And there was the Bam-Bam bumper cars with the big wobbling statue of Bam-Bam on top of it. I also remember when there was water under the Beast line. Now people throw quarters at the mill just for the memories. I really loved the park more before Paramount took over, as you can see in my posts. The magic was just everywhere then. It's harder to find it now.

Actually, the dolphin ampitheater is no longer there. It is the big grassy area behind the International Showplace.

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www.geocities.com/coastersrz I`ve riden Son of Beast 38 times!

i remember the Bat... *sniff*

I remember the first year I had a season pass. I have had a pass EVERY year they have had one. The first year there were only about 100 people. Also does anyone remember the canoe rides (watch the old brady bunch show)? Then at the end they had you hold up the oar if you had fun, and you got wet? That was the precursor to the Beast. And the tumblebug (someone bring one back).

Don't forget the elephant fountain over by the slides!

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The day that I spend more time analyzing the rides than screaming my head off like a moron is the day that I hope someone will kick my in the love sausage and tell me not to be a moron. - Jeff

How about the train scooters that you pedaled by hand? They were near the card house. How about the tunnel of trees?

For those of you that rode The Bat, how was it and is it your favorite suspended coaster?

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This post was posted by Bubba, who is chillin' at the Villain!

I rode it for one of its last rides. The latter days it was 'offically' closed but you could sometimes catch a ride on it while 'testing' was going on. When it was running great it was very fast and exciting. That was the sign it was going to shut down. But it was a great ride. Of couse the sequel to it a Busch Gardens (Big Bad Wolf) is still a great ride as well.

Den said:
"How about the train scooters that you pedaled by hand?

Those are still there back in a deep dark corner of Hanna Barbara Land. My little sister rode them a few weeks ago when I was there. I thought they were gone too. A kid's workout. Still, anybody know what happened to the Robo-Smurfs? I'd really like to know...

Villain said:
[iNow Phantom Theater resides in that building (which I have always enjoyed, but find it to be nothing more than a cheap imitation of Disney's Haunted Mansion).
i]

I had my first kiss on that ride, and I still think it is corny as ever, but I love it. It hasn't been open the last three years that I've been there. (I only go once or twice a summer.) Does anyone know what's up with that or am I just unlucky?

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We are the ones who wait in line for hours for a 45-second thrill, and consider it time well spent.

How about the guy who sold Encylopedia Brittanica over by Amazon Falls...

I had forgotten the elephant fountain completely!

Jacob
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http://www.PKIGuide.com

This is one of those times when I wish I was older (no offense) like you guys. So I could experience some of these things.. including The Bat.

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TJ Quinn

i remember the safari, and the monorail!!! i was like 3 when they had that, i loved it!!

I am surpirsed no one mentioned the Sky Ride, Bayern Curve, the 16 tub Eli Bridge Ferris Wheel, the Round Up, The Giant Slide, The Bavarien Beedle, the Witches Couldrons, the Flying Dutchman , the Rotor, the lagoon where you paddled canoes around, and when the bumper cars were in the building where the Rock Shop is now.

I freaked when I saw this thread-I had forgotten about it then saw it cause I did it 02-2000! Went to PKI a couple weeks ago and must admit it is still one of my fav parks and only 1.25 hours from me!! I see UCSIGEP replied on this thread back then and now I even know him personally! :)
Bubba-"The Bat" stood where Vortex stands now. If I recall its "shape" was simular to "Iron Dragon" at CP except the cars were black. I recall the line for this thing going clear back to the "Racers". I remember my 1st (and LAST) ride my b/f and I waited 3 hours to ride it, you had to be excited-listen to all the people screaming!
WHY were they screaming? Because they could NOT believe they wasted 3 hours of their lives to ride THAT. I remember tons of trees and alot of "whipping" around. I also remember that is was constantly down. I had heard the parts had to be exported from Japan (Germany?) thats why when it went down it was down for DAYS. I also remember the rumor that a car flew off and killed some people. Nope....that was a lie. The ride just sucked. Period. Replaced by Vortex, one of my fav inverts.

We can now add to this thread:

Remember when OL-FOF had thost HORRIFIC head restraints and how bad the ride SUCKED back then?
The new and improved FOF-kicks butt!!! :)

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
2001 Raptor Crew
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When the floor's gone, so are you, see you back here in 2 32!