Anything going on at KI?

Along with the Nick Universe/Planet Snoopy retheme, does anyone have any updates about what is being done for the 2010 season?

I'm really hoping that the Action Zone gets some attention this year,especially in the way of paint. Flight Deck has needed a new paint jobfor half a decade...will this finally be the year that the park acts onit?

I'm also interested to see what will be done with The Crypt and SOBfor 2010. Hopefully, we will see improvements from both attractions...

There was some rumbling that KI might get a Starlight Experience this year on some of the KI fan sites, don't know how real that is but it seems like a plausible addition.

If by "improvements" you mean removal, you may just get your wish regarding SOB.

Touchdown said:
There was some rumbling that KI might get a Starlight Experience this year on some of the KI fan sites, don't know how real that is but it seems like a plausible addition.

I'm searching for the link, but I do believe that a "similar show" to Starlight Experience was confirmed for this year. The location wasn't given, but it seems to be a perfect fit for the old Tower Gardens area.

Does anyone have a picture of the Tower Gardens area?

(I'm guessing this is the area that the Paramount Story used to occupy...which I actually never even realized was there.)

DantheCoasterman said:
Does anyone have a picture of the Tower Gardens area?

(I'm guessing this is the area that the Paramount Story used to occupy...which I actually never even realized was there.)

That was the rumored location.. but looking at the bing.com aerials, I can't imagine that it would go there... that is, if it is supposed to be of the same scale as Starlight Experience.

As a pipedream, I'd love to see it go onto International Street and include the tower, but I'd guess that Rivertown or Coney Mall would be more likely.

Or, perhaps, since kids' areas typicall quiet down and empty out before the rest of the park, maybe include it as part of Planet Snoopy?

Edit: Link to photos of The Paramount Story (formerly known as Tower Gardens). http://www.kicentral.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=20

Rivertown would probably make the most sense for a Starlight Experience project. That area is very much like CP's Frontier Trail and many of the same techniques would work there. Tower Gardens doesn't make as much sense to me because not only is that a very small scale area, it isn't a traffic area.

Speaking of traffic, wouldn't that be a good place to put a winding antique car ride? :)

Personally, I keep hoping that interesting rumor I heard early last summer would come to pass...the one about Kings Island adding a flat ride or two to Coney Mall. Wouldn't the old Flight Commander pad be a great place for a Flying Scooter? :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Yes, they need to march right down there to Carowinds and snatch our flying scooters BACK!

Similarly, I always thought the Flight Commander location would be ideal for a really tall Star Flyer. They could make it an upcharge if they need to. Another less satisfactory option would be one of those Chance Aviators, even thought they kinda suck. (It takes real work to get one of those things to "fly")

I hope Tower Gardens stays put indefinitely. One of the nicest, and most relaxing, areas of the park.

I do too, although it's in need of a little refurbishment, or at least dressing up. That could make a great location to showcase landscaping and botanicals. I also thought it made the ideal spot for an outdoor haunt this year.

I remember the day when that big blow-up bubble building was there, housing one of KI's first live show venues. One of my buddies was music director in there, and he said one day a bad windstorm hit the park and, with a full house, the bubble rocked back and forth so hard it was pierced by one of the light poles. The air pressure inside caused just about everything that wasn't nailed down to fly out of the hole- sheet music, hats, wigs, you name it! I guess after the initial panic subsided it was pretty funny.

I is very nice to have an area in the park like Tower Gardens. I've been thinking about what Cedar Fair does to the parks that they buy, and my conclusion is that it is just a matter of time before Tower Gardens is flattened to make room for a shiny new rollie coaster. ;)

That area is not making any money. I wonder what Gonch thinks about Tower Gardens.

I don't believe it's his flavor of charm....

There are trees there.

LostKause said:
I wonder what Gonch thinks about Tower Gardens.

I wouldn't even know what that was if I hadn't read this thread.

The first time it was mentioned I thought I clicked on the Cypress Gardens thread by mistake.

Heck, Tower Gardens (since when did they call it that) might be a better attraction than some of those coaster credits you have yet to get Gonch. It's serene, has no trims, and sometimes has a working waterfall.

I would doubt that it's on the chopping block though. That's where CF decided to put the KI Hall of Fame or whatever. You can see Carmen Electra's handprints near the tower entrance. I guess that's another reason it's better than some of the coasters. hehe.

As for other predictions, I think SoB will get the Twisted Twins treatment this year despite being a 200ft pile of wood. I also expect CF to do what they do best with The Crypt...nothing!

(I'm really not a KI hater, I promise)

Interesting, I had no idea that was there. Of course, I've only been to KI since it's been a CF park, so it's not labeled on the map. I must always go to the *right* side of the Eiffel Tower when I walk in. :)

So I'm assuming it's no longer the "Paramount Story." What's there now? Just trees and a walking path?

Pretty much. Like I mentioned, they have started a KI Walk of Fame, but it's small at the moment. They use the area for a haunt attraction in the fall.

Whats new for kings island in 2010....

They are stripping out all the great nick theming, and replacing it with cutouts of snoopy. The scooby doo ride may me redone as well.

So have there been any industry-based rumblings (beyond speculation) about the future of SOB at all? I know it's a small group of people who actually work "in" the industry of coasters, but it seems like this would be fairly big off-season talk, as far as the coaster-world goes.

Any hope that the "Beastie" will be back? (the Fairly Odd Coaster).

You must be referring to Woodstock Express...