This story is 100% true. It happened at PKI in 1985. A guy I use to work with was at Kings Island one summer day, he was drinking heavily (remember when you could drink in the park!) Well come night fall he's pretty well toasted. Instead of riding the Beast at night (a popular trend) he and his buddy decided to ride the new coaster in the park, the King Cobra. The line was rather long, and it was definitely going to be their last ride of the night. His buddy wanted to ride front car, while he wanted to just grab the quickest ride. So they split when it came time to choose a seat (standing seat) Anyway, ironically, the wait was the same and this guy noticed his buddy was all alone in the front car. (This is where the alcohol takes charge) He decides to slip out of the restraints while the train climbs the lift hill! (this dude was thin enough to do so) As the train goes up, he jumps out onto the side staircase and climbs up to the front car to be with his buddy! As soon as he gets to the front car the ride stops and he is escorted by security out of the park to an awaiting police officer. Man, I didn't believe him at first, but it was true. he was arrested for Public intox and dangerous behavior on the King Cobra! What a crazy guy!
Thats definitely one for the history books.
Jeez, they used to let you drink in parks? Wasn't that unsafe then? I wasn't even born then!!!!!! Just one more year!!!!!!
Boy you kids missed out! Kings Island use to be a den for dacadence! Drinkin' Partying, getting crazy it was a blast... The Octoberfest portion of the park use to have more rides too. The bobsleds and the beer barrels were fun. Or how about the Wooden Flying shoe ride, or the giant beetle? Those were a blast too. Hey, both racers went forward and the Phantom Theatre use to be a Smurf boat ride and before that it was a Hanna Barbera themed boat ride. Oh, and across from the Kings Mills log Flume You had the Roulet Wheel Ride (like the Crazy Camel at BGtampa) and then where the Vortex stands was the deadly BAT! Oh you also had another looping coaster called the Screamin' Demon, it was where Amazon Falls stands now. There was also a ride called Halleys Comet (a spinning ride where the bottom drops out) The Beastie use to be called the Scooby Doo, There was also those sky ride conveyors that took you over the park from the Coney island part (now its called the Coney mall) to where river town meets hanna barbera land. Oh, they also use to play heavy metal music over the speakers while waiting in line for the Beast at night... I think if you look above you in the station the speakers are still there. Man has Kings Island gone CORPORATE or What!? Those were the good ole' days!
Oh my goodness did you bring back some great memories, screamin. Well almost, the walk up the steps to the Screamin Demon were a bugger to say the least, and the beer barrels were always a stomach emptying experience. :-) I don't recall the sky ride though. Do you know when it was there and when it was removed? I believe the first time I was there was '77 or '78 and then every couple of years after that. I'd love to see some photos or a map of the pre-Paramount years. (Would that be considered the PP-years, heehe oh childish potty humor! I kill me. hehe)
-JJ
I think the sky ride (cable ride over the park) was there until at least 1980... I still have 8mm video from my trips there and they are clearly visible.
I remember the Smurf ride. And if i'm not mistaking, weren't there teacups nearby?
You're thinking of the "Witches Kettles" that use to sit next to "Bam Bam's Bumper cars"... I don't know when they took it out... It was a kids ride. Hey, remember before the Smurfs it was a Hanna Barbera themed boat ride... You may be too young to remember.
Some dude wrote me a personal e-mail stating that the BAT never killed anyone. It was a rather lengthy letter about the history of the BAT at PKI... GEEEEEEZZZZZZZ, Does this guy get out much?
Well actually it was a rather viscious rumor that had a long life. Personally I miss the ride. Though I was maybe 9 or 10 when I rode it so my perception of the ride may be a bit skewed. I have to admit I haven't ridden a suspended I didn't like, but none of them live up to the memories of riding the bat at night. It was almost as cool as riding the Beast at night. :)
Heck, my 35-year old teacher etill insists that it flew off the tracks and killed a whole bunch of people, that's why they tore it down.
What great childhood memories of Old KI just came flooding back to me. Things have changed. Remember the long boring waits in line for the Wild Safari Monorail ride. Actually I think the ride was more boring then the wait. I think I saw 3 animals that day. And the air conditioner on the Monorail didn't work. Only rode it one time, wonder why? And I was about 11 or so when the Bat made its apperence. I thought it was an awesome ride too. Does anyone have any pics or a layout drawing of the Bat? Would love to see them. Also old pics of the park would be great to see. Thanks guys
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Let the coasters begin!!
OK, hold on to your stomachs. I totally remember,when I was 10 with the Scooby Doo and the Beer Barrels (That's where all of that beer came from), but that's not the story. Before the Beast was built, the old canoes used to be in the back in that pond. Well, my 8 yr old sister gets lost and while my parents and relatives are searching for her, my dad and I start 'hunting' back in the canoe area in the woods. Out of no where, we come up on a group of people, they looked like Native Americans holding a ceremony ...in the NUDE! Buck Naked. Head dresses and ...uh...tomahawks, if you know what I mean. I remember since the girls had pretty ni...well anyways, my dad hurried me along out of the woods, but it was the sign of the times, late 70's. I was dumbfounded the rest of the day. That park was terrible back then. Now, I know why they closed the rides 20 minutes before the park, so that Native American tribalists wouldn't get anything stuck in the cars. What an experience. We did find my sister though. =O)
Just read my signature and you know where it came from...
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There's nothing like a woodie...
Ahh yes the canoes... Damn, i almost forgot about them. i was too busy riding "Mr. Jinx's Jalopys" in Hanna Barbera land to care then.
