Kings Dominion park history - great news!

Yeah, I saw the press release, and perhaps because I'm not local, fail to see why this is interesting.

It's only interesting to those of us who fondly remember these things from our childhood. It's neat, I'm looking forward to seeing them again. But yeah, outside of that demographic (30+ year olds who grew up going to KD), it's entirely worthless.

Although they did make a very brief appearance in the movie Rollercoaster.

They're also adding a bunch of retro stuff from the 70s and 80s, like the giant apples that used to be in The Grove (the main midway that runs adjacent to Shockwave), which will be renamed Candy Apple Grove as it was back then.

Again, this is all stuff that most people won't really appreciate, but for those of us who remember it, it's kind of nice to see again for the park's 40th anniversary.

It's kind of like Cedar Point deciding to bring back the pirate ride, or at least the ship that used to be outside. Some people really wouldn't care, but some with memories would be able to relive a little of what once was.

My favorite thing about this picture is that it shows a bunch of shrooms who all look baked out of their minds.

I like it when parks focus on little details these days. For a long time the trend has been to remove all the quirky things that made the park unique. Perhaps it doesn't warrant a full press release, but it has people talking. And I think they'll get an excellent ROI from this: "Aww honey, remember those? Let's take the kids this spring."

This is a small part of their overall 40th Anniversary Celebration marketing program. Its (seemingly) a small-capital expenditure year for the park and this is something that will keep people talking about the place during the off-season. They've posted three teasers on Facebook and issued a press release. Low risk trade, as they say.

And as a long-time fan of the park...I'm very happy about it.

Vater said:
My favorite thing about this picture is that it shows a bunch of shrooms who all look baked out of their minds.

Yea, to me they always had the Sid and Marty Krofft look, so I guess that makes sense.

:-)

I grew up in Central KY so I have not attachment to these things. However, I still think it's pretty awesome. I am not a huge fan of KD in general, and part of that is that much of it feels exceedingly generic and corporate to me...cue references to Charmland in 3..2...1...

So at any rate I think this is a neat nod to local history and gets the park back to some of the quirks and ticks that made it a cool place in the first place.

Now if only KI would bring back the covered bush/plant/tunnel thing. Or the elephant fountain! Or the racing slides. That would be dope.

I remember those from visits to the park years ago. I too have fond memories on how unique they where.

I hope maybe this will become a trend more themed parks need to bring beloved old things back.

Keep in mind this will not only play for the older guests but, young children also.

My wish Cedar Fair would buy Gurnee's Great America and restore it to it's Marriott Days charm.

I've never been to KD in my life, and I totally get it. I'll most likely never see them in person, and I totally dig it.

It's the little things.

That's what she said.

matt. said:

Now if only KI would bring back the covered bush/plant/tunnel thing. Or the elephant fountain! Or the racing slides. That would be dope.

That's what you wish for? How 'bout instead some Flying Scooters, the Cuddle Up, or the Tumble Bug? That would be doper.

(Ok, and maybe the ginkgo trees?)

Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal would be dopest.

While it may not be a big deal to some, but bringing back some of the charm that was originally in the park is a big deal to me. The youngsters may not get it on a historical level, but I bet they will still appreciate it.

I fondly remember the singing mushrooms, Lake Rita (and ski shows), and the giant apples. I was shocked at how much of the park I grew up on was ripped apart by Paramount. It's nice to see CF trying to bring some of this back - it would be great if the trend could continue at some of their other parks too (bring back ALFUNDO!)

RCMAC said:

That's what you wish for? How 'bout instead some Flying Scooters, the Cuddle Up, or the Tumble Bug? That would be doper.

My choices were purposefully similar to the scope and scale of singing mushrooms. I'd take all those other things, too.

I give KD credit for at least doing something for their 40th anniversary. Kings Island didn't do squat.

Meh. Call me when there are Smurfs.

It is said that in order for a park to grow and change, some of the "charm" will inevitably be removed, but it is that "charm" that people get attached to, and ultimately want to bring their children to get attached to as well, so that they both have the same nostalgic feelings towards a park. Perhaps Cedar Fair is realizing that some people come again and again to try to get the same fuzzy feelings that they got when they visited as a child.

That's how I feel about stuff like this anyways.

jimvid said:

I fondly remember the singing mushrooms, Lake Rita (and ski shows), and the giant apples.

I assume you meant Lake Charles? :)