Kings Island is 50-years-old

RCMAC said:

Today’s Wordle left me wondering who uses the word “trope”, aside from maybe Shakespeare or Molière.

God forbid anyone have a vocabulary beyond "sucks."

The word "troupe' is a regular in my vocabulary, but I have been trying to write a novel for the last decade or so. That word comes up often in my studies.

Oh yeah, Kings Island...

I live near Huntington, WV. Kings Island is about three-and-a-half hours away from me. I visited Kings Island once or twice a year when I was a kid. To me, it has always been the greatest amusement park in the world.

When I was younger, during the drive to the park, I would feel so much excitement once the Eiffel Tower appeared on the skyline, the kind of genuine excitement that would cause me to scream and point.

I can't remember how old I was, it was probably the second or third time I was at the park, I recall standing in line for King Cobra, and I felt something inside my brain change, or break loose, or something. That was the very moment I realized that not only did I love amusement parks, I was infatuated with them. But it still took me a few visits after that to tame The biggest, baddest, scariest roller coaster of them all, The Beast.

It was the summer I was transitioning from elementary school to middle school. I begged my mom to take us to Kings Island. I was determined to ride the biggest, scariest roller coaster in the world, The Beast, for the first time. We get there, and I drag my family to The Beast as soon as we enter the park; it was me, my sister, my mother, my aunt, and my uncle.

I was having second thoughts in line. I said, "Mom, I don't know about this. Look how high the lift hill is..."

And she kindly snapped at me. "I drove you all the way here. This roller coaster is all you've talked about for months. You are going to ride it, or we will never come back."

And then my sister (rest in peace,) who loved me very much, but still picked on me tremendously, took the opportunity to mock me, and call me a few names, like wimp, and fraidy cat.

Because of the odd number in our group, I rode with a stranger, who I now know by the things he said to be a coaster enthusiast. (maybe it was one of you.) Whatever that enthusiast said to me, I decided that I was going to enjoy my ride no matter what. I cheered as soon as the train left the station and I knew there was no turning back.

I loved the ride. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Halfway through the ride, I turned around to see how my mom and sister were enjoying it, and my mom was not having fun, and my sister was passed out and blue in the face.

We got off the ride, I laughed hard at my sister, which made her really mad, but she deserved it. My uncle and I decided we were going to ride it again while the rest of the family went to Hanna Barbara land to ride the kiddie rides.

I think there are so many reasons why I love Kings Island so much to this day. I still would rather go to KI than any other park, even an Orlando park. It means so much to me, all the memories and good times.

Hey, this was just about as long as a novel. If you made it this far, thanks for reading.

RCMAC said:

The year the Beast opened I had snagged radio station tickets for the Friday the 13th Preview Party

I remember trying desperately to win those tickets - even though I had no plan for getting there so I probably wouldn't have been able to use them. Sounds like I didn't miss much :-)

LostKause said:

I think there are so many reasons why I love Kings Island so much to this day. I still would rather go to KI than any other park, even an Orlando park. It means so much to me, all the memories and good times.

I feel the same way about Kings Island, Cedar Point, and if it was still around, Geauga Lake.

Jeff said:

God forbid anyone have a vocabulary beyond "sucks."

What about "high five", "charm" or "dopey turtle show"?

Dopey Turtle Show > Rip Ride Rockit

None of it matters if you're parked mid-timbers.

Was the turtle black? Or Maverick?

BrettV said:

Dopey Turtle Show > Rip Ride Rockit

100%

It needs an upgrade - I’m assuming it’s the same animation and projector? - but it’s a unique experience * clears throat * for children.