Kings Island Teasing Ride Removal

I’ve said this before, but my experiences with Vekoma coasters in Europe were just fine. Seemed like a whole ‘nother thing compared to what we see here.

Today on FB I saw a post from Coaster Nation that referenced a tombstone at Kings Island that carries the name Kazimierz Czarnecki (or something like that) who was the researcher who studied vortexes in wind tunnels.

I don’t believe I’ve seen any videos of Gouderix that don’t involve riders screaming in pain.

^^ Interesting if that is part of the tease. Only been to the park once but as rough as it was I imagine Vortex is definitely a contender here. it was interesting since it was new to us but when we had the chance to hit 2nd rides on the coasters that's one we skipped.

For a general media article on coasters, this one detailing the removal and speculation is pretty well written and includes a photo of the tombstone:

https://www.wcpo.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/vortex-or...leaving-is

Question is... whether or not the tombstone is a red herring.

Question for me is... having not bought a SP, whether it's worth hitting a haunt night to get in last rides on either one.

Probably not if Firehawk (since it'll wind up nearby anyway), but if Vortex, I will likely have to take a final loop (or six).

Vekoma Flying Dutchman rides scare me a lot. I think I’m mostly scared of a restraint failure. What if?

I remember when Vortex opened when I was a kid a hundred years ago. It was featured on a TV show called PM Magazine. My family visited the park that Spring. Vortex was awesome. Now it’s not even a ride I can enjoy anymore. It’s easily skipable without regret.

If it’s any other coaster in the park, I won’t be happy.

We know for sure it’s not Windseeker because the park’s Facebook said that the ride is a coaster.

I love the idea of Firehawk moving to Kentucky Kingdom, and it’s not so far-fetched seeing how vague KK’s announcement was. Firehawk’s location would be perfect for a giga-coaster station, with a ride that runs to the park’s entrance and back.

We know for sure that the next coaster at Kings Island is a B&M, because of some kind of filings with local government., so a B&M giga that runs from Flight of Fear to the park entrance and back is my nerdgasm prediction.

LostKause said:

We know for sure that the next coaster at Kings Island is a B&M, because of some kind of filings with local government., so a B&M giga that runs from Flight of Fear to the park entrance and back is my nerdgasm prediction.

An "L"-shaped B&M Giga the same size as Carowinds' Fury starting where Firehawk is currently located but instead running toward the back of the park would hang a right and land perfectly in the space between Racer and Beast.

If it were the same dimensions and you situated it that way, it would likely just cross over Beast in the area between the two lifts (where the first drop goes underground - although it could obviously be easily modified to avoid a crossover) and would allow all the existing access roads in that area to be relevant and usable.

Edit - not suggesting a clone of Fury, just using it as size/layout reference for a B&M Giga.

Kings Island has so much land. Starting from Firehawk's current spot, a large coaster could easily go north, east, or south for quite a long distance. Going south (toward the back of the park), the only major impact would be on the spot where they currently set off the nightly fireworks. I'd love to see them move that spot anyway, as it causes the Beast to close temporarily every night so they can do some sort of re-inspection.

I'd love to see the area of "X Base" get an upgrade, as it currently is one of the only dead ends in the park. At the very least, an additional set of bathrooms in that area seems like a good idea. There are several maintenance buildings nearby, so it is not a slam dunk for connecting a new midway.

mettalik- unless you’re hell-bent on doing KI’s Haunt, Sunday is a good day to go. It’s the designated kid’s day, and the scary stuff is out. So are most of the customers- the slammin crowds show up Friday and Saturday.

My money is on Vortex, but we’ll see in just a little while. I’d pick it for age and rideability. And I don’t see why that new giga’s station can’t go in that spot. And actually, I’ve always said that the best spot for the giga would be between the “legs” of Racer and use the spot where the Action Theater sits idle. Then the coaster could use all the property leading up to the front gate if desired.
Some know-it-all on FB mentioned KI’s “proposed giga” which made me laugh. Who’s proposing there, son, and how are you knowing?

I love Firehawk. That is something that would get me back to Michigan's Adventure (if I'm going East or coming back West, anyway).

Edit - It would also get me to Kentucky Kingdom :D

I'm more sad to see another piece of Geauga Lake getting scrapped than actually missing the ride.

Wait a minute - it's all coming together. The GoFundMe guy clearly has cut a deal with Cedar Fair to acquire the ride and reinstall it at the new Geauga Lake. It all makes sense now!

Even though I only rode each ride a couple times 10+ years ago, (Firehawk while it was at Six Flags Ohio), I am rooting for Vortex to stay.

I realize these aren't viable reasons for it's preservation (my first sentence): But: the paint scheme, the siting against the midway; the high points above the trees down to the in your face boomerang and picturesque and unique corkscrew dive. The arrow anti-rolls echoing across Rivertown. Vortex and Beast in that back wooded area of the park, the last vestige of the old Kings Island and the classic mega park of the 70's-80's feel. (already compromised a little when Diamondback and Italian job were put in, but still....)

Areas of similar atmosphere, with a big looming marquee rides slightly hidden and masked beyond a vegetated and setback queue, creating a stark contrast, an anticipation... I am thinking of the back of Carowinds with Thunder Road, SFMM near Colossus pre-Scream, The north end of SFGAdv in the Adventure Rivers Days, Lightnin Loops, pre-Nitro. Times when parks had big, but not that big and modern rides. Given the era I grew up, the Arrow 80's is my nostalgic view of amusement parks.

As for the Giga, I hope it's called Grandson of Beast.

Confirmed: RIP Firehawk.

I think the real eye-opener here is the general disdain for Vortex... I think maybe KI upper brass has a pretty good idea where they could open up a plot of land in the future...

Well... guess I was wrong...

Guess I'll have to miss this coaster. I tried to ride it the year it opened in Geauga lake but it was down that day. That was a miserable trip, all the toilets up front overflowed and there was sewage all over the walks and people were walking through. That was too gross.

PointMan said:

That was a miserable trip, all the toilets up front overflowed and there was sewage all over the walks and people were walking through. That was too gross.

Sounds like it was just another day at Geauga Lake

Can you imagine if Firehawk went to Michigan’s Adventure?!? He Who Shall Not Be Named’s head would explode because of the long lines and not getting something new.

Especially when he inevitably goes on the busiest Saturday of the summer and winds up parking mid-Hawk.

roadkill said:

I think the real eye-opener here is the general disdain for Vortex... I think maybe KI upper brass has a pretty good idea where they could open up a plot of land in the future...

I find it hard to imagine that it's much of an eye opener.

Rode Firehawk yesterday one last time (rode it once since it moved to KI). Good riddance. That ride is not female friendly and very uncomfortable.