PKI Expansion
Cobra29with99,
King Cobra was not the first standup coaster in the US. It was the first looping coaster in the US.
About this topic....
PKI has only about half it's land developed. However the aging of rides necessitates their removal and replacment with more marketable and appealing ones. Much of the undeveloped land that PKI owns is not really good land to develop. Much of it has heavy terrain and would raise construction costs to exhorbantant amounts.
Also, many parks have found that by expanding the park's boundries, they often compromise traffic patterns and end up creating those horrid dead ends and bottlenecks.
KI was designed as an upside down "U" with all paths all leading back to International Street. In 1974, they veered from that and added the Wild Animal Habitat area now known as Action Zone. This is a prime example of an expansion that led to a bad traffic pattern for the park.
By expanding into such vast areas, the park has to consider the guests. The addition of the waterpark back in the 1980's was a good decision considering that it had a main form of transportation to take weary guests there... the train.
I personally have walked the woods on which Beast resides. The land is very steep and hard to walk. that includes the roadways created for maintenance access. Paved or unpaved, it is not "midway friendly" land.
Finally, areas near the Little Miami are an animal reserve and untouchable I believe. Also, the park is steering clear of developing closer to the areas that are rapidy becoming housing developments. A wise move.
I would bet money that if PKI exists in 50 years, we may see some land expansion but not anything drasitcally different than what we see developed today.
Shaggy
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Shaggy
A.K.A. John K.
Actually, Raven you may be right. It would seem that the ultimate goal would be for PKI to have just enough rides and attractions so that everything has about a 20 minute wait. (Not that there is anything magical about 20 minutes but it seems to be about the time that people are willing to wait and not complain about the line.)
As of last year, PKI was starting to reach this point. Whatever TR:TR is, it is sure to help by providing another high profile attraction to draw people away.
Again the mega park idea is purely from my coaster enthusiast side, the business side agrees with you, that you want just enough attractions whereby there aren't any major waits anywhere, but you don't have employees running half loads (or less) either. Law of diminsihing returns.
Its just a classic case ofthe coaster enthusiasts goals and the business goals for the park being opposed, as usual.
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David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville
PKIEMPSOB,
Not to sound picky, but how do you know what people actually want at the park? Not a flame, but the park knows what people want, and perhaps the research they did showed that a larger steel coaster is not what would best suit the park. Just because a few enthusiasts would want something has VERY little say in what the majority of what folks want. This year, the park decided that it was time for something different after looking at research and different is what they are getting.
As far as clones go, Top Gun is actually a clone also. I myself don't mind clones in the slightlest. I guess I never understood what the big deal about disliking clones was all about.
Also, while KCKC was removed, my guess is it wasn't removed for being a 'hazzard' due to 20+ years of service entirely, but more because the park no longer saw the point in having two log flumes (one which is over 30 years old) in Rivertown so they removed the least popular one so they could use that land for TR.
-Sean
A little bit off topic, but related to Sean`s post. I was thouroughly disappointed when the old log flume didn`t open in 2000. I liked what is now Wild Thornberrys River Adventure better than KC:KC. I was glad when I found out that they were renovating the ride for 2001.
TR:TR will be a different, unique experience when it opens in a little more than 2 weeks. PKI probably felt that a unique, "totally immersive dark ride experience" made more business sense. Also, a park like Kings Island can`t just build roller coasters year after year, like they did from 1998-2001. They have to provide other new attractions for those that do not prefer to ride roller coasters. Keep in mind that the park is a business trying to make money and that they make most of their money off of the gp and not enthusiasts. Yes, I think the park will expand into some new territory, but I believe the area back by The Beast is off limits. Also, the land past Flight of Fear is extremly hilly and would`nt be suitable for much other than a terrain coaster.
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I`ve ridden Son of Beast 67 times and can`t wait to ride it some more times! Only 16 more days until PKI opens!
*** This post was edited by coastersrz on 3/18/2002. ***
You people who say that King's Island doesn't need a giga coaster have no clue what you are talking about. Chances are none of you even live near Kings Island and chances are you visit the park once a year. Well, to you people its no big deal what King's Island gets. It could be a Merry-Go-Round and yall wouldn't care! Well, for those of us who do live by King's Island and do go up there every Thursday or Saturday we get tired of riding the same ride every weekend or even the same day. For us it is important if King's Island gets a "cool" coaster like Chang or Hypersonic XLC because we want something thrilling. Yeah most of the coasters up there are thrilling but only if you road them once or twice a year. Riding the same rides gets boaring and old. So in conclusion PKI should expand but not for the wrong reasons, like competition.
Oh and whoever said "PKI so badly when you have....MF and Maggie right up the road?" Well some of us can't just pack our bags or hop in a car and leave. Maybe you don't have a life and can do so but I do. Trust me if I could do such a thing I would but don't make it sound so easy. Because it is easier said than done.
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I`ve ridden Son of Beast 67 times!
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PKI is a special park that isnt like any other park. It is a nice sorta retreat from other parks who seem to think bigger is always better. I hate to break it to them that it isnt true.
PKI has been doing its "own thing" for quite sometime now, and it seems to be working for them. As you can tell in the yearly attendance recordings. As well as how much the park makes in revenues. I would rather go to a nice peaceful park like PKI than go to sandusky and fight the long 3 and 4 hour lines at CP.
As soon as you enter the park you can feel an atmosephere that you cant feel at any other park. How nice and neat the park is, all spread out throughout the woods. Its not all cluster~fudged like other parks.
Im sorry but I just think that its funny when young kids who think that they are coastergods or somthing talk bad about PKI. Saying that they need some B&M giga coaster or a Hypersonic or some kind of new ride that would in my opinion ruin the park.
Getting more on subject~ If I was PKI I would keepdoing exactly what I have been. Slowly adding to the park. Not be a wannabe and go off and totaly ruin the park. Maeby add a new coaster every 5~7 years but still keeping that family park value.
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Sit up right, hold on tight!
Personally, I would not want a Thrust Air 2000 at PKI right now due to the capacity issues mostly and Chang was my least favorite coaster at SFKK besides Roller Skater and Roadrunner(yes, I even enjoyed T2 better). Unless the giga has a layout like SROS at SFNE or Goliath at SFH or EGF at Holiday Park or something more imaginative along those lines, I really wouldn't want one that was used mainly for the height then get back to the station. Just me again though. :)
And I live 20 minutes from PKI.
"You people who say that King's Island doesn't need a giga coaster have no clue what you are talking about. Chances are none of you even live near Kings Island and chances are you visit the park once a year."
Wrong. PKI is my homepark, and I was there 6 times last year.
"Well, to you people its no big deal what King's Island gets."
Just because I don't think PKI "needs" a large hyper style steel coaster doesn't mean i don't care what the park gets. I literally grew up at PKI, and there is no other park that is any closer to my heart. I care about PKI like no other place in the world.
"Well, for those of us who do live by King's Island and do go up there every Thursday or Saturday we get tired of riding the same ride every weekend or even the same day. For us it is important if King's Island gets a "cool" coaster like Chang or Hypersonic XLC because we want something thrilling."
C'mon. How many parks in the world have added as many coasters as PKI has in the past 5 years. Not many, at all. I really would like to see an Intamin giga or something like that at PKI, i really would, but I don't think the park "needs" it per se, and I don't think its really going to happen soon. Seriously, if you get tired of riding the same rides all the time, why do you go so much? PKI has more coasters then the vast majority of parks ever will. You have no room to complain, whatsoever. P.S. Chang sucks. :)
"Yeah most of the coasters up there are thrilling but only if you road them once or twice a year."
So...what park would you rather live by? PKI has a high quality collection, and if you get bored with their coasters, what park would you NOT get bored with?
"So in conclusion PKI should expand but not for the wrong reasons, like competition."
Why is competition the wrong reason to expand? It seems to me like that would be a great reason. Seriously, I don't know how to disagree with you on this one because it seems to me you are totally off base with this one.
"Maybe you don't have a life and can do so but I do."
Please, dude. I'm a full time college student , and I hold a part time job, plus I'm in a band, and I make the 6 hour drive to CP at least once a year. If you have such a hard time getting to different parks, well, that's your thing. I totally feel for a lot of kids on this board that can't travel by themselves, or their parents aren't into parks. I feel truly blessed that both of my parents are coaster enthusiasts themselves. The fact remains, though, that it is unreasonable to expect PKI to build a coaster that you want just because you can't make it up to CP. You can't get everything you would ever want in one park. That is why so many of us use much of our money and time to travel the world riding rollercoasters. If there was one park that had every coaster we would ever want, we would all just travel there every year, and I wouldn't worry about the rest.
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If the shoe fits, find another one.
pkifanatic,
We have no clue what we are talking about? I am guessing you do? I visit the park a LOT when it is open, and unlike a few others on here, I understand that a park doesn't always need a 'bigger' coaster to be sucessfull. If you are tired of riding the same things at the park, why not take a break? I have been going to that park since the early 70's and not once have I been bored with what the park has to offer.
I see NO reason why PKI has to expand just to satisfy those that may be tired of the rides they have. Expanding in a competitive way is a smart move, and improves business. Remember, the main reason the park adds the things it does is to get more people inside the gates. The park researches things very carefully and decides what they think would best suit the park.
So, what happens if the park decides to add a thrilling ride like Hypersonic and you get bored of it? My guess is certain people would be back to square one and wouldn't be happy with what the park has to offer.
Given I don't go to the park every week, I do go to it quite a lot and expect this year to be no different. Will I get bored of the park? I seriously doubt it considering I don't worry about little things like being bored on rides. The way I look at it, if you get bored of riding coasters, then perhaps a new hobby is in store.
All of this reminds me of an ugly thread that started soon after Tomb Raider was announced. Some kid e-mailed the park and basically told the park he was insulted that they didn't build a 'tera' coaster because HE wanted one. I for one could not believe it has gotten to the point of people being so spoiled that someone has to contact a park and tell them they suck because they didn't build a 'dream machine'. I think those are the type of people that actually need to get a life.
I work with the park quite often and can only imagine the level of insulting contacts they have to deal with. I deal with plenty myself, but I am sure it is no match for someone like PKI.
Perhaps it would have been better if parks didn't decide to put in a new ride every year so people would appreciate what the park had to offer.
-Sean (who does go 'up the road' to CP quite often also)
*** This post was edited by Sean F. on 3/18/2002. ***
For Sean: (BEASTmaster stands up and applauds) :). I couldn't agree with you more buddy. I go to PKI just about every Friday and sometimes I don't even ried a single ride. I usually just take a nice stroll through the park and watch the coasters and other rides run. I just like taking it all in at PKI. It must be its atmosphere.
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Bill Yost of Cincinnati, Ohio: Where we KNOW the Bengals suck!
http://www.small-business-webs.com/pkizone
Well, if you are so bored with PKI's ride selection, don't go that often then. Sounds like you have a lot of time on your hands, so make the trip to Cedar Point, SFWOA or Kentucky Kingdom. I go to PKI once a year and CP twice a year and have a blast.
On another note: I'll give PKI credit. At least they remove rides that are outdated and replace them with more modern rides. CP seems intent on keeping everything and removing more and more trees until none are left.
PKI better be running a business! They better be running their business for me and do whatever I want or I won't come anymore, because they suck! If they don't get a 4D, a TA2K, a mouse, a B&M, and a tera coaster in 2003, then I'll take my business elsewhere.
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I am the I in PKI!! ;)
The fact is that if someone gets bored with one coaster, they'll get bored with another. No matter what it is.
I, too, grew up in Cincinnati. I live in Louisville now, where my apartment is just a 5 minute walk from Kentucky Kingdom. I've been there twice in 2 years. I'm a season pass holder at PKI and go almost every weekend. Why? Because it's pretty daggon good the way it is.
Jacob
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www.PKIGuide.com
Personally, I think PKI should open a special park just for us enthusiasts! It should be within walking distance of my house, and each day, Jeff Siebert should gently rouse me from sleep with a morning song, then escort me by rickshaw to the front of the line for the Den Coaster, which of course is a hyper-tera (200 times 400 feet) inverted wooden suspended stand-up water coaster with an infinite number of inversions.
Of course before I boarded the ride, David Mandt would gently rub the calfskin seats with a loofah to ensure that no foulness would violate my buttocks. As I boarded and the train left, the ride-ops would wave their hands in front of my face to clear the air of possible impurities.
After the ride (which would be 20 minutes later, since it is 54,940 feet long), the president of Paramount would give me a personal piggy-back ride back to the front of the line, where the people waiting behind me would bow in reverence and lick my shoes.
Later, park employees would lie down in the street as I walked home, to cushion my sore feet, while Denise Dinn-Larrick would follow me, taking careful notes as to what I wanted in tomorrow's coaster, which of course would be a 900-foot nontuple out-and-back woodie (floorless).
Finally, Jeffrey would sing a soothing lullaby whilst massaging my calves as I drift off to dream of tomorrow's adventures.
Fin.
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He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking; can't shake the devil's hand and say you're only kidding.
*** This post was edited by Den on 3/19/2002. ***
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