Son of Beast at Kings Island still has uncertain future

My God, this coaster can't catch a break. But if folks keep getting hurt, is it worth it to keep the coaster alive?

I'm getting the feeling that most of these people might be gold diggers looking for some quick cash in this tough economy.

On the other hand, I wonder if some new Timberliners might help it?

Why is it that every time people get hurt on a ride, people start making assumptions that everyone is out for "quick cash?"

Because there are 28 pages of lawyers in my local phone book?

Yeah. $76,000 is real life-changing money she got awarded there...cash the check and retire in style!

The ride is, and always has been, a mess. If you don't think so, you are in a state of coaster denial.

Coasters with much less bad history have been torn down, so I cannot fathom one logical reason why SOB, in its current state, does not have the same fate awaiting it.

I think the line between wanting some cash and deserving it has been hit with this one.

While its builders and Paramount had such grand intentions (I'd have loved to ride it) I think SOB is now just a liability. You just can't have a public attraction that has the ability to cause that much pain. Broken hips/fractured sternums are not minor injuries.

And I'm the first to admit that I like some rough rides (Grizzly at KD, Mean Streak).

I don't have exact numbers or anything, but I can only assume this coasters' annual ridership isn't very high in comparison to the other coasters at Kings Island...

Couple that with the fact that it has been nothing but trouble for this park since the day it opened (multiple high-profile rider injury reports, multiple instances of structural re-profiling, etc.), I don't see why it wouldn't be on the chopping block.

I've said it before and I'll say it again,

SOB + C4 = one big bonfire and weinie roast.

Either that, can we FINALLY let Mythbusters have a crack at busting a few coaster myths before they blow it up?

Son of Beast was what 20 million i think? I have never ridden it before and don't consider myself an expert in the area, but i can't imagine that they couldn't just "fix" the ride. How about replacing the old track with pre-fab wood? Or doing something like that? Certainly a lot more economical.

It's not a good ride though. It has some moments, but overall it kinda sucks. Unless it's popular with the guests (hard to imagine), why keep it, regardless of how much they invested in it?

Jeff said:
Why is it that every time people get hurt on a ride, people start making assumptions that everyone is out for "quick cash?"

Because daytime tv is littered with hundreds of ads per day for Accident Lawyers.

Sorry Jeff, you're indignation is unwarranted. While there are certainly some people who are hurt on rides, through no fault of their own, the vast majority of litigation (actual and threatened) is done for the hopes of a pre-verdict settlement.

Not sure how popular it actually was/is, but the thing always had a line...a decent line as far as I could ever tell.

CreditWh0re said:
While there are certainly some people who are hurt on rides, through no fault of their own, the vast majority of litigation (actual and threatened) is done for the hopes of a pre-verdict settlement.

Huh?

Eric Hossfield said:
Son of Beast was what 20 million i think? I have never ridden it before and don't consider myself an expert in the area, but i can't imagine that they couldn't just "fix" the ride. How about replacing the old track with pre-fab wood? Or doing something like that? Certainly a lot more economical.

Maybe somebody could do something using tne existing footers and station. It'd be sort of a "gut renovation." Would "This Old House" be interested in a project like this or how about "World's Toughest Fixes?" ;)

Maybe Ty and Extreme Home Makeovers?

Time to move on and not throw additional money at this piece of junk.

I just had a crazy thought: CF should threaten to KEEP SOB open unless Mason backs away from the tax hike.

So unless the tax hike is nixed, we will continue to hurt hostages on a periodic basis?

I see where you are going Go.. However, I think the term "hostage" is a tad dramatic a term.

When a person is standing in line for an hour or so to get on a ride that has been in the papers, or at least hears comments from people getting off and still decides to assumes the risk of riding to some degree (as pointed out by the typical warning signs posted around coasters)... Are they really hostages at that point?