Kings Island
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cedar Fair Entertainment
Park News - (8/19/16) Kings Island has also announced that in 2017 their Soak City waterpark will see the addition of a new smokehouse style restaurant as well as an assortment of other new amenities and improvements. The new restaurant will serve pulled pork, smoked or grilled wings, hand-breaded chicken tenders and shrimp and much more. This actually sounds quite a bit like the awesome new Harbor House restaurant they added this summer to the waterpark at Carowinds and if so, Soak City guests are in for a treat.
(8/18/16) Kings Island has confirmed that after 12 long years WinterFest will return in late 2017.
The focal point of WinterFest will be the world’s largest Christmas tree display with the park’s iconic 314-foot tall Eiffel Tower decorated with thousands of lights which will be seen for miles.
Below the Eiffel Tower, International Street will be transformed into a colorful and quaint winter village, featuring the fun of holidays past – outdoor ice skating on the park’s Royal Fountain, Christmas carolers, and homemade crafts. Tasty foods, colorful gifts, live stage shows, fun rides, and of course, Santa’s workshop will all be part of WinterFest’s warmth and excitement.
Rides will include the Grand Carousel and a journey through the park’s Rivertown area on an authentic steam train.
Operating dates, hours and ticket prices for WinterFest will be announced at a later date. The event will be included free for 2017 Gold and Platinum season passholders.
2017 - Mystic Timbers - (4/14/17) Kings Island held a media day for Mystic Timbers on Thursday and from all the reviews and words I've seen go far the coaster gives a fantastic, wonderful and unrelenting ride from start to finish. Of course, this is where things get odd... because after about 9 months of hype, what everyone really wanted to know was, "What's in the shed?"
Kings Island went so far as to edit out any of the on-ride POV footage shot for media day to not show off what was in the shed, and the only hints you get are from the reverse POV footage showing rider's faces as they travel through the shed... most smiled, but there was also some confusion I noticed.
Why? Because it seems like Kings Island may have pulled the biggest "troll" on the coaster enthusiast fanboys and fangirls for all time. They sat by and watched and theory after theory has been hyped up online about drop tracks, hidden inversions, reverse launches, immersive tunnels and more... but what's really in the shed?
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Do not keep reading if you don't want to know... and even I don't know all the details, but here is what I do know.
SPOLER ALERT!!!!
--- Ready? Ok...
It is almost as if Kings Island just pulled the real world equivalent of "Rick Rolling", because riders will slowly enter the shed to an audio warning system that begins to glitch out, only to roll forward into an area of blue/green lights. Suddenly old pop-rock music begins to play... and you'll have to ride several times to hear the different tracks being played. Meanwhile there is apparently a projection screen you pass as you turn showing off some kind of giant bat monsters (or it may have been an animated tree monster) looking creation.
In the various video clips I know I heard Man Eater from Hall & Oats being played in some, along with some other songs I wasn't sure about, though the one thing that would have made this perfect is if they do opt to play Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Givew You Up", but so far no one has seen it yet.
So to summarize... fantastic coaster... quirky ending, but the nice thing is that the park can always change the ending at will as time goes on to play up seasonal holiday themed and more throughout the year if they choose to do so.
(7/29/16) Kings Island announced their new 2017 wooden coaster a few hours ago from GCI (Great Coasters International) to be called Mystic Timbers. The ride will be themed to an old lumber company which has been overrun by a magical overgrowth of plants and vines. The coaster will be 109 feet tall, have a 97 foot first drop, 3,265 feet of track, and hit speeds of up to 53mph along the course that will cross over itself, run down ravines, over water (and the park's rapids ride), through a dense forested area and end with a strange encounter as the train enters the darkness of The Shed. #WhatsInTheShed ? That is one secret the park is keeping to themselves until next spring.
 2018 - New Attraction / Return of the Antique Cars - Rumor - (8/15/17) A video report from Kings Island posted by Ohio Valley Coasters shows off the freshly walled off and closed Tower Gardens site, which was where I was guessing that the returning Antique Cars ride could be going.
(7/29/17) According to one source, there was a plan floating around Kings Island many years ago that talked about bringing back the Antique Cars at that time which had narrowed the possible sites down to two: the basic area where Mystic Timbers ended up going and the other recommended site at the time was to put it in the 'Tower Gardens' area, which I believe is usually put into use for Halloween Haunt each fall. Since only the Tower Gardens site is left, and this matches up with my previous rumor, it should be interesting to see if they retire or move the haunt that was located there, which I believe was the Backwoods Bayou.
Of course there is also a good deal of open space left next to the Backlot Stunt Coaster that could be put to use as well, though it has less attractive landscaping. The more lush green area of the Tower Gardens could be left mostly intact and provide for a more scenic drive experience.
Either way, time to keep an eye out for survey markings on the ground and trees.
(7/28/17) Screamscape has heard an interesting rumor for what Kings Island has in store for 2018. In an unexpected move, but one that may delight long-time Kings Island patrons, I'm hearing that we can expect to see the return of an "Antique Cars" attraction to the park in 2018, this time said to be located somewhere between the Coney Mall and International Street area. Just a guess, but I'm thinking it may not be far from the park's Grand Carousel.
According to our source, construction is expected to begin within the next couple weeks, so keep an eye out if you visit the park.
|
