Safari, Sky Ride, Vortex and more: Multiple Kings Island owners brought new visions (Warren: amusement park)

[mike1003]

https://www.journal-news.com/what-to...PZOBI7RZQEGQ4/

Differing operators changed up entertainment options at park



Like most everything in our world since 1972, Kings Island has gone through many transformations and additions.




But the other things in our lives haven’t been witnessed and experienced by millions as the well-attended Kings Island has been for the last 50 years.


The first version of Kings Island was carved out of farmland and woods in Warren County, only to set a stage for decades of coming additions to the popular amusement park.




From a series of expansions, new structures, new rides and the addition of a water park, Kings Island has seen many changes in the last half century.

It's been fun going to KI since the beginning

[Ohiogirl81]

My favorite coaster at Kings Island was the stand up coaster, King Cobra. What a wild ride that was!

Before the park opened for the season, it would invite the local media in for the day so we could give publicity to the new rides etc. I still have the towel we all got when the water park opened, and a plastic cup from the year King Cobra opened.

[blickcd]

At one time I worked with some structural engineers who refused to ride the King Cobra, thinking the design was bad. I rode it once for that added thrill factor.

[rstevens62]

Originally Posted by blickcd

At one time I worked with some structural engineers who refused to ride the King Cobra, thinking the design was bad. I rode it once for that added thrill factor.

Our parents used to take us to KI once per year, usually in July, I remember when the King Cobra debuted, everyone in the park was buzzing about it, everyone seemed to be scared to ride it, but those who had rode it, LOVED it! (myself included), I think it was due to the standing up part, that was something totally new to people back then.


I remember our parents really liked the white water rafting ride, as soon as the gates opened, everyone would run to the ride they wanted to ride first, and at the end of the day, we all met at the arcade area and ate Wendys, and rode the Scrambler together for the last ride of the day. At lunch we always had LaBullBoxer31 pizza and sat down to watch the fountain as we ate.


I also remember when it was getting close to shut down time, me and my siblings would ride the old fashioned cars over and over again, until the operators shut it down for the night, there was no lines then and the operators would let us keep going.


This was back in the mid to late 80s, I really enjoyed KI, everything was so clean and well maintained, the grounds were perfect. My mother used to like the live shows they put on ( I believe this was very close to the Eiffel tower, sort of off to the right behind the tower.


Some other of my faves from those days,



The big colorful slide, and junkers jalopies, another driver ride, but more sporty than the old fashioned cars. I was also in my pre teen years then and I remember the New Wave store they had, (in the arcade, close to the Scrambler), they always had new wave music going, and breakdancers, lots of black leather, beret hats, spiked wrist bands, etc. LOL Also loved the beast and beastie, both were so rough, but it was good kind of rough...I can still remember that smell of heavy grease and wood when riding the beast.


My dads fave ride was the Safari tram, he liked the air conditioning the most I think, it was a nice cool break from the HOT july weather, but I remember the line for the Safari was always HUGE and took forever. The line for the Vortex back then was also huge, but that always went pretty fast, I think they had 4 trains going at once.


What great memories! I wish my parents would have taken more pictures back then.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by blickcd

At one time I worked with some structural engineers who refused to ride the King Cobra, thinking the design was bad. I rode it once for that added thrill factor.

Well, there was a reason it was dismantled ...

I liked the loop, the way your knees buckled when you hit the top of the loop and all your weight was carried by the shoulder harness. A pretty cool sensation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTPr...el=KingsIsland

[rstevens62]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Well, there was a reason it was dismantled ...

I liked the loop, the way your knees buckled when you hit the top of the loop and all your weight was carried by the shoulder harness. A pretty cool sensation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTPr...el=KingsIsland

I dont remember there being safety or structural problems with the King Cobra, didnt KI just decide to sell it off, because they were going to re do that whole area soon, (and the King Cobra didnt really fit the theme they were going for)...if you recall, the Safari tram was right next to the Cobra, and that whole area had sort of a loose 'jungle theme'.