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TR: Keys to the Kingdom - a KK event


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I attended Keys to the Kingdom at Kentucky Kingdom today. I was a nice off-season event with only a small group. We were given a behind the scene look at a park during the off season, giving us a look at some of the coasters in the winter homes, telling us stories of that will be going where and a sense of the park’s past.

 

First up was T3. After the ridge photo booth and gift shop was removed, that area was repurposed for the characters changing room. There is still a couple chairs from that time. It appears that the ride photos will be coming back for T3 in the future.

 

From there we walked through the water park over to the picnic area. We were able to see the trains for Lightning Run and T3 there. It was announced that a beer garden would be opening up in this area, with a new exclusive beer for Kentucky Kingdom. Guessing the name of the beer will probably be something related to Eye of the Storm based on hints given.

 

Next we walked through the water park where we were shown a new entrance to the water park, as well as a new path around Thunder Run and the awful wooden fences have been taken down. Because the fences have been removed we were able to see some new wood on Thunder Run.

 

Next a trip to the see new and shiney. We went up to the station for Thunder Run where sits a brand new train, just arrived this week. It has stadium seating. There was also new wood on the brake run.

 

The smoking area near Swampwater Jack’s will be getting a kiddie ride - a kiddie Whip. Also new for this year, the street crossing will be open to the public as an alternative to the bridge. There will be employees working as crossing guards.

 

Next we were up close and personal with Storm Chaser!

 

Did you know that where Eye of the Storm ended up with the 3rd location for the ride? Enterprise was supposed to be removed, but it is now on it’s last legs. It as a DNR order, so if it goes down, it is done, plug will be pulled. That was the 1st location. 2nd location was the end of the drag strip closer to Storm Chaser, but they didn’t want it that close, so they moved it to the end of the drag strip furthest from Storm Chaser. Kentucky Kingdom does not consider Eye of the Storm a roller coaster.

 

There was a Twisted Twins sign still laying around on a bar that came from Six Flags New Orleans post hurricane. There are a few items around the park that came from that park.

 

Next up was a boxed lunch that consisted of a pretty good sandwich, chips, grapes, a drink and an optional oatmeal cookie. The staff answered questions while we ate. My dreams of being able to go to the park after work during the week will still be a dream. It completely makes sense why the park has the short hours and season that it does once they broke it down for us. They aren’t completely ruling out longer hours or season, but it will have to be a good business decision when it happens. Another hot topic is Halloween. Not this year, but sounds very hopeful for next year will be not a Halloween theme, but more of a fall theme.

 

Ed Hart made an appearance and answered a few questions before asking us a bunch of questions.

 

Moving on, the last remaining footer of Vampire was pointed out to us. And we saw the train from Greased Lightnin’. We were allowed to get up close and personal with Lightning Run.

 

The kiddie train received a new paint job. A new kiddie ride is in the area.

 

Last news is that this will be the last year for Mt. Slide Hai.

 

I think that is all the important stuff from today.

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Adam and I waiting for the event to start

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T3's winter home in the picnic area

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T3

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T3

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Lightning Run's winter home in the picnic area

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Lightning Run's winter home in the picnic area

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Thunder Run - new wood, no wooden fence

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Thunder Run - New path around and into the water park

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Thunder Run - The path will go in both directions, so there will be plenty of places to be able to see this coaster

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Thunder Run

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New train - The logo will be added

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New wood on the break run, should help prevent the train from stopping too early

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Inside Storm Chaser

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Inside Storm Chaser

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um? Best guess we were given is that the guys from RMC did it. It had never been noticed before today.

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New ride

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Blast from the past #1 Twisted Twins sitting on a bar that was from SFNO

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Ed Hart

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Blast from the Past #2 - last remaining Vampire footer

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Blast from the past #3 Greased Lightnin'

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Up close and personal to Lightning Run

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New paint job on the kiddie train

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Last year for Mt Slide Hai

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Great photographs! I'd love to see Kentucky Kingdom add a flat ride in one of those areas within Storm Chaser, maybe like a Huss Troika and name it EF-3. Those blast from the past photos were really cool! I thought the footer picture and the bar counter from Six Flags New Orleans were especially interesting. How did they ever end up with that? And why do they keep the trains from the shuttle loop around? And did they give any hint on what would be replacing the water slides?

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I presume the SFNO stuff was acquired while this was still a SF park.

 

We should find out about the water park next month when they do their announcement. They did mention that the water park would get some TLC next, so new slides would be a possibility.

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Great report, thanks for covering and sharing with us! That Thunder Run train looks so shiny!

While a tad bittersweet, I'd be totally fine with seeing Enterprise go. It's age definitely showed last season.

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I presume the SFNO stuff was acquired while this was still a SF park.

 

We should find out about the water park next month when they do their announcement. They did mention that the water park would get some TLC next, so new slides would be a possibility.

 

Lol. It just seems weird that they would take a bar counter of all things. They could have removed a ride or two but instead got a bar counter. Lol.

 

I would be fine with Enterprise leaving, too. I feel super cramped in those little pod things. I rode Catwoman's Whip at Six Flags Over Texas and liked it a lot better than Huss/Schwarzkopf Enterprises since it was floorless and I felt so out in the open! I would love to see them replace Enterprise with either a new Zamperla Endeavor or a Zamperla Air Race.

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Great report, thanks for covering and sharing with us! That Thunder Run train looks so shiny!

While a tad bittersweet, I'd be totally fine with seeing Enterprise go. It's age definitely showed last season.

 

One of the tour guides who's an rides supervisor said that last season was supposed to be last year but he found out in September that they were bringing it back this year and so this could be the last year, it's on a bubble right now so it's not really sure if it'll be staying or going.

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This was was my first sneak peek event at a theme park, I really had a good time and it was very informative. They will be making an announcement about 2018 & 2019 in April but it depends on the Kentucky Derby festival, they said that it could be before or after that. The really cool part was Ed Hart took time out of his time to meet with us and ask us questions to get feedback. They did say that since they've focused on the amusement park side that next year will be more focused on the water park. I asked about the airport height restriction and basically KK sits in between the East and West runways of the airport so KK pretty much is under a dome, meaning that the two ends of the park slope up to the middle. They have a little more room height wise in the middle with the lowest height being at the ends of the park. Here are my pics, hope you enjoy!

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Walking up to the park, wish we could use this entrance more often.

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Some ugly guy standing in front of a coaster

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be very very very quiet, they're sleeping

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more hibernating beasts

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Sand Art anyone?

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somebody really needs a bath when it wakes from its long winter slumber

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I got slapped in the face for taking this up the skirt picture

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oohey gooey fluffy filled bunnies covered up with a blanket for their long winter nights sleep

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not a good day to surf

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I wouldn't recommend trying to slide down this slide right now

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someone is sporting new wood

Edited by mikeykaise
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Continued:

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New entrance to water park from behind Thunder Run

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New T Intersection, going left takes you out towards Storm Chaser, right goes to the new water park entrance and straight takes you under TR

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I can't remember if this was here before or not but Thunder Run is sporting a new mechanical room

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They teased us with a train parked in the station

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Alas! We were denied since the train would come flying off the track which would be a whole new ride

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new trains with stadium seating, the back seat sits a little higher even though you can't tell from the back rests

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flying wooden shoes, hopefully no chance of athlete's foot

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a cool poster I saw while most everyone was drooling over some ACE display on the other wall

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future home of Speedway

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one Speedway coming right up

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you will get drenched on this ride just not today

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oooohhhhhh I spy with my little eye, some beautiful RMC awesomeness!!!!

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a beautiful sight!

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twisted goodness

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such a twisted wicked (yes a thowback to Twisted Twins so sue me) design

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I wanna ride, but alas denied yet again! Curse you Storm Chaser I shall tame you this year!

Edited by mikeykaise
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Last set:

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yes we got let into the heavenly gates.....

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yes I'm a dirty coaster perv who likes to stare up at coaster bits

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can I just camp out here all summer and watch the trains go by every day?

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lubricated for your pleasure

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*drooooool*

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new for this year

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pretty cars

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that's bigger than I was expecting and that's what she said

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a beautiful bar that got the Six Flags treatment and hmmm, shocker was rescued by Ed Hart's group (was submerged thanks to Katrina)

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hmmmm... good food

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the man himself, such a great guy, he was asking us questions instead of just answering questions

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I never got a chance to ride Greased Lightning so I can't say I miss it or not but I definitely approve of the replacement

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no lightning strikes today

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fun ride but I can never get the cables to snap on these type of rides

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*plays ACDC's for whom the bell tolls* the reason for this being the last season is because of wood structure issues.

Edited by mikeykaise
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Great photos everyone.

 

Put me in the bummed category about the Enterprise, I would like to see it replaced with a newer model... I mean, they already have the foundation, just replace it with a new one maybe the following year after removing it... so it will at least be something "new" to market.

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I am actually more disappointed about this apparently being the last year for Mt. Slide Hai. Those slides are some of the best old-school tube slides I have ridden with lots of sharp, small drops that make you loose your stomach for a split second. This is something that every new tube slide I have been on seems to lack, the new slides just gently slope downwards the entire ride more often than not. But, I am also glad to see all of the improvements that are being done and cannot wait to hear about the upcoming plans next month. I also really like the new pathway and what they have done with opening up Thunder Run more by putting up more see-through fences to give it much more of a visible presence in the park.

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Great TR and photo guys! I missed a lot of what was said derpin around in the back. I just took iPhone photos but I'll post some of the ones I liked on here.

 

As it was brought up in the Q&A, Kentucky Kingdom considers coaster enthusiasts a valuable free marketing asset and they enjoy and take care of us. They certainly did that and I had a great time.

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Aforementioned chair

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Saran wrapped lockers?

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Something weird and cool to me about a dried up water park

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One of my favorite steel coasters

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I took a ton of pictures of this ride yesterday

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This is my favorite photo

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Had to post one of my Storm chaser selfies.

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I call this tree "Mystic Timbers."

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The man himself!

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From the top of a water slide

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Thanks for reading!

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Great pictures! Thanks for the TR. I see a few people I know in those pics. I haven't been to the park since it re-opened, hoping to swing by this year!

 

One question, what is this large concrete area? It looks like something used to be here, but can't think of it. Also, in the slots on the right, looks like old coaster caliper brakes.

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Great pictures! Thanks for the TR. I see a few people I know in those pics. I haven't been to the park since it re-opened, hoping to swing by this year!

 

One question, what is this large concrete area? It looks like something used to be here, but can't think of it. Also, in the slots on the right, looks like old coaster caliper brakes.

 

That is where the drag racer simulator/ride was and those are the individual tracks that each car rode in or on. They used the loading area for the new ride and the rest of long area is just empty except for those tracks.

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