Photo TR: Mini New Hotness/East Coast Trip

--So happy to finally ride the Beast after growing up hearing about it from relatives. I did make the mistake of putting my hands up during the helix of death. Rookie mistake that caused me some pain.

Cedar Fair needs to get GCI and have them redo that section. That section's a bit jerky.

I have often wondered about the "chain" on the last big hill before the turnaround. What exactly is that there for? Rebel Yell does not have one........

Credit Chuck for the awesome pic......

I always thought those were just anti-rollbacks. Wow, I guess it's a lot easier to return a train to the station this way, if it were to stall.

I always thought those were just anti-rollbacks. Wow, I guess it's a lot easier to return a train to the station this way, if it were to stall.

You can see what looks like a motor mount under the crest of the hill and the chain return underneath the track???

^That's what it looks like to me. Interesting find.

I go to Kings Island every year and I always ride Firehawk every time I go and I have never had a bad ride on it. Now I only been on two other flying coasters and they were Superman: Ultimate Flight at SFGAm and Night Hawk at Carowinds. Out of all of them Nighthawk was the worst, it was rough and not as fun as I thought it would be. Second would be Firehawk and third would be SUF just because it was smooth and I loved the preztel loop element. I can see you not like flying coasters since you are kind of old, no offense or anything. Even though I am wrong, because there are people my age who hate them to. Just you said you get sick and stuff real easy by them, I just thought of old age and stuff. Anyway I hope you understand I am not trying to be rude or anything. I just understand what you mean by your opinion I guess. Oh and this comment is towards cfc.

That was very rude and disrespectful. His opinion is his opinion regardless of age. If you look through the forum there's a lot of people, all ages, that don't like flyers, stand-ups, woodies, wing-coasters, etc...Some people dislike The Beast. It sounds unbelievable but it's true. Some people don't like beer. Unbelievable but true. He explained why he didn't like it and it has nothing to do with his age.

cfc said:

"I'll **cough!** swallow your **ack! ugh!** soul . . . **hack! agh!** This mist is giving me bronchitis! Ain't nobody got time for . . . **cough! ugh!**

Too bad about Firehawk, I thought it was decent when it was up here at Six Flags Ohio- Worlds of Geauga Lake. But as a Vekoma, I guess it falls apart quick!

Robb or Elissa, how did KT like the Beast?

I go to Kings Island every year and I always ride Firehawk every time I go and I have never had a bad ride on it. Now I only been on two other flying coasters and they were Superman: Ultimate Flight at SFGAm and Night Hawk at Carowinds. Out of all of them Nighthawk was the worst, it was rough and not as fun as I thought it would be. Second would be Firehawk and third would be SUF just because it was smooth and I loved the preztel loop element. I can see you not like flying coasters since you are kind of old, no offense or anything. Even though I am wrong, because there are people my age who hate them to. Just you said you get sick and stuff real easy by them, I just thought of old age and stuff. Anyway I hope you understand I am not trying to be rude or anything. I just understand what you mean by your opinion I guess. Oh and this comment is towards cfc.

Yes, for someone who's "not trying to be rude," you did a remarkably good job of it.

Ride Firehawk to your heart's content, young fellow. You'll be this young, and perhaps this dumb, only once.

Chuck,

Thank you for the report and great pictures.

You are an outstanding poster and contributor to this forum. You have a great sense of humor.

I will forgive you for dislike of my all time favorite roller coaster; The Beast The Beast can be rough and likes to smack the unwary around. The slow first lift hill gives everyone a a chance to flee before risking the chance of getting eaten/beaten...LOL Unlike El-Toro. For the best rides on The Beast, it's either the first row or row 17. (And a night-ride to truly appreciate it)

If you ride any B&M flyer then ride FireHawk, you spend most of the ride wondering if you're really safe with the restraints it uses. I also tend to think B&M took the concept from Vekoma and perfected it.

Was B A B joking or was that a serious post? I saw he has over 500 posts so I thought maybe it is some kind of inside joke or should I be worried for our country's future?

 

I will forgive you for dislike of my all time favorite roller coaster; The Beast The Beast can be rough and likes to smack the unwary around. The slow first lift hill gives everyone a a chance to flee before risking the chance of getting eaten/beaten...LOL Unlike El-Toro. For the best rides on The Beast, it's either the first row or row 17. (And a night-ride to truly appreciate it)

 

Oh, I rather like Beast. It's his son I could do without.

Chuck, I always felt the same way about SOB. When I heard it was being removed, I was so joyful that people around me probably thought I had brain damage. Though, if I did have brain damage, I could easily blame it on Son of Beast.

I am not trying to be rude or anything.

"“— yet, sadly, accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often... Best to say nothing at all, my dear man. ”

-Albus Dumbledore

On that note, I loved the trip reports CFC! Keep em coming

So could all of us. The Beast is what happens when people who don't what they are doing build a roller coaster and get it right. SOB is the opposite. I don't mind rough roller coasters but SOB was not fun, just torturous.

SoB was a 3 minute car accident. It even looked like that in the POV Robb has up on the youtube channel.

Yeah SOB was actually really good, imo, when it was first built in 2000 but as it started to age a bit, things just kept getting worse and worse unfortunately. Of course I'd rather have Banshee in its place anyday anyway as I have been waiting 15 years for KI to get a B&M Invert.

Day 3: Coastin' Around the Blue Grass State at Kentucky Kingdom & Beech Bend

When Ed Hart announced in 2013 that he was going to reopen Kentucky Kingdom in 2014, count me among the doubters. I wished him no ill will, but I just couldn't see how a park that had been left rot for so long could be put in shape in ten months.

Then again, there's a a reason I'm not in the park management business. Not only did Mr. Hart succeed in reopening the park in time for summer 2014, he also added a major new ride, Lightning Run, and brought an old one, Thunder Run, back in fine form. Granted, not all of the park is ready (for example, Twisted Twins, the park's CCI woodie, won't be back this season); however, getting the park to this stage is a tribute to Mr. Hart and his staff, and I congratulate them for it. Well done!

We arrived early for filming sessions on the park's two "Run" coasters, and Mr. Hart came by to talk with the group, answer questions, and even field some suggestions. Plans for next year call for reviving the park's somewhat infamous SLC as "T3" with new trains that should improve the ride experience (this drew a little skepticism from the group), as well as reopening Twisted Twins, following a major refurbishment.

But what about the park as it is now? Lightning Run is an insane, airtime machine, and I liked it a lot. The trains feature lapbar and ankle restraints that are a bit of a tight squeeze (at least for larger riders); Great America's Goliath uses similar restraints that are more "forgiving." But after experiencing the airtime on this coaster, I can see why they staple you in it. Once you top the lift hill, it doesn't let up until the final brakes. While it isn't at the same level as the Intamin Mega Lites (to which it's often compared), Lightning Run is damn good, and more parks should install coasters like it.

But let's not forget Thunder Run, the park's Summers-Dinn wooden coaster. RMC retracked this coaster and did an excellent job; it's like Kings Dominion's Hurler done right. There are enough airtime and laterals in this ride's twisting layout to satisfy any coaster enthusiast, and it's very re-rideable. All the trees that have grown up around the coaster enhance the experience, too.

Before we head into the photos, I'd just like to tip my hat to Ed Hart and his staff once again. They've given this old Louisville park a new lease on life; with any luck, Kentucky Kingdom should only get better with time.

It never hurts to be a bit early.

Damn! Somebody still beat us here.

Is "rumpke" Kentuckian for "trash" or "please empty me"?

The photo on the left will be very significant today. Call it, "foreshadowing."

Also available as a kitchen magnet, which now adorns my fridge.

"It's the truth! It's actual! Everything is, er, faunsationatical?"

Contrary to popular belief, Thunder Run is not sponsored by Taco Bell. They weren't "funsational" enough.

I sense great evil sleeps here, waiting only to be awakened. Yes, Cthuhlu may walk the Earth again as "T3"!

As opposed to "the myth."

We have no independent corroboration of their "badassness."

Unlike the case of Amy and Connor, I can vouch for Thunder Run.

It's a very good wooden coaster, indeed.

Why, it even put John in a trance!

John and Dan confirm Thunder Run's "badassness."

"Er, yup . . . I'm one o' them Duck Dynasty fellers. Please don't hunt me."

Speaking of "badassness."

From here, it looks like some loopless fever dream from Arrow's Ron Toomer.

But Lightning Run is one big suckerpunch of airtime from beginning to end.

If air was alcohol, every rider would be plastered before they hit the final brake run.

I call these hills "the Heimlich Maneuver."

The person in the front left seat is demonstrating why.

"I was choking on a bug I'd swallowed earlier, but I coughed it up on the bunny hills."

Remember that "hairtime" ad picture I posted earlier?

Keep it in mind.

Ta-dah! Look at that red hair a'flyin'!

Again. Wait for it.

Boing!

A sideview of the Heimlich Maneuver. If you're choking on a churro, get on this ride immediately!

Speaking of airtime and terror, these Larson drop towers are noted for both.

Whoa! Am I right, gents?

Again, let's not forget Thunder Run.

Any park would be happy to have this woodie in their collection.

You really have no idea what will happen next when you ride it for the first time, thanks to the way it twists around those trees.

"We give ourselves freely to your will, o mighty Thunder Run!"

OK, a minor bone to pick: Bluebeard wasn't a pirate; he was a serial killer who specialized in marrying women, then murdering them. That being said, I do like swinging ship rides.

But who cares about old Bluebeard?

It's all about Lightning Run.

Although it's not quite at the same level as Intamin's Mega Lites . . .

. . . it's pretty damn close. Thank you, Kentucky Kingdom--on to Beech Bend.

To my mind, there are two good reasons to venture out in the middle of nowhere to Beech Bend. One is Kentucky Rumbler, the park's very good GCI wooden coaster. Our nighttime ERT session on this ride, with light rain and thunder and lightning off in the distance, was very memorable. (We drove through the real storm on our way to Indiana that night.) The second reason is their Haunted House. This is a very good, revamped Pretzel dark ride (from what I understand) that feels "homemade." The building looks like a one-story ranch house filled with standard dark-ride gags, such as leaping skeletons and snarling werewolves, and the park surprised us with a lights-on walking tour.

The park also has a number of flat rides surrounding a small lake, in addition to a Dragon kiddie coaster and a spinning mouse and a small water park. There's a huge campground and drag strip, too (you could really hear their engines growl and roar from the park).

Here's a look at Beech Bend.

Time for fun out in Middle of Nowhere County, Kentucky.

So, why were we here in the Middle of Nowhere? Is it for Kentucky Rumbler . . .

. . . or Dinky, Master of Illusion? Tough call.

This photo was taken by JJ Abrams, as you can tell from the lens flare.

My guess is that we were here for Rumbler.

I'm sure Dinky is fine if you're a "rabbit-out-of-a-hat" enthusiast, though.

But we just like Rumbler's tricks better.

Some may have come to Beech Bend for this . . .

. . . or maybe even this.

No, probably not this.

I'm sure a few came for the petting zoo.

"Looks like a bunch o' them enthusiasts. Just stay far away from anythin' that looks like gravy and you'll be fine."

Why do I keep hearing Michael Jackson music?

Oh. Damn thing's probably haunted!

Hmm--I have a feeeling this place might be haunted. I must have a sixth sense for this sort of thing.

They offered us a walking tour of the Haunted House during our very good fried-chicken dinner--awesome!

"Yes. I am the original Phantom of the Opera, and this photo will cost you five dollars and a pack of smokes."

"Say--you look meaty enough!"

"Yeah! Nothin' beats hot-dog-and-fried-chicken-fed coaster enthusiast when it comes to good eatin'!"

My god! That's why they offered us this tour!

Moe, Larry, and Curly have not aged well.

Keanu Reeves has really let himself go.

Oh, darn. She was so close to the exit, too.

"I can help you catch him, Clarice."

Grr! I'm a wolfman! What? Behind me . . . oh, crap!

Hey, the King of Pop is here!

We escaped just in time for nighttime ERT on Kentucky Rumbler. That's all for now.

Lightning Run was no doubt the best new coaster for me this year. I'm not certain where it ranks but it's now in my top 10. Thunder Run was running amazing. I was impressed with KK coasters. It was cool to be greeted and chat with the Ed Hart. Even if he didn't always agree with everyone's thoughts.

Kentucky Rumbler was a great ERT session to end the night. Especially after it started to rain and could see lightning around us. Great photos of the dark ride.

Great report, I grew up at Beech Bend and remember that Haunted House well. I love the updates to it but the Spinning Pretzel Cars were the best.

Man, lightning run really looks fantastic. I hope there are more of them in the future! looks like a real winner! Whenever I'm in that area, I'll make sure to stop by Kentucky Kingdom. And as for T3, I wish them the best of luck for making an SLC rideable! I hope they succeed, but I have my doubts!

^I feel that Thunderhawk at Michigan's Adventure is rather re-rideable. May list it up there with some of the B&Ms that jostle you around a bit. I think it was a fun ride and the upkeep on it is rather good. That's a different model SLC though.

I, however, am very excited to see how T3 pans out with the new trains. Hopefully they'll end up on many more SLCs in the future.

Thunderhawk is certainly one of the better SLC's out there. Especially if you ride in pouring rain. Great Photo TR so far Chuck. It is always fun to read your trip reports.

I didn't check out the water park at Kentucky Kingdom, but it looked pretty good.