John Peck

When you took the picture at Clementon of the dark clouds from the storm, what time was that? Was that before it hit? That looks terrifying! Where did you go during it? I've been in a handful of bad storms at parks, but none that ever looked like that!

That little cell phone of yours sure takes some good pictures! Thanks for sharing!

New Pictures! http://www.kdfansite.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=47

Americana was a park NW of Kings Island. It was a picnic park around a man-made lake for the most part and had a handful of very nice rides. The park had a pool and kiddie pool area and well over a dozen picnic pavillions. A small park called "Fantasy Farm" used to sit right next to Americana, and that closed in the mid 80's. Americana (formally LeSourdsville Lake, and changed back again) was home to the Classic 1927 John Miller Screechin Eagle - which was moved here in the 1930's from Moxihala Park. Americana was purchased by Cincinnati's Coney Island Parent Company, "Park River West" in 1996 and was operated until after the 1999 season when they gave up on it. In 2001, Jerry Couch, owner of Couch's Campers Purchased the park with the intend to open it to it's former glory. He hired well-known operator Pugh Amusements to operate the rides and concessions as Jerry really didn't know what he was getting himself into. Jerry's plan was also to move his campers site and place it next to the park which is there still. Though Pugh shows operated the current rides, they came in and set up a few of their own including a Zipper, Music Express, Tip Top, kiddie bumper car and Huss Pirate. The park opened in 2002 and had a positive effect on the locals. They loved having their park back. Pugh shows had their own painting division, and began putting a lot of work into the old rides. He even purchased The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalks old "Wave Jammer" ride and set it up, though it never ran. He also told me he was looking into buying a huge Ferris Wheel for the park. However, not all was well with Pugh shows. Money began disappearing, paychecks were bouncing and Jeff Pugh somehow had a lot of fingers pointed towards him. I do know for a fact that he spent $100,000 to re-track the Screechin' Eagle. Jerry who spent little to no time at the park, found himself there a lot at the end of 2002 going through books and watching over his team. He eventually would throw Pugh out, keeping his rides and searching for an operator which he never found. He called it quits a few years later and sold off many of the rides, but there are a few still there, including the coaster, giant slide and a few others. Currently, the man-made lake has been filled in and he uses the land for summer camps, or so I've been told. Below are some photos I took for the park commercially. They hired me to design the park brochure and marketing and I was gathering pictures to do so. Other than photos, I never got anything else done on the project because of the closure, I didn't get paid either for taking those, but thats okay, because they let me go enjoy the park after I finished. So in a way, I bartered for them. I only have a few photos scanned, I have a bunch more, but the park had a Whip, a Calypso (relocated to Fun Spot), a Super Round Up (relocated to Stricker's Grove), a Chance Carousel, a pool, Tilt A Whirl, Tip Top, many kiddie rides, sky-ride and a ferry boat. EDIT: For some reason, not all of my pictures wanted to load, so I need to work through them some more Heres a copy of a small map i found online its from 1997. Scrambler.. this ran at 12rpm... most should only run at 11 Looking towards the front of the park Log Flume.. you'd get soaked on this The Flyers and HUSS Pirate (One of Jeff Pughs Portable Rides... and still on-site) These Flyers went to Fun Spot in Indiana

I didn't see any other posts about it, but heres the new KI Park Map: http://www.visitkingsisland.com/DOCs/09ki_parkmap_sm.pdf

I said something like that. I said it could be possible it could be a new ride all together... not really a clone, but I did say it could be Roar-like... just for layout-wise sake. But that was just speculation. $10 Million is a lot for a just a retracked wood coaster, thats why I think it'll be a nearly entire tear-down minus the station, brakes and lift. Giant cost $5.5 Million brand new in 1990. Terminator is running about $10 Mill., but that is built to different Earthquake specs. Like I said, this is pure speculation, so don't take my comments too literally and lose sleep over them.

^ Well, don't forget, I'm just having some fun with the idea and wishful thinking. Don't get too serious now! My numbers include the cost of design. Most entirely new GCI's run $7 to $10 Million with Prowler being the latter and required a substantial amount of ground prep. I still think SFOT will wind up with a totally brand new coaster in the end, it just makes more sense to me, and Shapiro said some enthusiasts will be unhappy. But like I said, I could be wrong, I'm just having too much fun Dare I say they need to paint it Purple and Blue like Medusa and Superman?

Well, First, I respect your opinion. What makes it a bad idea? Given its size, a complete rebuilt/redesigned layout of the non-mechanical parts from the bottom of the first drop to before the final break would run around $7.5 Million, then omit the mid-course, reset the sensors and purchase 2 GCI Trains. Then add the cost of the tear down and there you have about $10 Million. ^ But I think whats really going to happen, is that it will be a completely new GCI coaster named "Texas Giant" or "TG2". I'm thinking a 120-125 foot tall "Roar" with a straight drop. But we'll see, I could be right on the money or the furthest from the truth, but thats the fun of speculation.

Not to start any rumors here, but I have this funny feeling... That this is going to be an entire tear-down minus the lift hill and station and a new GCI coaster will take it's place under the same name and similar stats.

Its not uncommon for a steel coaster to have sections replaced. I wouldn't be surprised if thats whats happening to Twister right now. As for that land clearing, maybe Im wrong, but I'll bet that will be an area for a new Haunted House. They had that Pirate thing on that island last year. It is a really large space, though.. it could be for a new ride. Personally, other than the needed off-season repairs, Im surprised to see them put more money into Mean Streak. That thing is eating them alive in maintenance. Too bad about the economy the last couple of years, I was really hoping they would get a new flume-type ride this year.

Here is their August Date directly from their website: Sunday, August 9th 2009 Family Day, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! $12 per person Kids 2 and under are free Includes: All rides, roller coasters, free parking and soft drinks Park Hours: 1pm - 9pm Ride Hours: 2pm - 5pm and 6pm - 9pm (Rides close 1 hour for dinner) Wood dragon, what is your itinerary looking like?

^ I never tried or even asked before. You could contact them and see if they'll make exceptions. They've had 3 public days for years now, but due to the economy, I wonder if they'll add some more.

We saw George Lucas at Downtown Disney as we were having dinner on the patio at Wolfgang Pucks Express.

Last year, they charged you zoo admission to even get through the gate which was $10. Then you could go over to the ride section and buy a wristband or buy individual tickets. (The main zoo area also has a Carousel, a River ride *not to be mistaken by the flume up front*, and a Train) Your full $29.99 Zoombezi Bay admission covers the zoo as well. I haven't looked at how the pricing structure will be set up this year, but I would expect some changes. It was also $5 to park. Don't forget to check Strickers Grove schedule. They have 2 built-in-house wood coasters.

LOL! Sorry about my problems with advice there! I guess I was trying to hurry. I had no Idea that Wonderpark closed Yes, the "Sea Dragon" is a 1950's John Allen Wood Coaster, and sadly the "oldest" running wood coaster in the state of Ohio now. It is in the "Jungle Jack's Landing" area of the Columbus Zoo which is also open to the waterpark known as Zoombezi Bay. The waterpark and Jungle Jacks Landing is owned by the Columbus Zoo and was formally known as Wyandot Lake prior to a heavy refurbishment. The Ohio State Fair usually has 2 major coasters: a Crazy Mouse and Avalanche: a Pinfari Zyklon (which once ran at both Geauga Lake and Holiday World)

If you are a "Credit Whore" and you plan it right, you could schedule your trip to include not only Kings Island, but add an extra day where you can Hit Wonderland Park in one of the malls down there, Stricker's Grove (open 3 times a year to the public) and Coney Island. Those 3 parks I would say are built within a 1.5 hour radius. If you come in August, theres also the Ohio State Fair and "Zoombezi Bay" at the Columbus Zoo which has a classic wood coaster.

The new game and eateries may not sound like a whole lot right now, especially when you are indeed losing a coaster, but it's nice to see they are investing heavily in infrastructure improvements to not only make a little more money but to keep guests in the park longer while taking advantage of familiar brands. That of course is a good thing as those 3-Point Games rake in a ton of cash.

It looks like they are going to keep the large backdrop behind the loop... I thought that was supposed to go, too. The sign looks great! It's nice to see that things are starting to get done.

These pictures are showing some recent progress of the two rides: http://www.kdfansite.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=40&page=5

It's amazing how a simple coat of paint or some new signage can make things look 100% better! That park is really looking great!

Just curious... Has the Yo-Yo reopened yet? I know it was in the process of being put back together.

^ You beat me to it! Yep, bright Yellow Track and Navy Blue Supports Maybe they should rename it "Brighthawk"

I really loved this Flume, but cost and capacity is really a key issue nowadays. The waterpark expansions for both Hershey and Vallyfair will most certainly make up for the losses of these rides. When most of these flumes were built in the 70's and 80's, the waterpark was a rare thing at that time. I hope to see a rennesance of log flumes, but they will have to be able to hold more people and offer a bit more in terms of elements (IE Splash Mountain, Dudley Doo Right ride systems) Also, log Flumes/rapids, etc. are more weather-sensitive than say a coaster or a flat ride. Does that make sense?

Since it's been a few months since the closing announcement, has there been any activity at the park or any new news floating around?

Boy, the name "Laser" really would have been a great name for it now.