Intimidator305

If you go on a weekday and get Volcano out of the way early, the water park is very possible to do while still getting many rides on 305.

Reptitan is too cool of a name, love it just as much as Cheetaka which means BGT will probably name this ride something stupid like Reptile Hunt.

As far as the headliners go: Diamondback is much better than Intimidator, but from a non-enthusiast view, essentially the same Racer is practically the same as Thunder Road (RIP) Banshee is a more modern Afterburn with a bit less of a bunch Invertigo is close enough to Carolina Cobra Firehawk and Nighthawk are the same thing Both have Windseekers Only rides you'll be missing out on at either park is Beast (very overrated in my opinion) and Flight of Fear at Kings Island and Fury 325 at Carowinds. For your tastes and wants I believe skipping out on KI wouldn't be a problem, especially on the same trip. However, later on down the road the park is worth a visit as like the rest of the former Paramount Parks, it is getting more and more charm back each season.

^ No they haven't. If the back row is closed it is only until the new magnets come in that need replaced. This happens almost every season for a few weeks until the parts come in.

If you want to solve the 2016/2017 Cedar Fair mysteries, the last thing you should be doing is trusting Cedar Fair's clueless graphic designers. Like Intimidator 305, Windseeker, and Soak City the best bet is to wait for the building permits to be filed with Hanover County.

Did Monster open with the park this season? Or has it been closed all year? Regardless, it'll be interesting to see what happens to it.

Thanks for sharing the photos! The event seems like a very good deal and definitely worth a visit. I'm hoping a more brew-oriented event like this comes to Kings Dominion in the future - I guess the Spring Bloom Festival was a start this season. I'll be up at Cedar Point this time next season for 2016RollerCoaster1, so hopefully they'll have it again this time next year!

It seems like a Pipeline Peak rider touched and moved the park's webcam while in line today so now you're too close for comfort with the riders in the Pipeline Peak queue. https://www.kingsdominion.com/online-fun/webcams On a side note, the Hurricane Heights line has been crazy this weekend, but it seems like crews are sending people as fast as they can which is good to know.

'Splash' can mean something else besides the water park however. There was public outcry (much like right now with TR) when the log flume was removed for Intimidator, so I'm sure something to fill the gap has been in the long-term plan since then. The park is often miserable to be in during the summer thanks to the Carolina heat, and a nice new water ride would be welcomed in the park by the public. However, after the somewhat failure of Shoot the Rapids at Cedar Point, I'd be interested to see in the direction Cedar Fair would go in installing a new non-water park water ride.

Like I said, I could totally see this not being for the water park, which makes the removal of Thunder Road more frustrating because they could have built the attraction(s) anywhere else in the park... or you know in that parking lot and huge grass field right next to Thunder Road. Also, with the whole 'Cedar Point of the South' yee-haw bandwagon, it doesn't make sense to remove Thunder Road and possibly Dodg’ems, Yo-Yo, White Water Falls in my opinion. Yes, what will replace them will probably be better, but removing all these rides just makes Carowinds even smaller. If you're trying to make Carowinds a 'Cedar Point', it needs more rides and not removing a whole area (County Fair) of the park. Carowinds is still a 'finish it all in less than a day park'. It needs to grow, not stay the same size with replacing attractions. For those RMC believers, the park said "The ride is being retired to make room for future family-fun attractions"... I don't know about you all, but RMC coasters are the last thing from 'family-fun' in my opinion, as it would easily be the most intense ride at Carowinds if that were to happen - so that's not happening.

Whatever they're doing next season is part of the 'more than 50 million' 3 year investment. Source: Carowinds Website https://www.carowinds.com/rides/Thrill-Rides/Thunder-Road If its not for the water park addition in 2016, it just makes the decision to remove Thunder Road even more stupid given the fact that they could have put this attraction anywhere else in the park.

With the ride closing July 26, I imagine demolition beginning a lot sooner, especially in full force once the water park is closed if it's not down by then. Even though the ride is right on top of Boomerang Bay it's still far enough from it to deconstruct while the water park is still open.

And all the Carowinds fans down in Charlotte will all cry, "Boo Hoo." This was a great classic coaster, but I'm not deeply sad to see it go as Kings Dominion's Rebel Yell is just as close to me. However, as a theme park enthusiast, it is a little sad to see Carowinds management and Cedar Fair not take the park's rich history into consideration when moving forward. The new entrance feels beyond generic/corporate now with no historical or Carolina influence. Now they're removing one of the park's signature rides since the beginning. I love the investments that the company is doing within the park but next season the park won't look or feel the same at all compared to 2008... It's just very interesting to see the two different directions Kings Dominion and Carowinds are going with KD focusing on the past, preserving the past, and bringing back icons from the past while Carowinds keeps bulldozing everything to make room for the next big thing. With all this said though and all signs pointing to a Boomerang Bay/Soak City expansion next season, it makes the removal of Thunder Road okay in my opinion. Cedar Fair has always been an investor in water parks and Carowinds' water park really lacks when comparing to KI's Soak City and KD's new Soak City. After all, Carowinds is Cedar Fair's one and only park in the southeast, the area of the country with the best and warmest seasonal summer weather, so I expect them to make the Carowinds water park a signature one for the chain. Another benefit Carowinds has is the proximity to the parking lot (unlike KD, but similar to KI) to make this water park almost a park of its own with its own entrance/exit. With the removal of Thunder Road, I'm expecting big things.

This was a much needed addition and the last area that needed a general spruce up since Cedar Fair took over. I was there two weeks ago and peeked inside Soak City and by looking at these photos at the finished product it was a job well done by the park. WaterWorks felt dated in some parts and now the water park is brightly colored and looking fresh with a new name. I'm also happy that they have dealt with the congestion on the north side of the water park and installed the new pathway. Congrats to KD and Cedar Fair on a job well done. Thanks as always Chuck for the great photo TR!

I too would take Intimidator 305 over Fury and Volcano over Banshee any day. I believe Banshee and Fury show signs that B&M is attempting to bring back that Kumba/Montu kick to their rides, but they aren't top 5 material for me. With that said, I would greatly appreciate one more B&M at Kings Dominion that compliments Dominator nicely. A smooth, not-so-intense B&M would be a perfect addition for the park as their first coaster since Intimidator 305 (especially if replacing a ride like Shockwave). Trust me, I'd prefer an Intamin, BUT I believe a B&M would be better for the park and to round out the park's line-up so for the well being of the park, I hope the next ride is a B&M.

^ Well no park in the country can quite keep up with Dolly the past several years with 2012 Wild Eagle, 2014 Firechaser Express, and now 2016 (RMC). I'd be happy with the park adding something near Hyena Falls and incorporating the former Pilgrim's Plunge site. Hyena Falls is in an isolated and awkward position currently even though it is a part of a bigger expansion planned down the road.

The orange/gray combo is glorious - not a fan of the blue. With a not-so-tall, yet headliner ride like this, you want it to stand out and the orange does just that.

I know the last coaster installation was in 2010 (the best coaster in the world, in my opinion), however KD received 3 coasters in FIVE years prior to that. 2006: Backlot Stunt Coaster 2008: Dominator 2010: Intimidator 305 - which means they've received three coasters in the past decade, one of those being a GIGA. Any amusement park in the world would LOVE to have that. Yes, Backlot Stunt Coaster was under Paramount ownership, Dominator was relocated, but Intimidator 305 cost 25 million (which cost more than Behemoth, Diamondback, and Intimidator Carowinds). However, as I mentioned a few pages back, Kings Dominion has been receiving more slightly more money for these off years than other parks AND has tremendously improved the park's atmosphere and aesthetic appeal compared to what it was prior to 2010. Finally, remember Kings Dominion hasn't even opened their 2015 attractions yet, that happens this weekend. They have been rapidly trying to finish a complete revamp and overhaul the entire water park while putting the finishing touches on two new attractions - 2016/2017 doesn't need to start for quite a while. Intimidator 305 (obviously the park's biggest coaster and one of Intamin's biggest tests (with the new lift structure)) didn't even touch a blade of grass until Monday June 1, 2009... so KD's next coaster could likely not start construction until late July/August given the size it'll probably be. Remember, GateKeeper didn't start construction until late summer in northern Ohio. KD is in Virginia, not Ohio or Canada so the winters are much milder for construction and concrete curing. Do I think KD will get a coaster in 2016? I'm not holding my breath as I heard they were denied one for the 40th Celebration, but that means they are on the list for 2016 or 2017. If 2016 isn't a coaster, expect a package to be rolling out to parks like the Windseekers did, I could see KI and KD getting the same thing next season if a coaster isn't coming KD's way. In the meantime, calm down, enjoy how nice of a place the park is now, take a ride on one of the world's best roller coasters, and take a ride on Shockwave just in case it does get removed.

The intensity of this ride is so beautiful to this coaster enthusiast. I may have underestimated this one due to only being 109' tall, but damn it looks outstanding and I'm loving the reviews. I need to take another trip up there in the next season or two. Side note: the orange track/gray supports are my favorite RMC look so far on a ride. Thanks for the reports and coverage as always, Robb!

I guess I didn't assume how great this ride would be, but after watching the videos and reading reviews - WOW! Six Flags you have yourselves a winner on your hands and possibly the best coaster SFMM has seen in a long time.

To be fair, I find Anaconda much more rough than Shockwave. However, I definitely see Shockwave on the chopping block first. Also, you mention nothing will fit there besides a wild mouse? You couldn't be more wrong. KD could fit a decent size coaster there, especially if they went towards the former are XLC's turnaround inhabited or the woods located next to Shockwave. Take a look at how Cedar Fair fit Talon into Dorney Park.

Even though I just went on Mother's Day, I'll be visiting Kings Dominion again next Thursday to take advantage of the first week of daily operations while school is still in session here in Virginia. That week is the least crowded time of the year for the park = marathoning Intimidator 305 and Volcano.

This seems like a solid addition for Knott's! However, I'm still not sure how well these would go over in some of the other Cedar Fair parks, especially the ones with shooting rides already. If other parks such as CP, KI, and KD add them I'd like to see more of a half family coaster, half dark ride attempt made. In all though, it looks very good for only the second attempt by Cedar Fair - I'm interested to see where they go from here! Thanks for the entertaining report.

I really don't understand why parks don't switch to black OSTR's and seats for all rides... the colored ones look awful after several years (i.e. your Drop Tower and Diamondback shots). It also appears that Diamondback's yellow lift supports could use some paint next season. However with all that said, thanks for sharing the photos. Looks like KI knows how to hold a good event - unfortunately I haven't made it to one yet.

Great photos of the park and surrounding area. For some reason, as commercial and touristy it is, absolutely love Gatlnburg and the vibe it provides. Pigeon Forge is a different story, but has some good food that's for sure. Anyways, can't wait to visit the park and Shot Rod again next season. Thanks for sharing!