teknohillbilly

Maybe it's the wine opening me up a bit this evening, but I feel like I've bitten my tongue for far too long about this. It's really sad to see so many people complaining and bitching about every little thing on here, and others basically attacking people over their opinions and doing their best to make them feel bad or stupid. I've been following posts on here and other sites for almost 20 years, and every year I've contemplated going on one of the TPR tours or sharing information I have about certain things. (For the record, I work in public relations, first for a park that closed and now for another park that is mentioned on here quite a bit.) I've even been given permission to leak things before, and decided against it because I dreaded reading the damned snarky ass comments people leave. It does not reflect well on the coaster community, and believe me when I say it is discussed often where I work, although the few times we've hosted TPR folks they've been wonderful. I'm guessing all the Debbie Downers on here aren't really that involved in TPR functions. Why on earth anyone would want to take a forum about something that is meant to bring people happiness, relaxation, and a break from all the terrible things going on in the world is beyond me. I've learned in my 37 years on this earth that people who try their best to tear other people down have something significant missing from their lives and would be better served using their time working on self improvement than bitching at people on a forum because they stated their opinion. There's a big difference in having a civil discussion and being a whiny eight grader that feels the need to feel big. If someone doesn't like this coaster or that one, why jump on them over it? It's not like they are going to put a gun to your head and force you to hate it too. Read their opinion, state yours in response without being snarky, and move the hell on. To Raven Maven, you are a legend (was that a pun?) in the PR game and the way you have handled the Thunderbird announcement was excellent! I wish we could hire you away to work at our park. LOL. To Rob Alvey, you are a master and thank you for all the trip reports, especially from the overseas parks I'll probably never get to see. If I see you at my park any time soon I'll introduce myself. To all the people on here who are not negative about everything and really understand what being a coaster enthusiast is about - happiness - keep up the good fight. I've met a few of you (even though you don't know it) here at our park. To all the Debbie Downers on here, see you in hell. Now to go to bed, head to work in the morning, and see if they fire me for refusing to monitor the forums any more. (You can delete this post and my account here if you see fit or I crossed any lines here.)

I rarely post on these things but thought I would throw this out there.... A few clues back there was mention of a mastiff with a picture of a dog. For some reason I'm hung up on that clue. A passenger on the Mayflower named Peter Brown had a mastiff on board with him. I can't find anything about what became of the dog, but Brown survived the journey and become a fairly important fellow in Plymouth. The fun part of his story though is that Brown and another man became seriously lost in the woods for a few days while cutting thatch for roofs. One night while lost, they thought they heard lions and climbed a tree to spend the night. Eventually they made found their way back to the colony. Did I read somewhere that the July 24 date is supposed to hold some significance as to the theme of the ride of something? Or is that something else I've imagined?

Wasn't there some mention by the higher ups not long ago about getting Kings Island back to its roots? Action Zone being returned to its safari roots would fall in line with that. Also, Kings Island PR posted on another board today that SOB's station would be used for a haunt attraction this year and beyond. Just thought I'd throw that out there for whatever it's worth. Some have speculated it might be used for the new ride (still not 100 percent convinced it's a big coaster).

Oh Ed Hart's loaded, there's no doubt. He was just being like every other business person - trying not to dip into his own pocket any more than he had to. My dad always said "Rich people don't get rich by blowing all their money."

A totally rich man with a personal mission to open the park sure bodes well for things at least. Do any of you all know if the Tennessee State Fair was held at Opryland before it closed? I know they had an area called "State Fair." A couple of years ago (2010 maybe?) there was a move to build an amusement park at the fairgrounds in Nashville, but I think it fizzled with the Old South theme park plans and Dolly initially getting involved in the market there.

I don't know it it's just me thinking this or not, but it does seem Ed Hart almost has a personal desire to get KK going again. I don't know if it's because he had it in great shape before Six Flags raped it, or if it's the bad blood between he and the governor. I'm hoping for the best. Back to the amusement park/fairgrounds thing, was the Tennessee State Fair and Opryland connected, or am I remembering wrong things?

I have faith in Ed Hart to get this done. Looking at his business history, he has a great track record and seems to be a very determined man when he decides to do something. One thing, though, I can't get out of my head... The possibility of buying land elsewhere to reconstruct Kentucky Kingdom has never been mentioned. Regardless of how successful the park becomes in its early years, it's going to run into the same problem that has been a monkey on its back for years - it's landlocked. I know the whole deal of wanting to keep at the fairground because of the state fair and everything, but still. And considering the bad blood that appears to flow between Hart (and some of his partners in the new Kentucky Kingdom) and Gov. Beshear, I'm a little surprised there has been as much cooperation between Hart and the state as there has been. There's a whole lot more politics to the Kentucky Kingdom situation than many from out-of-state may realize.