Kings Island (KI) Discussion Thread

[angryemobeaver]

I knew it! One of my good friends told me this back in June of 2009, and it looks like he was right! I've heard GCII, TGG, and I don't remember the other one. Supposedly GCII was the one who had the unsatisfactory decision from Kings Island. Remember though, this is just what a friend of mine told me. I'm NOT saying it is true, or that you should believe it, I just felt like it was worth posting!

[Pingu1651]

Hmmm what's the name of that amazing wooden coaster company that has home offices 20 minutes away? I think they built this coaster called the Voyage?

 

That's what I said!

 

IMO, they should just tear it down. It's caused a ton of backaches for everyone, figurativly and literally! They could still put up a great coaster in it's place, one that wouldn't have the painful memories SoB has.

[jamesdillaman]

To the person who asked where the trains were stored. During the season they were normally stored on the transfer track, which is quite a bit above the ground. As for fixing SoB. it would be easy. First, fix the flawed track layout into something vaguely interesting, then come up with a construction company that knows a coaster from a deck in someone's back yard, and finally get some rolling stock that won't destroy the backs of all the riders. In summation, tear it down and start over.

[ginzo]

One firm’s proposal was unsatisfactory,

 

The truth hurts, eh?

[SharkTums]

Whoever takes on this 'refurb' project needs to be REALLY careful. I would not want to touch this project with a 50' pole!!!

 

I really think the ride needs to be torn down and started from scratch to have any hope of being a decent ride.

[AllenA07]

It makes me wonder what kind of a refurb would be necessary in this case. Are we talking retracking or are we talking replacing the wooden track with steel. In the case of the later I wonder what the cost would be and if it would even make sense for the park to make an investment to save the coaster. Might be cheaper to remove the ride and put something new in its place, depending on the amount of work that needs to be done.

 

The interesting tidbit in the interview that caught my attention was the mention of the "bandaid" method or repairs. Makes me wonder if the decision to close the ride came from Cedar Fair (or possibly an insurance company). I wouldn't be shocked if the company views the ride as being a liability at this point due to the number of incidents they've had involving it.

[ginzo]

I'm no economist, but this sounds suspiciously like an example of the sunk cost fallacy.

 

Behavioral economics recognizes that sunk costs often affect economic decisions due to loss aversion: the price paid becomes a benchmark for the value, whereas the price paid should be irrelevant. This is considered non-rational behavior (as rationality is defined by classical economics). Economic experiments have shown that the sunk cost fallacy and loss aversion are common; hence economic rationality — as assumed by much of economics — is limited.

 

Basically, they want to throw good money after wasted money because they think that SOB has high value because they paid a lot for it. The money could probably be better used in building a new ride, but they'd rather continue to polish the turd.

[Skycoastin Steve]

^Hammer, meet nail. Why fix up the rusty old truck when you can get a shiny new Camaro?

[Fooz]

Honestly I think their best options are prefab track, or tubular steel. I'm sure GG or GCI track would be torn apart in 10 years just like this track was, this kind of height and speed is just pushing the limits of what wood can handle. A steel retracking would make this ride miles smoother and faster, and could reattract guests.

[kidcoaster 2]

 

I really think the ride needs to be torn down and started from scratch to have any hope of being a decent ride.

 

Agreed, I am all for preservation but I think they need to just wipe their hands clean with this one and invest in something people would not associate to the accidents.

[redfoot12]

I think at this point you cut your losses. This was no $30 million investment, just a good-old fashioned money pit. Son of Beast brings little to no value to the park in its current state. How much is the park going to end up spending to get a ride that was never good to begin with? If people want to ride something tall and fast (and smooth) in the park they've got Diamondback. I think Ginzo's sunk cost fallacy quote sums this scenario up best.

While Texas Giant was pretty rough, it definitely wasn't causing the same issues and posing the same liability for SFoT that SoB did. Texas Giant's first 10 years were the complete opposite of SoB's in terms of how the people look at the ride. With SoB, there really is no former glory to restore (from what I gather on here).

[cfc]

They're entertaining proposals to "refurb" Son of Beast--again?

 

Crap.

 

For a moment there I had hope.

[CoasterBoyJosh]

How many of you were unlucky enough to experience both the looping and post-looping SoB?? Do you count that as two credits??

[skyrocket010]

I think they should just tear down SOB and make an Intimidator 306.

[SharkTums]

^Or Intimidator305 WITH A LOOP!!!!!!

[britishdebutante]

How many of you were unlucky enough to experience both the looping and post-looping SoB?? Do you count that as two credits??

 

Coastercounter does. I don't and I would also bet that most people here wouldn't.

[taytig]

I rode SOB in 95 and I actually enjoyed the ride. While it wasn't the most exciting ride, the speed, a bit of roughness and the loop made it fun for me. I never rode it once it hit the "Really Rough" stage. I know most people hate this monstrosity, but could it go the way of Gemini at Cedar Point? This could make it ridable and the GP wouldn't really know the difference. They could also bring back the loop - add a couple of tunnels, a fire effect and the GP would eat this up! I know I'd give it another try.

[ginzo]

I rode SOB in 95 and I actually enjoyed the ride.

 

You were ahead of your time.

[RollingRunner]

Would it be possible to somehow salvage good peices of wood and track and make an entirely different ride? It probably wouldn't be feasable or even safe, but with a ride of this size, you can't just "throw it out". But a stray match could probably solve this situation even quicker!

[thrillseaker92]

I rode SOB in 95 and I actually enjoyed the ride.

 

That's AMAZING!!! You must have some major connections if you got to ride this coaster 5 years before it opened.

[kidcoaster 2]

I rode SOB in 95 and I actually enjoyed the ride.

 

That's AMAZING!!! You must have some major connections if you got to ride this coaster 5 years before it opened.

 

It was probably better in 95 than it is now

[taytig]

I rode SOB in 95 and I actually enjoyed the ride. While it wasn't the most exciting ride, the speed, a bit of roughness and the loop made it fun for me. I never rode it once it hit the "Really Rough" stage. I know most people hate this monstrosity, but could it go the way of Gemini at Cedar Point? This could make it ridable and the GP wouldn't really know the difference. They could also bring back the loop - add a couple of tunnels, a fire effect and the GP would eat this up! I know I'd give it another try.

 

Duh - Brain fart! I was thinking I rode it on the way home from my contract at WDW, but it was in 2000 after my contract with DCL.

 

Thanks for the reminder guys...

 

David

[Dailey Enterprizes]

I always imagined the Son of Beast being rehabbed with Intamin's engineering. I don't think anyone should give up hope on this because I see a ton of potential out of its existing structure.

[jamesdillaman]

^ What structure are you looking at? And as for counting it as two credits, it hurt so bad I count it as a debit...

[DOCTOR DOOM!!!]

^ What structure are you looking at? And as for counting it as two credits, it hurt so bad I count it as a debit...