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Well, I made it to the Great Ohio Coaster Club's 2011 Holiday Party and Winter Tour at KI today. This was the first time I'd ever been in a closed park, other than the walk back to The Racer the morning of Coasting for Kids. The tour entered through security post 3, turned to the right, went through backstage areas, into the Picnic Grove where most of the ride cars were stored, then down the train tracks to Rivertown. From there, we went through the gate next to The Beast's entrance and were able to walk around in the area back behind the Crypt around Diamondback. I believe I heard that this was the first time KI has ever taken a tour back there since DB was built because of the potential hazard of stuff (cell phones, etc.) flying out of riders' pockets. After that, we walked past BLSC and down through Coney Mall before going up International Street to the International Restaurant for the party. I think the best way to do this is to get straight to the photos. I snapped nearly a hundred photos, all of which can be found in this Flickr set. I'll post some of the more interesting ones below. So that's where Action Theater's old motion seats went! On the other side of the fence is the parking lot. Two classic cars parked backstage. One of the Haunt hearses. White Water Canyon's not as deep as I thought it was. Wonder why this light was on? "Oncoming riders, please secure all loose articles or place them in the green bins." Demonstration of how to make more water dummies. Interesting. The protective film or whatever in front of the laser maze area has "Coney Squirt" painted on it several times. I wonder if that means anything? Just from my observation, it didn't seem to me like the laser maze was very busy at all this year (the operator was usually standing there doing nothing almost every time I walked by), so maybe they're replacing it with something else? Look what I won! A Diamondback media invite! Again, the rest of the photos can be found here. Let me know what you think!

Ah, but Drachen Fire had very bad engineering, abrupt turns, & a bad ride experience. Wait - so does.........

Something will be said. Perhaps not about Son of Beast, but something will be said. Otherwise, it's going to be a mighty quiet assemblage.

We both used y'all in different threads about the same topic at the same time. Tell me we aren't a close knit group! Terp, glad to have good friends, y'all!

Why do you believe SoB deserves 1 more chance & what makes you believe it is 2013? I think it is 2013 because if KI was to do anything with it at all they couldn't do it in 2012 unless they have secretly already started with construction because what ever they do will take quite a while. So 2013 I believe will be the year of the return of SOB. Second, I believe it deserves another chance because it is the worlds tallest, fastest wooden roller coaster and anyone who never got to ride it but wanted to was turned away with no notice that it would be closed for 2+ years, while most coasters are given final rides or at least a more in depth explanation for closing reasons. KI would not have let it sit this long if they weren't going to do something with it and I think with Action Zone being the next in line for an update/remodel, SOB will be the start of that renovation of Action Zone. SOB Project 2013

Vortex and WS! Empty games area I guess the bowling balls are weather proof! I could not find anyone to give me a tattoo? Zephyr! Monster Empty Fountain! I hope you enjoyed the PTR, besides the cold it was a perfect day to take pictures on this off-season day. Again, thanks to KI and GOCC for this awesome experience and fun filled day! Thanks to Avatar and IBEW_Sparky for making the ride over a fun time as well. I want to thanks Mrs. IBEW_Sparky for the awesome cookies as well!

We took a walk on the K.I. and Miami Valley Railroad track towards DB. WWC access by train storage. An empty WWC! The red light was actually lit! Train Station! DB is peaking beyond the trees! We are now in the Rivertown and looking at the splash down. Next Stop, The Beast! More to Come!

I've always been a little curious as to why the park got rid of the slide. I never rode it (as I think it was removed before I was born), but it seems like a good attraction for young guests that wouldn't cost too much to maintain. There must have been more to it than meets the eye. As always, the pictures are great, standbyme! They've really helped the off-season go by.

I think if you look at the 2013 KI map you will probably see SOB or the remodeled SOB. My opinion is that this coaster is probably getting 1 more chance and that will be in 2013. Kings Island would not just be leaving it to sit there if they didn't want to do something with it because everytime I go to KI someone, somewhere kid or adult asks why there is a big pile of wood sitting in Action Zone. Which leads me to believe that they want us to speculate and spread rumors about SOB until they actually tell us what will happen. So I think this is what might happen to SOB. "Son of Beast Project 2013"

I hope you know that it was in no way my intention to "prove you wrong". (I am the first to admit that I am not "Mr. Observant") I did not even know myself if it was or wasn't still there...you made me have to search through my photos to see if I missed that this year! Believe me...when I type ANYTHING that I think I know about the park I just sit back and wonder if the experts are going to shoot down my observation. I like the 1974 shot in today's set...when I was going through these shots after I purchased them this one caught my eye because I am used to only seeing faraway shots of the slide. 1974 I wonder why these type of slides fell by the wayside? I remember them being quite a bit of fun...and just this summer my nephews rode a small one at a local carnival and seemed to have a blast. 2011 Not much to look at in this shot...but as we all know, if this shot were pulled back Zephyr is quite the nice looking ride. Where would I rather be today? Well, at the risk of proving 74Gibson correct...I lean towards 1974 for a second day in a row. Zephyr is a nice looking ride but it seems to be the kind of a ride that is hit and miss with a lot of my family...when one is in the mood to ride it another one isn't...I can't remember when everyone wanted to ride it at the same time. That would probably be true with the slides too...but at least the non-riders would have a good time watching the riders...unlike on Zephyr where everyone is a quick blur as they go by...it's not even a nice photo op. Have a nice weekend...which is tough for me to say since I am looking out the window at snow!

No kidding. Not much like his daddy at all. Seems like they only tried to duplicate some of the roughness. I enjoyed SOB, but it's nothing like the original. No tunnels, no terrain.

^Obviously they knew that this was where The Beast roamed, and thus avoided the area.

A. Im not getting excited B. Everything on this site doesn't need to be facts its fun to just think about possiblities.

SoB was very popular to: Aleve, Department of Agriculture inspections, and lawsuits. It was very unpopular to uptime and enjoyment.