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Just a thought: would it be crazy to keep SOB's station, lift hill, first drop and pre-drop(before lift), tear the rest of the ride down, and build a brand-new ride using the existing lift hill? It would save money on both demolition (not having to tear down as much structure, less risk of damaging other rides as the lift is what is dangerously close to Adventure Express and Flight Deck) and on new ride construction (no need to build a new lift hill for it, just re-tracking)- plus, the lift and that dip before the drop are what most people see of SOB as they walk around the park (the rose bowl really only shows itself from a few spots, such as the Eiffel Tower)...so, for the most part, the park's skyline would remain intact...and the new wooden (or steel hybrid on wood supports) automatically becomes a massive, marketable attraction (if a wooden coaster, it inherits SOB's world records automatically)...and, from what I've heard, everything up to SOB's drop no one had any problems with...it was what came after the first drop people had issues with. And, before thinking "that will never happen! It would be impossible to build a new coaster but use some stuff from an old one to do it!"... The Infamous Crystal Beach Cyclone was demolished, but some of its structure was re-used...and became The Crystal Beach Comet...then it was re-located to The Great Escape, and it continues to be considered one of the world's best wooden coasters. Oh, and The Crystal Beach Cyclone was known for breaking ribs and injuring riders, too (The SOB of the 1920s?). UPDATE: Ignore this- it's a debunked rumor. Thanks Terpy! The Pippin, at Kennywood, was demolished...but some of it survives, as part of the Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt is considered one of Kennywood's star attractions. Even closer to home...the Coney Island Shooting Star, from Coney Island Ohio, was built from the remains of an older roller coaster- I'm not 100% sure which one, though...and that coaster has become a legend, even though it too is now gone. These are just a few wooden coasters that were born from the ashes of, and used parts from, other wooden coasters. This was just one of many, many ideas I've had about what could be done with SOB...obviously, there have been others: tear down and build brand-new ride, iron horse refurb (would cost $20M+ though!), Timberliners (probably wouldn't work...), etc etc...but, for some reason, I keep coming back to this one...why not keep the parts of SOB that actually worked, and build anew from that?

Hey, if you want a piece of wood that gives you pain, I can use a 2x4 & whack you over the head with it. Seriously, SoB SBNO is causing zero issues. Once a plan for the area is finalized, it will be dismantled. Think of it this way: why do the same thing twice? A new project will need equipment for construction. Why not wait, and then bring in the equipment to take the existing structure down and then use the same equpiment for the new project?

^ I can remember, many years ago a security guard in a cat-bird tower (on the grassy blvd.) watching the cars in the parking lot. Years after that, the parking lot was patrolled by bicycle security (or perhaps it was both??) Nonetheless, the lockers could be $.50, and people would still use stupid excuses for not using them. The excuses would then be: I didn't want to stand in line and wait for quarters, the lockers never work, I don't want to carry the key, I couldn't find one, I don't want to put quarters in each time I open the locker.... etc....etc.... the list of bullcrap excuses goes on. Accountability is gone and finger pointing rules the roost. Many today can't ever admit they made a bad decision, but they will throw everyone (including their own grey haired grandmother) under the bus when their bad decision blows up in their face.

Goats? Terp, who notes goats are green land clearers.

I just wanted to add some of my own sarcasm and absurdity to this thread. I feel better now...

^And those Gerstlauer trains were purchased, modified and put into service on Son of Beast while the former Geauga Lake trains were all one site and available. IF the GL trains are still there, I doubt they'd in any way be reusable. I doubt the existing SOB trains are in any good shape considering they've been sitting out in the elements unprotected, unmaintained for several seasons now. It's interesting to think how SOB's structure could be repurposed into a new ride and at one time I believe constructing an alternative to the Rose Bowl was considered. It will never happen though for the same reasons the ride is not running now. No one wants to be associated with it. The ride has an awful reputation whether deserved in the eyes of enthusiasts or not. It won't get Rocky Mountain treatment, cause how's every news article gonna sound with "The ride that USED to be Son of Beast and sent people to the hospital once is now..." The ride's done. Writing is on the wall, you should read it and not ignore it.

My vote? A real, genuine log flume. Omit spitting beagle.

I was at KI this past weekend and while i was waiting to get on the the train I heard someone mention the SOB. Then I saw train car 208 attached to train car 214. The only explanation for this is that the number 2 stands for the 2nd Beast (SOB) and the 08 and 14 could only mean that we will find out about the SOB on August 14th!

I sure wouldn't want the job of cleaning up after that!

Yes, but how much were the locker and parking?

Hopefully for the park not just a haunt building!

I've got the perfect name for it: Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal Instead of running at ground level they can build it so that it runs up in the air around the trees. Mike B.

The obvious answer is...leave the original beginnig and lift hill, tear down the rest, and put in Mr. Bonestripper.

Unfortunately that's nothing new, at least around here, I'm not sure how long BG has done them. KI gets a few complaints from locals every year about the fireworks. To that I say, helloooo.... You live near an amusement park that's been there since 1972, which has had fireworks since then, and more than likely your house/apartment/condo is a lot newer than the park. Chances are you knew about Kings Island when you moved into your residence, and your complaining about something that goes along with living that close to it? Wait five minutes... the big scary booms will be over. We can hear KI's fireworks from our house, and my family and I love hearing them at 10:00 every night. It's a nice reminder that yes, it's summertime!

^You've seen the house? I'd love to... Wonder if that's part of the train tour? As to the webcam, it rotates everywhere (and offers nice views of the park. I have a few screenshots of it facing AAT and of it facing Action Zone. It's no big deal. 0-SoB in 1 post or less...

People need to quit lugging more than what they need into the park. Lock your valuables in the trunk of your car. Do not bring your cell phone, expensive sandals, and other stuff into Soak City. Put your drivers license, credit card, small amount of cash, pass, key, into a water proof container that you can wear around your neck. But break down and rent a locker and put your things into. It is not the parks responsibility to guard your valuables but yours. If as has been mention that the park should not "nickel and dime" people with the expensive lockers but either have very cheap or free lockers will not solve the problem. By doing so, there will not be enough space to install lockers to keep up with the demand and then you will have zero lockers to secure your things. I see people bring back pack full of things into the park and SC. I bring just a cheap towel, sun tan lotion, $5 pair of sandals, water proof case for my park ID, credit card, DL, and that is it. Rest is locked in my car.

...Did someone just blame people's stupidity on an institution? I fear for the next generation.....

That webcam for some reason never faces the same place for mone than one screenshot......... that land clearing means nothing.

Not really, in RCT you can just pinch the ground and make it go up and down....isn't that how it works in the real world?

Most of the coasters, I prefer the back or near the back. The Beast? The next to the last row. Most wooden coasters I ride in the MIDDLE seats. If not available, I go for the front seat of the last car. There have been only 3 coasters that I truly felt were the best front seat rides: Shivering Timbers, X or X 2, and Dragging Iron (or is it Iron Dragon).

Guest 1: "So why'd they name it "Diamondback?" Guest 2: "It's an out-and-back with 10 drops. "Dime & back."" Guest 1: Oh. .... that actually sounded believable to me, but I've never heard how they came up with Diamondback's moniker.

People leaving valuables out in the open is not KI's fault. No ,but one would argue that it is KI's fault for having high locker prices. A few things come to mind in these type of situations 1. Now that the guest now has had personal belongings taken from them at the park(whether its their fault or not) 99% percent of the time they will now share this experience when they're talking to a fellow friend about KI. Maybe this friend will now be turned off by going to KI because who wants to go to a park where thieves are? 2. Why would the guest not use a locker? Price? The Hassle? Sold Out? Unaware that KI has lockers? I'm sure theres lots of factors. One thing is for sure though, if KI offered 2 dollar all day lockers, do you know how much more people would actually spend the 2 dollars? How many more people would tell their friends about this amazing deal and no hassle and no worries about people busting open lockers? 3. Sad to say that people just don't care about other people. Most of the time a thief will find a bag and they will think "they're so stupid to leave this out here ,they deserve it"(just to show how sick minded these people are) and its the sad truth. I hope they catch these rats and put them in the slammer.

Really? You should be banned for making such a dumb comment. Who has the Billy Madison clip? This deserves it.

This thread is a never ending story. You have the villains (RCCA), the civilians (us), secret agents who claim to have information on the ride's future, and the occasional SOB fanatic that forgets common English.

This is what happens when a park nickel and dimes folks into buying ridiculously expensive lockers. People try to take short cuts by hiding their stuff and then CC/money/personal belongings get stolen. (Sure they could've gone to their car and never left their stuff unattended) Maybe they should lower locker prices to alleviate this problem...

When the ride shut down the park quit paying the guy that was inside the box (who jumped around to make it shake and growled a lot) so he took his box and went home. No, not really, but it would make a good new rumor!

LongLiveTheSmurfRide has a great "About Me" section on his profile page.

I have visited Cedar Point this year and utilized their Fast Lane program and I will pay whatever the price is to do it again. It was probably the best day I've had at any park. If you can't afford it, then there is a line for you. Amusement Parks are businesses. They have found a customer need that will result in BIG money for them. If you do not agree, don't go. Simple as that. Stop complaining on websites like this. The park will always choose BIG money over your complaints.

Oh, I don't doubt that one bit. You only have to take a stroll through the oldest topics on these forums to see that KI used to be more involved here. I was moreso talking about before the latest SoB incident--I can't remember when every topic didn't somehow end up involving Son of Beast in some way, shape, or form.

I just love ready posts by people that are not engineers giving expert opinions on the structural stability of the ride. Well, I am not an engineer but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

But there ARE Men at Work:

Don't sweat the knees. It's your other assets you need to worry about.