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I've not heard many people say that they don't like B&M's. They seem to really have their stuff together. Wouldn't surprise me if they ended up with a stranglehold on the coaster industry. Like me, I probably prefer B&M over any other coaster company that I have rode one of their coasters, even though it's a small list. Except Maverick. I just really love that ride, front row preferably. I've wanted to take a trip to HW, really want to ride Voyage. Thunderbird will be a great bonus.

As much as I love B&M, and while they do seem to have their stuff together, if somehow they got a pure strangehold on the steel coaster industry (IE all the other companies ragequit or something) it could be bad as then you'd have a Monopoly and then B&M could just make lame rides and parks would pretty much have no choice if they wanted steel coasters. Thankfully, there are still a few companies like Mack & Premier (and others) that can still give B&M a run for their money depending on what the park wants (B&M offers a lot so far but not EVERYTHING). Though B&M is likely still going to be first on the list of what the park thinks about when deciding on a new coaster, unless the park wants something B&M doesn't make (like a Wild Mouse type coaster, or a Water Coaster, etc- B&M has yet to try those coaster types) or some other company shows Holiday World something that looks really, really cool and the park gets on board with it (which can happen). Though to be fair, one of my ideas for a ride Holiday World could add- and they still can- would be a Mine Train coaster (Arrow may be gone but Vekoma still makes them), if simply to see how they theme it- that park goes a bit crazy with themes at times.

Actually, I just found this. S&S-Sansei Technologies breathes new life into the tried and true Arrow Mine Train Coaster popularized by Disney in the ‘60s and ‘70s with a new body style that is lighter in weight and an exciting layout the entire family can enjoy. From the first drop over the hill, the Mine Train delivers belly-tickling drops and hills, speedy curves and exciting banked turns. Link: http://www.engineeringexcitement.com/product/mine-train/

I REALLY miss her. She was THE voice of Holiday World. The TV/Radio spots are just not the same these days.

You can make a strong case that the Intamin era in the US really only lasted from 1999 (the Supermen: Ride of Steel megas) through 2005 (Kingda Ka). If you take a look at Intamin rides built in the US after 2005, they've built an average of less than one coaster a year here - 7 in total. Also note that they have not built (or announced) any coasters in the US since Skyrush opened in 2012. When Thunderbird and Fury 325 open next year, B&M will have built 7 US coasters since the beginning of 2012. Cedar Fair alone has built one B&M coaster in 7 of the last 8 years, the cheapest of which is still over $20 million! Parks now are simply not going to make large capital investments in this day and age without knowing exactly what they're getting in return. Even Six Flags largest single investment since 2007 - X-Flight at $15 million - was a B&M (the Drop Towers and the RMC conversions/Goliath ran around $10 million each). Parks just got a lot smarter about how they're allocating capital, particularly for the larger coaster installs.

Except that the only reason B&M has Cedar Fair in their "grasp" (beside the fact that most of the recent installations reside in the former Paramount Parks) is because the last coaster manufacturer to have said chain in its "grasp" had a history of mechanical issues and post-installation changes that spanned the majority of the last decade. And if we're only looking at the poster child for the entire Fair, there is a 17-year gap between B&M installations.

If I would've created something this bad for work (which I have before), my boss would've called me into his office and yelled at me (which he has before) lol. I learned real early to step up my game and not to take shortcuts - which looks like what happened here. Something like this would not pass at my work, and I work for a small, locally-owned, family company. The standards for KI should be MUCH higher than were I work.

If you had, I suspect it would rock your world!

Much like Frozen is being incorporated into the parks, it seems like Disney has been having a great run with Big Hero 6. I can easily see some BH6 tie-ins with Future World (Innoventions?). Perhaps Marvel or the Muppets can breathe new life into the Imagination or currently SBNO Wonders of Life building. Stark Industries would be a great fit for the WOL pavilion with a D or E-ticket type ride inside.

It's so weird. I think what we're seeing right now is the prologue before the resort-wide refresh that so many Disney fans have been waiting for. Epcot is getting Maelstrom (divisive, but at least it's movement) plus strong hints of a Soarin' expansion that'll prep it for the eventual shift to Soarin' The World or whatever its name ends up being. At this point, I think it's fare to assume that Epcot could be in line for a "New Future World." The Imagination and Energy pavilions are in pretty bad states and Innoventions is still pointless. The whole identity of Future World is so jumbled. The architecture is so 1980s. The style is so cold. Hollywood Studios, though, is almost certainly going to get a giant, park-wide refresh like Disney California Adventure (though I don't think it'll match that scale). Their timing is a little odd. Close half the park, but with no immediate plans or announcement made public... Why? But we're well on our way. Let's hope this develops as I think it will. Toy Story Playland (the rumored expansion for the Studio Tour plot) is a "cheap and cheerful" installation, but its something.

I agree with you 100%. You have to have competition. I guess i should've said stranglehold for the foreseeable future. Although I prefer B&M over other coasters, I still like other company's coasters. And you know somewhere, someone is working just as hard as you are, to out do you, at what you do. When someone comes out with something new that's mind-blowing, which sooner or later, will happen, then the parks will have to get their hands on it. All in all, it's kinda like music. If all music was the same, then listening to music would really suck.

Wow. I know the coaster is only just over 3,000 feet long and all and so far the weather has been nice, and they started early, but to think it (this part of construction) is finished so soon...I know it's a B&M and they are famous for finishing projects on time, but I can't help but be impressed. I could see Thunderbird start testing, weather permitting, as early as February. Maybe even January but that'd be a stretch due to weather (January=Supah Cold). I am 99.9% sure it will be ready by late April when Holiday World opens. Great job Holiday World & B&M. But now, the vicious cycle has begun. Thunderbird will likely open to rave reviews from the GP, and Holiday World will like it and make money off it, and so they will decide to build buy ANOTHER B&M at some point for their 2nd major steel coaster (I could see HW building a Invert or Floorless at some point in the future)...and the cycle starts over...heck, B&M seemingly already has Cedar Fair firmly in their "grasp"... make a product that pleases your customer, and your customers will keep coming back to you so long as the product is good...

This morning on Twitter..... .......Oddly enough there were no more updates today stating that the full track work had been completed...... @HolidayWorld on Twitter: "Thunderbird's final track piece - #77 - is ready to fly! #OrangeIsTheNewTrack #OpeningDayApril25" Photo : Holiday World via Twitter Following this tweet.....there were no more updates?......So it was ready to fly......But maybe it couldn't get the wing power?....

Man, that hill looks awesome. For sure will be taking a trip down there next year.

@mikefehnel on Twitter: "Here is a view of Intimidator taken from #FURY325. What a view! FURY should top out tomorrow!!!" Photo : Michael Fehnel (Carowinds GM) via Twitter "I just had a birds-eye view of the 250' level of #FURY325. I can't wait to ride this coaster! Don't look down!" Photos : Michael Fehnel (Carowinds GM) via Twitter

They have released a new hard hat chronicles video. They state that there are going to be new near miss elements added to the ride. I am hoping that they extend the last barn element with the in line roll for the right side. That side is really missing the near miss element. Also they are moving a ride to the plaza of Thunderbird. They will announce that move next week. Things just keep getting better and better for this ride! I cannot wait for Holiwood Nights next year!

Ah, maybe one of these days. I feel fortunate enough to get to go where I'm going next year. It would be nice to get to go to one of the Busch Gardens, or a Six Flags, If it never happens, Then I still have my CF pass. And that's just fine with me. But, really, I was talking about the 3 B&M's up on the big lake, I should've been more specific. Gotta love rookies.

The In-Line-Roll on Thunderbird should be very interesting considering the close proximity between it and the brake run..... To be honest though, I guess it does sound pretty fun to spiral into the brake run! The 2015 park season just can't come fast enough! What a year '15 will be in the amusement industry!

Kumba? Terp, who likes to ask questions.

I think that the most exciting thing, for me, is the Disney Vault programming that they're going to be showing on TCM. I love those old Disneyland and Wonderful World Of Color shows.

Posted on Holiday World`s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152598503709538

Models of Face/Off and Delirium are currently being offered on Craigslist. I'm tempted to buy Delirium and wrap it in Christmas lights since I donated my tree to Goodwill last month and haven't gotten a new one yet. It's three feet tall! Kings Island Face-Off Roller Coaster Model 195 http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/atq/4776484517.html Kings Island Delirium Model 150 http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/atq/4776485173.html

I found this video on youtube and I thought it was a cool interview. It is short but it has Mike Fehnel from Carowinds kind of explain the difference of the two rides and other things. Some of you may have seen it or may have already known the difference but I just wanted to share. (Video made by Brian Mitchell . I inculuded his channel link which you can access by clicking his name.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrXDDAytA04 Also it seem that there wasn't a lot of work done today on fury 325. I think those workers deserved a day off (But it did look like they started to prepare for finishing off the lift hill. (Image from Carowinds' Webcams)

I suddenly feel very, very ancient.

Talking about getting work done! (image from Carowinds webcams )

Pat Koch should join a coaster club. Things could get really interesting.

To my knowledge, they haven't released any details about media day yet. However, knowing HW, I would be a bit surprised if coaster clubs weren't invited.

It looks like a group including Dan and Pat Koch have purchased Alabama's Splash Adventure and are adding a new kiddie coaster this year. Looks like it didn't take him too long to get over the Holiday World verdict. http://www.splashadventurewaterpark.com

And that Boomerang is fantastic in its new home, too. And the new trains are a very nice improvement over the standard Vekoma ones and, though I hate to say it, the Arrow trains that a lot of Boomerangs use. The Carolina Cobra was my first (non-inverted) Boomerang and it led to a pretty severe disappointment when I rode the ones at Darien Lake and Canada's Wonderland.

Just got a newsletter from KI about the 2015 season passes. It contained this graphic: I love the crop work around the people. You know, KI should think about hiring some of us to do their Photoshop work. Heck, they wouldn't even have to pay us. Just throw some nice KI perks our way and we'd be more than happy to help them out. Just a thought.

Don't forget Tommy Boy! The whole model car scene about the "other guy's" brake pads (there are quotes for a reason as Chris Farley's character used air quotes in the movie) used to crack me up when I was little. "You're driving along, you're driving along..." Good times!

Yea, but there's a world of difference between the last coaster to be built in the '90s and the ones their building now, IMO. I really enjoy the ride on Banshee, not so much on Raptor..........

I'm dying to see one of these built in New Jersey or California.

Looks like they're about ready to top off the lift hill.

Bullwinkle even more so...

Lesourdsville Lake

I got into the habit of thanking the guests for supporting us on the parks Facebook page every year since i started working at the park.

With the rate its going up, it feels like they'll be finishing really, really close to when it is supposed to open, especially considering how much track they still have left.

Wow! Nice progress today! I didn't watch the cams at all because generally construction crews have Sunday off, or at least, when building coasters, it seems that they always do. The time schedule for Fury 325 erection must be very strict.

Another Fury325 Update: (Via Carowind's webcams - https://www.carowinds.com/online-fun/webcams )

If I had to guess, I think these statix models are being discontinued...or being revamped for a come back at some point in the future. A few months ago I noticed that Cedar Point had all their models marked down to $15 on their online shop. Only Millennium Force models remain available. Kings Island's site does not have either Diamondback or Beast for sale anymore, even though images of them can be seen on the category pages. The online sites are not a great indicator because they are often not very updated. However, the price drops seemed very odd unless they are getting rid of them. Edit: Cedar Fair should really fire whoever manages their web sites and online stores. You can add items to the cart which are out of stock...which is pretty messed up.

Should be so blessed to have these additions: To a great Park already and a Park that beats out in the Universe the best Kids Park, that in many ways is beyond awesome.

I may be having tea with a dear friend in Alabama that day.

I feel like these new rides will give that area a more lively feel for sure. That area always seemed like the more barren side of Planet Snoopy. The attention Kings Island pays to the kids area is fantastic. It's something a lot of other parks take for granted. You always want to make the children happy, a memorable experience as a kid is going to make you want to come back when you're older!

After digging a little deeper, it doesn't look like this is going to be a body slide, it appears that riders will be secured in some sort of semi-enclosed raft-like contraptions with a restraint. That should at least eliminate concerns for hitting your head against the top if you go airborne inside the slide. I'm guessing (or hoping anyway) that riders being restrained in a ride vehicle means that it won't finish in a splash pool and will be more like the racing slides at Soak City, ending in a long section of slide meant to slow you to a stop.

And, as it turns out, you can build a roller coaster without turning forests into barren fields. Who knew?! Via Twitter. I guess it simply depends on the park's priority. If they say, "We're willing to go out of our way to keep this area planted," it happens. Otherwise....

Not to mention his tweet pictures...

I was surprised to read that the work was done in house.

Some exciting news regarding Rampage from Dan Koch via Twitter this morning.... @SplashinDan on Twitter: "In 15 days the track work is complete. Need train and chain. Gotta be patient. Not easy! Rampage returns!"

I'm really happy to see Dan back in the industry because he clearly has a passion for it. I didn't necessarily like what was happening to Holiday World under him (you could see a change in employee morale if you were a regular visitor, as well as prices jumping by leaps and bounds, especially on food) but I think in his own park he'd do great. My dislike of the Holiday World situation I think was just because he was taking something that ran a certain way and changing it to his way. With a clean slate and a blank drawing board, I think Alabama Adventure will end up doing very well. I doubt it will be the "Holiday World of the South" as a lot of people seem to be expecting, because Dan isn't Will and didn't run things the same way Will did. That being said, I think Dan does appreciate a good wooden coaster (especially a CCI) and I can't wait to see Rampage up and running again. I'll be very happy to finally get that credit, and I know a Koch will make sure it's well cared for and will run beautifully. I also think he's going the right direction in focusing on making it a family-friendly park, because that's where the crowds come from for smaller parks like that. Overall, I'm just really excited for this news and I think that this park will be a much better fit for Dan than Holiday World.