johnjniehaus

BGT has the stronger coaster collection... well if they are all open. Been to that park 3 times and all 3 times two different coaster were just not open. In numerous cases no refurbishment listed on the website, not broken down temporarily, just not open or staffed... The 3 times I've been at BGW all the coasters were running with the exception of Verboten was closed two of the three times with workers activity working on it both times. Also they at least put that on the website so everyone knew before they went. I agree Tampa has better coasters but their operations of one train consistently on iron gwazi and burning me now three times with 2 non operating coasters has made me a believer in BGW. BGW has always delivered for me when I was there and as I said while verboten has had some up time issues the last few years, at least they are transparent about it unlike BGT

Oh 100% agree it should have been reflected somewhere on their website

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2026/04/cedar-point-retires-longtime-ride-after-more-than-50-years.html%3foutputType=amp I mean maybe Cedar Point hasn't made a social media post or blog post about it but clearly Tony Clark talked to the news at some point because there's plenty of articles out there. Does not sound like he anticipates it being replaced anytime soon

https://battechenterprises.com/pageserver/service Also for anyone interested this company Battech based in Salem is the one who does some amount of service to the older Eyerly rides however I don't see "Monster" specifically mentioned at all. Also an interesting find is they manufacturer new models of the smaller "Spider" version that they are calling the black widow. I thought Kings Island was waiting on a part from Italy or somewhere over seas for our monster so I'm curious if they were working with Battech and they had to get something fabricated or if Battech doesn't support monsters anymore hence it seems that both the KI one and the CP were at the end of their service life

From the press announcement sounds like it won't be replaced by anything

I was wondering the same thing!

https://www.sixflags.com/canadaswonderland/attractions/the-daredeviler Looks like wonderland just officially announced the refurbishment of their SLC using the trains they acquired from Six Flags America

Wow it's just like half the Midwest was wiped off the map

Very valid point... maybe there is a reason they haven't put it all back together yet? I'm curious if it was always the plan to retire the Cedar Point one or if they realized they needed more parts for the KI one and were like "crap we just sold Valley Fair and CP is our only option?" Or maybe the Cedar Point one needed the same part as the KI one and they just said nah it's not worth waiting a year to get the part and trying to fix it

Anyone else think that Cedar Point Monster is possibly becoming a parts donor for the KI one? Cedar Point ride still had the skirting around the base to hide the motors...wonder if we will see any improvements like that on the KI one as the one at CP was removed? Also worth mentioning the CP one had lights on the center dome shaped piece unlike the KI one. It was a "more complete" looking ride. Would like to see KI get the spare tubs and parts... Black with the yellow red and orange tubs could be a cool new look but for God's sake take the stupid eyes and mouths off... The monster isn't a dang kiddy ride

Wow was shiva's fury retired that long ago? I thought it was more recent than that

Got a survey from Busch Gardens Williamsburg that had some interesting new additions for the poll... Honestly I would be really excited to see some of these actually happen!

Also probably worth mentioning that 55 seasons is a LONG time for a machine to be kept running. Glad I have some good memories of riding the one at CP.

Such an unfortunate loss. Hopefully at a minimum it becomes a parts donor. Not sure what happened to the one removed from Dorney Park a few years ago but this means we are down to two operational Eyerly monster rides in the world

Possibly so...I know they sent parts from World's of Fun to valley Fair a few years ago I think when world's of fun lost the "octopus" monster ride. I'm still curious whatever happened to the one Dorney removed a few years ago? Honestly the fact the one at Kings Island is an opening day attraction and came from Coney Island is probably the only reason it's still getting invested in to be kept around. Glad Kings Island is trying to keep it going. Arguably there is no flat ride more beautiful on a midway than an Eyerly Monster (other than maybe a classic carousel)

Because they moved heavy machinery in there and didn't use small man and machinery crews so work on the exterior of the building. They did it as fast and a cheaply as they could which probably includes ripping out trees that are in the way. I know the Cincinnati Zoo gets quoted higher prices by construction companies when they mandate that certain large shade trees must be saved during the construction process

Nice catch they must not be finished painting it then

So I'm digging the color scheme. I am still on the band wagon of they should have gotten rid of the castle and made a custom facade for the building but hey I get it sometimes you just repurpose what you already have. For reusing the castle it looks pretty darn good. Love the new colors and the treble clefs on the towers are spot on. I do think the wooden slats with the eyes cheapens the look (has really bad boo blasters vibes for me). Overall looks decent and I hope at a minimum they got rid of that stupid mouth with the teeth you walk into...like replace it with theater doors at least please. What kinds of theater haunted or not has a giant mouth with teeth as the entrance?

A living testament along with phantom theater why unique dark rides stand the test of time even outside of Disney Parks

While I'm not completely sold on the repainted castle look everything I've seen on the interior is stellar

Ok to be fair I'd 100% back a wild mouse in the tomb raider building because Exterminator at Kennywood is a cool ride. And while I don't personally love wild mice, it would be a great fit for that space and for the family audience the park likes to appeal to. I could also see them adding one down near wind seeker if they decide to redo the end of coney mall with new flats and a refresh type of thing. Personally think the area could look nice but you know they'd have the fans (me included) complaining how they replaced Vortex with a wild mouse Other alternative is the sky flyer plot could fit one but that entire area needs a bigger retheme/refresh that plopping in a clone wild mouse isn't going to fix

Again not sure what happened 15+ years ago at the park that obviously some people still have negative feelings about but I can say that the park was noticably more likely to work with enthusiast clubs while @DonHelbig was with the park especially compared to their current leadership. I think ACE and GOCC and other groups have had issues with their connection with the parks disappearing as people like Don move on or get replaced. The relationships are no longer there and Enthusiasts are treated the same as a company like P&G or GE or Kroger trying to rent out space in the park. Traditionally enthusiasts were often given special privileges and pricing and the new leadership doesn't have good relationships with the club representatives therefore organizations like ACE get treated the same as any large cooperation - if you can't put up the money or the numbers to meet the minimums the park is not going to do anything for you anymore

https://www.sixflags.com/blog/big-changes-coming-to-the-boardwalk-as-six-flags-great-adventure-opens-its-spring-season Official Announcement!

To be fair I know California Great America and SFDK raised their rates on ACE Northern California resulting in that region failing to meet the new minimums and being priced out of events at those parks. Yes some of the regions seem to have negotiated better deals and considering that ACE East Great Lakes has an event at Stricker's Grove (which is probably not cheap) I'd imagine Kings Island was at fault and didn't try to work with them at all. Here in ACE Northwest Region we unfortunately have the same issue with Silverwood not being very flexible or wanting to work with us.

Hopefully they fixed the lights. Alot were burnt out or not working last season and I've noticed the sockets on the arms closest to the center no longer had any tube bulbs in them anymore