Earlier this summer, I was approached for a survey while leaving Cedar Point (or so it appeared to the surveyor, I was actually going to the car to get a jacket). It consisted of, in its entirety, my zip code, age, how many people in my party and whether or not I had a season pass. That was all....

The one at MA asked me all those things as well as asking me to rate some of the park such as employees, roller coasters, flat rides, landscaping etc. They also asked about a specific ride (In this case TH) which led me to believe that CF might have done the same to SOB at KI.

You probably fit a target demographic they were surveying that day...or were the Xth person for that particular survey--when only every Xth person got the long form survey, or perhaps they were looking for respondents from a certain geographic area. In any event, I suspected I was too darn old for their other questions, or so they thought!

I was once asked at the park entrance if I had a season pass, while I was holding it in my hand in the process of putting it back into my wallet.

So, I was at Kings Island yesterday and while walking to Flight Deck, I wanted to look to see if there was anything interesting happening around Son of Beast. I couldn't see anything really until I got aways down the path and then I looked at the storage track to see if the trains had been covered up. But, I couldn't find the trains. So, I believe the trains have been removed from Son of Beast. I looked really hard while walking (this includes standing on gates, peeking through bushes, and geting my ears banged on FD so I could try to look a little bit ).

If you don't believe me because I don't have pictures, I didn't have a camera with me, so then just don't believe me . Also, I can't say definitively because I didn't go up the Eiffel Tower or Drop Tower, so I couldn't get a 'perfect' view. But, I did look really hard because I wanted to be sure and I'm not just posting this for a joke.

So now I have a few questions: Does this lead you to believe this does mean for a fact that Son of Beast will be torn down? Or does it mean they are just starting winter rehab on the trains early or there will be new trains? Or do you think this means they are preparing to start work on the ride's structure?

****This is not confirmed 100%, but I truly didn't see the trains.

It has been reliably reported that yesterday the trains were in fact in the gravel under the station area...what this means I shall leave for others to speculate...

It has been reliably reported that yesterday the trains were in fact in the gravel under the station area...what this means I shall leave for others to speculate...

so in the winter is that where the trains normally start? I mean since the transfer track is so high off the ground? is that the first stagiing area? I guess newbies like myself, who dont pay to close attention during closing times of the season, would like to know what is the standard operating procedure, if it exists, on how the rides are winterized....

Ok then. I don't think that could be good. I hadn't even though to look under the station closely, although I did glance under it.

It has been reliably reported that yesterday the trains were in fact in the gravel under the station area...what this means I shall leave for others to speculate...

so in the winter is that where the trains normally start? I mean since the transfer track is so high off the ground? is that the first stagiing area? I guess newbies like myself, who dont pay to close attention during closing times of the season, would like to know what is the standard operating procedure, if it exists, on how the rides are winterized....

I have absolutely no idea how Cedar Fair does things in that regard...I know that under previous ownership getting the trains sheltered was of paramount importance.

It has been reliably reported that yesterday the trains were in fact in the gravel under the station area...what this means I shall leave for others to speculate...

so in the winter is that where the trains normally start? I mean since the transfer track is so high off the ground? is that the first stagiing area? I guess newbies like myself, who dont pay to close attention during closing times of the season, would like to know what is the standard operating procedure, if it exists, on how the rides are winterized....

I have absolutely no idea how Cedar Fair does things in that regard...I know that under previous ownership getting the trains sheltered was of paramount importance.

added my emphasis....

nice.... but when you say sheltered do you mean just under shelter just some sort of covering or do they go to a mechanics building our of the elements of cold etc?

Yes. Exactly.

Terpy, seriously...

Im sorry terp... but I am not sure which part of my question you are answering?

All of it. Yes, any of those things are alternatives, but trains are not normally left out to be exposed to the elements, they are usually at the very least covered or in a covered area...

And you could argue the area under the station is covered...I guess.

I would say at least the trains are history. If they were going to use them, they would not be sitting in the elements on a gravel lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iwFrdqAYEQ...feature=related

Found this video on youtube that seems to be from either 2000 or 2001, because King Cobra can be spotted in it. It features Son of Beast, and gives a look back at "brighter days" for the ride.

Just felt this was worth sharing.

It would nice to get some news on this. I guess I will get some pictures of SOB when I go later this month.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iwFrdqAYEQ...feature=related

Found this video on youtube that seems to be from either 2000 or 2001, because King Cobra can be spotted in it. It features Son of Beast, and gives a look back at "brighter days" for the ride.

Just felt this was worth sharing.

Wow, that really made me remember the good old days. When it was considered a legend and there was super long lines and it was a great ride.

lines were still long before it closed.

Maybe the spirits of all the old zoo animals that used to roam that area of the park have conspired to make SoB unsuccessful. Maybe they don't like it being on their 'sacred' land.

It would nice to get some news on this. I guess I will get some pictures of SOB when I go later this month.

They said they'd make a decision after the season's out, but that still doesn't mean any kind of announcement's coming soon. It's very unlikely you'll hear anything until AT LEAST the start of the new year.

lines were still long before it closed.

Lines are long on Shake Rattle and Roll and Zephyr occasionally...

It would nice to get some news on this. I guess I will get some pictures of SOB when I go later this month.

They said they'd make a decision after the season's out, but that still doesn't mean any kind of announcement's coming soon. It's very unlikely you'll hear anything until AT LEAST the start of the new year.

^ You are right.

The park has ZERO motivation to announce any decision on SoB right now.

Why? Because why drum up more attention on SoB than it has already received in the last week due to the lawsuit and settlement?

I would say news on SoB will be non-existant till close to opening day 2010.

Not to mention that, unless settled, early next month there is another Son of Beast trial set to begin...

^

Another reason to believe Cedar Fair won't want to reopen Son of Beast. If another support failure occurs there's no telling how many lawsuits Cedar Fair will get. I really don't understand why Cedar Fair doesn't settle more of the lawsuits before they come to court.

The next trial, unless settled, is slated to begin the day after Kings Island closes for the season. . .

So, part of the ride collapses in construction.

The Ride opens late.

PKI Sues the designer.

It gets a rep for being horribly rough.

It is inspected by the ODA 6 times.

It breaks in 2006, sending 27 people to the hospital.

Was the 2006 incident the straw that broke the camel's back?

No.

The ride's loop is removed.

New Trains are added.

How about the injury of the lady in May 2009?

Nope.

A Trial on the 2006 incident, resulting in thousands of dollars lost for the park?

How about another one?

Honestly, you can love or hate the ride as much as you want, but you've got to realize there's a point in which enough is enough!!!!

So, part of the ride collapses in construction.

PKI Sues the designer.

The Ride opens late.

It gets a rep for being horribly rough.

It is inspected by the ODA 6 times.

It breaks in 2006, sending 27 people to the hospital.

Was the 2006 incident the straw that broke the camel's back?

No.

The ride's loop is removed.

New Trains are added.

How about the injury of the lady in May 2009?

Nope.

A Trial on the 2006 incident, resulting in thousands of dollars lost for the park?

How about another one?

Honestly, you can love or hate the ride as much as you want, but you've got to realize there's a point in which enough is enough!!!!

This is exactly why we need a thumbs up smiley!

**Applause**

So, part of the ride collapses in construction.

PKI Sues the designer.

The Ride opens late.

It gets a rep for being horribly rough.

It is inspected by the ODA 6 times.

It breaks in 2006, sending 27 people to the hospital.

Was the 2006 incident the straw that broke the camel's back?

No.

The ride's loop is removed.

New Trains are added.

How about the injury of the lady in May 2009?

Nope.

A Trial on the 2006 incident, resulting in thousands of dollars lost for the park?

How about another one?

Honestly, you can love or hate the ride as much as you want, but you've got to realize there's a point in which enough is enough!!!!

i cant honestly see them reopening the ride, with any chance something simular could happen again. But like i stated in another thread , there is ALWAYS risk.

So, part of the ride collapses in construction.

PKI Sues the designer.

The Ride opens late.

It gets a rep for being horribly rough.

It is inspected by the ODA 6 times.

It breaks in 2006, sending 27 people to the hospital.

Was the 2006 incident the straw that broke the camel's back?

No.

The ride's loop is removed.

New Trains are added.

How about the injury of the lady in May 2009?

Nope.

A Trial on the 2006 incident, resulting in thousands of dollars lost for the park?

How about another one?

Honestly, you can love or hate the ride as much as you want, but you've got to realize there's a point in which enough is enough!!!!

Your timeline is incorrect.

PKI sued back in November of 2000, after SoB's initial season, not prior to SoB's opening.

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2000/11/2...sland_sues.html