And the crickets are back...

And the crickets are back...

Maybe because you were up before the sun had fully risen.

But yeah. I'm at the point where I want to hear a 100% answer. Is it going to open or isn't it? If it is, what's going to happen exactly?

I may be a bit too impatient.

Agreed get on with the announcement, of opening, closing, tearing down, something concrete.

By the end of summer, there will be nothing BUT concrete. The swan has all but sung on that place.

Just noticed this morning that Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom sign on Northbound I65 is gone.

Went by the park today, A tree company was inside the park trimming trees. However, I noticed other trees where trimmed outside the park on KFEC property.

As I drove through the fairgrounds today I had noticed that rides and buildings have labels on them. Tree's have been trimmed down and sheds are being cleared out it. The entire perimeter of the park (fences, etc) has orange flag markers around it. There is a flag just about every 30-45 feet. Things are getting more and more active in the park as days progress.

Things are getting more and more active in the park as days progress.

That's nice, but without money behind the project, it's not going to happen.

Oh, the financing is all there. Mr. Hart has assured us again and again. They asked for a 60 day extension because...because...well, just because. Just in case, you know.

As I drove through the fairgrounds today I had noticed that rides and buildings have labels on them. Tree's have been trimmed down and sheds are being cleared out it. The entire perimeter of the park (fences, etc) has orange flag markers around it. There is a flag just about every 30-45 feet. Things are getting more and more active in the park as days progress.

Thats great to hear, but as Gordan said, Without the money and financing in place then those flags and markers mean almost completely nothing.

Did you happen to get any pictures while you were around the property sscard01?

Yeah I do but posting pictures on here is difficult. I past by the park again today and the shed I was referring to has what looks to be a work shop set outside of it. Inside the shed hold tools, ride cars, etc.

If Hart & Co. truly intend to re-open this park, they have the most inept publicists ever. This is a time excitement should be building, little leaks should be sneaking out, interviews should be given, star hires should be publicized, ride naming contests had, etc.

Instead, we have...crickets. Again.

Why?

The end of June is coming.

On an otherwise un-updated page, the park is now seeking an experienced mower (their words) and a 30 hour a week groundsperson. Why does this not strike me as a bracing vote of confidence in a virtually assured re-opening?

http://www.kentuckykingdom.com/site/

Maybe the grounds person can do something about the deafening crickets.

Sounds like they are one step ahead of Joyland in the other K state.

It seems that the re-opening of Kentucky Kingdom has been made very akward to the public by Ed Hart.....Wait?..What did you say Mr. Hart?....Nevermind that was the crickets...

IF this park is truly reopening, opportunity after opportunity for free media is being squandered. I just don't get it. Unless, of course, it isn't happening. Hart asked for an extension of the walk-away period for a reason.

June 27 is getting closer and closer...even those who posted hopeful news here have gotten eerily quiet.....

I am not worried at all. I am very positive. Don''t be surprised to hear some news about the park by the end of this week or sometime next week. I say that because the park is expected to reopen in a little under 367 days. We are days away from the one year countdown.

And days away from the June 27 deadline...

So you believe Hart is going to walk away? I Doubt it. Can't see him pulling the plug on this. Especially as to how he has gotten

The Kochs got just as far...

I agree with you sscard101. I can't see him walking away from it. It seems like he has too much of a personal (emotional) investment in this to just let it go. But the absence of updates on social media and the web site being so quiet worries me a little.

Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford could easily self fund this project with not one dime of outside financing. The fact that they haven't and in fact asked for this extension of the walkaway period speaks volumes. The fact a bank wouldn't lend the requested amount on this also speaks volumes. The fact there were no other bidders, likewise.

The crickets? That's the loudest scary factor of all.

I've been surprised that the state has been as cooperative as they have been. There's sure no love lost between Lunsford and the governor, and I've always had the feeling Beshear would like nothing more than to see the site turned into a casino (like that will ever happen). Personally, I would like to see the park move somewhere on the outskirts of the Ville so it would have more room to expand, and the traffic wouldn't be as bad.

I don't see it moving. Anything worth moving was taken by Six and what was left has been rotting.

I agree with you sscard101. I can't see him walking away from it. It seems like he has too much of a personal (emotional) investment in this to just let it go. But the absence of updates on social media and the web site being so quiet worries me a little.

Emotional investment, yes.

Monetary investment, no.

Money trumps emotions.

I don't understand Hart's reasoning. The park has/had sat in a state of decay since Six Flags pulled up stakes. Heck, they even closed part of the park a season or two before they picked up their bat and ball (Chang) and went home. If I was Mr. Hart, which I'm not, I wouldn't have given the park the second thought after the Koch's pulled out and when he was snubbed the first time by the state. He and his team should have looked elsewhere and started their own park on their own land. He's already planning a Large coaster which could have been built anywhere and the money he's using for rehab could have been used for some flats or a water park. Seems kinda crazy to me.

And for what it's worth, I truly deep down think that the Koch's and Bluegrass Boardwalk only got involved as a way to allow the park to deteriorate for another year and to protect their main asset in Santa Claus. Just my opinion.

^ Was it Lori or Dan behind the push for Bluegrass Boardwalk? If Dan I'd say his intentions were in the right place, if Lori well I have nothing nice to say.

The public face was primarily Natalie. The Koch noticeably absent from ownership in that effort was Pat.

As far as Mr hart and company starting a new park from the ground up. Something tells me that building a brand new park is anything but cheap or easy.

Out of all the parks currently in operation how old is the newest one?

Hard Rock Park anyone?

Today marks one month until the end of Hart's extended walk-away period.

Seeing that it's been more than a month since we've seen any signs of life at all from Hart, I'd say that the project is on its deathbed and barely surviving on life support. He has to decide if he wants to stay onboard or abandon ship.

If this falls through, it's a loss for the community of Louisville and Lexington. When I was at KI on Saturday, I saw so many people wearing Louisville Cardinals or Kentucky Wildcats gear. Now, this doesn't mean all of those people are traveling from Kentucky, but what an inconvenience to travel two hours to the closest amusement park. In its heyday, KK was almost competing with KI for guests. KK was never KI at any point in its lifetime, but a park with high-caliber rides and a good waterpark passed for entertainment in that market. When the Hellevator incident happened, though, the park's stature made a rapid decline, eventually leading to SIX's ride removal and departure from the land.

The Project is a very long shot. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what June 27 brings us.

No inconvenience at all because even if KK was to reopen, I would still choose to take the 2.5 hour trip to KI.

Of course the wife and I are currently looking into making the drive a lot shorter.