But are they "staying afloat?" And are the people of Kentucky, aka the commonwealth, willing to absorb it?

The people of the Commonwealth have no choice. That choice has been made for them by their elected politicians.

Wait.

November 3, 2015, there is this thing called an election....

I wonder if Cedar Point is removing Mantis in hopes of purchasing Lightning Run? Seriously though this is not good news in any way for Kentucky Kingdom. Been a rough end of the season. PR admission baffoonery (Thanks for that one Terpy), Thunderbird craps all over next seasons possible improvements, horrible fair attendance, and the Kingdom finds itself soon to be at the center of a charged political environment.

Compare Hard Rock Park and Kentucky Kingdom respectively after their first season. HRP was better positioned to succeed at this point then Kentucky Kingdom is.

How is the decision to remove Mantis in any way bad news for Kentucky Kingdom? I don't think anyone on here can say exactly how the Kingdom is doing financially, especially considering your statements are based off of a few** PR mistakes/ perceptions. I think you all will be mighty surprised when next year rolls around. I'll leave it at that.

Sarcasm is like a fine wine, many enjoy it while others can't figure it out. Most times my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek, especially as Cedar Point removes Banshee err Mantis to make room for Lightning Run and Kentucky Kingdom installs Chang2 next year.

Secondly I think many will not be surprised when next year rolls around and the New Kentucky Kingdom doesn't live up to promises, Especially when there is no buyer for the property because of the less than ideal land lord and the park will be a major political pawn next year. I am not a fan of Koolaid and will hold off consuming any.

There is so much I don't understand.

Kentucky Kingdom is open the remaining Saturdays and Sundays in September. 8 hours a day only. Closing at 7. Really. Closed for the year thereafter.

The water park is also open the remaining Saturdays and Sundays in September. Seven hours a day. Closing at six.

The lucrative (HIGHLY lucrative) Boo season?

The Kingdom is closed.

My head hurts.

Open water parks on September weekends in Kentuckiana? Closed park during Boo season? Closing at 7 on SATURDAYS?

Yep. My head hurts.

There is so much I don't understand.

Kentucky Kingdom is open the remaining Saturdays and Sundays in September. 8 hours a day only. Closing at 7. Really. Closed for the year thereafter.

The water park is also open the remaining Saturdays and Sundays in September. Seven hours a day. Closing at six.

The lucrative (HIGHLY lucrative) Boo season?

The Kingdom is closed.

My head hurts.

Open water parks on September weekends in Kentuckiana? Closed park during Boo season? Closing at 7 on SATURDAYS?

Yep. My head hurts.

Seems like they enjoy doing the opposite of what one would call smart business decisions...

Perhaps they can't afford to dress up the park for Boofest, or pay for more than 8 hours worth of staffing...

They could use the money budgeted for September water park operation.

I bet anything they lose their shirts on the water park in September...

If last weekend was any indication of how things are going, Thunder Run was literally a walk-on all day. On a Saturday. With beautiful temperatures and crystal-clear skies. On a coaster that runs one train. Every single time I went to ride it, there was at least one row in the station with nobody in line for it.

So, in what should be ideal circumstances for drawing a crowd, they couldn't reliably get 24 people in line for one of their flagship rides within any given two minute period. And, this was with their only other (non-kiddie) coaster down for well over half the day.

Things aren't looking so hot in the Hartland.

When I went to the Kingdom in late July, I saw how much had been put into getting the park ready for this year. I was just curious and kind of angry about the hours. During the regular season, they opened at 11 and closed at 7. Tickets were $40 per day, which is $5 an hour. At Kings Island, admission (walk up ticket price) is $52. The park is open during the regular season from 10-10. For each hour, a guest only pays $4.33. Currently, Kings Island has more attractions than the Kingdom, and you're able to enjoy more on your $4.33 than your $5 spent at Kentucky Kingdom.

The Kingdom needed to stay open longer, the opportunity cost of them staying open two hours longer is probably much less than the benefit that it will give.

I agree with terp, who wants to go in a pool past Labor Day? Either put on a Halloween event or save money for next season.

I presume neighborhood safety issues or the perception thereof are one of the drivers for the hours.

See also Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags America.

Both draw from "sketchy" neighborhoods.

I would not want to be at Six Flags America after dark. It was a much rougher crowd during the day than any park I have been to. We never stayed close to dark when we used to go to KK many years ago.

Elitch Gardens downtown is the only park I've ever been to where I feared for my personal safety. In fact, I have seen three physical fights there. It's not a place I'm apt to go back to.

I see where you're coming from. I didn't suspect the area to be sketchy as it's mostly within the same land as the fairgrounds, but the neighborhood near the park's front gate and behind the waterpark could be subject to sketchiness.

This is year one. Not year two nor three, year one, the test year.

Kentucky Kingdom was one of the very first parks in the country to offer a halloween event. I see this event coming back in the near future.

The park has already announced via email that parks hours will increase on weekdays and the park will be open more days next season.

I hope so.

One surefire way to strengthen Kings Island's line-up and increase Cedar Fair's investment in the park would be a strong Kentucky Kingdom. A park that closes at 7 PM is not going to inspire investment and expansion in competitors. A park that closes at 7PM and ends the season in September is a doormat.

Not to mention, a stronger Kentucky Kingdom also necessitates a stronger Holiday World, Dollywood, and Beech Bend, All of which in turn serve yet again to force Kings Island to keep up.

Plus, an operating Kentucky Kingdom means I can ride coasters in the two weeks between the end of KI's summer season and the start of Haunt, which I have already taken advantage of once, and may again this weekend!

In fact, Hellevator debuted at their Halloween event in 1995. The name and the marketing at the time were great.

This is year one. Not year two nor three, year one, the test year.

Kentucky Kingdom was one of the very first parks in the country to offer a halloween event. I see this event coming back in the near future.

The park has already announced via email that parks hours will increase on weekdays and the park will be open more days next season.

Homestar, I wish I could do that too. I liked Thunder Run a bit more than Lightning Run, but both were fun coasters.

On Lightning Run, I also didn't like how the Kingdom only ran one train during weekdays. The line was almost an hour long, and their loading times on the one train were slow already. I asked a ride op why they weren't using the second train, and he told me that they only use the second train on weekends. Why not use it all the time? (If someone has an answer, please share! I like learning.)

Also, the queues for their coasters were way out of hand. If you would stand to one side of the stairs leading up to the station, someone behind you would go in front of you. I am glad that Kings Island has 'line regulators' that help distribute guests to different rows.

This is year one. Not year two nor three, year one, the test year.

Kentucky Kingdom was one of the very first parks in the country to offer a halloween event. I see this event coming back in the near future.

The park has already announced via email that parks hours will increase on weekdays and the park will be open more days next season.

Lets hope so. Maybe in year 3 or year 4 they could hire a PR company...

Or maybe they could take PR and marketing classes at UL....

And in years after 2015, that $1.5 to $2 million annual capital reinvestment that Hart & Co. have planned will definitely keep Holiday World, Kings Island, Beech Bend and probably even Six Flags St. Louis on their toes!

This is year one. Not year two nor three, year one, the test year.

Kentucky Kingdom was one of the very first parks in the country to offer a halloween event. I see this event coming back in the near future.

The park has already announced via email that parks hours will increase on weekdays and the park will be open more days next season.

Lets hope so. Maybe in year 3 or year 4 they could hire a PR company...

The already have one... Haven't they done a GREAT job (sarcasm noted): Bandy Carroll Hellige Advertising & Public Relations

www.bch.com - though the site seems to be down. Not a good sign for a marketing firm.

If the website is down, perhaps they are just "people posing as imposters".

The Kentucky Kingdom Facebook page: always good for a Harty laugh.

As for the PR firm, remember this. In the end, the client calls the shots. By all accounts, Ed Hart & Co. are VERY difficult clients.

Were it me, I'd have quit that account a LONG time ago. Who am I kidding? I'd have never bid on it.

As for the PR firm, remember this. In the end, the client calls the shots. By all accounts, Ed Hart & Co. are VERY difficult clients.

Were it me, I'd have quit that account a LONG time ago. Who am I kidding? I'd have never bid on it.

hmmm... how to respond.

This is year one. Not year two nor three, year one, the test year.

Kentucky Kingdom was one of the very first parks in the country to offer a halloween event. I see this event coming back in the near future.

The park has already announced via email that parks hours will increase on weekdays and the park will be open more days next season.

The test year? Does that mean if they fail the test they wont be back for years 2, 3, or 4? Unless Hart & Co. find a buyer who wants to operate a small park, in a bad location, with a history of failure, and a not so friendly land lord, I am afraid year 2 if it exists will have many of the same issues as year 1.

As we've been told..watch what they do, not what they say. Many are watching, and wondering.

The 2015 Season Pass add says that they will have extended hours and more operating days next season. I hope they intend to operate into October and do a Halloween event. That is an easy way to boost yearly attendance. I was surprised it took Holiday World so long to do a Halloween event there...

Louisville Councilman: Kentucky Kingdom Gives Kids Something To Do Other Than Go To A Movie Or Break Into A Car:

http://m.wave3.com/wave/db_353385/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=UFSWSKVP

No words...

Sounds like a place I want to visit! Amid lovely children who would otherwise be breaking into cars.

Should they decide that the admission price is too steep, they could have a field day in the parking lot!