Does anyone know the prices of tickets/pass at KI back in the day, in particular 1972?

There was no season pass. Parking was free. Admission was $6 for adults. That was a LOT of money back then.

And with free parking, you actually got tram service, and people directing you to your spots! Keep in mind, that Coney in 1971 allowed guests to pay per ride if they did not want to use the pay one price admission. So charging $6 to get into the park and having free rides was a relatively new concept. (Ironically, Coney still had individual ride tickets up though the 2003 season, when they were abandoned in favor of all day rides wristbands).

What was the first year that season passes came into existence at Kings Island? Late 70`s? Early 80s? And some parks (Kennywood) just recently introduced their first season passes, and then only sold a limited number of them!

I honestly do not know what the first year for season passes was, but I bet several here do. And, if I remember correctly, there were exactly no upcharge attractions in the park. (Games are not considered an upcharge attraction). No pay to ride anything...no pay to see Broadway quality shows (and they were). It was very grand, not at all unlike many adults' first impression of a Disney park...

I remember my dad getting coupons at Krogers for $1 off KI tickets. As Terpy said, $6 per ticket was still a lot of money then.

The skyride broke down one year and riders were stuck for up to 4 hours. They were all offered lifetime season passes and I think all of them turned it down.

The skyride broke down one year and riders were stuck for up to 4 hours. They were all offered lifetime season passes and I think all of them turned it down.

I've heard the same said of both Disneyland and The Magic Kingdom... Is it true? How would one go about having a "lifetime pass?" Better yet are the stories that "all of them turned it down because they said they enjoyed the view." Ha!

If I am not mistaken, KI first started offering Season Passes in 1981.

Ah, yes... questions in my area of expertise, Admissions!

Unfortunately, I don't know what year the first season passes were available. I had that information at one time, but it's gone now. Personally, I know we started getting season passes around 1985, so they were available before then. Markr may be correct on this one, 1981 does sound familiar.

I honestly do not know what the first year for season passes was, but I bet several here do. And, if I remember correctly, there were exactly no upcharge attractions in the park. (Games are not considered an upcharge attraction). No pay to ride anything...no pay to see Broadway quality shows (and they were). It was very grand, not at all unlike many adults' first impression of a Disney park...

There was an upcharge attraction in the early years of the park... Lion Country Safari, aka Wild Animal Habitat, aka the monorail. I know when I was a youngun it cost an extra dollar to ride. Besides that the next upcharge attraction to be added, to the best of my recollection, was Drop Zone in 1995, later to be renamed Xtreme Skyflyer.

How would one go about having a "lifetime pass?"

I recall from my Admissions days a time when the woman who had won the contest to name the park came for a visit. Her prize, or part of it, was a lifetime pass to KI. All she had to do was stop by Guest Relations and they gave her a ticket.

The skyride broke down one year and riders were stuck for up to 4 hours. They were all offered lifetime season passes and I think all of them turned it down.

I would take those passes in a heartbeat!

...There was an upcharge attraction in the early years of the park... Lion Country Safari, aka Wild Animal Habitat, aka the monorail. I know when I was a youngun it cost an extra dollar to ride. Besides that the next upcharge attraction to be added, to the best of my recollection, was Drop Zone in 1995, later to be renamed Xtreme Skyflyer.me for a visit....

Lion Country Safari didn't exist the first two seasons. It was not an upcharge attraction until many, many years later. Paramount added the $1 charge, and that existed only a season or two (and, if I remember correctly, by then the Cincinnati Zoo was either running or helping to run the what was by then Wild Animal Habitat, and got the $1 charge).

I have been reliably informed that Kings Island began selling season passes in 1979.

I have been reliably informed that Kings Island began selling season passes in 1979.

Your informant didn't happen to give you the price?

I read somewhere that the admission price in 1984 was $13.50. I can no longer remember how many soccer games I had to referee to earn enough for my season pass.

Lion Country Safari didn't exist the first two seasons. It was not an upcharge attraction until many, many years later. Paramount added the $1 charge, and that existed only a season or two (and, if I remember correctly, by then the Cincinnati Zoo was either running or helping to run the what was by then Wild Animal Habitat, and got the $1 charge).

I'll trust you on this Terpy, but I thought that the upcharge was around before Paramount. Per the timeline, the safari/habitat only lasted 1 1/2 seasons after the Paramount acquisition.

I remember well how upset people were over the $1 charge, blaming Paramount for it, and thinking maybe it was imposed so ridership would decline and Paramount could more easily justify a decision to remove the safari, which they in fact did do...

I have been reliably informed that Kings Island began selling season passes in 1979.

Your informant didn't happen to give you the price?

No, but they have now. $29.99. They also added that season pass holders had to pay for parking by the visit from 1979 through 1990. In 1991, season pass holders were finally able to buy a parking pass.

The summer of '85 I believe my pass was $30-35, and season pass holders entered by big booth. I don't remember the parking situation at all.

The summer of '85 I believe my pass was $30-35, and season pass holders entered by big booth. I don't remember the parking situation at all.

I had my first season pass in 1986. I was going to say it was $45 but your post suggests it might have been less. I do remember justifying the cost to my parents that three visits would surpass the price of the pass, and the admission was $16.99 or $17.99 if my 25-year memory serves, so $40-45 or so seems about right.

How much was parking during the 1980's?

I read somewhere that the admission price in 1984 was $13.50. I can no longer remember how many soccer games I had to referee to earn enough for my season pass.

Lion Country Safari didn't exist the first two seasons. It was not an upcharge attraction until many, many years later. Paramount added the $1 charge, and that existed only a season or two (and, if I remember correctly, by then the Cincinnati Zoo was either running or helping to run the what was by then Wild Animal Habitat, and got the $1 charge).

I'll trust you on this Terpy, but I thought that the upcharge was around before Paramount. Per the timeline, the safari/habitat only lasted 1 1/2 seasons after the Paramount acquisition.

Sorry Terpy, but I'm with KIfan on this one. I know Lion Country Safari wasn't around until 1974, but I'm very certain that the upcharge existed before Paramount. Before we had season passes, my family only went to KI once a year. My grandmother worked in the park from the beginning, first in the Executive Dining Room, and later in Housekeeping. We used the tickets that she got from working there for our yearly visits. In addition to the tickets to enter the park, there were also separate tickets that she received and gave to us that were for the monorail. And when I started working at the park in 1989, I'm pretty certain that I received those tickets too.

I have a friend who worked at Lion Country Safari/WAH for years. I'll try contacting her to see if she remembers when the upcharge started.

I miss the trams (actually moving people) in the parking lot. I'd forgive the outrageous parking prices if those were still used.

I've gotta give kudos to Holiday World with respect to their parking equation...

Free Parking + Tram Service = Happy Customer

Yeah, you don't even need to get a ticket to the theme park. You can just park for free and get tram rides. It really becomes the amusement "park". And after you're done in the amusement park, you can go to the theme park. It's so much win.

I read somewhere that the admission price in 1984 was $13.50. I can no longer remember how many soccer games I had to referee to earn enough for my season pass.

Lion Country Safari didn't exist the first two seasons. It was not an upcharge attraction until many, many years later. Paramount added the $1 charge, and that existed only a season or two (and, if I remember correctly, by then the Cincinnati Zoo was either running or helping to run the what was by then Wild Animal Habitat, and got the $1 charge).

I'll trust you on this Terpy, but I thought that the upcharge was around before Paramount. Per the timeline, the safari/habitat only lasted 1 1/2 seasons after the Paramount acquisition.

Sorry Terpy, but I'm with KIfan on this one. I know Lion Country Safari wasn't around until 1974, but I'm very certain that the upcharge existed before Paramount. Before we had season passes, my family only went to KI once a year. My grandmother worked in the park from the beginning, first in the Executive Dining Room, and later in Housekeeping. We used the tickets that she got from working there for our yearly visits. In addition to the tickets to enter the park, there were also separate tickets that she received and gave to us that were for the monorail. And when I started working at the park in 1989, I'm pretty certain that I received those tickets too.

I have a friend who worked at Lion Country Safari/WAH for years. I'll try contacting her to see if she remembers when the upcharge started.

My only memory of the safari is wanting to ride it when I was a kid (late seventies/early 80s) and being told "no" because of the upcharge. I didn't visit KI during the Paramount years until after they had removed the safari and by then I was on my own dime. So I know my memories are pre-Paramount.

I think that per the 1979 brochure, there was a $1 charge to ride the monorail. Park admission I think was $9.95 that year.

In 1972, besides the park admission being $6, I think a parking fee actually was assessed; it was either 25¢ or 50¢. That, and there was only a north parking entrance, as the Western Row/KI Drive exit to south I-71 did not exist til a little later...

Nothing like proving oneself wrong! THIS says the safari was $1 in 1983. Y'all are right when you say it was earlier than the Paramount days:

http://books.google....%201972&f=false

Nice article!

I read somewhere that the admission price in 1984 was $13.50. I can no longer remember how many soccer games I had to referee to earn enough for my season pass.

Lion Country Safari didn't exist the first two seasons. It was not an upcharge attraction until many, many years later. Paramount added the $1 charge, and that existed only a season or two (and, if I remember correctly, by then the Cincinnati Zoo was either running or helping to run the what was by then Wild Animal Habitat, and got the $1 charge).

I'll trust you on this Terpy, but I thought that the upcharge was around before Paramount. Per the timeline, the safari/habitat only lasted 1 1/2 seasons after the Paramount acquisition.

Sorry Terpy, but I'm with KIfan on this one. I know Lion Country Safari wasn't around until 1974, but I'm very certain that the upcharge existed before Paramount. Before we had season passes, my family only went to KI once a year. My grandmother worked in the park from the beginning, first in the Executive Dining Room, and later in Housekeeping. We used the tickets that she got from working there for our yearly visits. In addition to the tickets to enter the park, there were also separate tickets that she received and gave to us that were for the monorail. And when I started working at the park in 1989, I'm pretty certain that I received those tickets too.

I have a friend who worked at Lion Country Safari/WAH for years. I'll try contacting her to see if she remembers when the upcharge started.

I heard back from my friend last week but forgot to post in here what she said. Here's what she told me: The first cost she remembers was 50 cents, then $1.00, then $2.00 when WAH closed.

I remember well how upset people were over the $1 charge, blaming Paramount for it, and thinking maybe it was imposed so ridership would decline and Paramount could more easily justify a decision to remove the safari, which they in fact did do...

Perhaps when Paramount took over was when the price was raised from $1 to $2, and that's where the confusion came in? I can certainly see people being upset with the price doubling like that.

On 2/2/2011 at 11:21 PM, The Interpreter said:

There was no season pass. Parking was free. Admission was $6 for adults. That was a LOT of money back then.

Parking was 50 cents.