Was here on the computer looking over my picture files this morning...

1972

1973

1992

2005

2008

2010

2011

Nice photos! I always enjoy seeing how the park has changed over the years. Those pavers sure make a difference, and give it more of a classic feel in my opinion.

The new pavers definitely give it a nice vibe. At least for me it does

The Racer still gives Coney Mall the old-time amusement park look. If it leaves, there will be so much lost out of Coney Mall!

I enjoyed your trip down Coney Mall memory lane, I really enjoyed it!!!

KIfan73...thanks for sharing...I always enjoy the photos that you dig up!

Wow, this brings back some memories! Thanks for sharing.

The Racer still gives Coney Mall the old-time amusement park look. If it leaves, there will be so much lost out of Coney Mall!

If The Racer ever left much of Kings Island in general would be lost.

If Racer ever left Kings Island, chances are Kings Island would be closed and out of business. It's kind of like that Love and Marriage song they do in Way Too Much TV. You can't have one, you can't have one, no you can't have one without the other!

I wonder how much of the original Racer still makes up the present day Racer...

The Racer was the original "big" ride at Kings Island. I doubt we will ever see it going away. If I'm not mistaken, isn't it the only ride featured on the Brady Bunch episode that is still there?

I think Wild Thornberries was in the Brady Bunch episode?

^No, but Kings Mill Log Flume was!

Oh, whatever!

Hey, I finally have evidence that what's now Skyline did used to have serving windows in the back! And I had no idea that the Dodgems weren't original to that location.

...isn't it the only ride featured on the Brady Bunch episode that is still there?

The Monster & Scrambler are in it quite a bit...and of course The Eiffel Tower.

I wonder how much of the original Racer still makes up the present day Racer...

More then you would think, although many things have changed through the years. I really wish they could give it a paint job though...it would make Coney 10x better.

If Kings Island keeps maintaining The Racer like they have been, which is VERY good, it wouldnt suprise me one but to see it last forever (same can be said for The Beast)

It was my first time at the park for years last summer and the state of The Racer nearly made me cry. I know it's just paint, but it was embarrassing. I wanted to show off to my British husband how cool The Racer was and the hisotry and it just looked completely uncared for. Especially with all the pretty shiny new rides, tell me they will at least paint the thing??

At some point, factors will be weighed that will lead to Racer being repainted. Or, like at Carowinds (Thunder Road), a Racer sans paint will emerge. I'm really, really hoping it isn't the latter.

We won't even talk about the asinine restraints they put on or the huge headrests or how Paramount destroyed nearly everything.... The good news is my wee 6 year old is 47" as of this month, so by August we're looking at our first rides. Paint it for him <3

It wasn't Paramount that voluntarily made those changes. PTC, which built both coaster and trains, made those recommendations. And in Ohio, manufacturer recommendations generally must be followed in order for operation to be licensed. Similar changes were made to every wooden PTC coaster train in Ohio.

The still stink no matter where they came from! Took all the fun out of the woodies when your bum doesn't get any air.

Sorry, don't mean to snark. It's not your fault obviously. I didn't even realize the PTC was still around and what would warrant them going back to redesign the safety? Did something ACTUALLY happen?

Great pictures and history of our beloved part of the park, and who knows what its future holds, or really where it all started on the Ohio we are so lucky to have two Coney Island's a Coney Mall, and a Coney Island that seems it well never die!

My thoughts will Kings Island finally go with a complete revamp of Coney mall to say a whole new land incorporate the XBASE, the gift is today the blessing the present who knows what tomorrow will hold.

We are just so fortunate that our racer is still working and Coney Mall still has the monster, the scrambler, and shake rattle and roll!

Please capitalize the names of Kings Island's rides and attractions. If you love them, and you do, please do so. We've been asked to make this happen. It's important to the park, to Cedar Fair and to this website.

Thank you.

Here is a little contribution of mine. The wonderfully made .gif file was created for the thread "Standing within 3 ft of 1974" seen here: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php/topic/24760-standing-within-3-feet-of-1974/page-7

1980 (notice The Bat in the early stages of development)