Hi everyone. I'm currently at Kings Dominion and I noticed that their Eiffel Tower still has the extended antenna. I know the one at KI was removed sometime in the 90's. Does anyone know why?

 

 

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I believe it was so that Drop Tower (then Drop Zone) would be (and could be marketed as) the tallest Kings Island attraction at 315 ft, because the Eiffel Tower was taller than that when it had the antenna but its removal shortened the Eiffel Tower's height to 314 ft making Drop Tower one foot taller.

Good question......and answer!

Your correct, with the antenna, the tower was 334 feet tall.

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They likely updated radio systems and didn't need the antenna anymore.

They found a new way to create the KI weather bubble. 

10 hours ago, TheRickster said:

They likely updated radio systems and didn't need the antenna anymore.

Wish they'd do the same with that ugly, gray cone antenna on the Southeast side wall of the tower head ... or put one on each side to make it symmetrical.

It was gone long before Drop Zone (Tower) was built. I heard from one of the people who worked at the Tower's observation deck that a small plane knocked it off in the early to mid 90s.

 

Drop Zone was initially going to be an Intamin Giant Drop (Second Generation Freefall) built in Coney Mall where Flight Commander was. The idea was scratched for the Intamin Gyro Drop we see today in Action Zone.

This is the picture I took of the Eiffel Tower in 1996 this was its third summer being at its current shortened height long before Drop Tower was ever erected 

On 7/22/2017 at 9:32 AM, Thrill_Biscuit said:

Wish they'd do the same with that ugly, gray cone antenna on the Southeast side wall of the tower head ... or put one on each side to make it symmetrical.

That’s for their weather tracking system.

1 hour ago, BoddaH1994 said:

That’s for their weather tracking system.

I've always wondered what that thing was. Been there since 1972.

Here is the first day I saw the Eiffel Towers antenna shortened to its current height of 315 instead of 330ft tall. My reaction at age 12 years old was darn. What was the point in lowering the antenna on the Eiffel Tower. I took the picture on Saturday September 3 1994. From the distance it looked like a McDonalds Straw shoved into a large drink.

18 minutes ago, adamscott said:

...shortened to its current height of 314

FTFY.

On 6/1/2018 at 8:22 PM, KIghostguy said:

FTFY.

Did you ask them about this in the book? I don’t remember it being asked. Just wondering