Rode The Beast a few times today, and there are concrete pads under the hill of the second lift going into the helix. The supports that come together in the middle are numbered with paint at the bottom.

Obviously, there's no way to get a photo, but it's very interesting. I wonder if the second lift and drop are getting reworked over winter?

 

Post your thoughts!

Which area are you talking about? I'm understanding them to be in area 1. More work to keep The Beast running well is always appreciated!

 

Oh, and for all the theorists: OMG IRON BEAST RMC CONVERSION CONFIRMED!!!

The trees are gone in area 1 now.   Even though it was just a few trees, any more tree removal around that ride is concerning since thats a lot of its magic. 
 

Grizzly at KD was once totally surrounded by trees.  Look at it now…..

13 hours ago, super7 said:

The trees are gone in area 1 now.   Even though it was just a few trees, any more tree removal around that ride is concerning since thats a lot of its magic. 
 

Grizzly at KD was once totally surrounded by trees.  Look at it now…..

I doubt you'll miss those specific trees when riding... especially when you learn what they were removed for ;-)

...and I agree with the earlier sentiment that any work to keep The Beast running - or running better - is always appreciated.

13 minutes ago, Shaggy said:

I doubt you'll miss those specific trees when riding... especially when you learn what they were removed for ;-)

...and I agree with the earlier sentiment that any work to keep The Beast running - or running better - is always appreciated.

RMC confirmed 

Don't tell Logan...

Found a photo from a Costerstock that will work. 

The red supports there have the numbers. The concrete is under those supports marked in yellow. 

I've always liked the visual of that structure from the ground.

1 hour ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

Found a photo from a Costerstock that will work. 

The red supports there have the numbers. The concrete is under those supports marked in yellow. 

The entire bowl was numbered from what I recall. Here are some photos I gathered while attending CS:

The new numbers are white and I only saw them on the ones that come together. It was like 1 -14. The black numbers are probably still there, but doubt I could see that while riding. 

Just got off Windseeker and can confirm that part of the track going down the 2nd lift drop is totally gone. Where the new prefab track was used a few years ago for the helix, it starts and goes back towards the lift. There is about a 7 to 10 ft section removed, and a crane is back there.

Here is a representation of the track section gone. There is no way to get a picture of the missing track on the ground that I have found.

1 hour ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

Just got off WindSeeker and can confirm that part of the track going down the 2nd lift drop is totally gone. Where the new prefab track was used a few years ago for the helix, it starts and goes back towards the lift. There is about a 7 to 10 ft section removed, and a crane is back there.

Here is a representation of the track section gone. There is no way to get a picture of the missing track on the ground that I have found.

Beast 2.0!

Very interesting! Is it normal for them to be doing this? I thought they would just do some pre-cut track if they were going to do some referb, not necessarily take off a whole section of track. Anyway, thanks for the update and picture!

Wow, that’s crazy.  I just rode it this past Sunday!

38 minutes ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

Anyway, thanks for the update and picture!

I tried really hard to get a good picture. If you try to pay attention on Diamondback, especially near the top of the lift. You can see it fairly well. I think I underestimated the size of the track missing. I think it's closer to 15 to 20 ft. From what I saw riding Diamondback.

I'm glad to see this happening. I hope the work extends into the turn off of lift 2. That turn has always tracked really poorly with age and always seems to devolve into two big, uncomfortable jerks to the left, just before the track straightens out. I assume that's an issue with the support structure. Maybe we can even lose the trims on that drop...?

My biggest hope for one of the next few off seasons is that they have Gravity Group reprofile the last turn before lift 2. I assume that the suddenness of that turn is a big reason why the first half of Beast has as many trim brakes as it does even now. (Think Magnum's reprofiling of the valley before the turnaround early in its life, where riders would go from airtime to positive G's very quickly and were getting hurt.) If that turn was less abrupt, it could potentially ditch some trims or even the whole "MCBR."

2 hours ago, TombRaiderFTW said:

I'm glad to see this happening. I hope the work extends into the turn off of lift 2. That turn has always tracked really poorly with age and always seems to devolve into two big, uncomfortable jerks to the left, just before the track straightens out. I assume that's an issue with the support structure. Maybe we can even lose the trims on that drop...?

I think if we lost the trims on that drop, it might become THE SCARIEST ride ever created.  It has enough speed as it is, I can't imagine what it would be like without those trims.

Now if we lost the trims at the beginning in the long straightaway, that would be sick! The pacing on that ride would be amazing!

Glad to see more retracking on The Beast!

^That's more than retracking!

At least they also get to show off that pretty orange tree in the background! I'm excited to see how this part of the retracking turns out after a year of not being able to ride some of my favorites.

On 10/27/2025 at 2:16 PM, PKIDelirium said:

I've always liked the visual of that structure from the ground.

Welp.

Current status of the demo. 

It's a shame we don’t get to see great pictures and updates of this work from the park. These really are unique shots of the roller coaster that I'm not sure we'd see again for a long time. I wish they'd publicize the extent of their work because there are so many people who rode it last year who had no idea the first half was significantly different than it had ever been before.

Thanks for the pictures @IndyGuy4KI! Those are cool shots without the leaves in the trees! I'm curious how much track will actually be retracted this offseason. That double helix definitely needs a reatrack though, so I'm glad they are doing that. Last year's retrack was amazing and if they keep it up in rough spots this ride will be much better. So happy that KI is doing something to make this ride even better than it currently is!

I don't expect to see more than 1 post about it per month, but this would be a really cool thing to document in preparation for it's 50th anniversary in 2029. On the KIC post with those photos there was even someone calling for The Beast to be removed because it's rough (which tells me they haven't ridden it with any of the recent retracking efforts).

1 minute ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

Thanks for the pictures @IndyGuy4KI! Those are cool shots without the leaves in the trees! I'm curious how much track will actually be retracted this offseason. That double helix definitely needs a reatrack though, so I'm glad they are doing that. Last year's retrack was amazing and if they keep it up in rough spots this ride will be much better. So happy that KI is doing something to make this ride even better than it currently is!

I don't know why I thought they just rebuilt the entire double helix not too long ago. If they change anything about it I'm wondering if they'd build the tunnels to be a little wider so it doesn't feel like you're gonna hit the wall — even though that is one of the best things about the second half of the ride.

1 hour ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

I don't know why I thought they just rebuilt the entire double helix not too long ago. If they change anything about it I'm wondering if they'd build the tunnels to be a little wider so it doesn't feel like you're gonna hit the wall — even though that is one of the best things about the second half of the ride.

I hope they don't rework the tunnels. That drop off of the second lift hill is the best part because of that scare factor....I still don't put my hands up because I'm afraid I might lose them! 

Also, random question: Do you think that they will reprofile the drop off the second lift and maybe make it not banked like it was before or do something else to it? I hope they don't, but wasn't sure if that was a possibility.

With the structural and track modifications, what is the possibility that the park brings Baynum out to paint/ stain the wood again for the 50th anniversary? I would love to see it get the same cosmetic love The Racer got in 2022.

Image from WCPO-9 (1980)

7 hours ago, BlondyRidesOn said:

With the structural and track modifications, what is the possibility that the park brings Baynum out to paint/ stain the wood again for the 50th anniversary? I would love to see it get the same cosmetic love The Racer got in 2022.

Image from WCPO-9 (1980)

That costs money they don’t have right now. 

 

On 12/6/2025 at 6:12 PM, TheCrypt said:

It's a shame we don’t get to see great pictures and updates of this work from the park. These really are unique shots of the roller coaster that I'm not sure we'd see again for a long time. I wish they'd publicize the extent of their work because there are so many people who rode it last year who had no idea the first half was significantly different than it had ever been before.

They’re more interested in trying to be TikTok famous than sharing what’s happening in the park with their audience. 

I sure hope they don't change too much about this second half (aside from the roughness). The banking and the closeness of the tunnels are indeed one of the best parts.

In terms of adding anything I'm not entirely sold on the idea of Beast eyes in the woods/in a tunnel, but I'd love to see anything they can do to improve the entrance area. Fixing the exit/handicap access/Fast Lane areas would definitely be a good start.

Of the many things I love about The Beast which is my favorite coaster ever is the angled drop going into that impossibly small tunnel into the helix. The helix itself at night is a zen experience for me every time I have ridden it since its opening year. The crazy helix, feeling like almost going off the rails in pitch black...nothing else like it!

Over the years, quite a few changes have happened with the ride and I am super happy they keep updating The Beast with new track...the little pop of air off the first tunnel going into the valley is amazing! But I hope they keep the wild and out of control feeling going into the helix and the helix itself. No other coaster has such an intense ending and that's why I love it so much...even if it does beat me up a bit.