CoasterRZ was so kind as to share with us his photos of the fountain being overhauled for Winterfest. You'll be able to see that they are laying pallets down to create a base for the skating rink.

Click here to go to CoasterRZ's web site!

Those are sweet photos of the fountain, or what used to be. Did they do the same thing during the previous winterfest's?

you have to, you cant expect them to freeze the entire fountain 2 feet deep. They have to lay the wood and pallets cause for one, since its elevated, the water will freeze really easily and will always be at least as cold as it is outside, kinda like how snow always sticks to bridges cause they get colder easier, and two underneith is where they put all the cold making stuff, lol. Plus this way they are only freezing a couple inches thick of water, if that.

Plus, the thinner the ice the easier it is to skate on. This is the reason hockey rinks have very thin ice.

Yup, that's exactly how it was done previously.

They'll put buildings up towards the front of the fountain to rent skates and to sell hot chocolate/etc.

Thats cool! I wonder what else PKI is up to doesnt construction start on Nick Universe soon?

Very good pics. Please keep us all updated!

They could also be installing the fake skating surface that plastic. That way you don’t have to rely on the weather and it can be used over and over. Anyone know for sure how there going to do this? I know the Columbus Zoo uses this system for the winter lights.

Columbus Zoo uses fake surface for their Wildlights rinks??

Wow, I had no idea.

Can't imagine that they would do the fake surface. After the first Winterfest, the ice freezing technique had been perfected and they can maintain a solid frozen surface with temperatures well into the 60 degree range.

I can't get to the pics, says page not found. Anyone know if the site is down?

I can't get to the pics, says page not found. Anyone know if the site is down?

I can get on it.

Works for me, although stupid Camino loads it very slowly.

They could also be installing the fake skating surface that plastic. That way you don’t have to rely on the weather and it can be used over and over. Anyone know for sure how there going to do this? I know the Columbus Zoo uses this system for the winter lights.

They had the same thing at the Forest Fair Mall several years ago. They called it "Glice Skating" which may or may not be the name of the technology. I'm a prettty experienced skater and I even found it difficult to skate on... of course, this was years ago..

I have heard that they're going to install cooling coils for the fountain, but I'm not certain. It would make a lot of sense because we have such odd winters around here.

Glad to see work is being done for Winter Fest. Anyone know if any HB rides are close for the year like in the south pie area or the Nick stage area? Also anyone know where the new coaster will go in at?

My website loads fine for me. However, it is on my school`s server (I get 2GB of storage space on their and unlimited bandwith), and their server has been known to go down for unknown reasons for hours or sometimes even days at a time. But hey, it is free!

As far as HB rides go, all the rides in Hanna Barbera Land will remain open until the end of the season.

I have been told and read that construction work will begin in the back of the park and they will work up.

Yes, but I believe it was also stated that no construction will begin prior to the end of the 2005 regular operating season.

BTW, thanks for the compliments on the pictures everyone! I also have several pages of old Kings Island pictures on my site (including a shot of the Dolphin show and the smurf`s).

CoasterRZ those pictures are sweet so I wonder if I'll get any glimsp of WinterFest while Iam at PKI Friday.? Prob Not.

Your Photos on your site are really cool you have a picture of Jabber Jaw's Tubs which is now called Boo-boo's bagage claim.

The trees are going up and the lights are being placed at the lake.

Those are some very good pics.

Your Photos on your site are really cool you have a picture of Jabber Jaw's Tubs which is now called Boo-boo's bagage claim.

If you look on a 2005 park map you can see a shark by that ride.

take a look