Review: Winter SOAR at Kings Island

The 2006 annual Winter SOAR (Southern Ohio Area Rollercoaster) event, hosted by the Southern Ohio Region of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, was held this past Saturday, at the park currently known as Paramount's Kings Island. About 100 people were in attendance that night, making it the most attended regional winter event in Southern Ohio

Led by Maureen Kaiser, the park's Manager of Marketing, the event began with a construction tour of Nickelodeon Universe, which is a renovation of the parks award-winning children's areas, Hanna-Barbera Land and Nickelodeon Central. Except for Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle (separate licensing), all Hanna-Barbera characters and theming have been removed - as well as Richard Scarry's 'Busytown' and 'The Beastie' (name change). Four rides have been
rade, Vortex cars (which some people sat in for photo ops), and boats from the park's three water rides: Congo Falls, White Water Canyon, and Wild Thornberrys' River Adventure. Also, we noted that the shelters were named after Hanna-Barbera characters. We can assume that the shelters will either be re-named to Nickelodeon characters or some of the park's roller coasters/thrill rides (as was done with the parking lot around 2000).

The bulk of the evening's activities took place in the beautiful International Restaurant atop the front gate. While this facility has not operated as a fully-functioning restaurant for about a decade, it still hosts catered events throughout the season for groups, as well as special events. We started off with the bland but tasty LaRosa's pizza, chips, and drinks for dinner (I had to run off to the nearest Kroger store for more 2-liters!). I had more than my share of pizza, pop, and brownies, so that was good news!

There was also a good assortment of speakers. We began with Keith Chlapaty of Wyandot Lake, an amusement/water park located near Columbus, OH. Most prominently is the 50th anniversary of its wooden roller coaster, Sea Dragon. In addition to a large water park and assortment of family rides, are the park's live entertainment. Chlapaty mentioned that the park's owner, Six Flags, Inc. has new management. Its new CEO, Mark Shapiro, has emphasized the need for a quality family experience, and Chlapaty believes that his park fits into the chain's strategy very well. And, NO, he will not have a riding contest called "Go 'til you Blow!"

One familiar guest was the energetic John Robinson of William H. Robinson, Inc. (John is the son of William), which markets and advertises three regional amusement parks. One is Knight's Action Park, located in Springfield, IL, which features a water park and a classic drive-in theater.
Robinson also markets the historic Lake Winnepesaukah, located in Georgia, south of Chattanooga, TN, and not too far from Atlanta. "Lake Winnie" features two roller coasters, including the wooden Cannon Ball, and a shoot-the-chutes that dates back to the 1920s. John said that Lake Winnie today is reminiscent of LeSourdsville Lake park in Ohio - back in the 1970s. Looks like I'll have to stop there on the way down to Atlanta and Six Flags over Georgia!
Most prominently, the Robinsons promote Indiana Beach, a great amusement resort located on Lake Shafer, over an hour northwest of Indianapolis. Having been owned by the Spackman family since its opening in 1926, the park has added some of its most prominent attractions in recent years, including three wooden roller coasters, and has been very successful with good promotions, such as the slogan "There's More Than Corn in Indiana!" and the I.B. Crow. And, yes, John humiliated those that have never been to Indiana Beach, but gave out several great prizes, including some 80th Anniversary media kits (large boxes).

My good friend Brian Kosmac, who is a rides area manager in the Rivertown area, gave everyone a speech (no visual aid needed) on being a park employee for a day.
One of his outstanding stories took place in the queue for Top Gun, where he found two baby raccoons in a trash can. After contactiing the park's animal control official with no response, one of his supervisors (he was an Action Zone manager at the time) came down, and pointed out that there two raccoons in the trash cans. Brian replied, "Well, no KIDDING!"Not long, they had to remove the trash can themselves carefully...
Also, there was one situation where a storm was impending upon Kings Island, and most of the rides have shut down, except for one that should be - Eiffel Tower. Kosmac notices that there are still people on the top deck, and runs over, where he learns that the elevator's doors are malfunctioning. Soon, however, he, and other managers manage to use the other properly functioing elevator to the lower deck, and connect the guests and employees to this vital escape down to the ground. It was a LONG elevator ride, but above all, a safe one.
Finally, a girl with cancer lost her plush toy while riding Viking Fury. After learning about the story and situation, Kosmac told her family he'd do whatever possible. He locked out the ride, went underneath, and retrieved the toy, although very soggy and wet. When he located the family in the Festhaus nearby, it really made their day, and Brian Kosmac really made a difference in a bad situation, especially for an ailing child.

Russ Johnson, the representative from of ACE's Southern Region, gave out several door prizes from Holiday World, Cedar Point, and Kings Island. I was one of the lucky numbers, and got the chance to pick out a Holiday World Voyage media kit, featuring printed press releases, art, as well as a CD-ROM of digital media. That is one park I am sure to enjoy this year, with the opening of the new massive Voyage wooden roller coaster!

To top it all off, came Maureen Kaiser herself with a presentation (and answer to) ten rumors and legends:

1) The Beast is being torn apart, and will be sent to Carowinds.
False. The Beast will be open and ready for Opening Day, Friday April 14.

2) There will be blue ice cream.
True. "Huckleberry Dairy" will reopen as "Blue Ice Cream Day!"

3) The Vortex is sinking.
False. See "Magnum is sinking"

4) Jeffrey Siebert was the Chief Executive Officer of Paramount's Kings Island. Now that he left, all future progress for the park will stop.
False! Jeff was the Director of Marketing Communications. Business will continue as usual, including Beast Walkback and events, such as the Coaster Con in 2007. Jeff Siebert has moved on to Schlitterbahn Waterparks in Galveston, TX as the corporate director of communication for the company, which owns one of the top-rated water parks year after year.

5) The park is up for sale. If so, do you have to buy all five?
It is true that CBS Corporation is selling the five Paramount Parks. Not sure if they can be sold separately or all together. However, the park will open as Paramount's Kings Island on 4/14/06.

6) Flight of Fear will not be running!
True, andd False. The Flight of Fear at Kings Dominion will not be open for the 2006 season. However, Kings Island's version will be open on Day One!

7) Phantom Flyers at Kings Island and Carowinds are the same.
Sadly, False. The Phantom Flyers at Carowinds were the Flying Eagles at Kings Island, however, a lay-down ride will take the name at PKI.

8) Skipped for some odd reason?

9) Nickelodeon Universe will look like a carnival, and not open on time.
False. While Zamperla makes the new rides in a transportable form, the ones going in will be permanent installations. Construction is on schedule, and will open with the park in April.

10) A Campground will be open for the 2006 season.
FALSE! The old campground was closed down, and is being redeveloped to make way for the Great Wolf Lodge, which features an indoor waterpark for guests of the hotel's many rooms. GWL is scheduled to be completed in time for WinterFest. There is a campground about 10 miles away from PKI.

Maureen also answered questions about other rides, attratctions, park schedule, hours and more.
- The park will open at 10 am every morning, including International Street. However, on days where large crowds are expected, the gates will open up prior to 10 am, and allow guests onto International Street. The ACE Walkback for The Beast will continue - may meet at the Season Pass Entrance.
- Son of Beast is undergoing winter maintenance, and may not open with the park on 4/14.
- Delirium will open on 4/14.
- A Hanna-Barbera simulator film will open in the Action Theatre (next to SpongeBob SquarePants).
- The Park will be open Easter Weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, AND MONDAY! 10 am to 8 pm each day.

- Will there still be Gold Pass early ride time privileges?
- Will the Bring-a-Friend-Free day format be changed, so that there is a more flexible choice that won't cause overcrowding?
- The above questions will be answered in the next few weeks, according to Maureen.

At around 9 pm, remaining attendees got together to talk about the 2007 Coaster Con, planning possible events, with Maureen Kaiser joining in at times. Before it was all said and done, Winter SOAR was a great success, all thanks to the 100+ attendees, as well as Maureen Kaiser from PKI, Russ Johnson and Brian Neal from ACE, Keith from Wyandot Lake, John Robinson, and Brian Kosmac (and his fiancée).

(And I promise to NEVER again sing "The Morning After" with Maureen's portable microphone. SQUEEEEAAALLLLKK!!!!!)