Even after all that, the ride still rode pretty rough. I remember lots of work being done on Thunder Road a few years before it closed. I didn’t get the meal plan this year (good thing) so I drove across the freeway to the Skyline Chili that, being outside the park, didn’t cost 4 bucks more. I took it easy and rode what I wanted, toured the park and got out of there. But it’s all two or three years down the road.Īnyway, that was my day. I guess that would be ok, but Vortex sits in Coney, not Rivertown. I also heard another suggestion that the land might be used for a Forbidden Frontier type of attraction. Also the old Action Theater is still way back there looking quite derelict so there’s plenty of space behind the scenes and down the hill where a new coaster might go. So razing the coaster station would open up the area to be wider. That end of the midway has gotten a little cramped though with Windseeker jammed in there and the new antique cars that have encroached upon that half of the midway. I looked pretty hard at it yesterday and it’s not really all that big. Someone said it might find a re-purpose as a museum. I’m in agreement that the Bat/Vortex station, in all it’s quaintness, should remain. The terrain is perfect and a multi-launch looper would be a wonderful addition and would be a great billboard for that corner. Carowinds has such great success with Copperhead Strike that I wouldn’t be surprised if KI looked at something like that. Speaking of, the predictions are already running amok, aren’t they? I think likely candidates are a dive coaster (what a spot that would be for one) or something from Mack. And everyone feels confident that something new and nice will take its place. Sad to see it go, but agreeing that it’s way past time. I spoke with several park employees throughout the morning and they all echoed the same sentiment. He said he might get a ride on it once a week, but less if he can help it, because it’s gotten so bad. Then he mouthed *not really* and we both laughed. He said he’s worked on the ride for years, and yes it was sad. On my way to the exit I stopped a ride op to mention it was my last ride and to make a pouty face. Heading up the lift I waxed nostalgic but after that, even on the first drop, I felt like I’d been let loose down a rocky road in a shopping cart.

Well, I could only manage one ride because it was THAT AWFUL! Seriously, really uncomfortable and painful. There was practically no one in the queue so I thought I’d take “my” seat in row 13 then maybe I’d see about a front seat ride after that. And that was the case yesterday, most rides were walk-on with empty seats or a one train wait.Īfter a spin on Mystic Timbers I walked back toward Vortex. I don’t care for haunts, so Sunday (especially morning) is ideal- crowds are usually low.

Namely, take what was likely to be my last ride on Vortex. My summer got screwed up so it was my first visit of the season, maybe my last, so there were some things I wanted to do.

Kings island racer trains