Kentucky Kingdom (SFKK, KK) Discussion Thread

[Jew"It's not small, but it is very 'average.'"]

^^It's not about the competition. It's about the fact that SFKK would require a significant amount of money to meet the staffing/maintenance/merchandising/food requirements compared to Holiday World. HUGE risk with little reward.

[Rollercoaster RiderI own the website www.donkey.com]

I'm not exactly sure where Dominator would have went at KK, I've actually heard a number of things like the parking lot that was out in front of Chang's first turn would be given over to the park from the Fair Board for use. I'm not sure it was going to be Dominator's exact layout, but it was going to be a floorless.

Well, from what I've just heard Dominator was indeed made for Kentucky Kingdom. Dominator was supposed to be built in the vampire old spot as well as the squids dry slides spot. Steel Venom could as well been originally planed for the park as well. Looking at Dominator Design/map below, their is space for a impulse coaster right behind Dominator. Steel Venom would occupy the spot Greezed Lighting occupy today. It seems things changed as soon as Six Flags purchased Geauga Lake. So as soon as that happen, Six Flags quickly purchased Road Runner Express, and In 2001, Six Flags added Sky Coaster to fill the blank space in the park.

Premier owned Geauga Lake/Kentucky Kingdom way before 2000. Geauga Lake in 95, KK in 97.

[STR8FXXXINEDGEJar-Jar Binks smells like Donkey]

I don't like this idea at all. The Koch Family and Holiday World have a great business and should continue to expand and improve locally. This is a VERY different beast.

My thoughts exactly! This all makes me a bit nervous. While it would be awesome to see KK saved and reopened, I really don't want KK taking any focus, time, or money away from Holiday World. The park is too good for that, and I think they have SO many great opportunities to expand and improve!

[cal1br3ttoWhy do I still have a donkey title???]

^I do have to wonder about the potential impact on Holiday World, despite their dedication to caring for the park.

[STR8FXXXINEDGEJar-Jar Binks smells like Donkey]

^ Yeah, it's scary to think about!

[SwimaceWhat is this, Joisey?]

This could be a smart move for Holiday World. It seems like there's political pressure for Kentucky Kingdom to reopen, and it seems like the search to find a viable management team has been a struggle. I think one way or another this park is going to reopen eventually- and it's market does overlap with Holiday World. If Holiday World had control over the park, they'd also have control over that entire market.

[ginzoWhy do I still have a donkey title???]

It seems unlikely that the lackeys at the fair board would ever give up enough control/stake for this arrangement to make sense. It never hurts to consider your options, but it's also not good to make a bad deal just to be able to expand.

[lilsam1993Donkeys give me orgiastic scream!]

Premier owned Geauga Lake/Kentucky Kingdom way before 2000. Geauga Lake in 95, KK in 97.

I should say the time Six Flags Rebranded Geauga Lake.

[jedimaster1227Open Up Happiness]

Holiday World has sent us a press release regarding the formation of a new company run by members of the Koch Family (of Holiday World fame) who are working to reopen Kentucky Kingdom.

Members of the Koch family in Santa Claus, Indiana, continue to explore re-opening Louisville’s amusement and water park in 2013. Four family members have formed a new company – Bluegrass Boardwalk, Incorporated – to negotiate a lease agreement with the Kentucky State Fair Board, secure financing, and apply for economic development incentives from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. No public monies will be requested from the Kentucky Legislature by Bluegrass Boardwalk, Incorporated.

The members of the Koch family involved in discussions with the Kentucky State Fair Board as Bluegrass Boardwalk, Incorporated are Holiday World president Dan Koch, his sister Natalie Koch, their cousin Kathy Kamp, and her husband, Michael Kamp, who is a General Manager at Holiday World. Dan, Natalie and Kathy are grandchildren of Holiday World’s founder, Louis J. Koch, who opened the park (originally called Santa Claus Land) in 1946.

As updates about Bluegrass Boardwalk are made public, information will be posted online at http://BluegrassBoardwalk.com, on Facebook: http://Facebook.com/BluegrassBoardwalk and via Twitter: @BluegrassBwalk.

[Midgetman82Is my pee supposed to be this color?]

Just learned about this through a re-tweet Holiday World just did. Oh my, they're actually getting involved in this? I have no idea where this is gonna go now, and I did not see this coming at all! I wish them much luck in this, and many thanks for helping re-open the park!