2017 Ride Warriors Christmas Gathering

Today was the Ride Warriors Christmas Gathering at the park. Had a nice turnout and the weather was perfect for a walk around the park.

Not a lot to share that is new. All the big announcements will be made at Winter Chill Out. Some items of interest:

• Winter Chill Out tickets will go on sale after the first of the year.
• Tony has been sick and spent a wonderful week at Dollywood mostly stuck in his cabin. Bummer!!!
• Coaster Camp Out, Brew & BBQ, CoasterMania!, Sunrise Thrills all will return for 2018. Tickets will go on sale after the first of the year (see the trend here?)
• There are discussions going on around the use of the Chaussee. Nothing has been decided. They are looking hard at how to better move traffic in and out of the park.
• Parking will continue to be restricted in the CP Shores parking lot for water park use.
• Millennium Walk-back will not return for 2018.
• Winterfest was brought up. No immediate plans to add Winterfest to CP. Tony referenced many of the things we have already discussed. Lack of indoor show/eating venues compared to Kings Island was emphasized along with location and staffing. The door is open though in the future.
• Ride Warriors Club will not return for 2018. Just didnt have the numbers to continue.

Im sure there is something else but those were the main things. Here are some pics:

https://www.amazon.com/photos/share/V16miq3e1X2MLSXcpbCxNIHiXD8oFPEmFvzxaXftQaQ

Is that the makings of an entrance sign for Steel Vengeance I see?! Also, I’m guessing that was the new Breakers tower you got several pictures of? Thanks for those!

Wish I could up vote you more than once, great pics and thank you for sharing!

Many of the pics wouldn't show up for me but it's probably an issue on my end. Either way thank you!

Someone asked about AWE. Shows are not set for next year. Referred back to the Winterfest concern, lack of venues for live entertainment. Also mentioned very little on the peninsula is heated.

Due to location, out on a peninsula in northern Ohio, lots of winterization happens as soon as the park closes in October. Winterfest would require re-thinking a large amount of everything they do for the off-season, not just ride maintenance schedules. Just like at Winter Chill Out, there are only a couple of bathrooms functioning by early December.

Management heard loud and clear the concerns about the location of bathrooms in CP Shores, and lack of bathrooms near CP Shores parking.

They currently have nothing planned for a bathhouse or any kind of food stands on the new boardwalk area, but are thinking about it.

Most importantly, Steel Vengeance should be ready well before opening day. Expect opportunities to ride before the park opens, esp for platinum pass holders.

Wow, that pile of rubble...It's heartbreaking. Actually seeing it torn down makes it real, that there is a possibility the show won't be returning...I really hope that's not the case.

DS, nice pictures. I never realized that they stored the coaster train cars at various locations such as under picnic shelters. Two pictures that caught my attention: the Cadillac Cars all parked together in a real parking lot look like something from a century ago. I wonder if they actually drive them there or are they towed. Driving them would be fun but I am not certain they steer. The other picture I find interesting is of the yellow coaster car that looks abandoned and overgrown with weeds, I think it is a Wildcat car.

Great pics, thank you for sharing!

A few things caught my eye:

1. Removal of the stadium opened up that area even more than I expected

2. I've been through the park in the off-season many times but never noticed wave swinger in such a state of disassembly. I always thought they left the panels around the top on year-round

3. Oh, and the cadillac cars do steer. They even use them in the HW parades.

Sounds like they're hinting that AWE and other shows will find a home in a new, indoor venue.

jimmyburke said:

DS, nice pictures. I never realized that they stored the coaster train cars at various locations such as under picnic shelters. Two pictures that caught my attention: the Cadillac Cars all parked together in a real parking lot look like something from a century ago. I wonder if they actually drive them there or are they towed. Driving them would be fun but I am not certain they steer.

At GL we would drive the antique and go-karts through the park to get them to and from winter storage. It was a fun little perk of working pre-season and post-season.

^Well then why when I am driving one do I always hit that steel guide in the middle of the track ? Just kidding, sometimes I try to let it just go without steering it at all, it kind of does a slalom effect.

How small was the membership in the Ride Warriors Club ?

That's a good question. Don't know and it wasn't shared. It wasn't an overly large group and turnout for some of the events was fairly small. I was disappointed they are not bringing it back but I'm not at all surprised at the decision. I was a member both years and I honestly didn't think it would come back for a second year so I know Tony and company made an effort to make it work. The access to park and ERT was well worth it for us. Hopefully it is resurrected in some form in the future.

I don't remember the details, but I recall it was relatively expensive right? Like more than the cost of a platinum pass IIRC?

... and the bigger issue for me is I really, REALLY hate the name. It's just...dorky. Not saying those who joined are dorks, I just had the "Ride Warrior" moniker.

Yeah, I never really cared for the name. The cost the first year was $120 and they dropped it down to I think $100 the 2nd year. Pricey yes, but got a lot of behind the scenes stuff around the park, nice ERT with food/coffee, meet/greet with the management, and the holiday party. For us, we enjoyed it and thought it was a good value. Tony and crew really gave it a try to make it work.

It is so easy to forget all the work they are doing because we are so used to multiple construction projects each offseason now. Seven years ago we would have jumped at a new roller coaster, hotel expansion or boardwalk expansion. Now we don't bat an eye because it's been the standard the last 4-5 years. I think the demolition of the stadium/adding boardwalk will provide more opportunities than people think. That area will be beautiful.

In front of the stadium was a small stage where HS and amateur groups could perform. Bands, show choirs, stuff like that. At Halloween the gypsies were there, I think.
It sure wouldn’t be considered very thrilling (especially around here), but in place of the stadium a bandshell of some kind would be nice. Proper seating, trees, lighting, a plaza atmosphere. It could be multi-purpose, hosting various kinds of groups during the day, then have music concerts or book entertainment in the evening. It could be done in such a way that there would still be a nice new boardwalk and the lake with a beach in the background.

Anyway, where they gonna hide that yellow evac contraption for Windseeker now?

Wasn’t that small stage used for Blood Drums? I think the gypsies were in red tents back by Camp Snoopy on the Gemini midway.

You’re absolutely right. The gypsies were there at one time, probably years ago, but Blood Drums has that spot now.

But that’s my point. It’s the perfect spot for an expanded, casual entertainment venue.

That small stage was used for a kids live-e show. Was blood drums even in the park last Halloweekends? When they were in 2016 it was farther down the Midway near Troika.