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3. The park will unveil a (massive) new ride

Kentucky Kingdom's Storm Chaser
Image: Kentucky Kingdom

You may have heard the term “big three” tossed around theme park conversations. As we talked about in our How an Idea Becomes a Ride series, an immense amount of thought and planning goes into each new roller coaster at a park, taking into consideration space, budget, theming, and gaps. While Kentucky Kingdom’s two largest rides, Storm Chaser and Lighting Run, are smooth, crowd-pleasing airtime machines, Kentucky Kingdom is still missing the ride. The ride to perk up ears, to stir internet discourse, to get tickets booked. 

Dollywood, for example, boasts a series of killer attractions, but none quite like Lightning Rod, an intense and iconic launched wooden coaster—you read that right. Launched wooden coaster. This coaster, like Storm Chaser at the Kingdom, is manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, and many well-seasoned enthusiasts consider it the manufacturer’s best, though that’s often a toss-up with Steel Vengeance. 

Dollywood's Lightning Rod
Image: Dollywood

Storm Chaser and Lightning Run are both great rides, but they’re accomplishing something quite similar. What I mean is: both rides are on the smaller side, with the same exact height of 100 feet, and focus on packing in airtime. Though Storm Chaser features two mind-boggling inversions, the ride’s main goal is undoubtedly providing negative Gs for riders, AKA airtime. With their new family coaster, Kentucky Flyer, opening this past season, another airtime-focused ride for younger and older thrill-seekers alike, it’s safe to say you won’t see another airtime-focused ride come to this park to finish off the big three. The park is practically begging for a ride focused on inversions or a launch coaster…or both!

With Herschend’s acquisition of Kentucky Kingdom, don’t be surprised if you see a newer Bolliger Mabillard model or an intense launch coaster (perhaps from Intamin or S&S) hit this park.

4. Ticket prices will quietly rise

Kentucky Kingdom's smiling staff
Image: Kentucky Kingdom

Any worthy improvement must be paid for, and while Herschend will likely drop a good bit of money into this park, those extra costs will most likely fall into the hands of the park’s guests. As of the time of writing this article, a single-day general admission ticket to Kentucky Kingdom is $49.95. Not bad, right? Let’s look at Herschend’s other large parks, shall we? A single-day general admission ticket to Silver Dollar City or Dollywood will cost you $74 or $79, respectively. I’m no math guru, but that’s a price increase of around fifty percent. While an extra thirty bucks may not feel like a lot considering the massive improvements that are sure to come, imagine a family of five’s new total at their hometown park. 

Of course, these predictions are just that: predictions. Speculations from an avid theme park observer. Herschend only acquired the park a few weeks ago. As the transition continues and the 2021 season commences, we are sure that, whether our predictions are right or wrong, Kentucky Kingdom will never be the same.

 
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