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Kentucky Kingdom: General Discussion

https://eu.courier-journal.com/stor...ens-drop-new-roller-coaster-plans/1657753002/

Due to a land dispute Kentucky Flyer may have to be cancelled.

Kentucky Kingdom is threatening to nix plans for a new roller coaster if it can’t cut through “bureaucratic red tape” soon.

The theme park teased its sixth roller coaster in a video released late last month.

The 1,280-foot, airplane-themed Kentucky Flyer was slated to open next year, pending approval from the state Fair Board from which Kentucky Kingdom leases its land.

Cody Patterson, a spokesman for the board, told the Courier Journal earlier this month that the board had approved the coaster conditional on state approval.

With its first $786,000 payment on the coaster due Monday and still no final approval, Kentucky Kingdom President and CEO Ed Hart released a statement Tuesday accusing the Fair Board of not being concerned about the success of its premier tenant. Kentucky Kingdom says it pays more than $1 million in rent each year.

Further delay could force Kentucky Kingdom to cancel the coaster, which it planned as the centerpiece of its 30th anniversary celebration next year, Hart said in the statement.

He also accused the Fair Board of preventing the theme park from taking soil samples, an essential first step in installing any roller coaster and work that doesn't disturb the property, he said.

Kentucky Kingdom and the state Fair Board have been embroiled in a lawsuit over parking since this summer, with the theme park accusing the Fair Board of violating its lease by closing off parking lots during events and charging visitors a $10 entry fee to park during the state fair.

“These actions are a clear violation of our lease and certainly aren’t the way to treat a major tenant who pays over $1 million each year in rent — and is entitled to receive adequate access to parking in return for that rent,” Kentucky Kingdom said in its news release.

6e2e5f6d-2f6f-4c93-ba6b-f76cfa44f238-Kentucky-Kingdom-Expansion-Area.jpg

A look at where Kentucky Kingdom plans to build its new roller coaster.

Ed Glasscock, a partner in the theme park and former chairman of law firm Frost Brown Todd, accused the Fair Board of obstruction and of acting in bad faith.

“The Fair Board cannot reasonably defend its violations of the lease with Kentucky Kingdom,” he said in the statement. “Instead, its objective is to pressure the park to drop its lawsuit in Franklin Circuit Court in return for (the) Fair Board’s approval of the park’s expansion.”

Fellow partner Bruce Lunsford, an entrepreneur, CPA, lawyer and founder of the nursing home company Vencor, put it more bluntly. The Fair Board is reneging on its obligations and jeopardizing the park’s continued success, he said.

“The Commonwealth has so much to gain in additional fiscal revenue from direct, indirect, and induced expenditures by visitors who are here because Kentucky Kingdom is here,” he said in a statement. “Unfortunately, this is a textbook example of bureaucratic red tape thwarting business that is good for Kentucky.”

The Fair Board meets again next Thursday, Oct. 25.
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Hopefully this is more of a threat/political talk to push the Fair Board in to making a favourable decision. It would be a real pity if they had to cancel the coaster.

:)
 
It seems that the order given to Kentucky Kingdom by the State Fair Board to stop construction was served shortly after the first court hearing regarding Kentucky Kingdom's lawsuit again the State Fair Board for violations of their lease in regards to parking provisions. The State Fair Board wanted to make Kentucky Kingdom withdraw a lawsuit becuase they knew Kentucky Kingdom would win.

Anyway, it looks like Ed Hart's press conference has done the job as the State Fair Board have now given the go ahead for construction on the Kentucky Flyer to continue. Hart has said:

“I want to thank Governor Bevin and Secretary Landrum of the Finance and Administration Cabinet for making arrangements to cut through the paperwork necessary for Kentucky Kingdom and the Fair Board to come to terms. Of course, Kentucky Kingdom will provide, if it hasn’t already, all the information the Fair Board has requested. With that assurance, we’ve been given the green light to proceed. I am happy to declare that the Kentucky Flyer is on track for a 2019 grand opening. Clearly, this is an example of Governor Bevin and his administration cutting through the type of “red tape” that can hinder economic development in the Commonwealth.”

You can also watch his quite brilliant press conference from the other day here:



:)
 
Here is the official animated POV of Kentucky Flyer:



Loving the blue surroundings!
 
So they're levelling the park to build a giant blue screen and put a kiddie wooden coaster on? Oh. Well that's a disappointment. Think I'll give it a miss.
 
Bump!

Back in February, KK filed some height waivers for a 108 ft tall structure known as "Raptor". The proposed site is by Storm Chaser and Thunder Run, and would likely see the relocation or removal of the Larson Looper.

KK_Mapped-768x406.png
 
Those heights in that arrangement marry perfectly with the single rail prototype, seemingly?
 
You could also fit the layout of Wonder Woman's Golden Lasso Coaster in that area. Rumour is that it'll be a clone or a slightly altered version.
 
With the combination of Kentucky Kingdom and Wild Water West building Raptors for 2021, it would seem that some of the smaller parks that RMC intended the ride type for are now getting their hands on Raptors!
 
The park seem to be adamant their adding another SLC (called T4) so they can have them duelling. Love their social media team.
 
When I visited last year it looked like they were clearing that area for construction. Could easily fit a decent sized coaster in that space.
 
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