blogs: Rick Redding 

Kentucky Kingdom, aka The Thrill Park, 22, was killed yesterday when greedy executives failed to come to an agreement that would have extended its run as a major tourist attraction in Louisville, Ky. The park, opened by local entrepreneurs in 1987, closed after one season. It was resurrected in 1989, when a group of investors led by Ed Hart re-opened it at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds. The park survived a series of accidents and negative publicity throughout its life, including a 2007 incident in which a 13-year-old girl's feet were severed on the Superman Tower of Power ride. The park gained fame in media circles when its original owners won a court case against WHAS-TV, which had falsely reported that a ride at the park was dangerous, back in 1994. Belo, the WHAS-TV parent, finally settled the case with a relentless Ed Hart in 2006, writing a $7.4 million check. Hart's group, which included Vencor founder and later political candidate Bruce Lunsford, sold the park in late 1997 to Premier Parks for an undisclosed price. It later opened as a member of the Six Flags family, and continued to add new rides and attractions through the next decade. In 1997, the opening of a new roller coaster, Chang, brought the park international acclaim. Here's the way a front-page story opened in Business First's July 4, 1997 edition: by Rick Redding Attendance is expected to soar past 1 million this year at a Louisville attraction featuring what some might consider the most exciting two minutes in sports. We're not talking about horse racing at Churchill Downs. The "sport" that's drawing this crowd is roller coaster riding. And the venue is Kentucky Kingdom, located on the grounds of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. Roller coaster enthusiasts from across the country, indeed, the world, are raving about their two-minute, 43-second adventure aboard Chang, the $12 million, Swedish-built coaster that is promoted as the tallest, longest stand-up ride in the world. Chang sends its riders hurtling through a series of five inversions, including a 121-foot vertical loop that is the tallest in the world, and another world-record, 103-foot drop, before the ride careens around to its starting station. In 2009, the park announced it was tearing down the roller coaster and installing it at another park, at the same time declaring it had plans to expand its water park. Funeral arrangements have not been announced by the family, but expressions of sympathy and outrage have been popping up on local media websites thoughout the region.

No more Mr. Six

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	Heart of Ophelia   fri feb 05 2010 at 7:37 am         ·  Good riddance. It has been a death trap for years due to them not keeping the rides up to par. Take the rides down and ship them to a park that will monitor the upkeep and safety of them!
	Steve Coomes   fri feb 05 2010 at 8:02 am         ·  Wow, now that's real-live community support. Did you consider the jobs and revenue lost by the closing of the park? I'm not saying K.K. was perfect by any means, but "death trap?" Really? I hate what happened to Ms. Lassiter, truly hate it. But accidents happen. That's a cruel reality of life on this rock. So does that make the rest of the park worthless? I say not. I think the Fair board, like Churchill Downs, may have an ego problem. To be fair, we don't know all the facts of this case yet, but it sure seems like a rash decision on the surface.
	FFEMT85   fri feb 05 2010 at 8:08 am         ·  For the most part, a couple rusts and dings here and there, not really much of a death trap. As this place was my first real job when I was 15 working food service and I worked there a couple years ago in the First Aid/Safety Department part time, it's really a load of crap their closing. Even though they may not have got the attendance theyve hoped for in the past few years, its still a big part of Louisville and I strongly believe it's going to be a major hit on our local economy and tourism. State fair, hah that'll be a huge disappointment to everyone. But all in all, it sucks. A little rusty in places, far from being a death trap. Kind of high priced at times for a shitty economy, but hey thats the name of the game
	imperfect   fri feb 05 2010 at 8:11 am         ·  Wow the fair is going to suck this year...
	Steve Ulrich   fri feb 05 2010 at 8:21 am         ·  I hope that the folks in power can work out an agreement to keep it open. The majority of the poeple that work at the park are our neighbors. Lots of much needed summer jobs and on top of that a good place for special entertainment during the summer. Kentucky Kingdom, please do not leave Louisville
	Ultimaratio1   fri feb 05 2010 at 8:40 am         ·  Do I hear 'bargaining position'? The KK folks are pulling out their big guns at the start of the negotiations. Give us everything we want (they'd REALLY, REALLY want the parking revenue on their side of the lot for the State Fair (and no more nonsense about not charging State Fair patrons full fare) or we pack up and go. Are you sure Lunsford doesn't have anything to do with the place any more? They hope for public outrage so that our cash-strapped local and state governments will cave in to their demands.
	ericbrown   fri feb 05 2010 at 8:42 am         ·  Winter seems to be a perfect time to use the media and public opinion to sway board room battles. Remember the big story last year this time? Yup: the Norton/Anthem cage match. I suspect that SFKK is pulling a similar trick. Notice what they did: a company in bankruptcy suddenly has public sympathy, a *huge* bargaining chip when your landlord is a public servant. Should be fun to watch. Don't worry: we'll get to keep SFKK in the end.
	busy busy mommy   fri feb 05 2010 at 8:56 am         ·  I agree with the other posters on here, the park will likely stay open at the expense of the taxpayers... I think this is all about swaying public opinion with the hopes either Mayor McCheese or the Governator will bail them out of their financial distress.... Too bad Holiday World can't buy it and show them how to do a theme park the right way?? Where are the Koch's at anyway, call them up and tell them to open Holiday World 2... Lol
	Beverly Bartlett   fri feb 05 2010 at 9:29 am         ·  I'm embarrassed to say I've never been to Holiday World, but it's got the most excellent word of mouth reputation. Other places should remember that having such positive experiences is more valuable than gimmicky marketing!
	SmilinSean   fri feb 05 2010 at 9:34 am         ·  I'd just like to see the water park stay. Perhaps a group of local investors can arrange for that to happen.
	busy busy mommy   fri feb 05 2010 at 9:57 am         ·  Beverly- I am not a big theme park kind of person but I absolutely LOVE Holiday World and highly recommend it. Older teens aren't as hip to it but for the 15 and under crowd it really can't be beat! We go every year and my kids say it is one of their fave places to go!! It is pricey but when you factor in the free drinks (water and lemonade as well) and free sunblock you really do save money...
	ann all #313381   fri feb 05 2010 at 12:41 pm         ·  I hate to see any local jobs lost, even temporary summer ones, in this economy, but holy crap SFKK was a poorly-run park. With both Holiday World and King's Island within an easy drive, can't believe it lasted as long as it did.
	skittles29   fri feb 05 2010 at 8:12 pm         ·  wow what a waste,I wish they would stay that was a good place for kids to go to yes they had there ups and downs but dont we all.... So why not support them staying if they did, Its your cumunity that will faulter cause of this... Now where will these people get a job.... um....
	Beverly Bartlett   fri feb 05 2010 at 9:58 pm         ·  Thanks for the info, busy, busy mom. We'll definitely go this spring/summer!
	Best Misty Ever!   sat feb 06 2010 at 2:23 pm         ·  We will no longer have SFKK... Six Flags filed Bankrupt a long time ago and SFKK was, sadly, a park that made 0 profit. And this is coming from friends of mine who work at the park and who are in the know. So no, don't worry, it won't be reopened at the expense of the tax payers *rolls eyes*
	Helen Keller   sun feb 07 2010 at 12:24 am         ·  Holiday World's position "in the middle of freaking NOWHERE" was likely more of an asset than you might think. All that land allowed them to grow the property to about 120 acres while SFKK only had 53 acres with which to work. Holiday World had no trouble expanding their park and adding new rides to meet changing customer demands whereas SFKK was pretty much stuck having to eliminate an attraction (Chang) to even try making a valuable addition (Banzai Bay). Not that their customer service didn't help, as pointed out. It's stricly opinion, but I think theirs was far superior to anything I ever received at SFKK.