X-Flight to be Reborn as Firehawk at Kings Island
I wanted to save my 100th post for my first theme park review, but some big news was confirmed this morning. Cedar Fair has wasted no time in making changes at its newly acquired parks. At Kings Island, they’ve removed Son of Beast’s sole loop and now they’re giving the former Cedar Point competitor a Vekoma flying coaster. Kings Island has gotten X-Flight from Geauga Lake (another Cedar Fair Park). X-Flight will be reborn as Firehawk. It will be painted gray and red and it will be positioned just behind Flight of Fear in the Coney Mall section of the park.
X-Flight’s green track had been spotted at Kings Island weeks ago. No one was sure if the park could have the coaster up and running in 2007 or not. Most off-season construction projects start earlier in the winter. Firehawk is set to debut Memorial Day Weekend, just in time for the heavy traffic season for most parks. It will be Kings Island’s 14th roller coaster.
I visited Geauga Lake in 2005 when X-Flight was there. My wife and I skipped it because we’d already ridden Batwing at Six Flags America; which is very similar. Aside from that, X-Flight didn’t have an interesting location or exceptional theming. We’ll see what Cedar Fair and Kings Island do with the relocated coaster. So far, I’m liking Cedar Fair’s management style. Sounds like an idea for another post.
See Kings Island’s site for a virtual coaster video of Firehawk. The video’s pretty exaggerated as you fly over the Ohio countryside. And it features 80’s metal?
****Update****
Fly over pictures of Kings Island have surfaced. You can see where the park has been clearing land for Firehawk. Thanks to PKICentral & Alton from the bell_Curve for the link.
Also, links to newer constructions photos can be found in this post:
Firehawk Construction Photos
What do you think of Firehawk? Leave a comment below.