Six Flags announced today that they will close their Louisville, Kentucky park known as Kentucky Kingdom due to a disagreement over the lease for the land that the park is located on. Here’s part of the official statement:
Six Flags announced today that as it nears the scheduled end of its restructuring process, it has decided to reject its lease with the Kentucky State Fair Board relating to the Kentucky Kingdom park. In recent weeks, Six Flags had proposed a new lease arrangement to the fair board that would have enhanced the viability and future of the park. Unfortunately, those proposals were not accepted and the park will cease operations and the company will move expeditiously to re-locate employees and several of the more than 40 rides and attractions to one of its 13 other markets. -Six Flags
Some could say that the writing was on the wall when the park moved
Chang to Six Flags Great America, but I don’t think anyone thought that the park wouldn’t open for the 2010 season. There’s a nice FAQ at the bottom of the announcement page. 2010 season passes that were pre-purchased will be refunded, they’re going to try to relocate employees that want to work with another park in the chain, and they’re planning on moving some of the rides and attractions. I’ll be sure to update everyone as news of the relocated and demolished roller coasters comes out.
What’s Your Take?
What do you think of Six Flags closing the Kentucky Kingdom park? Do you want some of the park’s rides at your home park? Leave a comment below.
February 5, 2010 at 02:09
Not the greatest park, but I'm glad I got to go there last summer. I enjoyed Chang, but was pleasantly surprised to find Greezed Lightning. It's a clone of the old Laser Loop that operated at Kennywood when I worked there in the late 70's/early 80's. I heard the sound of Greezed Lightning long before I actually saw it … same sound as Laser Loop. Made my ears perk up. Talk about deja vu! Laser Loop was the first time I ever went upside down on a coaster.
Opinion time for you folks who have been to Kentucky Kingdom … which rides do you think are worth saving and which parks should get them? What about the water park slides? Will they relocate those, too?
February 5, 2010 at 02:50
I`m hoping greezed lightning will move to another park, but i`m realy hoping some of KK`s rides will go to the Great Escape, my home park.
February 5, 2010 at 02:17
Well, that was fast. Good-bye, SFKK!
February 5, 2010 at 16:17
Even though I haven't been to kentucky kingdom, It is always sad to see a park go
. I hope the rides move somewhere nice.
R.I.P. Kentucky Kingdom!
February 5, 2010 at 16:22
As long as Chang goes back into operation (along with Twisted Twins-I never gone to Kentucky before). Well as long as the two coasters I mentionded don't go eternally defunct, I'm happy.
February 6, 2010 at 03:42
Twisted Twins was a dueling woodie with an interesting layout. It was terribly maintained, but it could have had potential. I hope it resurfaces too, but I doubt it. I may need to write a "who stays who goes" post so everyone can see what was there.
February 5, 2010 at 16:57
I knew this was coming. once they removed Chang it was all downhill. Just like Geagua Lake
February 6, 2010 at 08:08
but Guageu lake tuned to a water park. it may not of been what enthusiasts had wanted, buit it never closed.
February 6, 2010 at 12:31
I just checked out the Six Flags website. Kentucky Kingdom is not even listed anymore. Disappeared just like the New Orleans park after Katrina. (sigh)
February 6, 2010 at 19:26
It's still listed on the site, but it just redirects to the statement about the closing.
February 7, 2010 at 15:01
goodbye sfkk, i hope all the rides aren`t scrapped.
February 11, 2010 at 05:24
SFKK hasn't been the same since the accident a couple years ago. There was a different feel every time we walked into the park.With that said, I still enjoyed stopping there between visits to Holiday World and Kings Island on our way home. I pleased that other Six Flags parks will honor SFKK season passes this season (especially since our passes arrived the day before the announcement was made).
February 15, 2010 at 18:18
I agree it wasn't the greatest park but I live in Nashville so it was the closest one we had. I say that but we still drove to Georgia because the rides were better.
I wish Nashville still had something.
March 13, 2010 at 23:50
I live right down the road from Six Flags Great America. I am so happy that we are getting CHANG! However I would seriously really love to see us get Kentucky Kingdoms Ferris Wheel no question! We need one bad!
See you on the Tracks,
(ACE'er)
Bradley
May 28, 2010 at 02:36
BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!
KENTUCKY KINGDOM TO REOPEN IN 2011 UNDER NEW OWNER!!!!!!!!
July 9, 2010 at 21:39
Breaking news!
Kentucky kingdom can't be touched by a new owner until after six flags settles the 16 million dollar lawsuit the kentucky state fair board has issued due to six flag's refusal to pay their rent and for the illegal removal of a major attraction they didn't own (chang). The only rides they were allowed to remove were rides built after 1998 and chang opened in 1997.
July 27, 2010 at 05:11
Really hoping they might send Greezed Lightning back to SFOG. That would be nice.