Kentucky Kingdom president and CEO Ed Hart held a press conference on Tuesday announcing that the park's expected 2019 roller coaster Kentucky Flyer could be delayed or even cancelled after the State Fair Board halts transfer of one acre of expansion property which will be used for this new attraction.
According to Hart, a majority of the $4 million dollar wooden roller coaster will be built on land that the park currently owns. In addition, this coaster will use less than one acre of a 20-acre plot of land that Kentucky Kingdom was promised in the parks lease with the Fair Board. Hart explained that the Fair Board is also not allowing Kentucky Kingdom to take soil samples on this plot of land which is a vital step before construction begins. Hart argues that the claims made by the State Fair Board for reasoning behind the delays are untrue and that Kentucky Kingdom has provided all the documentation required. Because the Fair Board has put Kentucky Kingdom in a position to halt construction, the park has not provided payment to the manufacture producing this roller coaster (Gravity Group) which could put the 2019 project in jeopardy.
Kentucky Flyer, the park's sixth roller coaster, will be the marquee attraction for Kentucky Kingdom's 30th anniversary season. This new wooden roller coaster designed by Gravity Group will feature a 52-foot drop, sharp hairpin turns and several airtime hills over 1,280 feet of track. Kentucky Kingdom aims to accommodate thrill seekers of all ages with a ride height requirement of only 40" tall. Although Kentucky Flyer has the appearance of a tame family coaster, Hart assured the public that this ride will be, "unbelievably thrilling." Kentucky Kingdom is hoping to use Kentucky Flyer as a marketing centerpiece to drive attendance in the 2019 season. Postponing this project could have major impacts for the parks future.
Hart accused the Fair Board of delaying this transfer of land as a way of intimidating Kentucky Kingdom to drop a lawsuit the amusement park filed in July over a parking lot dispute with the Fair Board. Hart claims that the Fair Board continues to ignore the provisions of their lease which states that 19,000 parking spaces are available first come first serve for the amusement park's guests. Hart accuses the Fair Board of taking large portions of these spaces that Kentucky Kingdom pays for, and rents them out to other exhibitors. Hart explained that Kentucky Kingdom has been trying to resolve these parking issues over the last few years but has not made any progress, leading to the lawsuit filed in July.
Hart organized the press conference on Tuesday to make the public aware of this situation and called on it's guests to contact state and local representatives to put a halt to the "inappropriate" bureaucratic red-tape. Koaster Kids, a popular roller coaster enthusiast YouTube channel, took to Instagram to support Kentucky Kingdom by releasing a post Tuesday encouraging their followers to take action and call Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin and Louisville Mayor Greg Ficsher.
Meanwhile Kentucky Kingdom is continuing to clear land for their new coaster on park owned property in hopes that the legal delays with the State Fair Board end in the near future.
Click here to watch the full press conference: https://www.kentuckykingdom.com/
