Kings Emporium - Build Log

[LivingBread]

Backstory:

In 1979, seeking to expand from the success of Kings Dominion/Kings Island, Family Leisure Center (a partnership between Taft Broadcasting, and Top Value Enterprises) develops a plot of land just 15 miles away from Springfield Illinois known as "Kings Emporium". The park is a moderate success, opening with The Great American Patriot( a wooden roller coaster manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Co), The Jester (a Schwarzkopf Jet-Star roller  coaster), The Woodstock Express (A PTC family wooden roller coaster), The Log Jammer (an arrow log flume), Wildfire (A darkride/roller coaster hybrid through a burning village, inspired by Fire in the Hole at Silver Dollar City), and more.

1979 - May

We start here at International Street. To the right, near the International Theater (checkerboard building), we have the Berserker, a huss pirate ship. In the far right is The Holiday Cinemas (the dome) showcasing "The Rivers of Europe" short film, where guests can get a thrilling educational journey through the rivers of Europe. The Emporail is the prime form of transportation for the park, it connects International Street to the other areas of the park.

As we move forwards, you'll see The Great American Patriot, a 72ft beast of an attraction designed by John C. Allen. It is the anchor attraction at American Grove. Here you'll find rides reminiscent of those found at the all American county fair, such as the Bayern Curve( a high speed spinning ride), and The Yankee Tornado (an enterprise model).

Below The American Grove is a small kids area, this is Hanna Barbara Land, home of the Woodstock Express. This roller coaster is for those not yet ready for the ferocity of The Great American Patriot. The other ride her is "Yoghi Bear's Cave", a small walk through attraction full of gems and jewels.   

From this overhead shot, you can a better view of the Hanna Barbara Land, marked by the famous rainbow arch. Over at American Grove, you'll also find The Merry-Go-Round, a staple at any carnival.

Moving forward, we're entering Medieval Land. The anchor here is The Jester, a 45-foot roller coaster that was imported right from the German fair circuit. To the left of that is Dragon River, a boat ride through the ruins of a castle. Myth has it, the ruins are guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. Here you'll find archery, village shops, and sideshows. 

Moving onto The Country Mill, we stop by our first attraction, Old Timers,  On old-style automobiles enjoy a scenic ride through the forest. You can also find our Roasted Turkey Legs at Whistlestop Cafe (ignore the sign). 

While there may not be any high towering roller coasters in this area, two rides showcase this area. The first one is Log Jammer, an Arrow Dynamics log ride with a revolving platform. Themed to a Lumberjack Saw Mill, It's sure to keep you cool on a hot summer day.

You'll also find Wildfire. Inspired by a ride found in the Ozarks called Fire in the Hole, The Family Leisure Center wanted to do something of their own. Wildfire is a ride through a western town caught off-guard by a dry lightning wildfire. It is up to the firemen of The Country Mill to extinguish the raging fire. It ends with a 12ft twisted drop into a splashdown.

Also found in The Country Mills is The Western Theater, how to several shows such as The Country Roundup, a mix of good ol' bluegrass dancing and singing. The Country Whip is also found here. While the idiosyncratic placement of the attraction isn't beautiful, guests love the attraction.

The last land on this journey is Adventure Island. This is home to "Adventure Through Time", a boat ride through the age of the Dinosaurs. 

This area is home to a lot more flats, and some shops. If you're into spinning, this area has something for you. 

The park map for the start of the season looks intriguing, and we're all excited to see what might come from Kings' Emporium. Will it expand into something akin to Kings Island or Kings Dominion  or will it burn out?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

1979 - July

Not even a year into the season, The Country Whip has been removed from it's original location. Pieces from the ride can be seen outside Wildfire in a new storage area. What might be going on?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I have the download on the parks section of the forum. I will be updating this yearly in a narrative format, and I'm excited to start this ongoing project. It took forever to get to this state where I have a full park designed to even begin a narrative format. I've spent months on this so far, and I hope y'all enjoy.

[LivingBread]

1980

It's been a full season since we've visited here at Kings Emporium, and we start on international street. Not much has changed here, but the new monorail system seems to have been stacking up lately. Slow dispatches maybe? i've talked to employees who have told me that they're looking into reducing the number of trains to two. While i personally think that's an awful decision, we'll have to see how this plays out.

Entering Adventure Island, we can see that they've invested money in the Exporail with a new bridge going over the Rhode River. What's that over at The Country Mill? Hmm...

New for 1980 is Coal Miner. A scenic roller coaster ride through the woods designed by Arrow Dynamics. The Whip has yet to be rebuilt, and is still sitting in the storage area. 

And we return our journey back to International Street. The Exporail is still having issues with rail traffic. I'm crossing my fingers that the park can resolve this soon.

[Dubaifreak]

Good, we would like to see the 1980 version of the park in action.

[BEplayer]

5 hours ago, LivingBread said:

1980

It's been a full season since we've visited here at Kings Emporium, and we start on international street. Not much has changed here, but the new monorail system seems to have been stacking up lately. Slow dispatches maybe? i've talked to employees who have told me that they're looking into reducing the number of trains to two. While i personally think that's an awful decision, we'll have to see how this plays out.

Entering Adventure Island, we can see that they've invested money in the Exporail with a new bridge going over the Rhode River. What's that over at The Country Mill? Hmm...

New for 1980 is Coal Miner. A scenic roller coaster ride through the woods designed by Arrow Dynamics. The Whip has yet to be rebuilt, and is still sitting in the storage area. 

And we return our journey back to International Street. The Exporail is still having issues with rail traffic. I'm crossing my fingers that the park can resolve this soon.

I really love your concept! It's amazing to see how the park is developing into a giant theme park. 

[LivingBread]

18 hours ago, BEplayer said:

I really love your concept! It's amazing to see how the park is developing into a giant theme park. 

Thanks so much! I worked hard on the narration of the park and getting it to be a full layout took so much work, I'm happy you're enjoying the progression.

 

19 hours ago, Dubaifreak said:

Good, we would like to see the 1980 version of the park in action.

Thanks! I have the download park file here, but I'm unsure if it will work unless you have the custom scenery attached

download.  

[Dubaifreak]

Hmm, let's see.

 

Honestly, it works for me.

Edited August 27 by Dubaifreak
Works fine.

[LivingBread]

1980 - Winter

 

As the 1980 season winds down, the park enjoys the profit brought on by the new "Coal Miner". Meanwhile, an area has been cleared by "The Country Mill" monorail entrance. What could be going on here?

 

[BEplayer]

H

4 hours ago, LivingBread said:

1980 - Winter

 

As the 1980 season winds down, the park enjoys the profit brought on by the new "Coal Miner". Meanwhile, an area has been cleared by "The Country Mill" monorail entrance. What could be going on here?

 

Hopefully a big arrow looper! The park already worked with arrow for the mine train. 

[LivingBread]

1981 - May

 

Canyon River Rapids

Introducing "Canyon River Rapids", the park's third water ride is sure to soak you on a hot Summer day. 
The latest addition to The Country Mill's is a good companion to the Log Jammer log flume. 

Moving away from the new Canyon River Rapids, Coal Miner is going strong a year after its' debut. Don't let the empty seats fool you, this people eater is a crowd favorite. 

Over in Medieval Land, we have The Jester. I'd say its' still going strong, but the crowds have died down for this attraction. While thrilling, it just doesn't seem to get the love that it did when we first opened.

Over at The American Grove, The Great American Patriot is still bringing in huge crowds. The trick to riding it? Ride it at the end of the night. Most people run to it at rope drop because it is so close to the front of the park. Right now we're at a 55 minute line, ouch. Even worse? The queue for Yoghi Bears' Cave, our walkthrough attraction. It continues to be the most popular attraction in Hanna-Barbera Land. 

As it begins to rain, we land on Adventure Island. Adventure Through Time is still pulling in some nice numbers, and is a great way to escape the rain. Other than that, it feels like this area is missing something? It feels so quiet here. Wait, what's that in the distance? hmm.

Wrapping up 1981 is another great season for Kings' Emporium. To wrap things up, Canyon River Rapids and Coal Miner has done much for the park. Currently "The Country Mills" is the most popular area in the park due to these attractions. Over in "American Grove", "TGA Patriot" is running strong, and still thrilling guests. Crowds are quieter in Adventure Island, and Medieval Land. The Jester, in particular, is the least popular roller coaster in the park. What will the future hold for Adventure Island? 

1981 Park Download

[BEplayer]

Amazing that we got a river rapids ride! Only one year after the original, last year at six flags Astroworld. 

I fear that Jester may be on it's way out. Next to it there is some empty space, maybe we will get one of these modern looping coasters from arrow or schwarzkopf there, that features great medival theming.

 

(Keep up the amazing work, that may be the best build log here)

[Dubaifreak]

I can't wait for 1982.

[LivingBread]

September 1981:

As the Summer comes to a close, we find ourselves on a weekday. The park is empty, and that one corner near "Adventure through Time" is not. There's a lot of construction going on, and some new paths. I wonder what this could be. 

 

[BEplayer]

In the corner there are arrow pieces! This might be a big looping coaster! I am so hyped now, these are so modern!

[LivingBread]

(Hey guys, just wanted to mention that I appreciate all the compliments/support y'all have been giving the park.)

 

May 8th 1982,

While I was minding my business, I came across this advertisement in a local catalog. Then later that day, I heard about a grand opening on May 10th for a world record breaking roller coaster called Mamba Mountain. This one promises to flip people not once, not twice, but 5 times. Allegedly, it was a race to open this roller coaster in time for this particular world record. Another park in New York was close to getting it for a roller coaster opening later this month as well.

I decided it was time for me to experience just what it was like to flip that many times. As I went over to Mamba Mountain, I was greeted by this long queue. I wasn't the only one who was excited to ride this extraordinary roller coaster.

The roller coaster was great! I feel like it really brought together the "Adventure Island" area. My favorite part was just how we were able to interact with the guests on the path below us. The worst part? The 2 hour wait, and it's not even past Memorial Day yet. 

After my ride on Mamba Mountain, I was curious to see just how Canyon Rapids was doing. It was 65 degrees, but park employees told me every ride was opened today. I wasn't shocked to see the low ridership numbers, it was cold. 

And yet? The Log Jammer had an hour wait all day. 

As a walked from The Country Mill into Medieval Land, I went over for a ride on The Jester. This old school ride is a classic, but I was saddened to see it in the state it currently is operating. The paint seems to be chipping, and the ridership numbers are lower than before. 

As I crossed into The American Grove, I took a ride on The Berserker. With Adventure Land and The Country Mill getting a love lately, it would be nice to see an expansion  over here. 

We end this journey back on international street. Holiday Cinemas recently uploaded flags to tips of the roof, and I noticed the sound quality inside seems to have improved. It's not a popular attraction, but a good place for some atmosphere.

 

1982 download

 

[BEplayer]

I can still see the Jester being removed. What about an arrow suspended as a replacement? I know, the bat at kings island may be a failure, but I was told that arrow is working on improving the design of this model.

[LivingBread]

22 hours ago, BEplayer said:

I can still see the Jester being removed. What about an arrow suspended as a replacement? I know, the bat at kings island may be a failure, but I was told that arrow is working on improving the design of this model.

We'll have to see what the future holds for that plot of land. The park seems to be teasing something.

August - 1982

Today I went over to the park for a ride on The Jester. With the way thing's are looking, I just wanted to get one last ride in just in case this was the last operating season for the ill-fated roller coaster. Unfortunately I walked into this.

Not only was the area blocked off, but the monorail bridge had "Don't look down" plastered on it. I'm not going to lie,  I'm frustrated. You'd think the park would give us fans a chance to ride this classic one last time. When I asked the manager, he told me it was sold to a place in Monticello Indiana. When I vented about my frustration, he handed me this flyer and told me "If you thought The Jester was thrilling, just wait till' you see what we have next year". He told me nothing else. 

[LivingBread]

1983 - Don't Look Down

Introducing Excaliber. Climb 130 ft and dare to take the plummet. Don't look down.

Entering the park, I was fascinated by what was in the former place of The Jester (1979-1982). I've never seen anything quite like it.

The queue was quite long unfortunately. The capacity isn't huge, but the ride does load/unload at a decent pace.

In the American Grove, The Great American Patriot premieres a new color scheme. This new shine of Red, White, and Blue is so striking! This roller coaster was tied for the longest line in the park, right behind Excaliber.

Right beside Dragon River is a new restricted pathway which connects to The American Grove

Mamba Mountain has been hauling trains all day. I've been able to marathon it multiple times. What a change a year makes.

Down Adventure Island, "Adventure Through Time" runs peacefully. Of the three dark rides, Adventure-Through-Time is a favorite among couples. I've heard stories of couples getting kicked out for having a little too much fun on this boat ride.

Speaking of dark rides, I love that Wildfire is always a walk-on. Tucked away in the back of the park, families love this ride. The inferno in the finale still catches me by surprise. Beside, Canyon River Rapids is looking amazing.

I took one ride on Coal Miner before deciding to go home. It's a jerky ride, but I love the near misses with the support structure. 

1983 Park download

[BEplayer]

6 hours ago, LivingBread said:

1983 - Don't Look Down

Introducing Excaliber. Climb 130 ft and dare to take the plummet. Don't look down.

Entering the park, I was fascinated by what was in the former place of The Jester (1979-1982). I've never seen anything quite like it.

The queue was quite long unfortunately. The capacity isn't huge, but the ride does load/unload at a decent pace.

In the American Grove, The Great American Patriot premieres a new color scheme. This new shine of Red, White, and Blue is so striking! This roller coaster was tied for the longest line in the park, right behind Excaliber.

Right beside Dragon River is a new restricted pathway which connects to The American Grove

Mamba Mountain has been hauling trains all day. I've been able to marathon it multiple times. What a change a year makes.

Down Adventure Island, "Adventure Through Time" runs peacefully. Of the three dark rides, Adventure-Through-Time is a favorite among couples. I've heard stories of couples getting kicked out for having a little too much fun on this boat ride.

Speaking of dark rides, I love that Wildfire is always a walk-on. Tucked away in the back of the park, families love this ride. The inferno in the finale still catches me by surprise. Beside, Canyon River Rapids is looking amazing.

I took one ride on Coal Miner before deciding to go home. It's a jerky ride, but I love the near misses with the support structure. 

1983 Park download

Really nice addition! I am interested to see what this new little company named "intamin"  will do in the future!

[LivingBread]

On 12/09/2024 at 07:37, BEplayer said:

Really nice addition! I am interested to see what this new little company named "intamin"  will do in the future!

They're definitely one to watch! They're installing a flat ride at our sister park "Kings Dominion" this year! 

 

December 1983 - Taft Broadcasting Sells Kings Emporium to the newly found Kings Entertainment Corporation (KECO)

 

June 1984

Another year passes, and a lot has changed. The new management team seem to be hard at work with updates big and small.  The biggest update?

 

When Kings Emporium approached Arrow about a new thrilling attraction, Arrow pushed for the suspended model. It took a trip to a construction site in Williamsburg Virginia to fully convince the team at KE, and a discount due to the woes that plagued "The Bat" at Kings Island (rumored to be removed later this year) for them to get behind the suspended roller coaster model. Introducing...

WILDE BEAST is a modern suspended roller coaster, equipped with high flying banked turns, dips, and twists through a scenic medieval landscape. The ride neighbours Excaliber. 

While I never got a chance to ride "The Bat", I'm definitely a fan of this new roller coaster model. There's something about the near misses, high speed turns, and the swings that just took my breath away. With two new rides added to Medieval Land, I wonder how the other park is looking.

Bayern Kurve has lost the snowy trees, and it's signage. It's a shame. The ride feels a teensy bit more bare now.

Coal Miner continues to thrill new guests as The Western Theater sits quiet.

Work has been done on the tunnel for Mamba Mountain. I always love how fast the queue goes for this. Two-years in, and some of the transitions are noticeably a little jerky. Regardless, I love the feeling of non-stop loops. While The Viper is tied with the most inversions at Darien Lake, Mamba Mountain fits nicely at our park. 

 Being so close to the entrance, you'd think the line would be a lot longer.

We close this report on a view of The Great American Patriot at the top of the lift hill. 

1984 download

[BEplayer]

Here is my ranking of the coasters of the park! 

1. Mamba Mountain (rough, but fun)

2. Great American Patriot (quite smooth)

3. Wilde Beast (Great sense of speed)

4. Coal Miner (a nice little family ride)

5. Woodstock Express(good kiddie coaster )

[LivingBread]

On 19/09/2024 at 05:47, BEplayer said:

Here is my ranking of the coasters of the park! 

1. Mamba Mountain (rough, but fun)

2. Great American Patriot (quite smooth)

3. Wilde Beast (Great sense of speed)

4. Coal Miner (a nice little family ride)

5. Woodstock Express(good kiddie coaster )

Thanks for the ranking! My favorite is The Great American Patriot. Kings Emporium does currently classify "Wildfire" as a roller coaster, even though I'd personally classify that as a dark ride.

July - 1985

We start this season with a teaser. This teaser has been advertised throughout the area. Funny thing is, a similar one has been advertised near Doswell for our sister-park. What is Diamond Falls? I guess its' time to find out.

Kings Dominion and Kings Emporium both debut a new-type of water ride attraction. Diamond Falls plummets guests down a 50 foot waterfall. At Kings Emporium, the mystery atop the waterfall challenges those who dare take the plunge.

I'm not going to lie, this ride might be marketed as a "family-ride", but the double down is the scariest moment of air-time I've ever experienced on a ride. I felt like I was going to get launched out of my seat!

Currently it feels like Kings Emporium might be a contender for "Park with the best water ride collection". With Canyon Rapids, Log Jammer, and now Diamond Falls - you have a lot of options to cool off in the Illinois heat.

"Woodstock Express" is renamed to Scooby-Doo's Ghoster Coaster. This has also come with a new paint job. I personally like the update, even if it isn't as vibrant as it once was. Rumor has it that the monorail is going to be running with less trains next year, hopefully this helps the congestion problem.

Rumors are still circling about the removal of Bayern Kurve. Allegedly, a German showman wants the ride for the German fair-circuit. Currently, this ride has been down about 50% of the season, and with most of the backdrop already removed - I fear it is on it's last leg.

The Great American Patriot roars over a airtime hill. The turn after the second hill is starting to ride a little bumpy, but otherwise - the ride is smooth as butter.

The best part about the arrow roller coasters at this park is the capacity. While Excaliber has had 30-60 minute queues all day, it is nice to be able to walk onto WildeBeast.  

1985

Edited September 24 by LivingBread
Rename the download link

[LivingBread]

1986

 

Today was an interesting day for the park. I heard about a roller coaster opening this year through a radio station, something about standing up to fear?

Introducing Vortex, the newest addition to Kings Emporium. Replacing the Schwarzkopf Bayern-Kurve is the tallest stand-up roller coaster in North America at 105ft tall.

I'm not going to lie, this ride was terrifying. Something about feeling those Gs when you're standing up is out of control. The roller coaster comes from a Japanese company named Togo. 

 

The stairs leading up to the entrance is also wild. This ride is a workout to get to, but it is totally worth it!

Now the sightlines from Medieval Land might look a little different now, but I must say - I enjoy the interaction with The Great American Patriot.

The ride also interacts well with the Scooby Doo roller coaster.

From Excaliber, you get great views of both Vortex and Wildbeast. Both attractions are still going strong as they anchor Medieval Land.

Over in Adventure Island, Mamba Mountain does a corkscrew right in front of Diamond Falls. 

The building and structure of Diamond Falls can be seen from International street.

The biggest change this season in Adventure Island is the introduction to two new water elements on Adventure Through Time. A whirlpool and some fountains. The best part of Kings Emporium is the preservation of their dark rides.

Speaking of, Wildfire is still going strong. This roller coaster darkride combo opened with the park, and the finale still makes my stomach drop. It's funny that you can still see remnants of the old Whip ride in the graveyard. Coal Miner and Canyon River Rapids entertain guests in the distance.

The most impressive part about the finale is the laterals on the turn into the drop. You really get slammed into the side of your seat while simultaneously getting thrown out of it. Fire in the hole!

We finish this update with the map of 1986. The park is starting to feel a lot bigger than it was when I first started coming here. 

1986 park download

[BEplayer]

7 hours ago, LivingBread said:

1986

 

Today was an interesting day for the park. I heard about a roller coaster opening this year through a radio station, something about standing up to fear?

Introducing Vortex, the newest addition to Kings Emporium. Replacing the Schwarzkopf Bayern-Kurve is the tallest stand-up roller coaster in North America at 105ft tall.

I'm not going to lie, this ride was terrifying. Something about feeling those Gs when you're standing up is out of control. The roller coaster comes from a Japanese company named Togo. 

 

The stairs leading up to the entrance is also wild. This ride is a workout to get to, but it is totally worth it!

Now the sightlines from Medieval Land might look a little different now, but I must say - I enjoy the interaction with The Great American Patriot.

The ride also interacts well with the Scooby Doo roller coaster.

From Excaliber, you get great views of both Vortex and Wildbeast. Both attractions are still going strong as they anchor Medieval Land.

Over in Adventure Island, Mamba Mountain does a corkscrew right in front of Diamond Falls. 

The building and structure of Diamond Falls can be seen from International street.

The biggest change this season in Adventure Island is the introduction to two new water elements on Adventure Through Time. A whirlpool and some fountains. The best part of Kings Emporium is the preservation of their dark rides.

Speaking of, Wildfire is still going strong. This roller coaster darkride combo opened with the park, and the finale still makes my stomach drop. It's funny that you can still see remnants of the old Whip ride in the graveyard. Coal Miner and Canyon River Rapids entertain guests in the distance.

The most impressive part about the finale is the laterals on the turn into the drop. You really get slammed into the side of your seat while simultaneously getting thrown out of it. Fire in the hole!

We finish this update with the map of 1986. The park is starting to feel a lot bigger than it was when I first started coming here. 

1986 park download

Today I rode Vortex, it's really popular so I had to stand in line for it for over 90 minutes. The ride is nice, eventhough I really don't like the colours of the coaster. 

 

[LivingBread]

May 1987

Introducing Congo Falls. A pair of thrilling waterslides. Twist through the amazon or plummet 45 feet straight down, you choose the thrill.

I approached the new attraction. It is a waterslide you ride with clothes on. Weird. The ride itself was fun. If you're not careful on the straight down one, you'll wipe out at the bottom. I was lucky to stay dry. I was also lucky to beat the crowd because this 90 minute wait looked like this all day.

Except for in the morning. I was able to snag a walk-on ride on both sides. I found the Twister side to be a lot more fun. I could also appreciate how the ride interacts with Mamba Mountain. This new area really opens Adventure Island.

Diamond Falls is still going strong. This park really has a great water ride line up.

After only one year, Shockwave is repainted to this new color scheme. I think it fits better with the area, and compliments The American Grove better than the garish new wave of the green and blue.

Excaliber, Shockwave, Patriot, and Wildebeast in one photo. This park is starting to feel huge.

Another shot of American Patriot. I love this roller coaster. Is it still the king of the park? It's hard to tell anymore.

Coal Miner remains to be a classic attraction through the mines of The Country Mills. 

Canyon River Rapids could be the most underrated way to cool off. Why wait 90 minutes for a slide when you can walk onto this wild river.

We end 1987 with this park map. I wonder here the park will expand to  next. 

1987 Download

[BEplayer]

11 minutes ago, LivingBread said:

After only one year, Shockwave is repainted to this new color scheme. I think it fits better with the area, and compliments The American Grove better than the garish new wave of the green and blue.

That's a welcome change.