![]() Louis Six Flags was being built, they actually built two right from the beginning. The first log flume was opened in 1963 in Six Flags Over Texas, and it was so popular the park added a second one in 1968. That daring spirit would inspire what is the modern-day log flume ride. Still, some daredevils would "shoot the flume," for an afternoon thrill. While loggers occasionally rode logs down the flume to perform safety checks and ensure the flume was working properly, log flume riding was dangerous. Log rides were inspired by the flumes that were used to move logs from mountaintop sawmills to railroad depots using the flow of water and some good, old-fashioned gravity. They have become an essential component of most amusement parks because they are a familiar aquatic thrill ride that continues to entice new riders. Thus it cannot be re-installed.Log flumes are one of the most popular and recognizable amusement park attractions. Tomb Raider took the place of the Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal. It also was deemed necessary to either refurbish it or remove it for maintenance reasons. PKI's in particular became a low interest attraction with a very low ridership. The rides simply have worn out and have seen their day. Time was not kind to the rides and PKI's was the first to bite the dust. These Hydro Flumes also featured (I believe) the first turntable loading stations on a flume ride. These models also culminated a large drop with a camelback hump at the bottom to cause a weightlessness sensation. Most early flumes reside close to, in, or on the ground. These hydroflumes are also unique in that you first climb a lift, and most of the course of the ride is raised in the air. KI's had a Drop of 45 feet, I believe, while Hershey's was 49' and CP's was 45'. They also were designed to allow for larger final drops. Hydroflumes are different from other typical Arrow Flumes in that they have a dueling drop that has 2 chutes to allow for a greater capacity. However, it was closed following this recent season to be removed for a future attraction.) Here's a link to it's demolition photos: Cedar Point's White Water Landing was opened in 1982. Hershey's Coal Cracker was opened in 1973, the same year as KI's and still operates. The others are located at Hersheypark and Cedar Point. ![]() It opened in 1973, and was one of 3 (I believe) Arrow Hydroflumes installed in the U.S. Hopkins, re-themed and reopened as part of a Nick Expansion. (By then, the park was already in initial design/development/preperation for the install of Tomb Raider.) It was refurbished by O.D. The park decided to keep it for not only nostalgia's sake, but also so that they could keep a flume operating in the park. With 30 years of operation under it's belt, the ride was wearing out. Later, it was SBNO for 2 seasons at the turn of the millenium while the park pondered what to do with it. It was then meticulously relocated to KI when CCI closed and KI opened. It was re-furbished and transformed into "The Wild Thornberries River Adventure." It was originally designed by Arrow Development for Cincinnati's Coney Island, and I believe was installed there in 1968. King's Mill Log Flume (Which opened at KI in 1972) still exists. I think there is a bit of confusion between the two flumes that existed at KI.
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