The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 36

SECTION PAGE 12 THE MUNCIE STAR, SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 1990 nn rave Kings Island to Launch Flight Commander By BRUCE A. DOUGLAS Travel Editor I 1M News Views i tv Vr JFftm I'll I i'tj Ik directory that lists campgrounds in Indiana as well as RV dealers throughout the state. Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council is a not-for-profit trade association representing more than 50 percent of the commercial campground sites in Indiana. To receive your free copy of the 40-page 1990 Hoosier camper, just send your name and address to: RVTC, Dept. HC, 3210 Rand Road, Indianapolis, Ind.

46241. St. Louis Guide Available The 1990 St. Louis Visitor Guide is now available. The free, 36-page guide features a photograph of the Gateway Arch on its cover in honor of the 25th birthday of the nation's tallest memorial.

The St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission has printed and will distribute nearly a million copies of the guide this year. Visitors will find that it contains useful information on the Arch and the area's many other attractions, historical sites, entertainment spots and hotel accommodations. The Arch, formally called the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, was completed on Oct. 28.

1965. The monument pays tribute to the westward expansion of the United States and St. Louis's important role in that movement. Visitors can ride to the top of the Gateway Arch in a specially designed elevator for a 30-mile panoramic view of the St. Louis area.

Under the Arch is the Museum of Westward Expansion where visitors can learn about the Lewis and Clark expedition and later pioneers, buffalo hunters, native Americans and other inhabitants of the old West. Readers interested in more information about St. Louis should call the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission's visitor information hotline at (800) 247-9791. They will receive a free copy of the St.

Louis Sampler, which includes a 1990 visitor guide as well as a. map of St. Louis, a calendar of events, a hotelmotel packages directory and a sheet of St. Louis Fun Money with coupons for discounts on lodging, shopping, sightseeing and admission to many of St. Louis's attractions.

Mayf air Regent Anniversary If you're celebrating a 10-year wedding anniversary in 1990, the Mayfair Regent Chicago has a gift just for you and your spouse. A special $75 anniversary package with all the right ingredients for a celebration. INGS ISLAND, Ohio Despite outside temperatures unusually cool for this time of year, things are definitely heating up for next weekend's gala season opening at Kings Island theme park. The thrills of piloting await Kings Island's visitors this year. Flight Commander, the park's new space pod ride where passengers maneuver their capsules into dives, climbs and 360-degree barrel rolls debuts on Coney Mall when the park opens Saturday.

Flight Commander passengers will first learn the operational aspects of the ride in an underground "briefing room." They then will board awaiting two-passenger capsules, and the pilot begins executing commands as the pods rise 60 feet in the air and begin circling the center tower. By directing the joystick, the pilot can make the capsule dive, climb and roll 360-degrees, creating a unique flight experience. Flight Commander is manufacturing by Intamin Inc. of Zurich, Switzerland, and is a $2 million investment for Kings Island. Also new for 1990 is Rushing River.

This five-passenger inner-tube ride joins WaterWorks's 15 water slides and other fun water activities. Riders board 8-foot inner-tubes, which careen through a 700-foot twisting trough of water that drops 55-feet. Rushing River is manufactured by ProSlide Technology of Canada, and is a $1 million addition to Waterworks. In addition to Rushing River, expansion to the Waterworks area includes a multi-level sunning area, and expanded locker and restroom facilities. On the entertainment scene, mystifying illusions, toe-tappin' country, contemporary hits, professional ice skaters, the antics of Scooby Doo and friends, the Cinema 180, Kings of Komedy Clown Band, atmosphere performers and rock concerts fill Kings Island's theaters in 1990.

At the American Heritage Music Hall, illusionary magic, combine with song and dance in a production co-produced by Mark Wilson Productions Inc. Toe-tappin' country will return to the International Showplace with singers, dancers and instrumentalists spotlighting popular artists and performing classic and current country hits. Also at the International showplace, Hot Hits features current hits and classic rock, and the antics of the Hanna-Barbera characters in Scooby and the Lost Bark should delight young children. In the Festhaus, professional ice skaters glide through intricate routines in Ice Adventure, and Summer Rhythms is presented on the International Street Bandstand. In addition to Flight Commander Rushing River and an outstanding entertainment line-up, visitors to Kings Island's seven themed areas will be able to experience challenging thrills rides on the park's roller coasters, plunge down a 70-foot water slide, view exotic wild animals from the Wild Animal Habitat Monorail (extra charge), or take a leisurely ride on a steam locomotive.

Beginning next weekend, Kings Island will be open weekends-only until May 20. Daily operations begin Friday, May 25, and continue through Labor Day, Sept. 3. The park is also open to the public on Sept. 8-9, Oct.

6-7 and 13-14. Operating hours (Ohio time) begin at 10 a.m. International Street and the main gate open at 9 a.m. Closing times vary from 9 to 11p.m., depending upon day of week and time of year. "Waterworks" closes 1 hour prior to park closings.

General admission to Kings Island in 1990 is $20.95, which represents an increase of $2 from the 1989 park admission. There is, however, a special price for children 3-6 of $10.45, and Senior Citizens age 60 or over, $10.95. A 2-day ticket is also available for $28.95, but must be used on 2 consecutive days. Kings Island is located next to I-71, 24 miles north of Cincinnati and 35 miles south of Dayton. For information, call (513) 398-5600.

Hoosier Camper Published It's time once again to make plans for one of America's greatest activities camping. To assist in making plans for a short weekend trip or a longer vacation trip, the Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council has published the 1990 Hoosier Camper, a campground and RV service Kings Island Photo KINGS ISLAND NEW FLIGHT COMMANDER LIFTS PASSENGERS 60 FEET INTO THE AIR Riders have ability to climb, dive and complete 360-degree barrel rolls by controlling a joystick residents of Indiana a special low fare of $995 for a Caribbean cruise this spring aboard the Sky princess. The cruise sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale and departs May 19. During the 10-day voyage, the ship will visit St. Maarten, Barbados, Mayreau, Martinique, St.

Thomas and Nassau. The discounted fare of $995 per person, double occupancy, is offered for best available inside space at time of booking, and the discounted fare of $1,095 per person, double occupancy, is offered for best available outside space. Published fares regularly begin at $1,785 per person. Roundtrip air transportation from Fort Wayne or Indianapolis may be purchased for an additional $300 per person. For more information on this special offer, see a travel agent.

certificate must be presented upon check in. Packages do not include tax or parking. Set in Chicago's East Lake Shore Drive Historic District overlooking beautiful Lake Michigan, the hotel is just steps away from prestigious shops, boutiques and restaurants on Chicago's magnificent mile. The Mayfair Regent Chicago is operated by Regent International Hotels, which currently has properties in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Sydney, Melbourne, Fiji, Aukland, Singapore, Taipei, new York and Beverly Hills. For information on the anniversary weekend, contact the Mayfair Regent Chicago at (312) 787-8500 or see a travel agent.

Princess Calling Hoosiers Princess Cruises is offering Battle of the Monster Coasters Enjoy Spring 'Breaks in Uroion 2 County for I In commemoration of the hotel's 10th year in Chicago, the package price duplicates the weekend rate from 10 years ago, but adds a few extra treats for the anniversary couple. The $75 per night price includes a deluxe room, bottle of chilled champagne, fresh flowers and the Mayfair Regent's famous white chocolate mousse cake with raspberry sauce. Based on space available, the package is offered Friday and Saturday through December 1990. To be eligible for the package, couples must have been married between January 1980 and December 1980. A wedding are more important factors than size.

"You could have a ride 50 feet tall and it could scare the beejeebees out of you," said Randy Geisler, the Chicago-based association's leader. Knott's Berry Farm understandably agrees with Geisler Boomerang pales in size compared to Viper. Boomerang cars make the outbound and return trips on the same 875-foot-long track. Riders are first pulled backward to the top of a 125-foot tower, then released to hurtle through three vertical loops before ascending another tower for the ride back. It lasts 90 seconds.

"During the ride, you have the sensation that you actually have fallen off the track. With ours, it's not the height or the speed, it's how you feel when you get off," said Zanville. There are similar rides at Six Flags Over Texas near Dallas and Canada's Wonderland theme park in Toronto. Roller coaster popularity peaked in the 1920s with more than 1,500 in operation in the United States. By 1978, only 147 were left in North America.

But there will be 203 coasters in operation by the end of this year, with 17 new, moved or renovated ones opening. GO WITH THE EXPERTS MGM TRAVEL 802 E. 6th St. Anderson, IN 57012 649-0444 1-800-624-9153 i AP SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN'S $8 MILLION VIPER One of nation newest high-tech tummy turning coasters By JEFF WILSON Associated Press Writer OS ANGELES It's the battle of the monster roller I coasters, white-knucklers designed to scare you silly, and it's just in time for youngsters on spring vacation to buy a thrill. But at $17-plus, these thrills aren't cheap.

Thirty miles from downtown Los Angeles, in opposite directions, the Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement parks are fighting to outdo each other by unleashing multimillion-dollar fright machines. Knott's, to the southeast in Buena Park, promises its new $5 million Boomerang coaster will elicit "the primal scream." Magic Mountain at Valencia, to the northwest, says its $8 million Viper coaster provides "the most frightening ride on earth." They are the latest in the nation's decade-long competition to see who can build the biggest, fastest and scariest amusement park attraction. The battle sometimes ends up in court. In Allentown, the Dorney Park amusement park recently filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop Six Flags Over Texas from claiming it has the nation's tallest wooden roller coaster. Advertisements claim the $5.5 million Texas Giant coaster is the highest at 143 feet, compared with 95 feet for Dorney's Hercules coaster.

But Dorney Park insists Hercules is 157 feet, because it drops over a cliff, and the Texas Giant 137 feet. "Coaster enthusiasts go all over the country looking for moments of negative gravity," said Paul Ruben, "editor of Roller Coaster! magazine. He planned to be on hand Saturday when Viper opened to the public. "Viper is a megacoaster that precisely defines the next step in roller coaster evolution. Viper is.

quite simply, the ultimate scream Arrive any night Sunday thru Wednesday night; pay the regular rate and stay the 2nd night ABSOLUTELY FREE! Limited number available Offer good now through May 24, 1990 Not valid in combination with other packages or discounts Year round swimming Free satellite TV wHBO Children stay free in same room with parents Volleyball, basketball, badminton, horseshoes, ping pong, jungle gym and game room Unique shopping in Nashville Hiking, fishing, horseback riding in nearby Brown County State Park (the state's largest) Viper as the world's tallest looping roller coaster. The nation's tallest roller coaster is the 205-foot-high Magnum XL 200 at the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, but it doesn't loop. But the president of the American Coaster Enthusiasts group says pacing, steepness and the severity of turns machine," said Magic Mountain president Joseph Schillaci. Viper sends cars racing 70 mph over a course that reaches 188 feet high and includes seven loops during a 2'2 -minute run. Padded over-the-shoulder locking harnesses keep passengers inside and "fail-safe air brakes" on the track are computer controlled to assure proper ride speed.

Asked about the safety of Boomerang, which also has padded shoulder harnesses, Knott's spokesman Stuart Zanville said structural experts employed by the amusement parks examine thrill rides daily. There are no checks by government agencies, although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration does inspect carnival rides. "We've never had a ride-related fatality. Every ride is inspected every single day by our safety inspectors," Zanville said. Magic Mountain markets the Go With Princess Tours MGM Travel Save $450 On 14-Day CruiseTour We Still Have Room For 4 More Alaska Travelers On Our Special Group CruiseTour Departing June 21.

Don't Put Alaska Off Another Year! mtnitions rr rtquirwi; pin ull IB12I4BS-2284 OfloHlrw 1400-M5-7327 Lodge and Conference Center In the Hills of Brown County.