Roller Coaster Road Trip 2014: Kentucky Kingdom and the Louisville Highlands

There are a couple more things I wanted to talk about concerning Louisville.  It was our home base for four-plus days and it was chosen because it was where Kentucky Kingdom, the former Six Flags park, had just reopened, and it was also centrally located to all of the parks we wanted to visit, including Kings Island and Holiday World.  Like everyplace we go on a road trip, we always try to find things to do in the area, local attractions or places that we think might be cool, and so Louisville definitely had some of that, including the Big Four Bridge, the Mega Cavern and a couple more cool spots we got to enjoy.  I wanted to share these with you in case you ever find yourself in Louisville and are looking for something to do...

Kentucky Kingdom

Kentucky Kingdom first opened in May 2007 and provided great amusements for locals for the better part of 22 years.  Its most recent owner, Six Flags, decided to close the park in 2009 and it remained that way for the next five years.  When I'd heard they were reopening this year, the news was what jump started this year's road trip.

Kentucky Kingdom is not a large park at all.  It was even smaller than Holiday World and we only needed a couple of hours to get through it all.  There were only two roller coasters, well three really, but one of them won't open until next season.  The two that were open were pretty good, actually.  There was a steel one called Lightning Run and a woodie, Thunder Run, which I liked very much.  In fact, take a look below and catch a ride...it's not that bad, especially on video...

All in all, Kentucky Kingdom is a fun place.  The water park area of the joint looked pretty cool and there were plenty of non-coaster rides to go around, as well.  If I lived in the area, I could see myself buying a season pass for those summer nights when there's nothing to do.  Here are a few pics from the place...

The Highlands

One night Rich, Eddie and myself found that we had some free time.  It was right after we'd walked the Big Four Bridge and I was looking online for something to do when I found the Highlands.  In short, the Highlands is a neighborhood that's hip, artsy, neighborhood with lots of cool shops (used record and CD stores, too!) and restaurants.  It was just what we needed to pass the evening away with shopping and dining.  Again, if you ever find yourself in Louisville and are looking for something to do, check out the Highlands.

Here are some photos I took there...