I know, this entry seems like a mute point. With all the drama around the prolific wooden hyper, it seems like it will suffer the same fate as Big Bad Wolf earlier this season. However, there are many things to take into consideration here.

First, how did everything get to this point? As my research found out, it began from day one. As we know, Paramount contracted a joint venture by Roller Coaster Corperation of America and Premier Rides to design what would be the tallest, fastest and only looping wooden roller coaster ever. As monumental as it would be, it didn't come without flaws. First off, it appears that Paramount had to beg before any wooden coaster designer would even attempt such a prolific job.

Lets take a look at the contenders at the time. First off was the top dog of the woodies, Custom Coasters International, also known as CCI, who later became Gravity Group. Known for such blockbusters such as GhostRider, Twisted Twins, and Raven. Now, if you're paying attention, if these guys say no, then you'd best listen. Next was the newbies on the block, Great Coasters International. More known for small wooden twisters, they could hardly be counted on for a 200 ft leviathan, plus in 1999, they weren't up to dealing with big park chains quite yet (though, at this time, they were at work on Hershey's Lightning Racer which really put them on the map). Outside that, no one else was in the market to build such a huge undertaking, thus, RCCA was left, and Premier was contracted to build the trains and make the loop.

Building it was one thing, actually opening it was another. In 2000, prior to its grand opening, it was plagued with delays and downtime. Lines were long, but even though it had 3 trains and took over 3 minutes to complete the circuit, it only ran 2, thus creating huge waits between departures, though, the long 36 passanger trains kind of made up for that. The trains made the chain absolutely roar at the top as the motor sped trains over the crest and onto the monsterous course.

There were 2 parts in describing Sonny, its good parts and bad parts. Among the pros, were one of the greatest coaster drops ever, a 214 ft. descent at 57 degrees, which accelerated riders to 78 mph. That may be all good and smooth on a steel coaster, but we're on a woodie here, so the racket and rattling is insane, making it feel twice that fast. Ride time was another. The ride was the second longest woodie in the world, only topped by its father, but with the higher average speeds and lack of a 2nd lift, it managed the 7000 ft course in a bit over 3 minutes compared to Beasts nearly 5 minute riot.

Finally, there was the loop. Perhaps a gimmik as some say, but it was so much more than that. Coming out of the earthquake, also known as the rose bowl and the second helix, the loop was a rather tranquil part of the ride, a nice contrast to the rest. Seeing the world go head over heels at 118 ft and surrounded by wood is definately a different feeling.

Of course, then there are the bad parts, which ultimately doomed the ride. Trains were the first part. As heavy as they were, compared to the now lighter trains, they did wonders in pacing. The restraints weren't the best, being very restrictive compared to the slightly more open lapbars of the PTC equipped Racer and Beast. Being stapled during those helices isn't the greatest way to ride this, even in the good seats. Speaking of helices, the two that inhabited the Son took laterals to a new level, perhaps more exhilerating at first, but aging proved otherwise. The final years of the Premier trains were that where you hoped a re-track was in sight.

The heavy trains eventually took their toll, as well as the different construction methods used on the supports, which really took a beating in the rose bowl. Eventually, they wore to the point where incident one happened, where a train took a hard jerk in the 2nd helix, sending 27 people to the hospital. That would be the beginning of what seems to be the end.

As Kings Island was bought by Cedar Fair, plans were in place to reopen the raging lumber mountain. However, it didn't come without sacrifice. Since the trains were the culprit, as it would be insanely expensive to re-structure the ride, it was that which would be replaced. The dying Hurricane of Myrtle Beach would be the source of these trains, as it hauled its last passangers, the trains were to see new light and were then reconfigured to handle Sonny. But, the trains were never ment to invert, nor could the loop be modified to handle them, so a simple s-curve now sits where the worlds only wooden loop once reached for the sky.

Many years passed and Son had its share of troubles, though most were never brought to life, it contined to struggle on. Mixed reviews came out of the overhaul, but for Kings Island, it was better than destroying it, or so it seemed.

In 2009, even as the park celebrated its tallest and fastest coaster in Diamondback, Son took probably its last hit. A woman, complaining of whiplash and head injuries sustained after riding Son, put it on hold for the remainder of the 2009 season, and since then, the park has said it will deal with SOB in the off season.

This brings us to now. What lies in store to Mt. Everest of lumber? Many say its done, as Cedar Fair already shelled millions to fix it to where it is now, and even as Paramount filed a lawsuit against RCCA and Premier for the problems SOB presented, it seems nothing is going right for the wood giant. While Kings Island said it will deal with it, perhaps, it will have another chance. Some speculate on keeping the first hill, and perhaps the second, and re-do from that point until the final brakes. With the land around it, perhaps in stead of the hyper twister we see now, it may go Beast's route and take a terrain approach. Nothing is certain yet and it has been exciting to see the result of this recent crossroad for Kings Island and Son of Beast.