Kings Island has a beautiful new entrance this year.
But that new entrance is causing headaches on the highway, for at least one driver who had to pay almost $20 simply because she was in the wrong lane.
New Right Lane Puts You in Park
Driving in the wrong lane on Kings Island Drive can be costly, as one Warren County woman discovered.
"There was a sign that said I had to turn right, and I couldn't get over to the left lane because traffic was whizzing by," said Karen, who asked that we not use her last name.
Karen says by getting stuck in the turn lane last weekend, she had no other option but to turn into the park and drive up to the new toll booth entrance.
"Then I was on Kings Island property, with no turnaround, so I went up to the gate and asked them what to do, and they said they could not open the gate without $18 for the parking fee," she said.
We Drive the Route
How can that be possible? To find out, I drove the same route, and did see that three small white signs now say that the right right lane is for right turns only. They are there, but small. In addition, there are white arrows in the right lane.
So if you are in the turn lane, you have to turn into the park.
You think: "No problem, I'll just turn around." But that's where the problem begins, because I discovered there is no way to turn about without driving over Kings Island's lawn and flower gardens.
Karen says the guard told her after she paid to then go into the park and request a refund. She says it appears she was not the first person to end up in this pickle.
"I paid the $18 for them to raise the gate, and then I went to the security gate and sat in line till someone could help me."
She says it took more than a half hour until she was on her way home, with refund in hand.
WATCH in the viewer below to see an eagle-eye view of the route, that only Chopper 9 can provide:
Park Plans Fixes
Park spokesman Don Helbig says Kings Island is aware some drivers have been confused, and said they plan to "add more signs in the near future."
Because if you don't merge left when you are passing by on Kings Island Drive, you are stuck.
You can't turn around (without damaging park property) and you really can't back out, because that could be very dangerous into oncoming traffic.
So watch those signs, so you don't have to pay, and so you don't waste your money.
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