Amber Phelps/The LanternChilldren watch the Theme Park Engineering Group study roller coaster dynamics at Kings Island.
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For one Ohio State student group, life is just a roller coaster.
The OSU Theme Park Engineering Group visited Paramount’s Kings Island Sunday to explore the infrastructure of one of America’s most famous theme parks.
The group toured the mechanical, electrical and carpentry maintenance facilities to get an idea of the career opportunities available in the theme park industry.
“It makes you look at [theme park] industry principles in terms of a career path,” said Brad Engel, a junior in engineering and treasurer of the group.
The group also had a chance to speak with Kory Kiepert, co-founder of The Gravity Group, a company that specializes in the design and engineering of wooden roller coasters.
Kiepert spoke about his experiences of entering the theme park industry and gave advice to the students on how to make successful careers within the industry.
“Our industry is small, but there are a lot of opportunities,” Kiepert said. “Somebody has got to do it.”
Although Kiepert experienced many setbacks while entering the theme park industry, he advised the engineers not to be discouraged.
“I was told to focus my intentions elsewhere,” Kiepert said. “But, you never can say something will or won’t happen.”
The group also ventured on a hands-on tour of the structural makeup of Kings Island’s most popular roller coasters including “The Beast” and “Son of Beast.”
The tour also included an exclusive visit to the construction site of “Diamondback,” a new roller coaster to be opened in April 2009.
“They did a great job making sure we were able to see everything,” said Brad Okeson, a junior in mechanical engineering and president of the Theme Park Engineering Group. “It was really in-depth.”
During the year, the group will be creating a functioning scale model of “Power Tower,” a popular attraction at Cedar Point.
Engel said the tour will help with the engineering group conceptualize the model.
“It will let us take theoretical, abstract ideas and apply it to something really intriguing,” Engel said.
The group has planned a trip to Cedar Point next week and is scheduling a trip to visit Holiday World in Indiana.
“The trips are really insightful,” said Mike Ford, a junior in mechanical engineering. “We have such a unique hands-on opportunity with the group.”
Kiepert praised the students for coming together to create an engineering group specific to theme parks.
“We’re enthused that this group is so enthused,” Kiepert said. “There are a lot of opportunities with large groups.”
Three students from the University of Cincinnati who were inspired by OSU’s student group joined the OSU engineers to seek advice on how to create such a group at the University of Cincinnati.
Although the group is predominantly composed of engineering students, Engel said the group is open to students from all majors.
“We want as many aspects of the business present in our group,” Engel said.
Amber Phelps can be reached at [email protected]
