ACE - Ride With Us

Recapping the 2023 ACE Fall Conference

Over 200 ACE members from around the world gathered in Utah for the 2023 ACE Fall Conference.
The group first visited Lagoon Park (We talked about Lagoon Park in a recent episode) for 2 fun-filled days of ERT, ACE Landmark Coaster rides, fall events and of course, some fabulous food. The final event was a visit to S&S Worldwide, where some lucky attendees got a chance to ride the prototype Axis coaster.  
Join ACE Membership Director Joseph Ciza for a recap of the event. Whether you attended the event and want to relive the amazing experience or didn’t have a chance to attend, Joseph’s recap will bring the experience to you. He also talks about the Executive Committee meeting that was held just after the conference.
In this episode:
[01:20] Meet Joseph, he has two home parks!
[04:07] What the Membership Director does (it includes the all-important ACE merchandise)
[09:11] On to the Fall Conference, ERT included Primordial, most attendees went there first, Joseph gives a spoiler-free description of the epic new coaster
[13:05] Spoiler-free description of Cannibal, rundown of the different meetups and shows during the event
[26:00] Sunday at S&S Worldwide (home to Arrow’s archives) included a tour and of course…
[31:44] The raffle to ride the Axis coaster!
[39:50] Executive Committee meeting recap
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editors: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Production Manager: Corey Wooten

Updates from ACE Europe

As ACE members, our love of theme parks and roller coasters can take us around the world. It’s no surprise that ACE Europe is growing quickly.  Co-host John Davidson joins ACE Europe Assistant Regional Rep Christopher Karlsson for a trackside chat about new coasters and experiences, plus some Europe region updates.  
In this episode:
[01:25] Meet Christopher, his home park is Liseberg in Gothamburg, Sweden, he tacks on theme park visits to his travel plans.
[03:40] He joined when ACE Europe merged smaller groups into one larger organization.
[04:20] Brief summary of the recent Viking trip, travel logistics (spoiler: ACE Europe meets guests at the airport with a charter bus!)
[09:30] First drop, Europe! New rides including Storm the Dragon Legend at Tusenfryd.
[19:16] Liseberg celebrates 100 years with the new Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson Producer: Derek Perry Editors: Bob Randolph Show Notes: Liz Tan Project Manager: Corey Wooten

Lagoon Amusement Park; Past, Present and Future

ACE events happen year-round, with the biggest events bookending the summer.  Our summer started with over 1300 attendees at CoasterCon and it will wrap up with 208 attendees with representation from 34 states (plus Germany and Portugal!) heading to Utah for the Fall Conference at Lagoon Park and the S&S headquarters.
 
Regardless of whether you plan to attend or can’t make it this year, this spoiler-free episode has something for you!  Co-host Jessica Gardner meets with Julie Freed, Director of Special Events for Lagoon Park, to learn all about the family-owned park’s extensive history and the event.
 
In this episode:
[01:51] Meet Julie, park history: Lagoon opened in 1886 and has been a family business ever since
[6:48] Lagoon has three rides on the National Historic Register
[09:30] The park works hard to keep the older rides in riding shape 
[13:20] BomBora was designed in-house (has the same seats as Primordial)
[18:25] Primordial’s seats fit just about everyone (36 inch minimum height!)
[26:13] Naming a coaster is a family affair for Lagoon Park
[35:22] All about Frightmares 
 
Follow Lagoon Park on Instagram
 
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
 
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editors: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan 
Project Manager: Corey Wooten
 

Preservation Conference and October Events

As the hot summer days started to fade, a group of ACEers came together in New York to visit some very special theme parks and acknowledge the history behind them. Preservation Conference took place in late August. Attendees visited Playland Park, Adventureland, Luna Park at Coney Island and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, where the park owners, the Vourderis family, gave the group a warm welcome.
 
Co-host Jessica Gardner talks with ACE member and Preservation Conference attendee Maddy Khristov-Weinrach about her fabulous experience at the event.
 
In this episode:
[03:20] Maddy walks through the days at Preservation Conference, including elusive ride credits on kiddie coasters, low crowds, raffle entries and some of the great coasters that the group rode.
[12:20] Behind the scenes of the Cyclone – maintaining that coaster is a labor of love (and ACE members appreciate that!)
[18:00] The episode continues with a rundown of the different rides at Deno’s Wonder Wheel and Luna Park and a visit to the nearby Coney Island Museum
[21:45] ACE News spotlight
[22:45] October events rundown
 
Learn more about the parks: Adventureland, Playland Deno's Wonder Wheel Luna Park
 
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
 
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editors: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan 
Project Manager: Corey Wooten
 

ACE Landmark Coasters with Dave Hahner, ACE Historian

Many theme park visitors walk right by something pretty special without ever knowing what it is. That something special is a plaque that’s posted on a small handful of roller coasters throughout the world, designating them as ACE Landmark Coasters.  
 
A committee of dedicated ACE members/historians selects these coasters based on criteria including historical significance of the ride. If you’ve ever posed in front of the plaque before hopping on the coaster or wondered how that coaster was chosen, all will be revealed as co-host John Davidson talks with Dave Hahner, a 43 year ACE member who works with the ACE Preservation Committee.
 
In this episode:
[06:52] The birth and evolution of the History Committee, it takes many contributors to do this work
[12:00] On to ACE Landmark Coasters!
[21:00] Losing coasters, the role of landmark plaques in preservation
[38:00] Implications of hybrid coasters 
[41:08] Join the history committee! Overseas contributors especially welcome!  Contact Jimmy Titko: jtitko@aceonline.org
[43:30] Walking through the plethora of plaques and landmark coasters at Cedar Point (shoutout to Gemini!!)
[46:47] Nod to Cedar Fair for restoring Racer 75 at Kings Dominion and The Racer at Kings Island
 
Learn more about ACE Landmark Coasters
https://www.aceonline.org/page/Landmark
https://www.facebook.com/ACErollercoasterlandmark
 
In an effort to recognize and promote rides that are noteworthy in coaster history, the ACE Roller Coaster Landmark program was established in 2000. This special designation is reserved for rides of historical significance, as determined by ACE. Additional coasters are designated on an ongoing basis. A permanent historical marker is presented to each park to display as desired, and it serves to educate park guests about the extensive history of the ride. Look for our ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaques in the parks near each of these designated coasters!
 
Sources 
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
 
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editors: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan 
Project Manager: Corey Wooten
 

50 Years of Frights: Celebrating Knott’s Scary Farm’s 50th Anniversary

The end of summer means one thing for theme park enthusiasts: Halloween! 
Many parks bring out their best theming and scares this time of year; Knott’s Berry Farm has been leading the way since 1973, when local personality Larry Vincent brought his Sinister Seymour character to the park for an appearance that started a trend.
That first year, Scary Farm was three nights long, it included scare actors in the Calico Mine Ride, Timber Mountain Log Ride and the now-defunct Haunted Shack. Since then, the event has grown to include numerous scare zones and mazes, plus extensive spooky theming throughout the park.
This extended episode takes a close look at today’s Scary Farm. Co-host Jessica Gardner meets Ken Parks, Corporate Director of Creative Development at Cedar Fair. She also talks with Owner and Creative Director of Plague Productions John Cooke.
This jam-packed episode continues with Ted Dougherty, author of The History of Knott’s Scary Farm and writer/director for Plague Productions. Next up is Chris Do, a Knott’s Scary Farm producer. Our last interview is KC Gussler, Show Director of Music, Monsters and Mayhem.
In this episode:
• [9:40] Ken Park’s advice for anyone who dreams of working in theme parks: Get your hands into as many pots as possible, be pleasant to work with, complete your tasks.
• [16:07] Planning for Knott’s Scary Farm’s 50th anniversary celebration
• [36:00] Newly-rethemed lands across so many Cedar Fair parks
• [38:00] Meet John Cooke, his start as a set carpenter
• [1:10:14] Ted Dougherty, author of The History of Knott’s Scary Farm 
• [1:48:42] Chris Do covers the new-this-year mazes
• [1:54:42] KC Gussler, show director of Music, Monsters and Mayhem
Learn more
www.plagueproductions.com 
plagueproductionsLA 
johnnyxplague
https://www.ultimatehaunt.com/the-book/ (the book is for sale at the Knott’s Marketplace)
Ted Dougherty’s Instagram: ultimatehaunt
Chris Do’s Instagram: heychrisss
Sources
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/knotts-scary-farm-inspired-halloween-17542070.php
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/08/01/knotts-scary-farm-teases-return-of-the-hanging-for-50th-anniversary-season/
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Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:

• Having an impact on the future of ACE
• Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
• Developing friendships in a small group
• Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
• Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
• Producer: Derek Perry
• Editors: Bob Randolph
• Show Notes: Liz Tan
• Project Manager: Corey Wooten 
 

Behind the Thrills: Inside Coaster Maintenance and Safety

Behind the Thrills: Inside Coaster Maintenance and Safety
The thrill of experiencing rides is based on the trust that comes from knowing that every park’s maintenance team works diligently to keep each ride safe for all riders.
When a ride or attraction has an incident, it’s sure to get a lot of negative attention. The less visible side of maintenance is the number of hours and the attention to detail that every park spends maintaining their most precious commodity: the safety of their park visitors.
Today, co-host John Davidson talks to Will Meldrum-Thush a Mechanical Engineer at Roush Entertainment Systems about the important work his team does to keep their rides safe for all guests to enjoy. Listen carefully for a pro tip about getting out of a B&M hyper coaster’s train!
In this episode:
[02:00] Introducing Will Meldrum-Thush, mechanical engineer at Roush Entertainment Systems 
[06:20] John recaps his Ice Breaker maintenance bay tour at SeaWorld Orlando
[08:10] Annual maintenance insights (spoiler: it’s VERY thorough!)
[18:30] Daily checks: Every bolt on every support
[25:20] Testing block zones and avoiding "bumper cars"
[26:53] Transition from manufacturer to park maintenance
[32:10] Complex coaster maintenance (i.e., flying coasters vs. hyper coasters) 
[36:55] Coaster operating costs
[38:15] Dealing with delays in operations 
[40:00] The secret behind one-train operations
[43:15] The key to coaster education 
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editors: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Project Manager: Corey Wooten 
Correspondent: Bryant Yeager 
Cover Photography: Andrew Pace, Anthony Saporito, and Rafael Larios
 

Gettin’ Ready for P’Sghetti + September News and Events

Not one, but two KID FLASH Cosmic Coasters are coming to Six Flags parks at the same time. We also review the September ACE events.
The 2022 IAAPA Expo included a lot of exciting announcements, including Skyline Attractions' news about building the family-friendly P’Sghetti Bowl coaster at two parks! The KID FLASH Cosmic Coaster is about to open at both Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. These coasters have a single rail track with in-house track fabrication, drive systems and more. Most notably to coaster enthusiasts, the restraints are comfortable for adults and children alike.
Co-host John Davidson met with Tyler Mullins, Design Engineer at Skyline Attractions to learn more about these new twin coasters. Want to learn more about what Skyline Attractions is working on?  Subscribe to Skyline Attractions’ free newsletter.
Our episode wraps up with two rundowns: ACE News and September events.  
In this episode:
Meet Tyler, he did an internship with Great Coasters International during his time at Ohio State (Go Bucks!!)
GCI has worked with Skyline to collaborate on a number of awesome coasters
Skyline is bringing family coasters to new spaces (zoos, family entertainment centers)
The track was assembled on site at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in just 17 days!
Baynum Solutions is helping with coaster assembly
The Trailrunner family coaster is the modern mine train
ACE News highlights
ACE September events rundown
See Tyler’s interview with ACE at IAAPA 2022
Read Skyline’s announcement about KID FLASH
Watch video of the track completion at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Listen to the EJ Hill’s Podcast episode that included Brake Run Helix at MASS MoCA
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan 
Project Manager: Corey Wooten

From Dial-up to Daring Drops: The Early Days of ACE

Before the days of social media, how did coaster enthusiasts connect? 
In this episode, we go back to the early days of the internet when ACE members first found each other online. Join co-host John Davidson as he speaks with three enthusiasts about the creative ways they connected through early online forums, shared dial-up images, and meeting in-person at theme parks.  
We'll chat with Bill Buckley (Controlling the Thrills with Irvine Ondrey Engineering); Rendell Bird, renowned ACE roller coaster model; and Dave Althoff, who has been answering coaster questions since the internet's infancy.
In some ways, ACE and the internet grew up together, with coaster enthusiasts finding each other by sharing slow-loading pictures of coasters while ACE members found each other in theme parks.  As ACE turns 45, we’ve been celebrating our history all year. 
Relive the nostalgia of the early internet and learn how it enabled a community for coaster enthusiasts across the world. Discover the connections that led to the founding of ACE 45 years ago!
In this episode:
Meet the group and learn of their history as they each share their internet and coaster enthusiast stories
Learn about rec.roller-coaster; in many ways the birthplace of theme park talk on the internet
Finding other enthusiasts online and sharing coaster photos in a pre-social media world
Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: podcast@aceonline.org. Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Join the team of ACE volunteers. Volunteering offers different ways to share your talents by:
Having an impact on the future of ACE
Providing opportunities for rewarding experiences
Developing friendships in a small group
Learning new skills or sharing your talents with ACE
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editors: Bob Randolph and Alex Monastersky
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Project Manager: Corey Wooten
Correspondent: Bryant Yeager

Unearthing the Secrets of Treasure Hunt: The Ride - Cannery Row’s Newest Immersive Attraction

Unearthing the Secrets of Treasure Hunt: The Ride
Embark on a thrilling journey as we dive deep into the immersive world of Treasure Hunt: The Ride. Located on the iconic Cannery Row in Monterey, California, this pirate-themed dark ride has taken the amusement world by storm, captivating both casual visitors and roller coaster aficionados.
In this episode, join our co-host Jessica Gardner as she engages in a lively discussion with the minds behind this attraction - John Wood, Rich Hill and Lauren Weaver from Sally Dark Rides, along with Ron Daniels from Daniels Woodland. Discover how this powerful partnership gave birth to a storytelling marvel that promises every coaster enthusiast visiting Monterey a treasured addition to their ride credits. 
Links 
Treasure Hunt Complete Reverse POV and Ron Daniels Interview
Treasure Hunt - An In-Depth Look At The Latest Sally Dark Ride Attraction At Monterey's Cannery Row" (ACE Feature)
Episode Highlights:
Behind the Magic: Get acquainted with the creative forces that brought "Treasure Hunt: The Ride" to life.
Location Insights: Unravel the mysteries of why Cannery Row was the ideal setting for this one-of-a-kind attraction.
Haunting News from Funtown Splashtown USA: Uncover the spine-chilling details of their new Haunted Hotel introduced on July 28.
Dive into Bikini Bottom: Catch a glimpse of the upcoming SpongeBob SquarePants attraction slated to make waves at Circus Circus, Las Vegas.
Origin Tales: Learn about the serendipitous meeting of the teams at IAAPA that sparked this collaboration.
We value your feedback and suggestions! Share your thoughts about this episode at podcast@aceonline.org. To delve deeper into the world of roller coasters and learn more about our mission, visit ridewithace.com.
Join the team of ACE volunteers: We invite you to join our vibrant team of volunteers. By becoming a part of ACE, you can:
Have an impact on the future of ACE
Relish in meaningful experiences that make a difference
Forge lasting bonds within a close-knit community
Enhance your skillset or impart your expertise to the organization 
Podcast Volunteer Team 
Hosts: Jessica Gardner and John Davidson
Producer: Derek Perry
Editor: Bob Randolph
Show Notes: Liz Tan
Project Manager: Corey Wooten