American Coaster Enthusiasts

American Coaster Enthusiasts
Founded 1978
Location
Members
over 5,000
Website www.aceonline.org

American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a non-profit organization focusing on the enjoyment, knowledge, and preservation of roller coasters as well as recognition of some as architectural and engineering landmarks.[1] Dues paying members receive the quarterly magazine RollerCoaster! and bi-monthly newsletter ACE News.[2] Amusement parks have also invited members to exclusive ride events at amusement parks as well as sneak peek events at new roller coasters under construction.[3]

The organization maintains an online database of roller coasters including ride specifications and archives of published news articles. The club also recognizes of historically significant roller coasters with Coaster Classic and ACE Roller Coaster Landmark statuses.

History

Organization founders Roy Brashears, Paul Greenwald and Richard Munch met at a roller coaster riding marathon event promoting of the 1977 movie Rollercoaster at the Rebel Yell roller coaster (now titled Racer 75) at Kings Dominion amusement park in Doswell, Virginia. The three discovered they shared the same passion for roller coasters and decided to form a club that would allow others that shared the same interests to join. They organized Coaster Con I the following year at Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park in June 1978. On the final day of the event during a business meeting, the name American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) was chosen as the club's name. Coaster Con events have been held annually ever since [4]

Structure

The organization is almost entirely run by volunteers, with the exception of an independent contractor who runs certain day-to-day operations regarding mailings, receipt of event payment/membership dues and merchandise. ACE members are required to pay annual membership dues that are available in individual, couple, family and corporate packages. The organization fulfills one of its primary goals of providing education through its publications.[5] Other goals include promoting the conservation, appreciation, and enjoyment of roller coasters and their place in history as architectural and engineering landmarks.[6]

ACE is governed by an executive committee of five officers and six directors. Four of the officer positions are directly elected and one indirectly elected by the club's membership. These officers are the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Immediate Past President. The six directors are appointed by the president and approved by a majority vote of the remaining officers.[7] The Regional Representation Director, oversees a system of ACE regions, which sponsors events and publishes regional websites and newsletters.

ACE Regions

  • California Northern
  • California Southern (including Hawaii)
  • Canada (except British Columbia)
  • England (including Ireland and the United Kingdom)
  • Florida
  • Heart of America (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and southern Illinois)
  • Michigan
  • Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia)
  • Midwest (Indiana, Kentucky, parts of West Virginia)
  • New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont)
  • New Jersey
  • New York City
  • New York State (except New York City)
  • North Central (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota)
  • Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington)
  • Ohio Northern
  • Ohio Southern
  • Pennsylvania Eastern
  • Pennsylvania Western (including parts of West Virginia)
  • South Central (Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas)
  • Southeast (Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee)
  • Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming)
  • Western Great Lakes (Wisconsin and northern Illinois)

Events

The national organization sponsors the annual Coaster Con convention, international tours, seasonal conferences, and a conference focused on coaster preservation.

Coaster Con

Coaster Con, usually features one to as many as six theme parks where exclusive ride time is made available to members on selected coasters outside of times when the park is open to the public. Coaster Con also features photo and video contests, carnival games competitions, as well as an annual business meeting, banquet (with presentations, awards, industry keynote speaker, and auction to benefit ACE's funds), workshops, discussion groups, displays, and memorabilia sales tables.

No. Dates Host parks
Past Coaster Con events
I 1978 Busch Gardens Williamsburg (known at the time as Busch Gardens, The Old Country)
II 1979 Kings Island
III 1980 Kennywood
IV 1981 Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags AstroWorld, (Houston, TX), Fair Park, (Dallas, TX)
V 1982 Hersheypark
VI 1983 Elitch Gardens, Lakeside Amusement Park (Denver, CO)
VII 1984 Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canadian National Exhibition, Seabreeze Amusement Park, (Rochester, NY)
VIII 1985 Lincoln Park (Dartmouth, Massachusetts), Rocky Point Amusement Park, (Warwick, RI) Whalom Park, (Lunenburg, MA), Mountain Park (Holyoke, Massachusetts)
IX 1986 Six Flags Over Georgia, Lake Winnepesaukah (Rossville, GA)
X 1987 Six Flags Magic Mountain, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, California's Great America (Santa Clara, CA)
XI 1988 Geauga Lake, Cedar Point, Boblo Island Amusement Park
XII 1989 Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Clementon Lake Park (Clementon, NJ)
XIII June 1990 Six Flags Over Texas, Wonderland Park (Texas) (Amarillo, TX)
XIV June 1991 Kennywood
XV June 1992 Kings Dominion
XVI June 1993 Worlds of Fun, (Kansas City, MO) Joyland Amusement Park (Wichita)
XVII June 1994 Belmont Park (San Diego), Six Flags Magic Mountain, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, California's Great America
XVIII June 1995 Carowinds, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, (Myrtle Beach, SC) Myrtle Beach Pavilion
XIX June 1996 Lakeside Amusement Park (Denver, CO)
XX June 1997 Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens Williamsburg
XXI June 1998 Kennywood, Idlewild, Sandcastle Waterpark (Homestead, PA)
XXII June 1999 Six Flags Fiesta Texas, (San Antonio, TX) SeaWorld San Antonio
XXIII June 2000 Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, (Louisville, KY) Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
XXIV June 2001 Hersheypark, (Hershey, PA) Williams Grove Amusement Park, (Mechanicsburg, PA) Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, (Allentown, PA) Philadelphia Toboggan Company, (Hatfield, PA)
XXV June 2002 Six Flags Magic Mountain, (Santa Clarita, CA) Adventure City, (Anaheim, CA) Knott's Berry Farm (Buena Park, CA)
XXVI June 2003 Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Kings Dominion (Doswell, VA)
XXVII June 20–26, 2004 Cedar Point, (Sandusky, OH) Memphis Kiddie Park (Brooklyn, OH), Geauga Lake (Aurora, OH)
XXVIII June 19–24, 2005 Six Flags Great America, (Gurnee, IL) Little Amerricka, (Marshall, WI) Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, (Wisconsin Dells, WI)
XXIX June 18–24, 2006 Disney's Animal Kingdom (Lake Buena Vista, FL), Disney's Hollywood Studios (Lake Buena Vista, FL), Old Town (Kissimmee, FL), Magic Kingdom (Lake Buena Vista, FL), Cypress Gardens, (Winter Haven, FL), Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Tampa, FL)
XXX June 17–23, 2007 Kings Island, (Mason, OH), Stricker's Grove, (Ross, OH) Holiday World & Splashin' Safari (Santa Claus, IN), Beech Bend Park (Bowling Green, KY)
XXXI June 15–20, 2008 Six Flags Over Georgia (Austell GA), Wild Adventures (Valdosta, GA)
XXXII June 21–26, 2009 Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO), Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, MO)
XXXIII June 20–25, 2010 Kennywood (West Mifflin, PA), Idlewild and Soak Zone (Ligonier, PA), Conneaut Lake Park (Conneaut Lake, PA), Waldameer Park (Erie, PA)
XXXIV June 19–22, 2011 Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington, TX), Sandy Lake Park (Carrollton, TX)
XXXV June 17–22, 2012 Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, TN), Carowinds (Charlotte, NC)
XXXVI June 16–21, 2013 Six Flags New England (Agawam, MA), Canobie Lake Park (Salem, NH), Funtown Splashtown USA (Saco, ME), Palace Playland (Old Orchard Beach, ME)
XXXVII June 15–20, 2014 California's Great America (Santa Clara, CA), Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA), Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Santa Cruz, CA), Gilroy Gardens (Gilroy, CA)
XXXVIII June 21–26, 2015 Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ) Morey's Piers (Wildwood, NJ) Storybook Land (Egg Harbor Township, NJ)
XXXIX June 19–23, 2016 Six Flags St. Louis (Eureka, MO) Holiday World & Splashin' Safari (Santa Claus, IN)
XL June 18–22, 2017 Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio, Texas), SeaWorld San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas) and ZDT's Amusement Park (Seguin, Texas)
Upcoming Coaster Con events
XLI June 17–22, 2018 Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Va.), Kings Dominion (Doswell, Va.) and Six Flags America (Woodmore, Md.)
XLII June 16-21, 2019 Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA) and Knott's Berry Farm (Buena Park, CA)
XLIII[8] 2020 Hersheypark (Hershey, Pennsylvania), Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, Pennsylvania), Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom (Allentown, Pennsylvania), Dutch Wonderland (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

Awards

ACE Coasters Classics

The ACE Coaster Classic award was developed during a period when changes in the design, equipping, and operation of wood coasters threatened to erase these time-honored experiences and rituals. The award is designed to recognize coasters that still adhere to these principles, while allowing riders to safely experience the thrill of the classic wooden roller coaster ride. To be eligible for ACE Coaster Classic status, the coaster must meet the following criteria:[9]

  • Traditional lap bars that allow riders to experience so-called airtime, or negative G's, the sensation of floating above the seat, must be installed. Individual, ratcheting lap bars do not meet this requirement.
  • Riders must be able to slide from side-to-side in their seats. A coaster with any restraint or device that restricts this freedom, like seat dividers between riders, does not meet this requirement.
  • Riders must be able to view upcoming drops and thrills. A coaster with headrests on every seat or the majority of seats that restrict this view does not meet this requirement.
  • Riders must be free to choose where they sit. A coaster where riders are assigned seats before boarding does not meet this requirement.

The amusement park or theme park operating a coaster that is recognized as a Coaster Classic is usually presented a custom plaque. The plaque typically states:

It has been noted, however, that most coasters usually have disqualifying ratcheting lap bars, seat dividers and head rests to prevent people from trying to stand up during ride. For example, Rolling Thunder at Six Flags Great Adventure had buzz bars which meet traditional lap bar Coaster Classic requirements, but it is not a classic because of headrests and seat dividers being added in 1981 to prevent people from standing up during the ride.[10]

Coaster Park Opened Awarded Status
Big Dipper Camden Park 1958 Unknown Operating
Blue Flyer Blackpool Pleasure Beach 1934 Unknown Operating
Blue Streak Conneaut Lake Park 1938 May 29, 1993 Operating
Classic Coaster Puyallup Fair and Events Center 1935 Unknown Operating
Comet Waldameer Park 1951 Unknown Operating
Cyclone Lakeside Amusement Park May 17, 1940 Unknown Operating
Cyclone Luna Park, Coney Island June 26, 1927 Unknown Operating
Cyclone Williams Grove Amusement Park 1933 Unknown Closed
High Roller Valleyfair 1976 Unknown Operating
Hochschaubahn Wiener Prater 1950 Unknown Operating
Hullámvasút Vidámpark 1926 Unknown Standing but not operating
Jack Rabbit Kennywood 1920 Unknown Operating
Kiddy Coaster Playland Park 1928 Unknown Operating
Leap-The-Dips Lakemont Park 1902 Unknown Operating
Lil' Dipper Camden Park 1961 Unknown Operating
Little Dipper Six Flags Great America Built 1950, relocated 2010 Unknown Operating
Meteor Little Amerricka Built 1953, relocated 2003, 2007 Unknown Operating
Montaña Suiza Parque de Atracciones Monte Igueldo 1928 Not yet presented Operating
Nickelodeon Streak Blackpool Pleasure Beach 1933 Unknown Operating
Nightmare Joyland June 12, 1949 Unknown Demolished 2015
Roller Coaster Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach 1932 Unknown Operating
Rollo Coaster Idlewild and Soak Zone 1938 Unknown Operating
Rutschebanen Tivoli Gardens 1914 Unknown Operating
Scenic Railway Luna Park, Melbourne 1912 Unknown Operating
Sea Dragon Jungle Jack's Landing 1956 Unknown Operating
Teddy Bear Stricker's Grove 1996 Unknown Operating
Thunderbolt Kennywood 1924 Unknown Operating
Tomahawk PortAventura Park March 17, 1997 Not yet presented Operating
Vuoristorata Linnanmäki July 13, 1951 Unknown Operating
Wooden Roller Coaster Playland (Vancouver) 1958 Unknown Operating
Zach's Zoomer Michigan's Adventure July 22, 1994 Unknown Operating

Coaster Landmark

In 2002, ACE introduced the Roller Coaster Landmark award. The award is designed to recognize coasters of historic significance that may not qualify for ACE Coaster Classic status.[11]

An ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Award plaque for Magnum XL-200, the world's first hypercoaster
The ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Award awarded to The Racer at Kings Island
An ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Award plaque located outside The Comet at Great Escape
Coaster Park Opened Awarded Status
Batman: The Ride Six Flags Great America May 2, 1992 June 20, 2005 Operating
The Beast Kings Island April 14, 1979 October 2, 2004 Operating
Big Dipper Geauga Lake 1925 Never presented Demolished 2016
Blue Streak Conneaut Lake Park 1938 June 24, 2010 Operating
Cannon Ball Lake Winnepesaukah May 1967 May 20, 2017 Operating
Classic Coaster Washington State Fair 1935 September 2013 Operating
The Comet Great Escape Built 1948, relocated 1994 September 13, 2009 Operating
Coney Island Cyclone Luna Park June 26, 1927 June 29, 2002 Operating
Corkscrew Silverwood Theme Park Built 1975, relocated 1990 August 27, 2011 Operating
Cyclone Lakeside Amusement Park May 17, 1940 August 2, 2003 Operating
Dragon Coaster Playland (New York) 1929 August 8, 2009 Operating
Giant Dipper Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk May 17, 1924 May 5, 2007 Operating
Giant Dipper Belmont Park (San Diego) July 4, 1925 April 23, 2010 Operating
Great American Scream Machine Six Flags Over Georgia March 31, 1973 May 21, 2017 Operating
Jack Rabbit Seabreeze Amusement Park 1920 August 15, 2015 Operating
Jack Rabbit Kennywood 1920 June 21, 2010 Operating
Kiddy Coaster Playland (New York) May 26, 1928 July 28, 2018 Operating
Leap-The-Dips Lakemont Park 1902 May 26, 2002 Operating
Legend Arnolds Park June 8, 1930 August 6, 2006 Operating
Loch Ness Monster Busch Gardens Williamsburg May 20, 1978 June 17, 2003 Operating
Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point May 6, 1989 June 21, 2004 Operating
Matterhorn Bobsleds Disneyland June 14, 1959 Not yet presented Operating
Mind Bender Six Flags Over Georgia March 31, 1978 June 17, 2008 Operating
Montaña Rusa La Feria Chapultepec Mágico October 24, 1964 April 22, 2017 Operating
Phoenix Knoebels Built 1948, relocated 1985 October 8, 2005 Operating
The Racer Kings Island April 29, 1972 June 18, 2007 Operating
Racer Kennywood 1927 June 21, 2010 Operating
The Raven Holiday World May 6, 1995 June 23, 2016 Operating
Racer 75 Kings Dominion May 8, 1975 June 20, 2003 Operating
The New Revolution Six Flags Magic Mountain May 8, 1976 June 16, 2002 Operating
Roller Coaster Lagoon Amusement Park May 28, 1921 July 30, 2005 Operating
Runaway Mine Train Six Flags Over Texas August 1966 September 9, 2006 Operating
Screamin' Eagle Six Flags St. Louis 1976 June 21, 2016 Operating
Swamp Fox Family Kingdom Amusement Park 1966 April 29, 2016 Operating
Thunderbolt Kennywood Built (as Pippin) 1924, rebuilt 1968 July 27, 2014 Operating
Thunderbolt Six Flags New England 1941 August 2, 2008 Operating
Whizzer Six Flags Great America 1976 August 10, 2012 Operating
Wildcat Lake Compounce 1927 August 1, 2008 Operating
Thunderbolt Kennywood Built (as Pippin) 1924, rebuilt 1968 July 27, 2014 Operating
The Wild One Six Flags America 1917 (as The Giant Coaster), rebuilt 1932 and 1963, relocated 1986 June 18, 2018 Operating
Wooden Roller Coaster Playland (Vancouver) 1958 July 11, 2009 Operating
Yankee Cannonball Canobie Lake Park 1930 June 20, 2013 Operating

Golden Age Coaster

The Golden Age Coaster award, a prequel to the Roller Coaster Landmark award, was established to recognize significant roller coasters that were built during the 1920s. Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk received the Golden Age Coaster award in addition to the Roller Coaster Landmark award. Giant Dipper at Belmont Park (San Diego) also received the Golden Age Coaster award.[12]

Preservation

ACE takes an active role in the preservation of endangered roller coasters. Since 1985, the club has either directly or indirectly helped save more than half a dozen. One of the most notable include the Phoenix located at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. The wooden coaster was relocated from Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas. Another the organization saved was Leap the Dips, the world's oldest operating wooden coaster, located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In addition to preservation, some parks have also sought the opinions of ACE members regarding roller coaster design, as was the case with The Legend at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana.

References

  1. ↑ Munch, Richard (1982), Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror, Mentor, Ohio: Amusement Park Books, p. 176, ISBN 0-935408-02-9
  2. ↑ Cartmel, Robert (1987), The Incredible Scream Machine, A History of the Roller Coaster, Fairview Park, Ohio: Amusement Park Books, p. 191, ISBN 0-87972-341-6
  3. ↑ Seltz, Amanda (December 7, 2013). "Coaster enthusiasts get sneak peek of 'Banshee'". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ Rutherford, Scott (2000), The American Roller Coaster, Osceola, Wisconsin: MBI Publishing Company, p. 120, ISBN 0-7603-0689-3
  5. ↑ Cartmel, Robert (1987), The Incredible Scream Machine, A History of the Roller Coaster, Fairview Park, Ohio: Amusement Park Books, p. 191, ISBN 0-87972-341-6
  6. ↑ Munch, Richard (1982), Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror, Mentor, Ohio: Amusement Park Books, p. 176, ISBN 0-935408-02-9
  7. ↑ Constitution and Bylaws http://www.aceonline.org/constitution/
  8. ↑ "Are big things happening in Hersheypark's future?". Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  9. ↑ Coaster Awards http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=1
  10. ↑ Rolling Thunder (roller coaster)#Trains
  11. ↑ Coaster Awards http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=3
  12. ↑ Coaster Awards http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=2
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