American Coaster Enthusiasts
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Founded | 1978 |
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Location |
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Members | over 5,000 |
Website | www |
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:
THE AMERICAN COASTER ENTHUSIASTS RECOGNIZES THIS COASTER AS AN ACE COASTER CLASSIC.
ACE salutes this park for maintaining this coaster as an American treasure in its purest form. We congratulate you for the use of traditional materials, methods and equipment, which are fundamental to the classic wooden roller coaster experience.
ACE commends this park for operating this coaster in the traditional manner so that future generations may enjoy its classic thrills and its enduring popularity.
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]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/ACE-landmark-magnum.jpg/200px-ACE-landmark-magnum.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Racer_%28Kings_Island%29_ACE_Coaster.jpg/200px-Racer_%28Kings_Island%29_ACE_Coaster.jpg)
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
- ^ Munch, Richard (1982), Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror, Mentor, Ohio: Amusement Park Books, p. 176, ISBN 0-935408-02-9
- ^ 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
- ^ Seltz, Amanda (December 7, 2013). "Coaster enthusiasts get sneak peek of 'Banshee'". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ Rutherford, Scott (2000), The American Roller Coaster, Osceola, Wisconsin: MBI Publishing Company, p. 120, ISBN 0-7603-0689-3
- ^ 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
- ^ Munch, Richard (1982), Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror, Mentor, Ohio: Amusement Park Books, p. 176, ISBN 0-935408-02-9
- ^ Constitution and Bylaws http://www.aceonline.org/constitution/
- ^ "Are big things happening in Hersheypark's future?". Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ^ Coaster Awards http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=1
- ^ Rolling Thunder (roller coaster)#Trains
- ^ Coaster Awards http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=3
- ^ Coaster Awards http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=2
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) (Official website)