originally posted on 4/10/2019
Along with the freezing cold at Hersheypark for the beginning of 2019’s Eastcoaster came some unexpected good news: February 2 was also Groundhog Day, and Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow! That could mean an early spring and warm weather for park openings.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
As 221 attendees shivered into the Music Box Theater at Hersheypark, they awaited a day of speakers, vendors, auction offerings, bake sale treats and catching up with friends. All attendees received goodie bags at check in, along with their group 1 or 2 lunch assignments.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
At 10 a.m. co-host Derek Shaw began by naming this year’s event “Coldcoaster” in honor of the freezing weather outside the toasty theater. Host Hersheypark’s director of public relations, Quinn Bryner, was first up with a 2018 review and an announcement that Hersheypark is looking forward to being a co-host for ACE’s Coaster Con in 2020. As for current news: the carrousel turns 100 in 2019, Reese’s Cupfusion — a new dark ride/gaming experience from the Sally Corporation — debuts and visitors will use a temporary entrance to the park in 2019 because of the 2020 opening of Chocolatetown. Hershey’s new entrance area will include shops, restaurants, a new KISS fountain, a Starbucks and rides, including the carrousel and Hersheypark’s 15th roller coaster, about which more will be known later. One hint: it will be the “tallest, fastest, longest, and sweetest” in the park.
Quinn Bryner, Hersheypark.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
In Six Flags news, Denise Stokes and Kyle Croegaert reported that Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey) is introducing Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth, the world’s tallest pendulum ride. All Eastcoaster attendees received a fast pass card for one ride in 2019. Also new will be an addition at Hurricane Harbor: Calypso Springs, a 100,000-gallon pool that will include an obelisk-style fountain. Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California) sent a video from the “Coaster Capital of the Planet,” welcoming 2019 Coaster Con attendees; it included a promotion for their next coaster, West Coast Racers, a quadruple-launch coaster from Premier Rides, opening this year.
Denise Stokes, Joe Pudlick and Eileen Garcia reviewed Six Flags America’s 2018 season before updating attendees on the Bowie, Maryland, park’s 20th anniversary in 2019. Along with new food options, Apocalypse will be rethemed and renamed Firebird, with new trains. It will be the first and only floorless coaster in Maryland. The park is calling it “a new coaster experience,” not a new ride. The park’s Skycoaster will be closing, however.
Denise Stokes, Six Flags America.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Pudlick also presented for Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, which is opening Maxx Force from S&S Sansei Technologies. It will be the fastest launch coaster with the fastest inversion and the tallest double inversion of any coaster in the world. In other Six Flags news, Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, California) is opening Batman The Ride, another 4-D Free Fly coaster.
Paying his second visit to Eastcoaster was Phil Royle, development director of LEGOLAND, who updated attendees on progress at LEGOLAND New York, which will open in the spring or summer of 2020 near Goshen and be the largest LEGOLAND park in the world. Included will be a 250-room hotel on property and an aquarium, both of which will be open year round. As previously reported, a Dragon and Junior Dragon coaster from Zierer will debut with the park, and LEGOLAND’s season will run from April through November.
Jessi O’Daniel, public relations director at Kentucky Kingdom, brought news from the Louisville park and a welcome to all ACE members attending the ACE Preservation Conference at Kentucky Kingdom and Camden Park (Huntington, West Virginia) in May. In 2018 news, the Huss Enterprise was replaced by Scream Extreme, a flat ride similar in experience. 2019 will mark Kentucky Kingdom’s 30th anniversary and the debut of The Gravity Group’s Kentucky Flyer, the park’s sixth roller coaster. Owner Ed Hart, who is a history buff, found the airplane theme for the new coaster from World War II fighter planes.
Communications Director Elizabeth Ringas reviewed ACE’s 40th anniversary year in 2018 and updated attendees on the 2019 national events.
Where did the morning go? The first group exited for a delicious Thanksgiving-themed buffet-style lunch at Hersheypark’s employee cafeteria. Those left behind could cheat and eat dessert first by visiting Chris Smilek and the volunteers at the Bake Sale table, chill out and watch videos, visit the vendors and chat with friends.
Chris Smilek helps at the bake sale table.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Although many enthusiasts are familiar with the acronym IAAPA and the IAAPA Expo, not everyone is aware that it stands for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. The first speaker after lunch, IAAPA’s vice president of North American operations, John Hallenbeck, provided an overview of IAAPA’s many involvements in the amusement industry, the IAAPA Foundation, the three IAAPA Expos and the types of members and facilities that constitute this international organization.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
After a break for door prizes, Tana Bartek-Korpics, manager of public relations and communication at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom (Allentown, Pennsylvania), reviewed 2018 accomplishments at the Cedar Fair Parks before moving on to what’s new for 2019. Presented were Copperhead Strike at Carowinds (Charlotte, North Carolina), Yukon Striker at Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughan, Ontario) and Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island at Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio). As for Dorney, except for welcoming ACE as co-hosts for Coaster Con 43, we’ll have to wait to find out what’s next.
Wes Ramey, senior public relations manager at Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee), brought photos and the back story behind Wildwood Grove, the largest addition in Dollywood’s history. Of its 11 themed attractions, six will be new rides, one of them being Dragon Flier, a Vekoma suspended coaster.
From Kennywood, Nick Paradise brought news of The Steel Curtain, the West Mifflin park’s much-anticipated hypercoaster from S&S Sansei Technologies, and its record-breaking nine inversions. The Steel Curtain will be part of Steelers Country, a new themed area created in a partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers, that will include games and activities aimed to “make our guests the star,” as Paradise explained. Additional Kennywood news covered new pavilion plans, Thomas Town updates, and Merry Go Round horse restorations.
Always popular presenters, Dick, Rick and Brian Knoebel and Stacy Ososkie announced that Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, Pennsylvania) couldn’t be happier about the park’s three 2018 Golden Ticket Awards (Best Wood Coaster, Best Carousel, Best Food). Dick Knoebel’s summary: “Best thing that happened: Phoenix got number one wood coaster; worst thing that happened: it never stopped raining.” The 2018 exclusive enthusiast event that precedes the Phoenix Phall Phunfest attracted a record 527 attendees, and 2019’s event is already scheduled. In other news, Over the Top both opened and closed in 2018, and Downdraft will be replaced by another ride from Battech.
Dick, Rick and Brian Knoebel.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Steven Amos from Give Kids The World was up next to talk about the organization’s village in Orlando and its programs that provide memorable vacations for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. ACE’s Twitter coordinator, David Lipnicky, joined him to talk about Coasting for Kids, which is making a comeback in 2019. Events are still being added with 16 parks so far, so look for one at a local park.
A new presenter at Eastcoaster was Fun Land of Fredericksburg, a family entertainment center (FEC) in Virginia. General Manager (and ACE member) Clint Novak brought goodie bags for everyone that included a Fun Land pass, and he thanked those who visited during Coaster Con 41. The year-round FEC offers 18 rides and attractions, including Twist-N-Shout (an SBF Visa spinning coaster) and more than 100 games. A $1.2 million go kart track will open in 2019.
Clint Novak, Fun Land of Fredericksburg.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Another first-time presenter was General Manager Jeff Davis from Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, which will open at the American Dream megamall near the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In addition to amusement and shopping attractions, Dreamworks Water Park will be added, plus an ice rink and minigolf. Of the coasters planned, each will have a custom train: Nickelodeon Slime Streak (Chance Rides), Sandy's Blasting Bronco (Intamin), The Shredder (Gerstlauer spinning coaster) and (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle) TMNT Shellraiser (Gerstlauer), which will have the steepest drop in the world. No opening date is set for the entire facility, but the first phase is scheduled to debut in late summer 2019.
Jeff Davis, American Dream.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Natasha Betts, American Dream.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Last but certainly not least was the perennial Eastcoaster closer, Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. CEO Tom Rebbie, who was accompanied to the podium by his assistant (and daughter), Janine Rebbie Matscherz. The firm has been busy with rehab projects for coasters at Kemah Boardwalk, Six Flags America, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Cedar Point and Lake Winnepesaukah, to name a few. In addition to being amused at Rebbie’s humorous “Things I See” collection of photographs, attendees laughed at his video “Thursdays with Tom,” which showed him delivering employee paychecks in a bumper car.
Tom Rebbie, CEO of Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Before closing down another successful Eastcoaster, Matscherz announced the auction totals, the proceeds of which will go to various ACE funds: $3,715 from the auctions, $1,230 from a Dollywood vacation raffle and $754 from the bake sale. An update from Smilek on bake sale totals: generous donations from Dan and Jill Ryan and Tom Rebbie brought the grand total for the 2019 bake sale to $2,200! Thanks to all who participated.
Friday tour of Hersheypark maintenance areas.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
And with another thank you to all the volunteers from Shaw and a reminder about the Chocolate World tour the following morning, the 2019 Eastcoaster came to an end. Thanks go to Hersheypark for being a gracious host and to the ACE Eastern Pennsylvania regional rep team and all the presenters for a fun winter event.
— Lee Ann Draud
ACE publications director
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