originally posted on 10/12/2019
Photo: Ken Riling. View full-sized image.
Summer may have been winding down, but it’s not over until ACE Western Pennsylvania and Western New York Coaster Club (WNYCC) spend a weekend at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake and Waldameer Park & Water World in Erie for their joint event Flying High With a Blue Streak. Visits to these two traditional western Pennsylvania parks are always a treat, but a bonus was the 70-degree sunny weather that welcomed the 51 attendees who checked in at the Blue Streak pavilion at Conneaut Lake Park on Saturday, August 24. Of note was that the park, waterpark and lake area were crowded with visitors, and the bumper car building had been brightened up with a creative paint job.
The schedule at Conneaut is usually fairly open until the evening dinner, but this year informal takeover times (ITOTs) were scheduled throughout the day on some popular rides: Tumble Bug, Bessemer and Lake Erie Miniature Train, Ferris wheel, Carousel and Flying Scooters. Also new for 2019 was a scavenger hunt. At registration, attendees were given a sheet of paper that showed parts of structures, rides and “things” at the park to be identified. The prize: a season pass to Conneaut Lake Park! A favorite afternoon activity at this event is miniature golf. Groups of attendees formed teams to play Conneaut’s challenging course — especially the waterfall hole. You will get wet!
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
At 5 p.m. everyone gathered again at the Blue Streak pavilion for a delicious dinner of pasta, sides and brownies. Lenny Adams, the park’s tireless maintenance manager and park cheerleader, thanked attendees for coming and posed with the park’s mascot, Connie Otter (aka one of his daughters). Connie’s escort was none other than his other daughter! Because at least six submissions identified all the scavenger hunt photos correctly, Adams had to draw for the season pass winner: WNYCC Webmaster Bob Wheeler (who handled registration for the event) and Membership Director Yvonne Wheeler, who submitted a joint entry.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
After the park closed at 8 p.m., attendees had an hour of ERT to enjoy Devil’s Den, Tumble Bug and the ride that gave this event its name: the ACE Coaster Classic and ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Blue Streak. After some crazy-in-the-dark wild rides, those who stayed till the end got to help Adams and crew move Blue Streak's train to its transfer track for the night.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Another beautiful, bright day greeted attendees at Waldameer on Sunday morning, along with the doughnuts and coffee graciously supplied by the park. ERT began at 11 a.m. with an hour on both the Herbert Schmeck-designed ACE Coaster Classic Comet and Whacky Shack, which will celebrate 50 years in 2020. The addition of Whacky Shack to the morning ERT was much appreciated because the Bill Tracey dark ride always has a long line. More ITOTs were scheduled at Waldameer: Sky-Ride, XScream, Flying Swings, L. Ruth Express train and Merry-Go-Round.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
The Lakeview Grove Picnic Shelter, which had been the station for the original John Miller/Harry Baker Ravine Flyer, built in 1922, and the inspiration for the current Ravine Flyer II, was also the location for a hearty lunch. While chowing down on burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, sides, ice cream and soft drinks, attendees listened to a welcome from WNYCC Interclub Liaison Geff Ford, who served as the event's coordinator, and Regional Representative Bill Linkenheimer III, who thanked the WNYCC and Waldameer on behalf of ACE Western Pennsylvania. Lucky winners of a random numbers contest took home various Waldameer signs and Ravine Flyer II seatbelts.
Before summarizing plans for 2020, Waldameer President Steve Gorman told a few stories about amusing things that happened in the park during the past season and off-season, the most memorable one being about the “skunk whisperer.” (Be sure to ask him.)
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Each year Waldameer alternates major and minor additions to both the amusement park and waterpark. In 2020, the waterpark will feature a new 48-foot-tall six-lane speed slide that will be called Rally Racer. Amusement park visitors will see a new, SBF-Visa spinning coaster, the name currently undetermined. Park Owner Paul Nelson pointed out that three generations of the family were now working at the park and that the park invests approximately $5 million every year in improvements.
The remaining official item on the schedule besides evening ERT was the walkback tour of the hill and property behind Ravine Flyer II, which someday will be developed by the park.
As always, Flying High with a Blue Streak closed out with nighttime ERT on Ravine Flyer II, The Gravity Group coaster that is the embodiment of flying high. Hurtling down the hills and crossing the highway twice, riders are out of their seats careening through the tunnels and banked turns — all in Lake Erie darkness and at speeds that seem much greater than the coaster’s estimated 57 mph. It was a wild ending to a beautiful and fun-filled weekend.
Thanks to the volunteers from both organizations for their planning and to Conneaut Lake Park and Waldameer for their hospitality.
— Lee Ann Draud
ACE Publications Director
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