originally posted on 3/5/2021
Regional Representative Jeffrey Peters welcomes the virtual audience to No Coaster Con 2021.
Photo: Randy Geisler. View full-sized image.
On February 13, 2021, the 40th annual No Coaster Con midwinter event ably triumphed, this year virtually with the proceedings run out of a control-media conference room at the usual host site, the Hyatt Place Hotel near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. However, instead of the hotel conference room being crowded by over 150 attendees, everyone linked in virtually this year (necessary because gathering together in person wasn’t possible in this pandemic).
Hosted by the ACE Western Great Lakes region, this year’s event was headed by Jeffrey Peters (conference coordinator), John Byrne (digital media coordinator) and Jeremy Wdowicki and Stacy Seacord-Peters (conference moderators) — all of whom handled the setting-up and running of the day’s webinar/Zoom meeting technicalities.
John Byrne
Photos: Randy Geisler. View full-sized image.
Marty Moltz
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This year’s No Coaster Con happily attracted 258 attendees, drawing from 28 states, and internationally as well (with enthusiasts from Canada, Chile, Germany and Ireland).
The No Coaster Con coordinators were able to fill the program with multiple presenters, 29 individuals offering 21 presentations in all, packed into a tightly run, nine-hour program, pulled off blessedly with only a few technical glitches, and all hosted amiably by the always entertaining jokemeister and long-serving host (his 37th year) Marty Moltz, with an occasional MC-assist from Byrne and Peters.
By way of introduction, Moltz mentioned that this year’s No Coaster Con represented the largest collection of International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) members ever brought in on behalf of an ACE get-together at any of the club’s events.
Dollywood
Public Relations Manager Wes Ramsey from Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee) discussed the park’s 2020 year, noting it did open on June 15 for the 35th season with over 700 changes made in park operation because of COVID-19, from temperature checks, masks, and hand sanitizers. Dollywood was able to hold a flower and food festival (with 500,000 plants at the park), an Everyday Heroes Appreciation Day, their Harvest Festival, some concerts (outdoors) and finally inside-theater concerts during the Christmas season. Addressing the pandemic, the park contributed to local food ministries, created masks, and Dolly Parton contributed $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center as it was researching COVID-19 and developing vaccines.
Next, Ramey introduced a “special guest,” Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Pete Owens, who had nicely situated himself in front of the park’s Lightning Rod coaster running with a train coursing over the ride behind him (virtually, as you might expect, although Owens did wear an actual hardhat to complete the illusion that he was out at the park). Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) has redone two-thirds of the coaster with its IBox (steel beam) track, leaving one-third still the original Topper Track. Owens noted the coaster will open with the park this year and said the dynamic nature of Lightning Rod will be different now: “You’ll almost think in some places it’s a brand-new ride.”
Owens mentioned that Dollywood is considering its next roller coaster attraction, saying that it might be by a manufacturer they haven’t used before, adding that they are looking at all manufacturers.
Pete Owens’ presentation for the National Roller Coaster Museum highlighted its progress.
All screen shots Courtesy Zoom Meetings. View full-sized image.
What About the National Roller Coaster Museum?
Owens used the No Coaster Con event to update attendees on the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives in Plainview, Texas (for which he is a board member). The Mark Moore wing has been built. New acquisitions include a section of Flying Turns trough track from Knoebels, trains and track from Volcano: The Blast Coaster from Kings Dominion, even a track section from Dollywood’s Lightning Rod and a Philadelphia Toboggan Company Jack Rabbit train. The museum continues to work on setting up exhibits, having recently completed displays showing off sooperdooperLooper and Texas Cyclone track sections with their trains. Displays now being built include a Wild Mouse cars display.
Owens added that members can donate to the museum at rollercoastermuseum.org/donate, shop online at smile.amazon.com and select NRCMA or volunteer time submitting/cataloging photos or videos.
ACE President Robert Ulrich
ACE President Robert Ulrich reviewed this year’s national ACE events (which can be viewed on ACE’s website). He shared that a members’ survey would be sent out in the spring covering several topics. Part of that survey will ask about interest in an international trip in 2022.
Finally, Ulrich urged members to stay connected and to follow, like and share (and remember to tag ACE) at #RideWithACE, #ShareYourMoments and #ACEMasksUp.
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Charitable ACE Cares Successes
As for the ACE Cares initiative (which informs and focuses on different opportunities to give back to various charities through events at parks), Coordinator Adam Napotnik stated the many plans made for 2020 proved challenging, owing to the pandemic. In spite of that, ACE Cares ended up with an extremely successful year, courtesy of all the volunteer hard work and all those who donated money and participated in events.
In total, four events (e.g., Coasting for Kids) raised $50,788 in 2020 for the Make A Wish Foundation/Give Kids The World — with ACE Cares teams responsible for $11,606 of that, and thus was the top fundraising team for all events. Napotnik thanked Steve Amos and his staff at Give Kids The World Village and his ACE Cares team (Kris Leach, Jeff Niemiec and David Lipnicky). ACEers who want to get involved should contact anyone on the ACE Cares team.
Kings Island
Don Helbig, area manager of digital marketing at Kings Island (KI, Mason, Ohio) and long-time coaster-riding and KI enthusiast, remarked that going into 2020, the park anticipated an amazing year, what with the debut of Orion, their new Bolliger & Mabillard steel coaster. Despite the pandemic, Orion opened to rave reviews and quickly became a favorite of guests, with the coaster offering different experiences in day versus night, similar to The Beast.
Helbig’s presentation showed progress on the track work being done to The Racer. View full-sized image.
In 2021, the park’s iconic Racer woodie is undergoing some retracking. Some of the work is being done in-house by KI’s carpenters, but the park has partnered with The Gravity Group to oversee the work. The course is being worked on from the base of the first drop to the base of the turnaround on both tracks.
Zamperla
Adam Sandy, roller coaster sales and marketing director for Zamperla, noted the firm has historically produced 150 to 200 rides a year, with more than 150 coasters sold in the last 10 years, and offers 24 different roller coaster models. Its goal is to be an innovator, not a duplicator. In Sandy’s opinion, Zamperla’s next step into its future started in 2013 with the creation of Thunderbolt at Luna Park in Brooklyn, which went from concept to opening in less than a year. Although the ride was not as smooth and fun as the company would have liked, that was when Zamperla started reevaluating its approach to coasters.
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View full-sized image.
Next Zamperla was awarded a contract for Universal Singapore and created the Nineinverted Coaster model, an inverted family coaster named Puss in Boots’ Giant Journey at Singapore, which the park was very pleased with. With the demands placed upon them by Universal, Zamperla rethought its manufacturing and design process. Between 2016 and 2019, the company provided the Super Twister model (named Tom and Jerry Swiss Cheese Spin) at Warner Brothers Abu Dhabi; Factory Coaster at Wuxi Sunac Land in China, with its vertical drop track and reverse launch; and Relampo (a Thunderbird model coaster) at Mundo Petapa (Guatemala City).
For 2021, Zamperla has a Twister coaster (Sidewinder Safari) opening at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo California), a Family Gravity Coaster at Bollywood Park Dubai (Taxi #1) and Dragon’s Apprentice at the new Legoland New York Resort. The new flume and Junior Coaster planned for Luna Park will hopefully open in 2021.
Sandy stated that Zamperla really appreciates the support of ACE, as do its clients, both as a coaster manufacturer and as the owner of Luna Park at Coney Island. ACEers should feel free to share their pictures/videos of any of the company’s rides and doing so will enter them in a contest to earn some Zamperla swag.
Brad Malone, Six Flags Over Texas. View full-sized image.
Six Flags Over Texas
Marketing and Communications Manager Brad Malone noted the legendary Six Flags flagship park (Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington) is celebrating its 60th anniversary season. The park’s new Fire and Ice Winter Festival was scheduled through February 28, with outdoor live stage performances, ice sculptures, light show and fireworks.
Malone announced that the park’s planned opening of (the Mack Rides) Aquaman Power Wave has been postponed until 2022. The decision to install a turntable on the attraction, allowing for two boats to operate, substantially increases ride capacity.
“Across the highway” at Hurricane Harbor, the waterpark will open in 2021 with a four-story-tall, three-water-slide complex, the new Banzai Pipeline. Malone remarked that 2021 will be a year of festivals for Six Flags Over Texas.
Raging Waters
Randy Witt and Brad Donati sent a video remarking they were looking forward to ACE coming out in 2021, especially for the new Aussie Mad Dash six-lane rally racer, which Witt promised is a blast. The management is adding a lot of new amenities at Illinois’ largest waterpark.
The Gravity Group
Michael Graham, engineer and principal and one of the founding members of The Gravity Group, LLC, mentioned the upcoming opening of Leviathan, its new wooden coaster. With distinctive trains by Gravitykraft — with lighted eyes in front and the last coach in each train facing backward — the attraction is being constructed at SeaWorld in Australia. Leviathan will be very immersive, with the ride itself having a kind of Kemah Boardwalk (Texas) Boardwalk Bullet feel to it, according to Graham, offering a gorgeous addition to SeaWorld. It’s slated to open in the spring of this year.
The Gravity Group designed the new woodie going into SeaWorld in Australia.
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View full-sized image.
In addition to designing new coasters, Graham touted the track-smoothing work The Gravity Group has undertaken in recent years. Its 2008 proprietary smoothing software offers precise solutions to improving existing coaster tracks.
Knoebels
Knoebels kicked off its presentation with a video featuring Dick Knoebel offering greetings to everyone. Despite 2020’s challenges and struggles, Knoebels enhanced guests’ experience with brand-new trains on the Impulse roller coaster, a fourth lift hill on Flying Turns, new food options and even a new seasonal event — “Joy Through the Grove,” a drivethrough Christmas lights displays. For 2021, Knoebels will debut Tornado, a Wisdom spinning ride. The park’s beloved wooden coasters have been receiving some TLC and will be operating in tip-top shape, including for this year’s ACE Coaster Con (cohosted by Knoebels).
Brian and Rick Knoebel. View full-sized image.
Rick and Brian Knoebel fielded some questions live. They remarked that the fourth lift hill on Flying Turns was needed because the cars sometimes did not make it all the way up the last hill, especially in colder temperatures. Now early morning ERT is possible for ACE at the upcoming convention visit to Knoebels.
Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbors
Rachel Kendziora, communications specialist, along with Caitlin Kepple, communications and marketing manager; Kathy Thomson, director of operations; and Liz Nemeth, operations manager at Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Illinois), all prepared a video featuring some park staffers filming in out-of-doors snowy weather much of the time, humorously and amiably touting their park’s accomplishments in 2020 and looking forward to 2021’s.
Six Flags Great America team members play in the winter conditions. View full-sized image.
Although the park was not able to hold Fright Fest, Six Flags brought people into the parking lot to handle food pantry disbursement, hosting several food pantries with the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The park also worked with local health care facilities to donate PPE supplies.
Six Flags gained permission to open the park for Holiday in the Park Lights, with over 500,000 lights and new outdoor entertainment. The park also created a drivethrough experience.
As for 2021, Tsunami Surge, a water coaster, will make its delayed debut as the waterpark’s 25th attraction. Hurricane Harbor’s Riptide Bay section will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over in Rockford, that Hurricane Harbor park will be opening its Tidal Wave, a tailspin waterslide.
Indiana Beach
General Manager Gary Fawks noted that Indiana Beach (Monticello) has a rich history dating back to the 1920s and will now be enjoying its 95th season in 2021. Early in 2020, Apex, previous owners of Indiana Beach, decided to close its parks, and it looked like rides at Indiana Beach were going out the door. Happily, a new owner was found for the Beach, Gene Staples and his group, out of the Chicago area.
The park has big plans for the coming years. It hopes to bring concert offerings to its historic ballroom again (home to entertainment by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, the Who, Janis Joplin and Sonny and Cher in years past), returning entertainment to the Beach.
Schwarzkopf pieces are arriving to Indiana Beach. Presenters showed the area of the park planned for the new coaster.
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View full-sized image.
The big ride news for 2021 is the acquisition of the famed Schwarzkopf Dreier (triple) Looping steel coaster from Mexico’s La Feria Chapultepec Mágico park, where the steelie was known as Quimera. It looks like it will take 60 trucks to move all the track segments from Mexico. All of the coaster should be onsite by mid-March, and the park expects it to be ready to roll by the summer of 2021. It was stated that there is a good chance the coaster will be called “American Dreier Looping.”
Plans are to add a second train on Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain and on Hoosier Hurricane. Because its historic suspension bridge is a cool way to enter the park, the south gate might be promoted this year.
Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park
A self-admittedly stoked Deno Vourderis (his family runs Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, Brooklyn, New York) was excited to be presenting at an ACE event and reported that the park will be debuting its new Vekoma suspended coaster, named Phoenix. They named the ride Phoenix not only because the ride is a suspended coaster and therefore fits the theming for flight, but also because it is a symbol of a rebirth into a more loving and accepting world.
Deno Vourderis
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View full-sized image.
The 1920 Wonder Wheel iconic attraction is his and his family’s claim to fame. Vourderis offered a behind-the-scenes tour of the facilities, showing attendees the circa-1920 original Wheel resister drive lever and crank, the Wheel’s computer system, motor room, helm control, solar lights — even the center hub with rollers that support all the (200 tons of steel) weight of the Wheel.
The park contains an SBF Visa Group spinning micro kiddie coaster (Skyflyer) and an E.F. Miler Sea Serpent kiddie coaster.
While considering what kind of coaster to add to the park, the Vourderis family was conscious of the coasters their park neighbors already had or were adding. When Six Flags Great Adventure settled on a Rocky Mountain Construction Raptor, it broke Vourderis’ heart because Deno’s was considering that kind of coaster as well. Vekoma was chosen because the ride offered the most intense package for the space available. “And it was something our neighbors, Luna Park weren’t doing, and we wanted to compliment what they are doing. And not compete against it.”
Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari
Leah Koch, fourth-generation owner and Holiday World director of communications, noted that The Raven was receiving love with 25 percent of the track being replaced.
The Raven is receiving love. View full-sized image.
Cheetah Chase was a hit at Splashin’ Safari. View full-sized image.
Koch touted Cheetah Chase, the park’s third water coaster, which debuted in 2020. Holiday World now calls Splashin’ Safari the “Water Coaster Capital of the World.” Cheetah Chase was the first ranked water park ride on USA Today’s 2020 list.
Cedar Point
Tony Clark, Cedar Point director of communications, reminded attendees the park will be cohosting 2022’s ACE Coaster Con, and the park is already gearing up.
Clark mentioned that although the 2020 season was Cedar Point’s 150th anniversary, the park couldn’t celebrate in the way that had been planned. So the fun continues into 2021. The biggest event will be the Celebrate 150 Spectacular, which includes a big parade involving some two-story-tall floats. “This is the biggest production we’ve ever done at Cedar Point,” said Clark. Merchandise celebrating the 150th anniversary will be available as well as limited edition posters of rides and coasters.
New posters celebrate Cedar Point’s 150th anniversary. View full-sized image.
Snake River Expedition. View full-sized image.
Cedar Point’s newest attraction, which was unable to debut last year, will debut this year, with Snake River Expedition, a boating expedition attraction. On the boat, guests are performing a secret mission and are a part of the interactive story.
As for food and beverages, Cedar Point offers a new eatery, the Wild Turnip, which offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free fare.
Kennywood and Lake Compounce
Nick Paradise, director of corporate communications for Palace Entertainment, noted the company has located its corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh. He stated the future is bright for Kennywood and the rest of the parks in the company.
As for last year, Paradise remarked “2020 sucked.” Kennywood’s season couldn’t start until mid-July, and that came with mask wearing, social distancing, limiting capacity and other restrictions. Steel Curtain did not open at all in 2020. During the off-season last year, park teams identified some issues with the ride that were not able to be resolved in 2020, but it should be ready to go for 2021.
And then after the 2020 season ended, Paradise stated, it “sucked even more.” It was a sad moment when the park had to make the unpopular decision to close four of its rides (Kangaroo, Paratrooper, Bayern Kurve and Volcano, previously known as Enterprise) that had become difficult to maintain. No word yet on new rides that might replace the four.
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View full-sized image.
He moved on to discuss “What Didn’t Suck.” 2020 saw the return of The Old Mill, rethemed back to its earlier status before it became Garfield’s Nightmare. It is Kennywood’s oldest ride dating back to 1901 (the oldest dark water ride in existence that the park is aware of). And Kennywood celebrated the 100th anniversary of the ACE Coaster Classic and ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Jack Rabbit (sixth oldest coaster in America) in 2020.
The park’s Black Widow ride, which had not opened in 2019 or 2020, has been refreshed at last and should be ready to go in 2021. Retracking efforts have been under way at Kennywood on two ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks, Thunderbolt (230-feet of track worked on, including the lift hill) and Racer (550 feet).
Wanting to tout the news that Lake Compounce is celebrating its 175th season in 2021 (it is the oldest operating park in the United States), Paradise turned things over to Paige Schmitt, marketing coordinator. She noted that Saw Mill Plunge log flume is being repainted with a new color scheme. New for Compounce this year is a Venus Vortex waterslide coming to the Crocodile Cove section, a six-story-tall, three-person raft ride.
Lake Compounce is adding a “venus fly trap” waterslide. View full-sized image.
Santa’s Village
Brian Kopeck talked to virtual No Coaster Con ’21, while out plowing snow in winter-distressed northern Illinois. His park set up a business, SV Enterprises (“A Santa’s Village Company”), to do landscaping and plowing, as long as they already have the skill and equipment available.
Kopeck noted that Santa’s Village used the year to go back through the park and catch up on some infrastructure and building maintenance projects. Although Santa’s Village did get to open its Santa’s Springs waterpark for about a month and a half in 2020, it didn’t open the amusement park.
For the 2021 season, the new ride for the park is named the Blizzard — an SBF 360 mini-dance-party pendulum ride. And two waterslides have been added to Santa’s Springs, named Caribbean Curl and Peppermint Twist.
The project to build the Logjammer flume from Kiddieland and open it as Yukon Plunge at Santa’s Village has been put on hold for now.
Give Kids The World
Steve Amos, senior director of advancement at Give Kids The World, explained that regrettably in mid-March 2020 Give Kids The World Village had to close, and the staff had to be let go, owing to the coronavirus. The Village was unable to reopen for all the rest of 2020, but it did continue capital projects, such as completing the new ice cream parlor building. Currently a new pirate ship is being constructed alongside the pool deck.
The completion of Scoop’s Ice Cream Parlor was a beautiful success. View full-sized image.
Night of a Million Lights was a dazzling fundraiser for Give Kids The World. View full-sized image.
Over Christmastime, Night of a Million Lights was introduced, with Walt Disney World donating 3.2 million lights. It offered over a mile of walking, and it helped raise over $2.6 million for the Village.
Happily, the Village was able to reopen to families in late January 2021, having had to postpone 6,000 wishes during the 10 months it was closed.
This year the Village will roll out Coasting for Kids Summer Olympics, during which games and competitions can be played on various rides and games, with fun contests at food stands throughout parks. Stay tuned for announcements on where Coasting for Kids will be taking place in 2021.
Dutch Wonderland
Jeffrey Eisenberg, director of marketing, remarked that 2020 was a challenge for Dutch Wonderland (Lancaster, Pennsylvania). The season didn’t begin until mid-July and ran until Labor Day. Though it was unable to host Dutch Winter Wonderland as usually scheduled, a Holiday Lights drive-through experience set up a million lights within the Old Mill Stream campground.
Jeffrey Eisenberg. View full-sized image.
Last year the park debuted the Cartoon Network Hotel (the first network-themed hotel in the world). The rooms are themed to various Cartoon Network characters and shows (e.g., Power Puff Girls).
The park undertook some refurbishments, including Kingdom Coaster receiving a fresh coat of paint and its operating system retrofitted and Merlin’s Mayhem’s train being refurbished. Both coasters will be part of ERT at ACE’s Coaster Con, along with ERT on other rides, behind-the-scenes tours, a tour of the Cartoon Hotel, auction items, giveaways and a lot more.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Park President Jeffrey Siebert (and long-time friend to ACE), Marketing Manager Jeff Filicko and Director of Marketing Chris Ozimek all spoke on behalf of Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio).
Filicko mentioned that they all wanted to thank ACE for its continued support and friendship to all the parks in the industry, and they all look forward to seeing us in the parks for a much better 2021.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas was proud to be the first park in the amusement industry in 2021 to debut a new attraction, Dare Devil Dive Flying Machines (a supersized Air Race model from Zamperla), with preview weekends leading to the grand opening planned for February 27, and the park is especially proud of the immersive experience the attraction offers (which Fiesta Texas has recently been able to accomplish with other rides too), with storytelling in the queue and fire and fog effects.
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Filicko announced the park’s biggest roller coaster event ever, Roller Coaster Rodeo, June 11 to 13, a three-day, mega-enthusiast celebration featuring full-park ERT in both the amusement park and the waterpark, a welcoming reception, behind-the-scenes tours, food, food, food and so much more. Tickets will be on sale soon.
Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Inc.
Tom Rebbie, president and CEO of Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Inc. (PTCI), along with Janine Rebbie Matscherz, administrative assistant, walked attendees through his facility while talking about stuff. He summarized everything by remarking, “2020, what a crap year for everybody” but added that PTCI managed to get through it, although, regrettably, a little lighter on staff.
Tom Rebbie showed attendees around the PTCI shop. View full-sized image.
As he walked through his workshop, paint shop, machine shop, final assembly area and lobby area, Rebbie showed off the Blue Streak cars from Cedar Point, the show cars PTCI normally sends to its booth at IAAPA and trains from Roar and Wild One at Six Flags America (Largo, Maryland).
Rebbie noted he can’t talk about some of PTCI’s current projects, leaving them up to the parks to announce, but he remarked ACE might be surprised. He showed off the (currently-empty-but-being-worked-on) “Gift Shop” PTCI is setting up for when enthusiasts attending Coaster Con 43 visit for an open house and lunch.
Rebbie pointed out a large sign (with the PTCI company name and logo on it) that used to hang in front of the facility and said it will be auctioned off at the open house, with the funds raised going back to ACE.
Farewell
Moltz and Peters closed out the event, offering their thanks to all the presenters and volunteers who helped make the event possible. And Peters noted, January 15, 2022, is the date to gather together (hopefully in person again) and enjoy next year’s No Coaster Con 41.
— by Randy Geisler
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