ACE Donates $150,000 to Support the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives

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originally posted on 6/15/2021

Photo: Courtesy NRCMA. View full-sized image.

Have you ever wanted to be immersed in roller coasters, not just admire and ride them? The National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives (NRCMA) located in Plainview, Texas, is working to achieve exactly that, and ACE is lending a hand to make it happen. The NRCMA is a separate entity from ACE but one ACE sees as making an essential contribution and that deserves continuous support. ACE supports the NRCMA by providing the option for members to designate a donation to the museum and assisting with leadership of the organization. Six NRCMA board members are also ACE members, and ACE President Robert Ulrich concurrently serves on the NRCMA board as well as on ACE’s Executive Committee.

To date, donations have passed to the NRCMA from ACE auctions and other member donations totaling almost $138,000. Additionally, ACE as an organization has directly donated more than $100,000 to the NRCMA since 2000. By the end of next year, that number will grow even more as ACE makes its largest donation to date — $150,000. These funds were earmarked to support the museum some years ago, and the current Executive Committee has voted to disperse these funds. In October 2020, $50,000 was donated. During the IAAPA Expo in November 2021, another $50,000 will be donated, and the final payment will be donated by June 30, 2022. What does ACE’s donation support?

Photo: Courtesy NRCMA. View full-sized image.

Here is an update from Pete Owens, NRCMA board member:

COVID has affected all of us, but the time has been productive for the board and team at the museum. Thanks to the efforts of industry friends and partners from across the country, the museum and the Mark Moore Wing of the museum, along with the museum entrance vestibule, group gathering and theater spaces, are all nearing completion of its epic expansion.

Larson International and Rocky Mountain Construction have been fabricating key elements inside the museum, including the stairwell constructed from the steel columns used to support the former Big Bad Wolf coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The mezzanine floor has been fabricated with wood from the former Gwazi wooden coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa. Wood from the Texas Cyclone, from the former AstroWorld park in Houston, was used to construct siding and a sliding barn door.

The museum exhibits are also being created with the help of several manufacturing partners. The most recent addition is the Arrow film collection, which will debut as part of American Coaster Enthusiasts’ “West Texas Roundup” event. It consists of film reels, tapes and DVDs. They were donated from roller coaster manufacturer S&S Sansei of Logan, Utah, which purchased Arrow’s assets in a bankruptcy sale in 2002. There are hundreds of hours of donated footage still requiring digitalization and preservation, some of which can be seen now at rollercoastermuseum.org.

Photo: Courtesy NRCMA. View full-sized image.

In addition, a track and train display of the 1938 Rollo Coaster from Idlewild and SoakZone can be seen, designed by Skyline Attractions and constructed by Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCII). The impressive 12-foot-high, 30-foot-long display joins a track and train display of the Bill Cobb and Don Rosser-designed Texas Cyclone, as well as a display of the 1977 Anton Schwarzkopf sooperdooperLooper from Hersheypark. Photos of the installations and a time lapse of the construction are available at rollercoastermuseum.org.

The museum continues to acquire priceless pieces of history. It recently took possession of a car from the former Rocky Springs Jack Rabbit coaster in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where it was in operation from 1918 to 1927. In addition to the Jack Rabbit car, the museum received a collection of antique wooden coaster brake handles and a model of the Phoenix wooden coaster at Knoebels Amusement Resort, which recently underwent a three-year restoration by model builder Dave Rouse of Arlington, Texas. The model was originally built by ACE member John Hunt and was donated to the NRCMA by Dayton, Ohio, resident Beth Remhoff. A display base and stand, complete with acrylic cover, is currently under construction. When complete, the model will be on display at the NRCMA’s new building, which also is under construction in Plainview.

While continuing its expansion and collection of artifacts, the NRCMA needs support from the industry and from fans of amusement parks everywhere to continue these efforts. Donations can be made online at the site listed above or by mailing the NRCMA at P.O. Box 5424, Arlington, Texas 76005.

American Coaster Enthusiasts is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, appreciation and safe enjoyment of roller coasters. With 6,000 members worldwide, ACE is the largest and longest-running enthusiast organization in the world. Members of ACE receive exclusive park benefits, newsletters, magazines and the opportunity to attend national, local and even international tours at parks. You can enjoy the benefits of members today! Join at join.aceonline.org.