originally posted on 4/7/2023
Greetings from CoasterBash!
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
There was no suspense in 2023 about where to have CoasterBash!. It was back to Salvatore’s in Pittsburgh’s South Hills, where, with the exception of 2021, ACEers have gathered for the past 13 years to celebrate all things Western Pennsylvania. On an overcast, windy March 4 with temperatures in the low 40s, 186 persons representing 10 states, checked in to begin two hours of “social time” to kick off the region’s first event of the year.
Sarah Windisch staffed the ACE Preservation Fund sales table.
Photo: Sarah Windisch collection. View full-sized image.
Joel Brewton-Riling had photos for sale.
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
If two hours seems like a lot of social time, there’s plenty to do! Attendees could choose their tables, visit the vendors and the Preservation Table, vote in the photo contest, check out the silent auction items, take advantage of the free pop and popcorn and purchase adult beverages, not to mention catch up with old friends and make new ones!
At 4 p.m., the lights dimmed as Joel Brewton-Riling’s “Summer Flashback” reminded attendees of all the fun they had at ACE Western Pennsylvania events in 2022. “Summer Flashback” was followed, as usual, by Ken Simmons’ “New Coasters of 2022,” the 29th year it has been featured at the event.
Bill Linkenheimer III.
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer III welcomed everyone and asked those attending their first ACE event: “What were you thinking, choosing to be in a dark room for seven hours? There are no coasters to ride here!” Long-time CoasterBash! attendees know those hours fly by quickly.
Steve Gorman.
Photos: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
First up was Steve Gorman, president of Waldameer & Water World in Erie with a review of 2022 and upcoming prospects for the 2023 season. Staffing improved in 2022 with higher wages, and the weather cooperated to make it a successful season for the park. In 2023, the waterpark will debut Rocket Blast, a Proslide Water Coaster – more than 67 feet tall and 800 feet long – that will feature three rocket blast sections. Ravine Flyer II trackwork is ongoing, and by 2024 all the original wood on The Gravity Group coaster will have been replaced.
In family news, Gorman’s son, David, is releasing his fifth book in the Waldameer Mystery Files series. As usual, Gorman had some funny stories from the park, including one that was an account of three dramatic incidents that he had to manage when a security guard went on a 30-minute break!
Sam Shurgott.
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Linkenheimer introduced Sam Shurgott of IRM Rides, whom he characterized as “his own preservation committee” because of Shurgott’s work to find homes for rides from parks that are selling them or closing. Shurgott reviewed IRM’s accomplishments since 2020, which included rides sold, digitizing IRM’s collection of O&M Manuals, exploring opportunities in maintenance consulting and sponsoring industry functions. Of particular interest was his current project of finding buyers for all equipment at Joyland in Lubbock, Texas, whose owners are retiring. The rides available include Galaxi, which operated at White Swan Park in the Pittsburgh area from 1972 to 1989.
Rick Knoebel, from Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, visited CoasterBash! virtually with news of the park’s plans for 2023. Park hours will be extended to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The helix of Twister is being repaired, and the second turn on Phoenix is being retracked as well.
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
Knoebels is home to many classic rides, some of which are celebrating anniversaries this year: handcars: 65 years; bumper cars: 60 years; kiddie whip: 35 years; Cosmotron: 25 years; and Round Up and Skyway: 20 years. A celebration on opening day will mark 50 years for Haunted Mansion. Rick reminded attendees that the park won two of Amusement Today’s Golden Tickets awards in 2022 for food and for #1 wood coaster (Phoenix), as well as his father, park owner Dick Knoebel being named a Golden Ticket Legend.
Photos: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
No definite date was promised, but Knoebels hopes the restored Bayern Kurve from Old Indiana will open in 2023. Rick confirmed rumors that the park had bought a “flying coaster” that would be ready “someday.” The park’s restoration work on the flying coaster will include “salvaging what is structurally sound and refabricating what isn’t.” In other “new” ride news, Knoebels acquired a Rock-O-Plane from Joyland.
David Lipnicky, April Lucas and Kris Leach represented ACE Cares.
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ACE’s charitable arm, ACE Cares, was represented by Kris Leach, David Lipnicky and April Lucas. Their focus this year has been on Coasting for Kids events sponsored by Give Kids The World (GKTW), the organization that provides free vacations at their village and visits to the Orlando parks for seriously ill children and their families. Leach provided a brief history of the village and the number of recipients who had been granted “wishes” from the United States (155,762) and abroad (almost 16,000). In the past, ACE Western Pennsylvania has offered an Ice Cream For Breakfast fundraiser at several of its KennyKon events to support GKTW.
Linkenheimer provided an ACE national update, which included a summary of ACE’s national events in 2022 and 2023 and accomplishments, such as establishing ACE Europe as a region, introducing the first annual world’s largest roller coaster ride on June 16, creating the 45th anniversary logo, new merchandise and launching Discord.
Jeff Filicko accepted the 2023 ACE Western Pennsylvania Industry Appreciation Award from the regional rep team.
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
What followed was a happy announcement that former Kennywood public relations manager and current marketing manager for Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Jeff Filicko, was the recipient of the 2023 ACE Western Pennsylvania Industry Appreciation Award. In addition to all he did for ACE while at Kennywood, Filicko continues to attend CoasterBash! and bring gifts and ride passes for attendees. Congratulations, Jeff!
Lenny Adams and Bill Linkenheimer III presented the Blue Streak’s ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaque to Chuck Groger.
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The last speaker before dinner was Chuck Groger of the Conneaut Lake Historical Society, who provided a history of the society from its beginnings in a community building to its current larger location. Conneaut Lake Park was home to the ACE Coaster Classic and ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Blue Streak, designed by Edward Vettel. In early 2022, the coaster was demolished by the park’s current owner, Todd Joseph. One of the Blue Streak cars from the Vettel train was donated to the Historical Society. The ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaque had been previously removed and returned to ACE at CoasterBash! XXXIII in April 2022, and this year, ACE announced that it would be on loan indefinitely to the Conneaut Lake Historical Society, which already had it on display a week after the event.
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
The hourlong dinner break was also a time for door prizes, photo contest voting and vendor purchases. The buffet included chicken, roast beef, pasta and a number of sides and salads, followed by a dessert. The dinner break also included a live auction of a unique quilt, made entirely from vintage T-shirts from Kennywood (including The Steel Phantom), Conneaut Lake Park and Lakemont Park.
Tasha Pokrzywa.
Photos: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
Kennywood’s communications manager, Tasha Pokrzywa, began the second half of CoasterBash! by reminding attendees of the West Mifflin park’s “refreshing” in 2022 (entrance, ramp and tunnel transformations; return of the Kangaroo ride; coaster paint jobs) and its plans for 2023 in anticipation of the 125th anniversary celebration. Included are restoration of the 1926 Whip, transformation of the Pizza Warehouse and a new themed area: Area 412, which will include Spinvasion, a first-of-its-kind spinning ride that will occupy Volcano’s former spot. Raging Rapids will return, and Cosmic Chaos is being repainted. Kennywood was chosen one of the top amusement parks in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
Matt Adler, Golden Kenny winner for 2022.
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Jason Ballard, Golden Kenny winner for 2023.
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Next it was time for Kenny Kangaroo to join Kennywood’s director of operations, Marie Ruby, to present The Golden Kenny, an award to a regional member for enthusiasm for and support of ACE Western Pennsylvania. In 2022, The Golden Kenny couldn’t be presented because the winner wasn’t in attendance, but this year he was! Congratulations to Assistant Regional Rep Matt Adler for his 2022 win and to Jason Ballard, Western Pennsylvania’s photo contest coordinator, for the 2023 win. They were thanked for their service to the region.
Melanie Shildt.
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
From Lakemont Park in Altoona came Melanie Shildt, who explained why the park was “reinvented” in 2017. Marketing groups organized focus groups to determine what people wanted from the park, and the answers seemed to be less focus on rides and more on the park as a community gathering space. Some classic rides were retained (the ACE Coaster Classic and Roller Coaster Landmark Leap The Dips, the wood coaster Skyliner, the kiddie coaster Lil’ Leaper, the C.P. Huntington train), and new basketball courts, outdoor games and a new mini-golf course appeared, along with reinvented paddle boats.
Since the park reopened in 2019, there have been maintenance challenges for both the park and waterpark, but Holiday Lights on the Lake, which debuted in 1996, has been a good source of revenue. No new rides will be installed in 2023, but there will be new merchandise, concessions and a website, plus special event days to keep people coming back to the park. ACE Western Pennsylvania will celebrate Gary Baker Memorial Day at Lakemont on July 30.
Garrett Sauers.
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ACE Western Pennsylvania member Garrett Sauers, who works for the local television station Fox 53, presented “WPGH Fox 53: The People of Kennywood,” a rough cut of some of the station’s tapes that he digitized, featuring several persons who worked at Kennywood. He will provide updates as he digitizes more tape.
Photo Contest Coordinator Jason Ballard posed with the winners of the photo contest: Joel Brewton-Riling, Michael Burkes and William Supko.
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
It was time for a door prize break, followed by an announcement of the photo contest winners. Ballard provided a brief history of the CoasterBash! photo contest before announcing the winners: first, Joel Brewton-Riling; second, Michael Burkes; and third, William Supko.
Jeff Croushore.
Photos: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
Jeff Croushore, director of marketing for Idlewild and SoakZone in Ligonier and presenting at his 19th CoasterBash!, also reported on progress at Sandcastle waterpark in West Homestead. All the slides have been repainted, and season passholders can look forward to passholder perks weekends.
Idlewild is still waiting for its refurbishment, but with its 150th anniversary coming up in a few years, can improvements be far behind? Croushore introduced the park’s general manager, Tim Heger, via video, who reappeared several times during Croushore’s presentation to respond to Croushore’s questions or comments. It’s hard to describe how this “interaction” worked, but it was too funny!
Photos: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
In park news, track work continues on Rollo Coaster, and a new paint job is planned for Wild Mouse’s 30th anniversary at Idlewild. Refurbishments continue for the carousel and the bridge across Loyalhanna Creek. For train fans, the Loyalhanna Limited is returning to two-train operation. In Storybook Forest news, Princess Lily is leaving, but Cinderella is moving into the castle!
Popular events, such as the Kids Fest on Saturdays and Sundays in June, are returning, as is Celebrate America in July and Daniel Tiger Neighborhood Days. As announced for Kennywood and Sandcastle, passholder perks weekends will happen at Idlewild as well.
Jeff Filicko.
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
Industry Appreciation Award winner Filicko put on his Texas hat and stepped up with reports from Six Flags Over Texas (SFOT) and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. New for 2023 at SFOT is Aquaman: Power Wave, which launches riders forward and backward up two vertical towers, the tallest being 150 feet. The ride is the first of its kind in North America.
In 2022, Fiesta Texas celebrated 30 years. In noncoaster news, the train has been repaired, and the park will have two locomotives eventually. SFOT’s spring break is unique in that during the day, it’s Spring Break and at night it’s Scream Break.
Photo: David Hahner III. View full-sized image.
Filicko reviewed other planned park celebrations and coaster updates. A third train will be added to Iron Rattler, and Boomerang will get two new trains (so it never has to go down for seasonal maintenance again). Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster is getting a complete overhaul, including three new trains. The bumper cars are being replaced by a P’sghetti Bowl coaster from Skyline Attractions, Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster.
Where did those seven hours go? It was time for a “Symphony of Volunteers” to thank all those who had made CoasterBash! possible and to hear final announcements about upcoming events. Silent auction winners were announced, and finally attendees heard the familiar closing from Linkenheimer: “See you at KennyKon.”
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE Publications Director
#ACENews