originally posted on 12/18/2023
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
The ACE Eastern Pennsylvania region hosted its first HalloThriller at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on October 28. Expectations were high for this new event, and Dorney Park was up to the challenge of hosting 181 ACEers and their guests. It was the first sunny Saturday in weeks with temperatures close to 80 degrees, and there was a lot of excitement in the registration area as the event kicked off. Attendees received a HalloThriller pin and an ACE Eastern Pennsylvania lanyard; the signup for a construction tour of Iron Menace was a large draw.
HalloThriller began with ERT on Hydra the Revenge, which features a heartline roll as one of its seven inversions.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
The morning started with an hour of ERT on Hydra the Revenge, Wild Mouse, Tilt-A-Whirl and Apollo. Dorney Park was more than ready for the enthusiastic attendees to board the rides and begin the day. Some agreed the best way to start a day at Dorney Park was to ride Pennsylvania’s only floorless coaster. ERT was followed by a group photo as the park opened to the public.
Thunderhawk will celebrate its centennial in 2024, and the coaster’s site naturally features a lot of history, including concrete walls once belonging to the coaster’s now-gone original station building and a plaque commemorating its status as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark.
Photo: Brianna Bixenman. View full-sized image.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
A day at Dorney Park would not be complete without a ride on Thunderhawk, which many attendees accomplished during an informal takeover time (ITOT). Thunderhawk was designated an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark in June of 2021 and will celebrate its 100th birthday next year! Thunderhawk is also the oldest Philadelphia Toboggan Company roller coaster still in operation and the oldest operating coaster designed by Herbert Schmeck.
The Iron Menace construction tour included special hard hats and the signing of a poster that will be displayed somewhere near the completed coaster.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
Photo: Brianna Bixenman. View full-sized image.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
One highlight of the day was the construction tour of Iron Menace, Dorney Park’s much-anticipated addition for 2024. Iron Menace will be the Northeast’s first dive coaster and will feature a 95-degree drop. Attendees donned safety vests and Iron Menace hard hats to enter the construction area, with footers visible so all could see the future ride’s footprint. The first pieces of the track had been delivered and were stored in the overflow parking area, and the rest will continue being delivered in phases as needed during construction. The tour included a Q&A session, and everyone enjoyed imagining a ride in 2024. Dorney Park allowed each attendee to sign the promotional poster for Iron Menace attached to the construction fence, with the expectation that the signed poster will find its way somewhere on the finished ride (enthusiasts would be wise to be on the lookout next year).
Attendees navigate the Ghost in the Machine haunt during a daytime behind-the-scenes tour.
Photo: Sana Stow and Rocky Noon. View full-sized image.
Photo: Isabel Julio. View full-sized image.
HalloThriller continued the fun with a lights-on behind-the-scenes tour of the new Ghost in the Machine haunted maze. This addition to Dorney Park’s Haunt is a long series of corridors with scares that tell the backstory of Iron Menace by walking brave guests through the abandoned McTavish Steel Factory. It was scary enough with the lights on and something attendees had to look forward to once the skies darkened and Haunt began in the evening.
The silent auction raised money for the ACE Archives Fund, ACE Preservation Fund and the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
The activities had everyone ready to eat, and the lunch menu was plentiful with frozen treats also offered. The lunch was complemented by a silent auction with an exciting choice of items up for bid. They included large posters featuring some of the park’s rides and haunts, Iron Menace mugs and coasters, Dorney Park stuffed bears and other park merchandise. An actor dressed for Ghost in the Machine was present to mingle with and scare the bidders. A total of $830 was raised for the ACE Archives Fund, ACE Preservation Fund and the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives. Each attendee received a trick-or-treat goodie bag that contained Peeps (made in neighboring Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), an Iron Menace pin and an Iron Menace magnet.
Vice President and General Manager Jessica Naderman and Public Relations Manager Ryan Eldredge explained how the park decided on a Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster for the park’s next major addition.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.
ACE Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Representative Mike Matscherz welcomed attendees to the region’s first-ever Halloween event. A Q&A was held during lunch with Dorney Park Vice President and General Manager Jessica Naderman and Public Relations Manager Ryan Eldredge. There were many questions centered around Iron Menace. Naderman talked attendees through the roller coaster options available and explained why Iron Menace was selected as the best fit for Dorney Park. She also stated there would be a retheming of the area surrounding Iron Menace, including a change to the Cedar Creek Flyers and new food options.
Dorney Park favorites like Steel Force (left) and Possessed (right) entertained HalloThriller attendees during the afternoon hours.
Photo: Jacob Winokur. View full-sized image.
Photo: Stacey Singer. View full-sized image.
After lunch, attendees had time to enjoy the park’s other roller coasters such as Talon, Steel Force and Possessed, along with more rides on Thunderhawk, Hydra the Revenge and Wild Mouse. A few ACEers found their way to Camp Snoopy, seeking a credit on Woodstock Express, Dorney Park’s kiddie coaster. With a comprehensive collection of rides to enjoy, time quickly ran short as evening soon approached.
As day turned to night, Dorney Park transitioned from a friendly fall-themed experience to a decidedly more frightening one.
Photos: Isabel Julio. View full-sized image.
Haunt kicked off and attendees were invited to enjoy the first haunt of the day at Ghost in the Machine (if they dared enter). As expected, the maze was filled with an enormous number of scares, thanks to both the actors and animatronics in the dark. Haunt includes shows, haunted scare zones and a total of seven haunted mazes. Dorney Park provided many attendees with a Fast Lane pass to enter the mazes quickly, which meant they were able to try them a few times. Blackout is one that has to be mentioned as it is a completely dark maze that really touches one’s senses. The Haunt portion of the event was nothing short of spectacular, solidifying Dorney Park as an excellent place to go for Halloween frights and scares!
Dorney Park’s Haunt combines scare zones, haunted mazes and stage shows for an immersive Halloween event.
Photo: Isabel Julio. View full-sized image.
Photo: Stacey Singer. View full-sized image.
HalloThriller was a day filled with thrills and chills. Gratitude is extended to Matscherz and the ACE volunteers who planned, set up and ran the activities for this event, and to Eldredge from the park for providing ACEers with a treat rather than tricks this Halloween. ACE looks forward to returning to Dorney Park for more events in 2024 and beyond.
— Sharon Galitsky
#ACENews