Blogs

originally posted on 3/4/2024

Welcome to Eastcoaster!
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.

Stay tuned!

Sometimes words or phrases become associated with certain events. “Stay tuned” is one that will not be forgotten by attendees at Eastcoaster, ACE Eastern Pennsylvania’s annual nonriding event. Although attendees learned a lot of details about upcoming park and regional activities, they also heard “stay tuned” frequently because there are surprises to come.

The diversity of silent auction items attracted a crowd throughout the event.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.

On February 10, 250 attendees checked in with the friendly registration volunteers for a day of listening to speakers, participating in auctions, buying baked goods (all contributed by attendees), sharing a meal and socializing.

Eastcoaster was in a new location this year — the Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey. Choosing a hotel as the event location was popular for those who traveled because everything was all in one place. Another plus was that attendees sat at tables instead of in theater seating, which made socializing and lunchtime easier.

In addition to a new location, Eastcoaster had a sponsor — Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. (PTCI) — which helped to support ACE by lowering the cost of the event. During registration, between 9 and 10 a.m., attendees could find tables, check out the auction items and purchase treats from the bake sale, ably managed by Chris Smilek.

Eastcoaster co-hosts Regional Rep Mike Matscherz and Assistant Regional Rep Derek Shaw.

Co-hosts Mike Matscherz, regional rep for ACE Eastern Pennsylvania, and Derek Shaw, assistant regional rep for the region, welcomed everyone at 10 and began by looking back at Eastcoaster 2000, which took place at the Days Inn in Allentown. At that time, Eastcoaster was a national event, and the internet hadn’t taken over as a source of coaster and park news. There were 358 attendees at that event, 11 parks were represented and 13 new coasters were reported.

Mike Matscherz recognizes retiring Assistant Regional Rep Melinda Gaspari.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.

Next was a regional update from Matscherz, who began by recognizing Melinda Gaspari, who was stepping down after five years of service as an assistant regional rep. He then announced the newest additions to the team, Jessica Knouse and Sue Yekel, as assistant regional representatives. What followed was a thorough recap of the region’s 2023 events — nine events and 1,630 attendees. Ten events are scheduled for 2024 — all of 2023’s events plus the new Slide With ACE, which will occur the day after ACE Flies With the Phoenix at Knoebels.

Amanda Polyak and Quinn Bryner, Hersheypark.
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The first park presenters were Hersheypark’s Quinn Bryner, director of public relations, and Amanda Polyak, public relations manager, whose recap of 2023 included thanks for a “wild” year and for 100 years of coasters at Hersheypark, from the first Wildcat in 1923 to the latest that opened in 2023, Wildcat’s Revenge. Wildcat’s Revenge, a Rocky Mountain Construction redo of the Great Coasters International, Inc. Wildcat, won Best New Roller Coaster in Amusement Today’s 2023 Golden Ticket Awards. Other 2023 anniversaries for the Hershey, Pennsylvania, park were the 40th anniversary of Christmas Candylane and the 20th anniversary of Sweet Lights.

Looking ahead to 2024, Hersheypark announced its earliest start date (March 29); new season pass perks and entertainment; a new pre-K pass; new trains for the 1946 wood Comet, an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark; and the 85th anniversary of the stadium. Attendees also heard the first request to “stay tuned.” More to come.

Jeff Filicko, Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
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Next to appear was Jeff Filicko, marketing manager of Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, who first apologized for his outfit because his luggage had been lost in transit. Not important! His video of optional dates for the opening of Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster drew many laughs, and he assured everyone that at the upcoming ACE event, attendees would get three cycles!

Filicko reviewed events planned for 2024, including the Total Eclipse of the Park, with its drone and fireworks show occurring during the actual eclipse, and current attractions in the DC Universe that are being reimagined by including new superheroes and villains. Fiesta Texas’ DC Universe will be the largest in the United States and will include three new rides: Cyborg Cyber Revolution (rotating arms on a rotating tower), Shazam! Tower of Eternity (a drop ride) and a monorail, Metropolis Transit Authority. The monorail video was a real highlight of the presentation and reminded attendees of creative Jeffrey Siebert (Fiesta Texas’ president) videos from the past. Filicko also gave all attendees a ticket to the park with VIP access to certain rides.

Tom Rebbie and Janine Rebbie Matscherz of Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.

Traditionally, PTCI speaks last at Eastcoaster but its CEO, Tom Rebbie, had to leave early, so he offered his update next. He mentioned new hires, described how the Hersheypark Comet trains were constructed and reported that the old Comet train had returned to PTCI. New train work for 2024 will include Great American Scream Machine, Wild One, Roar, Legend, Thunderhawk, Blue Streak, The Underground, Tornado (Stricker’s Grove) and Boulder Dash. He also updated attendees on ACE (his horse) and some hilarious “Things I See.”

A tasty lunch followed, during which attendees could check on their auction bids, buy baked goods and catch up with friends.

Wes Ramey, Dollywood.
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Dollywood was up after lunch, and its public relations director, Wes Ramey, brought a complimentary ticket to Dollywood for all attendees, in addition to his park report. In his review of 2023, he mentioned all the park festivals, ACE’s Coaster Con in June and Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket event, during which Dollywood learned that it had won five Golden Tickets, including Legend awards for Dolly Parton and Jack and Pete Herschend.

In 2024 Dollywood will set a record for operating days, opening to the public on March 9 and remaining open for 281 days. The new lift hill is in on Lightning Rod (a traditional chain lift), but there are no other changes to the ride. The new Dolly Parton Experience, with interactive elements to make guests feel as if they are experiencing life with Dolly as she lives it, will open in May, as will a new area, Precious Memories. Ramey told a wonderful story about an 88-year-old fellow church member who loved to ride the coasters at Dollywood. Her name? Joleen.

Elizabeth Ringas, ACE’s president.
Photo: Viki Hanke. View full-sized image.

Elizabeth Ringas, ACE’s president, looked back at ACE’s 2023 events and programs and its successes in its 45th anniversary year. She previewed a trailer for the ACE documentary on Schwarzkopf, which is projected to be released in November, and mentioned other documentaries being produced. In 2024 ACE will be visiting Kings Island for a Spring Con in May; California’s Great America, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for Coaster Con 46 in June; 14 parks for the ACE Journey to Central Europe International Trip in July; and Lost Island Themepark, Adventureland Park and Worlds of Fun for the Preservation Con in August. A busy year!

Big news also is that 2024 is an ACE election year! Ringas reviewed the procedure for voting and encouraged attendees to reach out to questions@aceonline.org to clarify any uncertainties about running for office or voting. She also mentioned that ACE was involved in discussions with Lakemont Park (Altoona, Pennsylvania) about the fate of the coasters (including Leap The Dips, the oldest roller coaster in the world) since the park’s rides will be closed this year. Members who see opportunities for preservation at any park should contact ACE.

More big news was the announcement of the location for Coaster Con 47 in 2025. ACE will visit the Midwest at Six Flags Great America, Little Amerrika and Indiana Beach.

Gabriel Darretta and Tom Perucki, Sesame Place.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.

Gabriel Darretta, social media manager, and Tom Perucki, marketing coordinator, were eager to report the news from Sesame Place (Langhorne, Pennsylvania) and to give attendees a day pass to the park, along with a sticker and pencil. After a recap of 2023 highlights, they launched into 2024 news. The Sunny Day Carousel will move to the front of the park with a new character theme. Oscar’s Wacky Taxi, which had to be closed because of staffing issues, will reopen this year. Hiring has already begun for the new season, and Sesame Place has instituted an internship program. New also will be the 123 Playground, which was the top requested attraction for the park.

Darretta, who confessed that he didn’t like kids until he began working at Sesame Place, hinted at park expansions in the future. (Is this another “stay tuned?”) During the Q&A time, Darretta and Perucki were asked, “What’s your favorite Sesame Street character?” Thus was introduced the second catch phrase of the event, as every speaker thereafter was asked to name a favorite Sesame Street character!

Avery Boyer and Ryan Eldredge, Dorney Park.
Photo: Adam Ahmed. View full-sized image.

Dorney Park in Allentown was represented by Ryan Eldredge, public relations and communications manager, and his intern, Avery Boyer. The big news was Iron Menace, the new Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) dive coaster, which will be the first B&M coaster of its kind in the Northeast. Dorney wanted to connect the Iron Menace story with the industrial roots of the Allentown-Bethlehem community, formerly home to Bethlehem Steel. ACE member Reverend Cliff Herring has had a close relationship to Dorney Park for many years, being the first and last rider of the year on Thunderhawk, his favorite coaster, and he worked for the park as well. Referring to Ramey’s story of Joleen, told earlier, Eldredge commented “I don’t need any 88-year-old ladies to ride coasters because I have Cliff.”

Attendees were treated to a never-before-shown video update from Dorney’s Menacing Minute video series by Dorney’s vice president and general manager, Jessica Naderman, in which she described additions to the new themed area, the Steel Yard. The new themed area will include the Iron Mill Grill & Bar (formerly Dorney Grille), Steel Yard Gifts and the renamed MT Buckets (formerly Cedar Creek Flyers).

In other Dorney news, Zephyr, Dorney’s train from the 1930s, will reopen and will run through the Iron Menace Station. Thunderhawk’s 100th anniversary will include new concept art, and Steel Force will get a new control system. A second gate may open during busy days for expanded parking options.

Deno Vourderis, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.
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Deno Vourderis, co-owner of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Brooklyn, New York, brought a five-ride park pass for everyone. As evidence that his entire family gets involved in operations at the park, he showed a hilarious “family history of child labor” slide of his children helping to make signs for ACE’s 2023 Preservation Conference! Claiming that this event was his second favorite day at the park, Vourderis showed photos from the conference and remarked that he was glad that ACEers got to see Luna Park and Deno’s working together. He also showed some examples of 3-D printing Deno’s has done to replicate parts for rides that are no longer manufactured.

Eric Snow, Holiday World & Splashin Safari.
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Eric Snow, vice president and chief marketing officer for Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, began at the park as a Raven operator at the age of 16. He brought news and a video about the park’s new coaster, Good Gravy!, as well as a keychain for attendees. The park’s first family coaster, with a height requirement of only 38 inches, this Vekoma family boomerang was not meant to set any records but, said Snow, “to have a ride that the park could have fun with.” The gravy boat-shaped cars and the outsized sculptures of food implements have gotten a lot of media attention. A Hard Hat Chronicles video of the making of the sculptures was first seen at Eastcoaster.

Holiday World’s wood coasters have not been neglected either. Track work has been done on Raven, The Legend and The Voyage, with most effort being devoted to The Voyage. Holiday World is also in the path of the April 8 solar eclipse and has planned a park event with food trucks and free glasses in the Legend parking lot.

The park’s Holidays in the Sky drone shows, which use 500 drones, have been so popular that a larger proportion of the show budget has been shifted toward these productions. Snow concluded by saying that Holiday World was always open to adding another holiday. Another “stay tuned”?

Brian, Dick and Rick Knoebel, Knoebels Amusement Resort.
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Rounding out the speakers was the popular trio from Knoebels Amusement Resort: Dick, Brian and Rick Knoebel. Important dates were announced: opening day, April 27, and Phoenix Phall Phunfest, October 5. Winter updates were shown in a video. As usual, there was work on Twister, which will celebrate 25 years at the park, and Phoenix, the Amusement Today Golden Ticket winner for Best Wood Coaster. Progress was reported on reconstruction of Bayern Kurve, and Rock-O-Plane will be in a new location this year. A new Power Surge will replace the old one. Attendees were excited to hear that restoration was beginning on the Sky Slide, which has been closed for several years. In other anniversaries, 2024 will mark 50 years for Old Mill and 15 years for Kozmo’s Kurves.

Knoebels also won a Golden Ticket for Best Food, so it’s no surprise that new food items are expected on the menu. Check the Knoebels website for all the offerings. 2026 will mark Knoebels’ 100th anniversary, so expect some special happenings then. During the Q&A, in addition to the question about favorite Sesame Street characters, one was asked about whether Bayern Kurve would have a backdrop. Stay tuned!

It had been a long and fact-, food- and fun-filled day, with door prizes distributed throughout, but there were still updates. Sales at the bake sale totaled $906 with a matching donation of $500 from Dan and Jill Ryan — all of which will go to ACE’s Preservation Fund. In the 12 years of the Eastcoaster bake sale, more than $20,000 has been raised for this fund. The silent auction sales totaled $3,895 for various ACE funds plus the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives.

It may still be winter, but after Eastcoaster, time somehow gets compressed, and it doesn’t seem long until park gates will be open to welcome visitors and ACEers alike. Attendees were grateful to the ACE Eastern Pennsylvania regional reps and volunteers who organized Eastcoaster, the presenters who inspired everyone to look forward to park openings, to Smilek and the bakers and to all who donated items for the silent auction. Spring can’t get here soon enough.

— Lee Ann Draud, ACE Publications Director

#ACENews