originally posted on 3/24/2025
Eastcoaster presenters.
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Winter nonriding events in cold climates are special because they happen at a time when parks are closed but hints about what to expect at these parks are everywhere and anticipation is high. They are about seeing friends after a long break and getting back into the swing of parks, coasters and shared meals. They are reminders of all that membership in ACE offers.
The bake sale didn’t hurt for happy customers.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
A variety of ACE merchandise was for sale.
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On a sunny but cold February 1, the 242 attendees who traveled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, checked in between 9 and 10 a.m. at the Best Western Premier: The Central Hotel & Conference Center to begin their day and enjoy the pre-event social hour. The Eastcoaster bake sale was a popular stop, as were the silent auction, merchandise, vendor and door prize tables. Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. (PTCI) generously sponsored Eastcoaster, as it had in 2024, which reduced the price of admission for everyone.
Regional Rep Mike Matscherz and Assistant Rep Derek Shaw welcomed attendees.
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Promptly at 10, Regional Rep Mike Matscherz and Assistant Regional Rep Derek Shaw welcomed everyone to the 41st annual Eastcoaster. Attendees seemed to appreciate this new location, with plenty of space for tables, a good sound system, two screens for viewing and no pillars to block views. Matscherz began a recap of the 2024 events and announced that another assistant rep was needed. The region’s 10 events in 2024 attracted 1,548 attendees.
ACE Eastern Pennsylvania regional events will jump to 12 in 2025.
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If that weren’t impressive enough, Matscherz announced that Eastern Pennsylvania was planning 12 events for 2025: The Hershey Chocolate Factory Behind-the-Scenes Tour was scheduled for Sunday, followed by Knoebels Is Open (Eastern Pennsylvania is in charge of Knoebels opening day event); It’s a Thrill at Bushkill (new!); Clowning Around at Dorney Park; Slide with ACE; Ride, Snack, SCRAM! (the new name for Sunny Days With ACE); ACE Flies With the Phoenix; CocoaCon; Mayhem in Wonderland; Hallo Thriller; and Merry ACEMas. In 2026, the region is planning a three-day event in July to celebrate Knoebels’ 100th anniversary: ACE Flies With Knoebels. And don’t forget to check out the new regional T-shirt.
Amanda Polyak and Quinn Bryner updated attendees on all things Hershey.
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The first park presenters were Quinn Bryner (director of public relations) and Amanda Polyak (public relations manager) from Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Recapping 2024, they mentioned the new seats for Skyrush, new trains for Comet, 50 years of Hershey characters and the new Santa and reindeer experience. Looking ahead, 2025 will be Hersheypark’s 119th operating year, and the park will welcome Twizzlers Twisted Gravity – the tallest screamin’ swing in the world at 137 feet. Speed will be 68 mph. Bryner and Polyak ended their presentation with a trivia contest and an announcement of free single-use Fastlane passes at Hersheypark for Eastcoaster attendees.
Courtney Burkharth and Megan Hartman stumped attendees with a Dutch Wonderland trivia contest.
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Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was represented by General Manager Megan Hartman and Marketing Director Courtney Burkharth. They began with a brief history of the park and reminded everyone of the advantages and perks for those who stay at their Cartoon Network Hotel. Dutch Wonderland has won Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket for Best Family Park for five years since 2019 (there was no winner in 2020).
This family park boasts three coasters: Kingdom Coaster (formerly Sky Princess) opened in 1992 and is the first coaster built by Custom Coasters International. Joust, a Big Dipper-style coaster from Chance Rides, opened in 1998, and Merlin’s Mayhem, a family-style inverted coaster from S&S Worldwide, came to the park in 2018.
Events this year will include Easter Eggcellent Celebration, Neighbor Days With Daniel Tiger (new), Santa’s Beach Bash and Happy Hauntings. Each weekend in May will feature a different character. Another new event for folks 18+ years will be Nostalgia Night, and everyone at Eastcoaster got a free ticket for the event. Look for food station renovations and transitions as well. Another trivia contest closed out the Dutch Wonderland presentation.
Matt Eckert represented Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari.
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2024 was definitely a good year for Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana. Matt Eckert, its president and CEO, spoke about the success of Good Gravy!, the Vekoma Family Boomerang that won Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket for Best New Theme Concept and was featured in news stories in all 50 states! In other ride news, Eagles Flight, the park’s flying scooter ride, is getting some new tubs. The Gravity Group’s work on The Voyage includes adding precut track to the fourth hill, replacing all track after the fourth hill into the spaghetti bowl and doing minor work on the transition into the safety block. Precut track is also being added to the first drop and tunnel of Raven and to the camel hump between the spiral and helix of The Legend.
General park enhancements include more shade, more benches and more water park furniture. 2025 is the 25th anniversary of the popular free unlimited soft drinks, and Eckert told the story of how he told the late owner, Will Koch, that he was crazy to propose it (270,000 gallons of soft drinks were consumed at the park in 2024). The theme of HoliWood Nights in 2025 is Beetlejuice, and although the event is already sold out, Eckert brought two sets of tickets to be auctioned off in the live auction.
The buffet lunch had something for everyone.
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Lunch time! While enjoying a delicious buffet lunch of soup, pasta, chicken, fish, sides and cookies, attendees could also watch “The Legend of Schwarzkopf” documentary and visit with friends and vendors.
Ryan Eldredge brought updates for both Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom and Six Flags Great Adventure.
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Ryan Eldredge, regional manager for public relations — east for Six Flags Entertainment, spoke next. He represented both Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom (Allentown, Pennsylvania) and Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey). He pointed out that although the Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger will eventually enhance park offerings, for a while there will be “short-term pain for long-term gain.” The new corporation will be investing millions in its parks, but much of what’s new won’t be evident until 2026, so Eldredge began by providing a general overview of 2026 ride openings and refreshes for all the Six Flags parks.
After reviewing Dorney’s 2024 highlights, Eldredge revealed the 2025 event list for Dorney (and Eastcoaster attendees were the first to see it!): Winter Chill Out, Star-Spangled Nights, Viva La Fiesta (formerly Summer Nights), Halloween Haunt and Tricks and Treats. Grand Carnivale will not be returning in 2025. Wildwater Kingdom is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an enhancement project, and other food and drink establishments will undergo changes as well. Hydra the Revenge (Bolliger & Mabillard [B&M] floorless) will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and Talon (B &M inverted) will celebrate its new air gates.
As for news from Great Adventure, Eldredge listed the park events for 2025 and showed videos of Flash Vertical Velocity, which will open this year and be the first Vekoma Super Boomerang in North America. Fans of El Toro will be pleased to hear about track work on the Intamin woodie.
Wes Ramey reported on plans for Dollywood’s 40th anniversary celebration in 2025.
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As the other park presenters had done, Dollywood’s public relations director, Wes Ramey, first reviewed the park’s events, shows and awards won in 2024 — and the list was long! For Golden Tickets alone, Dollywood won Best Guest Experience, Best Kids Area, Best Family Coaster (Big Bear Mountain), Most Beautiful Park and Best New Show (“From the Heart”). The park was chosen #1 U.S. Theme Park by Trip Advisor. Ramey brought a one-day complimentary park ticket for all attendees.
Dollywood will celebrate 40 years in 2025 with a 40th anniversary show as well as a new drone and fireworks show. A new sitdown restaurant will open in the plaza area and one at Wilderness Pass. Dreamsong Theater will become Imagination Playhouse, and look for a Country Fair refresh. What about that cleared area behind Big Bear Mountain? Stay tuned!
ACE President Elizabeth Ringas shared updates for ACE’s national events in 2025.
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ACE’s president, Elizabeth Ringas, took the podium to review ACE’s 2024 events and honorary memberships (Rus Ozana, Robert Ulrich, Chris Kraftchick, Dave Hahner and Jason Knutson) and to recognize one of ACE’s founders, Roy Brashears, who was in attendance. In 2025 ACE will travel to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia) and Kings Dominion (Doswell, Virginia) for a spring conference; Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Illinois), Little Amerricka (Marshall, Wisconsin) and Indiana Beach (Monticello, Indiana) for Coaster Con 47; and Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California), SeaWorld San Diego, and Belmont Park (San Diego, California) for the preservation conference. ACE will have a new member engagement platform, and Ringas mentioned some current volunteer needs.
Deno Vourderis of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park provided an insider’s report on Wonder Wheel maintenance as well as kind words about the value of ACE.
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Deno Vourderis of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park traveled from Brooklyn, New York, with no coaster news but a fascinating story about how the park maintains its 150-foot-tall Ferris wheel that first opened in 1920 and is a New York City Landmark. No two cars on the Wonder Wheel are alike, and when the Vourderis family bought the wheel in 1983, it didn’t come with an instruction book. Encouraging everyone to come for a ride, Vourderis brought complimentary Funcards for all attendees.
Just as important as his presentation about Wonder Wheel maintenance was Vourderis’ message to ACEers about the value of their club and what it stands for. Vourderis emphasized that what’s important in these difficult times is sharing what we love and what brings us together, not what divides us. People join ACE because they have one thing in common and they use that as a basis for forming friendships and sharing the love of our hobby with others — including others we see and meet in parks.
Dick, Brian and Rick Knoebel with news and auction items from Knoebels Amusement Resort.
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From Elysburg, Pennsylvania, Dick, Rick and Brian Knoebel brought updates from Knoebels Amusement Resort and a report of awards won in 2024 (Golden Tickets for Best Wood Coaster [Phoenix] and Best Food). Opening day for 2025 will be April 26 (ACE Eastern Pennsylvania will host the event), and the Phoenix Phall Phunfest will happen on October 4. 2025 winter projects include moving the Rock-O-Plane, Power Surge and Downdraft to new locations; refurbishing the Giant Flume; track work on the wood coasters; and beginning restoration of the Sky Slide.
Anniversaries being celebrated in 2025 are the handcars and motor boats (70 years), Ole Smokey and the Pioneer Train (65 years), Roto Jets (60 years), S & G Carousel (50+ years), Phoenix (40 years), Giant Flume (35 years), Fandango and Flying Tigers (20 years) and Impulse (10 years). Check the Knoebels website for the many new food items for 2025. Keeping with the food theme, Dick asked, “Does anyone know why [the sitdown restaurant] is called The Alamo?” Rick answered, “So you’ll remember it!” The Knoebels presentation ended with a live auction of many park items. Stay tuned for major announcements for 2026, which will be the 100th anniversary of the park.
Tom Rebbie, with the new-for-2025 PTCI logo.
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Janine Rebbie Matscherz.
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What would a PTCI update be without an appearance by Rexie?
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As always, PTCI closed out the Eastcoaster presentations, and its president and CEO, Tom Rebbie, and operations manager, Janine Rebbie Matscherz, were full of news. PTCI has a new logo for 2025, and Rebbie reviewed the evolution of the company logo from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company era up to now. The shop was very busy with projects in 2024 and is even busier already in 2025. Currently being worked on for this off season are trains from Thunderhawk (Dorney Park), Rampage (Alabama Adventure and Splash Adventure), Roar and Wild One (Six Flags America), Boardwalk Bullet (Kemah Boardwalk), Great American Scream Machine (Six Flags Over Georgia), Blue Streak (Cedar Point), Zippin Pippin (Bay Beach Amusement Park), Comet (Great Escape), Boulder Dash (Lake Compounce) and Wild Cat (Frontier City). Present in the video of the shop (but not at Eastcoaster) was the familiar T-Rex that attendees may remember from the shop open house during Coaster Con 43.
In personal news, attendees saw photos of Rebbie’s horse, ACE, and heard about his recovery from a fall from ACE. In addition to the humorous photos of “Things I see,” Rebbie used one of identical skeletons with different labels to reinforce the point that Vourderis had made earlier, namely, that we should build on the things that we have in common and not on those that divide us.
Preservation was a winner at Eastcoaster, as totals from all the auctions reached $7,115! The Eastcoaster bake sale took in $847 in sales, plus a generous $500 matching donation, for a total of $1,347.
And with that another Eastcoaster came to an end. Matscherz thanked the Eastcoaster Committee and all the volunteers and presenters for starting off 2025 with a successful and fun first regional event of the season.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE News Managing Editor
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