originally posted on 9/15/2025
Photo: Xander Lee. View full-sized image.
There are more water parks in the U.S. than amusement parks. Not all ACE members know that. Although regional events tend to lean toward coaster-centered places, the hot climate of Texas allows ACE South Central to support some of its waterparks. SchlitterCon has been a long-running event since the 1990s. Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark will be hosting Winterfest in January. And there have been others.
Attendees picked up goodies at check-in.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Ron McKenzie, who had been a beloved friend and ACE supporter, continued a relationship with enthusiasts following a departure from Six Flags. Having joined the ProParks team in marketing (after the “transition” from Six Flags), he created a simple, down-to-earth event that couldn’t be more enjoyable — or a better steal!
ProParks owns the three Hawaiian Falls in North Texas. For three years, ACEers have enjoyed a trio of neighborhood waterparks with Aloha Con. In 2022, Texans visited the park in Waco, a first for most everybody. Last year, Hawaiian Falls in Roanoke was the host. On August 23, the third park was visited this year, bringing attendees to Mansfield.
Hawaiian Falls was the third park in the chain to welcome ACEers to Aloha Con.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
For the rundown, here’s what a $25 registration provided: admission, an all-day drink bottle, breakfast, morning ERT, lunch and two beverages from the bar. Boom!
Upon arrival, 27 attendees were presented with a lei and their bottle, which had the ticket, drink wristband and koozie freebie inside.
Breakfast and slides got things started.
Photos: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Gathering at a reserved area, breakfast items of fresh fruit, chicken biscuits and beverages got things going. Once fed, most people wandered to the attractions that were open early for ACE — the wave pool, whirlpool slide and another slide tower.
As the reserved area only offered partial shade, ACEers had three cabanas available to them. Nice!
Once the park opened, attendees had the entire day to enjoy the assortment of attractions on offer, which included other slide towers, a lazy river, splash pad with play structure and more.
There were wild and mild attractions to appease all tastes.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Some chose to get their first adult beverage before lunch, while others held off. And lunch was fantastic. One of the more renowned metroplex barbecue places, Hurtado Barbecue, catered the luncheon.
During that time, McKenzie introduced several key team members at the Mansfield location, and ACE offered its thanks and appreciation.
Ron McKenzie (left) is the ringmaster of Aloha Con events; Ray Fields was the manager on duty for the day.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
ACEers were stuffed from all the food offered; the barbecue was excellent.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
A surprise came in the form of a guest star from last year. Shawn Dowdy works at the Roanoke location, and she had so much fun putting together a spectacular charcuterie board for ACE last year, she wanted to drive over to see everyone again. What’s more impressive is that she came from watching her daughter play soccer. Not having time to throw together one of her elaborate charcuterie displays, she brought everyone an individual charcuterie “snack cup.” How clever!
Charcuterie snack cups!
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
(This author nicknamed last year’s event “Ron Shawn Aloha Con.”)
As this was the third Hawaiian Falls to host ACE, McKenzie surprised those who had attended all three — 11 in all — with a special gift. Those individuals were given a 2026 Pineapple Pass. (It sounds simple, but it’s a big deal.)
Photo: Xander Lee. View full-sized image.
There was also a tease of an announcement being made in a few days, but that was all he would say. *
Aloha Con was and has always been a screaming deal. But what even adds to the value is that it’s not all about food and slides. Texas is hot in the summer, and having an opportunity for friends to get together and simply chill out may be the biggest perk of all. Assuredly, attendees appreciated that.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
*The announcement was made in the following week. Hawaiian Falls was being purchased from ProParks by Ripley’s Entertainment. According to McKenzie, Ripley’s was prepared to invest. Local ACEers will stay tuned.
#ACENews