originally posted on 11/10/2025
Photo: Brian Pickral. View full-sized image.
An ominous, rainy forecast did not dampen the spirits of the 167 ACE Dives attendees who traveled to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia) from 17 states. The forecast for Sunday, October 12, warned of coastal flooding, as a nor’easter was hitting the area over the weekend. In anticipation of this, Busch Gardens and ACE Mid-Atlantic had a contingency plan in place for morning ERT on DarKoaster, the park’s indoor straddle coaster. Fortunately, even though the weather was wet, with a steady light rain throughout the day, the heavy rain stayed away during the event.
Check-in included a complimentary snack voucher plus an option to purchase ACE merchandise.
Photo: Brian Pickral. View full-sized image.
At check-in Sunday morning, ACE members and their guests collected their badges, tickets, buttons and a complimentary snack voucher, which was a surprise bonus. Attendees could also purchase ACE or ACE Mid-Atlantic merchandise, and if they had ordered specially designed event attire, they could pick it up at that time. (Thanks to Brody Rose for the logo design!)
Verbolten.
Photo: Jennifer Herchek. View full-sized image.
Attendees were ready for rainy rides on Verbolten.
Photo: Elaine Bailey. View full-sized image.
Once inside the park, members walked back to the Germany section of the park, where ERT began on DarKoaster. Verbolten and the swings opened a little later during the morning ERT session. Crowd levels at the park were low after the park opened because of the inclement weather, which allowed ACEers to get front-row rides on various coasters and repeat rides with little or no wait (except for Tempesto and Pantheon, which were closed for the day).
Regional Rep Evangelos Ringas greets attendees.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
Attendees had a Q&A with Park President Kevin Lempke.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
During lunch, attendees heard from Park President Kevin Lempke, who didn’t reveal any specific upcoming additions or changes to the park but alluded to the possibility of changes to Verbolten in the coming year. He told the group that specific announcements would be made by the park in the coming months. After the Q&A with Lempke, Al Moore, winner of the splash game, and randomly selected ACE members claimed various prizes. Throughout lunch, people could also bid on one of two items: a Loch Ness Monster wheel and a piece of its track; those two items raised $510.
Photo: Jennifer Brown. View full-sized image.
Busch Gardens offered a special Burgermeister’s show even though it had been “canceled” all year. Twenty-one attendees participated in this entertaining Halloween-themed experience during which they participated in a murder mystery.
Because ACE’s Spring Conference 2025 was held at Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion in May, ACE Dives, which traditionally has been held in early June, was moved to the fall this year. This allowed ACE Mid-Atlantic to host its first event during Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream season. Attendees got the rare opportunity to have a special behind-the-scenes tour of one of the park’s new indoor haunted houses: Bloodshot.
The “bar” in Bloodshot.
Photo: Jennifer Herchek. View full-sized image.
The entertainment manager for the park’s Halloween event escorted guests through the maze, and while in the barroom, he discussed the process the team goes through when creating a haunt like Bloodshot. The “bar” had various Easter eggs paying homage to Busch Gardens’ past, and it was such a cool ambience that the design team even discussed the possibility of turning parts of it into a real bar.
A scene in Bloodshot.
Photos: Jennifer Herchek. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
After everyone had a chance to take the tour, attendees were the first in line through Bloodshot, with scare actors in their places. Even though the weather closed the outdoor haunts, guests had a howlingly good time walking through the indoor haunted houses and the various Terror-Tories throughout the park.
Gratitude was expressed to Regional Representative Evangelos Ringas and the rest of the ACE Mid-Atlantic team for planning a fall version of ACE Dives. A special thanks to all the staff members at Busch Gardens who made this event a scream!
— Melissa Buck
#ACENews