originally posted on 10/14/2022 1:24:00 AM
Photo: Chris Tilsley. View full-sized image.
ACE Midwest: Quoth The Raven: Ride Some More
A perfect weather day was on hand for the ACE Midwest regional
event, Quoth the Raven: Ride Some More at Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari in
Santa Claus, Indiana. The event was held July 30, and 98 people were
registered. Each attendee was given a $15 certificate to be used toward food or
purchasing souvenirs.
The day started with a walkback ERT on The Voyage wooden
coaster that was shared with a coaster group from Germany. The Gravity Group
classic is still providing amazing speeds and airtime since the ride opened in
2006. Afterward, ACE attendees changed into their swimwear and took advantage
of an hour of soaking fun on the Wildebeest water coaster.
The Voyage.
Photos: Bob Redman. View full-sized image.
ACEers love the coaster-like fun on the award-winning Wildebeest.
View full-sized image.
Later in the day, the group gathered to take a behind-the-scenes
tour of the park’s newest attraction called Holidays in the Sky. The attraction
was a nightly feature from June 18 through July 31 and was comprised of 300
drones that were synchronized to computer and animated images. The attendees
sat back and enjoyed the culmination of a wonderful day.
The Raven.
Photos: Bob Redman. View full-sized image.
Thunderbird.
View full-sized image.
Attendees await the nightly finale.
Photo: Bob Redman. View full-sized image.
Holidays in the Sky presented the themed holiday areas in the park via drones and fireworks.
Photo: Courtesy of Holiday World. View full-sized image.
Thanks were given to Regional Rep Chris Tilsley for setting up the
event; to assistant reps Amanda Tilsley, Rich Wessel and Bob Redman for helping
in event-day organizing; and to all those who attended. Appreciation also went
to Josh Moore with Holiday World for organizing the visit.
— Bob Redman, ACE Midwest Assistant Regional Representative
Photo: Chris Tilsley. View full-sized image.
ACE Midwest: Storm the Kingdom 2022
ACE stormed the kingdom in more ways than one
this year. On Sunday, July 31, 2022, 70 ACE members and guests braved the early
morning rain to enjoy rides on their favorite weather-themed coasters in
Kentucky. Attendees started the day with ERT on Thunder Run, a Custom
Coasters International-built wooden coaster with trains from Philadelphia Toboggan
Coasters, Inc. However, owing to the wet track and brake run, guests on the second
ride of the morning experienced a wilder ride than normal. The train missed
stopping on the brake run and coasted right through, stopping right on its
marks inside the station. Because of this unexpected stop, Thunder Run
had to be reset by maintenance. So, attendees were directed toward Storm
Chaser for the remainder of ERT.
Storm Chaser.
Photo: Chris Tilsley. View full-sized image.
It was a cool morning owing to the early morning rain. By
the time the park opened to the public, the sun was out, and the day got
warmer. Kennan Leis won the Storm the Kingdom midway games contest with Barry
Hanson coming in second place.
The crowd that day was fairly light which gave attendees
plenty of rides. At one point, several managed to score three rides on Kentucky
Flyer, a Gravity Group family coaster, without leaving the station. The
ride operators there were excited to see an ACE event at the park and were very
friendly. Attendees also got several rides on Lightning Run, a coaster
by Chance Rides built in 2014. This year’s show in the Kentucky Kingdom
Amphitheater was “All-Star Stunt Dogs.” The trainers of this show rescue dogs
from all over the country and teach them fun tricks. This was a very popular show
that day, as the theater was packed with park patrons.
Attendees had a great time at Storm the Kingdom this year.
The rain stopped before the fun began and never hampered the rest of the visit.
Enthusiasts enjoyed great rides on the park’s collection of coasters and
enjoyed catching up with each other. Thanks went to Carly Uglow with Kentucky
Kingdom for organizing the visit and to all of the staff at Kentucky Kingdom
for working hard so that ACE could have a fun day.
— Chris Tilsley, ACE Midwest Regional Representative
#ACENews