originally posted on 11/12/2021
Whacky Shack was part of the morning ERT.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Although the scope of this traditional end-of-summer event cosponsored by ACE Western Pennsylvania and the Western New York Coaster Club (WNYCC) has changed in the past couple of years, eagerness to attend it has not. On a hot and sunny August 28, 114 attendees from both organizations gathered at Waldameer & Water World in Erie to fly high on Ravine Flyer II and to appreciate everything about a visit to this family-owned, traditional western Pennsylvania amusement park.
Until 2019, the event was a two-park, Saturday-Sunday event that included Conneaut Lake Park, and the event was named Flying High With a Blue Streak. Conneaut Lake Park wasn’t included in 2020 because the park was closed owing to the pandemic, and it wasn’t included this year either, as only a minimal number of the park’s rides were open, and the ACE Coaster Classic and ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Blue Streak was not among them. Unfortunately, the future of the park as we know it and that of Blue Streak are uncertain, and ACEers can only hope that the coaster will operate again.
Comet.
Photo: Richard Koppelman. View full-sized image.
Check-in began at 10 a.m. at the Lakeview Grove picnic shelter, where Waldameer had thoughtfully provided doughnuts and coffee for attendees who might have skipped breakfast. Water World opened at 11 a.m., and at the same time ERT began on the ACE Coaster Classic Comet, which was celebrating its 70th anniversary, and the Bill Tracey-designed dark ride Whacky Shack, which marked 50 years in 2020. The amusement park opened at noon, the same time ERT ended.
The next scheduled activity was a picnic lunch at 1 p.m. consisting of hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, several sides, drinks and ice cream for dessert. Attendees gathered back in the Lakeview Grove picnic shelter, the former loading station for the legendary Ravine Flyer, which closed in 1938. WNYCC Webmaster Bob Wheeler welcomed everyone and introduced ACE Western Pennsylvania Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer III, who remarked on the number of years his region and the WNYCC had been cohosting this event and thanked WNYCC for doing all the organizational work to make the event happen. Waldameer President Steve Gorman thanked attendees for coming and added that ACE and WNYCC were the only two coaster clubs to visit the park in 2021.
Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer addresses attendees.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Members of the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA) turned out for Flying High because the organization was recognizing Waldameer’s 125th anniversary. As an organization, NAPHA celebrates amusement park milestones, and NAPHA Historian Jim Futrell, author of Waldameer Park (in the Images of America series), was on hand to review a brief history of Waldameer, its family ownership (three generations operate the park today) and its rides, and then to present a plaque to Waldameer, which was accepted by the park’s owner, Paul Nelson.
NAPHA Historian Jim Futrell presents Paul Nelson a plaque commemorating Waldameer's 125th anniversary.
Photo: Lee Ann Draud. View full-sized image.
Photo: Richard Koppelman. View full-sized image.
Following the recognition, Linkenheimer and his regional rep team took the stage to present the third annual ACE Western Pennsylvania Industry Appreciation Award to Steve Gorman for his hospitality and support of ACE Western Pennsylvania. Linkenheimer noted that Gorman has a very long history of treating ACE exceptionally well. He is a regular presenter at the region’s annual off-season CoasterBash! event, where he is always entertaining, often relating humorous experiences at the park. In addition, Gorman is a gracious host when ACE visits Waldameer and always obliges requests to make an event special.
Steve Gorman accepts ACE Western Pennsylvania's Industry Appreciation Award.
Photo: Lee Ann Draud. View full-sized image.
After lunch and the recognition ceremonies, Gorman led attendees across Peninsula Drive for a photo walkback at the Ravine Flyer II turnaround. Because Ravine Flyer II does actually dive into a ravine and is often out of view for those in the park, the photo op was a chance to get an unobstructed view of this powerful woodie as it roared up the hills and through the turnaround.
After the walkback, attendees were on their own to enjoy the park and the water park until evening ERT. In the coaster department, in addition to Ravine Flyer II and Comet, Waldameer has a Maurer spinning coaster, Steel Dragon; an E&F Miler family coaster, Ravine Flyer III; and an SBF Visa spinner, Whirlwind. Other popular rides were the L. Ruth Express train, the XScream drop tower and the Sky Ride, which offers a wonderful overview of the park and is especially fun to ride at night after all the bright ride lights are lit. Staffing shortages meant that the Pirates Cove walkthrough and the log flume were closed.
Trains were full for after-dark ERT on Ravine Flyer II.
Photo: Lee Ann Draud. View full-sized image.
The much-anticipated ERT on Ravine Flyer II did not disappoint. More attendees than usual were able to stay for all of ERT since the event took place on Saturday this year, and fewer attendees had to rush to get home than when it is scheduled on Sunday. Every year this author thinks she has had the best ride ever on Ravine Flyer II, and every year the ride runs wilder and crazier. Perhaps next year when Coaster Con is in northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, ACEers who haven’t experienced this woodie from The Gravity Group will take time to visit Waldameer to experience for themselves the thrill that is Ravine Flyer II, especially at night. Attendees at Flying High were grateful to end their day riding it and for all the efforts of WNYCC, ACE Western Pennsylvania and Waldameer to make this an event to remember.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE Publications Director
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