originally posted on 12/10/2021
Hundreds of members were excited to return to Coaster Con.
Photo: S. Madonna Horcher. View full-sized image.
ACE News has featured a “Year in Review” annually for quite some time — except for last year because of, well, COVID. 2020 was a year to just emerge from shock and be grateful for what amusement parks and roller coasters were available, depending upon where one lived. This year (while not perfect) was a big step toward a return to normal. There were still challenges, and by no means did COVID go away, but vaccines and progress made it possible for virtually all parks in the United States to reopen. (So for the rest of this feature, let’s not mention the coronavirus again.)
Here is a look back on how ACE can remember 2021 …
Coaster Con Returns
Although a virtual Con in 2020 was an enjoyable diversion in depressing times, nothing compares with ACE members being together for close to a week. The togetherness was made more heartfelt this year because of its absence last year. Combine that with four wonderful parks that were great cohosts, and Coaster Con 43 was sheer pleasure. As if the Pennsylvania hospitality of Hersheypark, Dutch Wonderland, Dorney Park and Knoebels Amusement Resort didn’t satiate the geekiness of being an enthusiast, Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc.’s open house was more than just icing on the cake — it was hot fudge. What a week!
Jersey Devil Coaster.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
A Light Year for Coasters in North America
Not all news was necessarily favorable. 2021 will go down as having one of the lightest crops of new coasters in North America. Not to say there weren’t some enjoyable new rides, because there were! But it was a small handful of installations with multiple projects still on hold. In contrast, Europe had a really strong year, much more than the United States (which isn’t the norm). Taking a moment to feel more optimism, 2022 reverses that trend with delayed coasters opening and new ones announced. The United States will see no fewer than a dozen significant rides erected next year. Yowza!
M&V Woodie Wooden Dragons Roller Coaster at Jinan Sunac Land is the only new wooden coaster to open in the world this year.
Photo: Martin & Vleminckx. View full-sized image.
No New Wood
Alas, for the first time in quite a while, North America didn’t see any new wooden coasters. China scored one from Martin & Vleminckx, and Dubai is extremely close to opening a new woodie from Great Coasters International, Inc. But on the home front, enthusiasts were without. What’s worse, that remains the same in 2022, even with a large influx of new installations.
Jurassic World VelociCoaster.
Photo: Jonathan Hymes. View full-sized image.
VelociCoaster
There are great new rides every year, but Universal’s Jurassic World VelociCoaster not only debuted a new coaster while other large parks were holding on to opening their attractions, but it premiered to incredible praise. This launched coaster by Intamin seems to do everything right in enthusiasts’ eyes — fast, thrilling, comfortable and delightfully themed. Its 2021 opening will be remembered for a long time. Get to Orlando!
Photo: Courtesy of Coaster Studios. View full-sized image.
“This Is How We Roll”
Not since ACE’s “The Legacy of Arrow Development” has a documentary been produced about a roller coaster manufacturer. It’s a rare topic. What makes the 2021 release of “This Is How We Roll” more welcome is that it is an amazing production. Rocky Mountain Construction is the featured company, and Coaster Studios produced an engaging and entertaining film. Viewers have lauded praise on the documentary and deservedly so. (The fact that a few ACEers appear in it even scores some bonus points.) It is available for viewing on Vimeo.
The recognition of Hersheypark’s Comet took place on a rainy morning.
Photo: S. Madonna Horcher. View full-sized image.
ACE President Robert Ulrich and Dorney Park General Manager Mike Fehnel flank Thunderhawk’s beautiful installation.
Photo: S. Madonna Horcher. View full-sized image.
Two New ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks
Bringing acknowledgment to historic roller coasters is a reason to celebrate. By recognizing such rides and giving them the stamp of ACE’s brand, one of the club’s goals is met head on. Two recipients this year — Comet at Hersheypark (Hershey, Pennsylvania) and Thunderhawk at Dorney Park (Allentown, Pennsylvania) — now have beautiful plaques installed at the rides’ entrances. Both had designation ceremonies during Coaster Con 43.
Schwarzkopf’s triple looping coaster at Indiana Beach is being preserved thanks to owner Gene Staples, assisted by donations from ACE.
Photo: Dave Wynn. View full-sized image.
ACE Supports Three Saved Parks
Had businessman Gene Staples not stepped in to save Indiana Beach (Monticello, Indiana) last year, there would have been a loss of three wooden coasters at that park. Thankfully, they were saved. Staples was on a roll, however, as he went on to rescue two other shuttered parks, saving another two woodies. Clementon Park (Clementon, New Jersey) and Fantasy Island (Grand Island, New York) were rescued in 2021. His acquisitions prevented additional losses to America’s wooden coaster count, and work is under way to keep these coasters running.
ACE’s Executive Committee is showing its support with donations from the organization’s ACE Preservation Fund: $10,000 to each park.
Phoenix.
Photo: Jim McDonnell. View full-sized image.
Vekoma Is a Power Player
Vekoma had always been a company that sold a lot of rides. It was when the aggressive boomerangs and suspended looping coasters of the final decades of the last century were hot sellers that enthusiasts were underwhelmed with a new installation. Been there, done that.
But that was “old Vekoma.”
The company now is red hot with sought-after custom installations. Coaster fans are eager to experience Vekoma’s new lineup. While Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee) and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park (Brooklyn, New York) have shown the company’s new smoothness with new family suspended coasters, ACEers are eager to see some big stuff in North America. Patience is sure to pay off. Orlando already has long had new product under construction, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more coming.
Photo: Ric Turner. View full-sized image.
New Park: Legoland New York
What could be more inspiring than a brand new park opening as the world recovers from a pandemic? Legoland New York Resort in Goshen, New York, opened its gates. There may not be hypercoasters there, but a new park is a new park — and something to be thankful for.
Visitors get to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park via gondolas up to the top of a mountain.
Photo: May Ubinas. View full-sized image.
New Territory: Glenwood Caverns
ACE has been around for more than four decades. How nice to see that the club can still find new parks to be included in national events. At the 2021 Preservation Conference, attendees braved closed highways and elongated detours to get to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park (Glenwood Springs, Colorado). And what a gem. With a big coaster on the horizon in 2022, it won’t take much arm twisting to get enthusiasts to find their way back to this park on top of a mountain.
With a little introspection, each ACEer can also (hopefully) remember 2021 as a time to step back and be grateful our parks were able to open and survive. It took more patience this year. Yes. Guests had to be a little more understanding. Sure. Perhaps a silver lining is that many “expert fans” found global circumstances a time to shake off the “authoritative snark” often worn as an exoskeleton and get back to what ACE does best: supporting parks and roller coasters.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
@#$%&!
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