originally posted on 5/27/2022 1:39:00 AM
Surrounded by the Western Pennsylvania regional rep team and Kenny Kangaroo, Marie Ruby was honored with the Western Pennsylvania Industry Appreciation Award.
Photo: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
Would there be a CoasterBash! in 2022? With indoor options looking iffy, and possibly unhealthy for the original early March date, ACE Western Pennsylvania turned to Kennywood as it had in 2021, and a covered outdoor CoasterBash! some six weeks later and on the park’s season passholders’ preview day was planned – a real plus for attendees!
Those plans were “bashed” not long before registration ended, as the large pavilion Kennywood agreed on would not be ready. Fortunately, Salvatore’s — CoasterBash!’s usual indoor location — was available, and COVID cases had plummeted, so it was in Pittsburgh’s South Hills where 112 people gathered on April 16 for an afternoon and evening of fun with friends.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
At 1:45, doors opened for two hours of social time, when attendees can find seating, check out the vendors’ offerings, enjoy free popcorn and soft drinks, peruse the ACE Preservation table, vote in the photo contest, buy raffle and Chinese auction tickets and bid on silent auction items. Or just catch up with friends. Although not a presenter this year, Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) Marketing Manager Jeff Filicko sent enough free park passes for everyone, with attachments of one-time flash passes for popular rides.
At 3:45, presentations began with Joel Brewton-Riling’s video tribute to the now-defunct Blue Streak at Conneaut Lake Park. It was a reminder of a terrible loss for ACE and the region when this ACE Coaster Classic and ACE Roller Coaster Landmark was demolished. The Blue Streak tribute was followed by Brewton-Riling’s Summer Flashback video that documents all of the previous year’s regional events. Contributing for the 28th year, Ken Simmons shared his New Coasters of 2021 video.
Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer III welcomed everyone and announced that this year’s CoasterBash! would be dedicated to Mary Ann Jaram, a beloved and long-time regional member who died recently. He then introduced April Lucas as ACE Western Pennsylvania’s newest assistant regional rep. New this year was a $5 “BashCash” voucher provided to everyone to use toward a purchase, as well as the region’s first-ever non-event-oriented T-shirt, which debuted at CoasterBash!.
Bill Linkenheimer III.
Photos: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
Mike Funyak.
View full-sized image.
Linkenheimer noted that the first part of CoasterBash! is traditionally a look back to the past. In continuing that theme, the first speaker was Mike Funyak, author of West View Park: The Story of the T.M. Harton Company, who pointed out that his book was not just about the beloved regional park, which closed in 1977, but also about the people who operated it. When asked by a questioner why West View closed, Funyak answered “It’s in the book.”
Celebrating more than 125 years, Kennywood has seen many attractions come and go, and David Hahner III was next up with a video showing remnants of past rides and buildings that visitors can still see at the park today. Check out his video at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jjGmkvYXJI4&t=28s.
David Hahner III.
Photos: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
Dave Altman.
View full-sized image.
Assistant Regional Rep and former ACE President Dave Altman has documented many events in ACE’s and the region’s history. His presentation, “Putting the Blue in Blue Streak,” was intended to note the 20th anniversary of a volunteer effort to repaint Conneaut Lake Park’s Blue Streak and recount the three weekends in April 2002 when 100+ volunteers recruited by ACE from different enthusiast and local organizations partook in the effort. ACE donated $5,500 for paint and supplies. OSHA restrictions limited volunteers to painting no higher than six feet above the ground, although the use of step ladders and rollers on poles was permitted.
Over the years, ACE had donated $26,000 to Conneaut Lake Park, much of it toward maintenance of the now-defunct Blue Streak. Although the coaster is gone, attendees were thrilled to hear that the ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaque mounted on the front of the station was recovered, thanks to the efforts of Hotel Conneaut operator Frank Flanegin. With the approval of ACE’s Executive Committee, it will now reside in the Conneaut Lake Area Historical Society’s museum.
The ACE Western Pennsylvania regional rep team holds the recovered Blue Streak ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaque.
Photo: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
John Reilly, COO for Palace Entertainment, parent company to regional parks Kennywood, Idlewild and Sandcastle, along with numerous other parks throughout the country, spoke next about plans for the eventual “refurbishment” of all of the company’s parks. Connecticut’s Lake Compounce was the pilot project, where the intent was to elevate what visitors see when they come to the park. The three-part plan includes refreshing the appearance of the park, adding a new attraction and creating a celebration. Elements of the plan for Kennywood were a drastic overhaul of what guests experience from the parking lot to the gate to the tunnel to several hundred yards down the midway, the return of the Kangaroo and the beginning of the park’s 125th anniversary celebration. For Sandcastle, where the tagline is “Better, brighter, fresher than ever,” the additions included a lot of refreshing, new buildings, the new water slide Bombs Away and new events scheduled for the summer.
John Reilly.
Photos: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
Steve Gorman.
View full-sized image.
Waldameer & Water World Park President Steve Gorman appeared to summarize what’s been happening at the Erie park. Staffing shortages were a problem last year, and Gorman — who is now also human resources director — is hoping for more hires in 2022. At least 400 feet of Ravine Flyer II track has been replaced using a new technique of track removal that is faster and more efficient. The Ferris wheel has new LED lights and a straighter center emblem. Anniversaries of two Bill Tracy dark attractions will be celebrated: Pirate’s Cove, the walkthrough, turns 50 in 2022, and Whacky Shack, the dark ride, 52.
Dinner followed, during which attendees were free to appreciate the chicken, roast beef and pasta options and take time to visit friends and the vendor and auction tables.
Before presentations resumed after dinner, calling his assistant regional reps to join him at the podium to present the 2022 ACE Western Pennsylvania Industry Appreciation Award, Linkenheimer asked attendees, “Who is responsible for ERT at Kennywood events?” Several called out “Marie Ruby,” who indeed was the recipient of the award. Ruby’s attendance at ACE events and willingness to arrange tours and other perks is much appreciated.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.
Congratulations, Marie Ruby.
Photo: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
Even though Nick Paradise is now director of corporate communications for Palace Entertainment, he was happy to take the traditional first after-dinner speaker slot and give the Kennywood update. His first slide, which began “So much is new,” listed scheduled events for 2022 in addition to the Kangaroo’s reopening on Memorial weekend. Attendees saw photos of repainting projects, the redone Kandy Kaleidoscope building with lockers no longer on the second floor and the reorganized Potato Patch building. Another project was the refurbishing of the cottage restrooms, which Paradise showcased in a video by dancing through them (as a certain other presenter had done to show off the redone restrooms at Idlewild in 2021).
Mike Funyak was back at the podium, wearing his other hat as DelGrosso’s assistant director of operations, to talk about changes in the Tipton park. DelGrosso’s is both an amusement/water park and a successful food company. 2022 is DelGrosso’s 75th anniversary, which prompted a logo change for the company’s spaghetti sauce. Funyak reported that the popular Italian Fest and Harvest Fest events would be back. Ride and park projects include new light packages for several rides, overhauls for the two carousels, refurbishment for the Tilt-a-Whirl, new park benches and landscaping.
Adam Napotnik.
Photos: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
Nick Paradise.
View full-sized image.
Chair of the ACE Cares Committee Adam Napotnik thanked all volunteers who participated in a Coasting for Kids event and reported that the ACE Cares teams raised $19,178 in 2021. No parks or dates for these events that benefit Give Kids The World are definite for 2022 yet, but scheduling is under way. ACE’s participation in park-related initiatives is a work in progress, and expansion of ACE Cares events to the ACE Europe region is a possibility.
Before another door prize break, Photo Contest Coordinator Jason Ballard announced the winners of this year’s contest. In third place was Bryan Bartley, second was William Supko and winning first was David Hahner III.
Photo Contest Winners: Bryan Bartley (3rd), Coordinator Jason Ballard, William Supko (2nd) and David Hahner III (1st).
Photo: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
Eighteen years a presenter at CoasterBash!, Idlewild and Sandcastle Director of Marketing Jeff Croushore, who wears many hats, stepped up to report the latest from the two parks. Sandcastle? Well, Croushore needed some help with his Sandcastle presentation, so he “voluntold” Kris Leach and Mike Matscherz to join him in front and be interpretive dancers for his presentation. After each of Croushore’s news updates about Sandcastle — the new water slide Bombs Away, the new look to Mon Sunami, the new signage, painting and picnic areas — music would begin and the dancers did their thing. It all made for a lively presentation!
As for Idlewild, although not one of the Palace parks scheduled for major refurbishments this year, the Ligonier park will see improvements in several areas and will experience its longest operating season ever, which would begin on May 21. Croushore introduced Tim Heger, Idlewild’s new general manager, formerly at Adventureland in Iowa. Kids Fest, a new event, is scheduled for June. Superheroes and princesses are returning. Celebrate America and Neighbor Days are both scheduled for July, and a concert series will begin in August. As for ride updates, there has been track replacement on Rollo Coaster and new decking on Paratrooper.
Jeff Croushore.
Photos: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
Janine Rebbie Matscherz.
View full-sized image.
The final presenter was Janine Rebbie Matscherz, representing Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. (PTCI) in Hatfield. Janine thanked those who had attended PTCI’s open house during Coaster Con 43 in 2021. She reported that 82 coaster cars from various parks had been sent to PTCI from September 2021 to the present for refurbishment and repair. She and her father, Tom Rebbie, will be looking forward to seeing everyone at Coaster Con.
Closing out CoasterBash! was a “Symphony of Volunteers” tribute to all who had made CoasterBash! possible and announcement of the raffle and auction winners. $1,176 was raised for the ACE Preservation Fund from a handful of fundraisers.
Linkenheimer thanked everyone for attending CoasterBash! and reminded them of the upcoming pre- and post-Con events in western Pennsylvania parks in June. The efforts of the ACE Western Pennsylvania regional rep team and volunteers and employees of Salvatore’s were much appreciated.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE Publications Director
#ACENews