What You Missed If You Weren’t at Coaster Con 44

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originally posted on 7/15/2022

Photo: Carsten Anderson. View full-sized image.

It was a spectacular week, as Coaster Con broke records. It was the highest-ever attended ACE convention with 860 attendees, 546 ducks and 40 million mayflies. Despite the bugs or a closed coaster (or two), members and guests had a wonderful time.

Full coverage of the event will be spotlighted in the fall issue of RollerCoaster!, but for now, here’s 16 things people missed if they weren’t at Coaster Con.

The Blue Streak ACE Roller Coaster Landmark dedication drew a big crowd.
Photo: Frank DelVillar. View full-sized image.

Blue Streak was designated an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark. News stations broadcast the celebration of Cedar Point’s oldest roller coaster gaining new notoriety. The ceremony was well attended by those registered for Con, had great weather and the plaque looked magnificent in front of the blue-toned woodie.

GateKeeper.
Photo: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.

The weather was a photographer’s dream. The annual convention can often bring about all sorts of tantrums from Mother Nature. The week of Coaster Con 44 offered blue skies with glorious sunshine for pictures and no rain to intrude on a single activity.

This isn’t the actual group photo, but isn’t it a hoot?
Photo: Courtesy of Cedar Point. View full-sized image.

The group photo at Cedar Point was taken by drone. “The bird is in the sky” wasn’t necessarily clear as ACEers gathered on Cedar Point’s beach. There were many seagulls. A few of the seagulls looked positively perplexed at a drone that moved in to capture the group shot from the sky.

Midway Olympics.
Photo: Jason Wollenberg. View full-sized image.

Rubber Ducky Regatta.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.

All the cool Con activities! Whether it is the ACE talent exhibited at the Photo Contest, the wackiness of the Rubber Ducky Regatta, the outlandish fun of the Midway Olympics or a chuckle here and there at the Video Contest — it’s hard to do it all! These Con staples add to the more established event activities and help make the week more memorable.

Photo Contest.
Photo: S. Madonna Horcher. View full-sized image.

Candidates were available for questions and to speak toward their platforms.
Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.

Members could meet the candidates of the upcoming election. Not every member knows everybody, so following the annual business meeting, candidates had the opportunity to share their platforms, and attendees in turn could ask the candidates questions (and apparently offer some unfiltered remarks).

Kris Rowberry announced two upcoming ACE documentaries.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.

A presentation of two new upcoming documentaries. Elsewhere in ACE News, readers can find out more details on ACE’s next two documentaries. Kris Rowberry made a presentation at the annual business meeting — and it was easy to get excited. Those who attended got the firsthand knowledge of what our organization can expect with these two upcoming projects.

Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.

ACE was the first! At Sawmill Creek, that is. Cedar Fair has invested millions in the past few years completely redoing its resort a few miles from the Cedar Point Causeway. Members who opted to stay there were among the first guests, and ACE was the first banquet catered since the reopening — which was handled quite well. (After last year, we deserved it!)

Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.

Jake Kilcup was the keynote speaker. There are many Rocky Mountain Construction fans out there. ACEers enjoyed Iron Gwazi at the Spring Conference and Steel Vengeance during Con. Some members got their first introduction to Kilcup via the documentary, “This Is How We Roll.” His humor was still intact as he gave an interesting and entertaining speech to the banquet attendees.

Steve Berto receives the “Spirit of ACE” by PTCI’s Tom Rebbie.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.

ACE Events Director Steve Berto received a double surprise. Shortly after being acknowledged as the newest honorary member by ACE President Robert Ulrich, Tom Rebbie of Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. presented Berto with the company’s special award, lovingly known to members as “The Spirit of ACE Award.” He was surprised and touched by the double recognition.

Millennium Force.
Photo: Aaron Jersey. View full-sized image.

Jack Rabbit.
Photo: Dave Jackson. View full-sized image.

ERTs were spectacular! There wasn’t a dud. Most of them had plentiful ride selections and always included some power hitters. Big guns were usually featured in two ride sessions. The longest line in any of them? Wilderness Run. Getting that elusive Cedar Point kiddie credit was a big focus that morning. In all, a whopping 22 coasters were offered, owing to one being down at Kennywood.

Maverick was in operation during the infield tour.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.

ACEers strolled within the lair of The Phantom’s Revenge.
Photo: B. Derek Shaw. View full-sized image.

Who doesn’t like going where you are not supposed to go? Both Cedar Point and Kennywood offered an infield tour of one of the park’s coasters. Kennywood let attendees roam inside The Phantom’s Revenge. At Cedar Point, Maverick was the coaster of choice, with an additional bonus — the ride was running! ACEers snagged some exceptional shots.

Andy Quinn.
Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.

Kennywood history was brought to life. On two different occasions, attendees were able to gain insight into Kennywood’s past. Authors Dave Hahner and Brian Butko, former Kennywood Public Relations Director Nick Paradise and Andy Quinn, former owner/operator, addressed those who were eager to learn more about the park’s colorful history.

Kennywood had chef’s carving prime rib.
Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.

The food was off the charts! Like being on a cruise ship, ACEers were sure to end the week weighing a few pounds heavier. Cedar Point wowed with culinary dishes such as Gochujang ribs, shashuska, chicken picatta, beef eye of round and insane sides and dessert. Kennywood blew it out of the water with center-cut steaks, shrimp skewers, chicken fontina and incredible sides — including a baked potato bar. And oh, the “snacks” each night during the ERTs! It was like eating all over again. Bravo to both parks!

Photo: Brandon York. View full-sized image.

A stroll through Ghostwood Estate was amazingly cool! On the final night, attendees could walk through Kennywood’s dark ride, Ghostwood Estate. It was a marvelous romp with the sets and ideal for fun photo ops. Ride vehicles were stationed throughout the ride, allowing ACEers to aim at targets to cause effects to go off and props to react.

Photo: Sarah Windisch. View full-sized image.

Regional pride was on display. Regional volunteers from ACE Western Pennsylvania were used for the behind-the-scenes experiences of The Phantom’s Revenge infield tour and inside Ghostwood Estate, as well as hosting the Ghostwood Estate Challenge. During the farewell dinner, the Western Pennsylvania ACE Preservation Fund Sales Table was manned by regional volunteers and raised $791 — almost entirely from items ranging from 25 cents to one dollar. They also handed out Herbert Schmeck books and snacks and swag (delightfully donated by the park) on the way out each night at Kennywood. ACE Eastern Great Lakes collaborated with the Pennsylvanians and helped staff the hospitality and Midway Olympics tables during registration, as well as handling the Midway Olympics at Cedar Point. The two regions coordinated volunteers and provided them with special shirts — orange representing ACE Eastern Great Lakes and yellow for ACE Western Pennsylvania.

From stained glass to prized artifacts to framed art, there were many things to bid upon.
Photo: B. Derek Shaw. View full-sized image.

Lucky raffle winners could be atop Valravn.
Photo: Jennifer Rosenblum. View full-sized image.

There were so many ways to support ACE’s fundraising efforts. Many members donated items from their own collections for auctions. Others provided beautiful handmade items for unique keepsakes. Still yet, both parks offered raffles for lucky members to climb the lift of one of the park’s coasters: Valravn at Cedar Point and The Phantom’s Revenge at Kennywood. It was easy to find something to go after. In all, $17,649 was collected at Coaster Con for ACE’s various funds.