originally posted on 7/14/2023
Photo: Grayson Moon. View full-sized image.
A “Cinnamon Bread” Baker’s Dozen
- Opening night! Dollywood’s welcome reception pulled out all the stops. An amazing buffet with food stations spread around and smoked meats in abundance. Owing to ACE’s origins in 1978, tables were adorned with vinyl records and an ABBA tribute band had ACEers dancing.
A record attendance enjoyed a great opening night.
Photo: Courtesy of Dollywood. View full-sized image.
- Drones. How fun to see Dollywood’s nighttime fireworks/drone show give a special nod to ACE. At one point, the drones spelled out “Coaster Con 45” in the sky. Cool!
Photo: Corey Wooten. View full-sized image.
- Behind-the-scenes tours. Exclusive to attendees, ACEers could explore the back areas and workings of both Carowinds and Dollywood. From amazing photo angles to the nitty gritty of steam trains, there was something informative and “VIP” for everybody.
Fans of trains could get up close to Dollywood’s train.
Photo: Jes Niemiec. View full-sized image.
ACEers looked at the Grand Carnivale floats up close.
Photo: Dan Brewer. View full-sized image.
- The perks! Both the host parks had lounges set up each day, which was great to have a soda. Dollywood welcomed ACE with preferred parking each day and swag items each night.
Dollywood handed out things every day!
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
- Waterpark ERT — in the upper 60s. While that might not sound ideal — because it wasn’t — those who ventured in the water quickly reported, “It isn’t that bad.” Many people took their word for it, but overall, it was a memorable morning. A lot of people wanted to ride the water coaster in Dollywood’s Splash Country.
Many ACEers still ventured into the water even on a chilly morning.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
- “God will forgive you.” Before Reverend Cliff Herring’s invocation at the banquet, he asked everyone in the ballroom to think of one thing to be grateful for. He said for some people it would be cinnamon bread. “God will forgive you. Your doctor won’t.” It brought a chuckle. But cinnamon bread at breakfast three mornings in a row was pretty darn yummy.
Photo: Jason Wollenberg. View full-sized image.
- Industry presentations. Those who took the time could find some incredibly interesting and educational talks during the week of Coaster Con 45. Preston Perkes from S&S gave a fun overview of the company and its upcoming Axis coaster concept. Pete Owens, Eugene Naughton and Ricardo Tonding Etges shared heartwarming and informative stories of both Dollywood and Vekoma. Tom Rebbie caught everyone up with happenings at Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. — and threw out a tease — before offering the company’s Manufacturer’s Award. Clayton Lawrence of Cedar Fair’s Creative Design Studio shared the development of Aeronautica Landing and other projects at Cedar Fair parks. Jerry Helms, a former ops VP at Carowinds who had been at the park since its opening year, gave a thorough history of the park.
Pete Owens and Eugene Naughton.
Photo: Marlon Scott. View full-sized image.
Ricardo Tonding Etges.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
Preston Perkes from S&S speaks inside one of Dollywood’s theaters.
Photo: Jon Roost. View full-sized image.
- Rollbacks? Lightning Rod, as most people know, has its moments. Those who crave rollbacks on launched rides may have scored a rollback credit during the week of Con. Many added it to their lists.
Lightning Rod.
Photo: Paul Daley. View full-sized image.
- Fury 325. As the national media reported extensively, the award-winning coaster had a structural issue in July, which had to be addressed. Although the phenomenal scream machine went down owing to the situation, ACEers got an abundance of rides on it the week before.
Fury 325.
Photo: Paul Daley. View full-sized image.
- A sneak look at Grand Carnivale. Although Carowinds’ returning international festival technically didn’t start until the day after Con, attendees got to see a dress rehearsal of the parade, as well as sample some of the foods if they so wished.
Attendees were able to see the dress rehearsal of the Grand Carnivale parade.
Photo: Brandon York. View full-sized image.
- Late-night snacks. As silly as it sounds, people lined up. Any bedtime munchies were overly satisfied with huge snacks and indulgent desserts during the night ERTs.
Even rain couldn’t keep ACEers from lining up for some bedtime snacks.
Photo: Jon Roost. View full-sized image.
- Alpine coasters! With assistance from Dollywood, a special lanyard was made available during the registration period that allowed attendees to ride numerous alpine coasters in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg region at a major discount. It was a phenomenal deal, and several ACE members took advantage of it.
Photo: Tom Nickerson. View full-sized image.
- Rain. Well, that doesn’t sound fun. And technically, it wasn’t. However, with much of the rest of the country suffering under sweltering conditions, there was a blessing to be had with the majority of the week being in the 70s. Mother Nature was at least kind enough to nudge it away to give a perfect opening night. Only Monday night’s ERT was heavily impacted. The rest is just laughable memories.
Rain didn’t stop the fun.
Photo: Amy Orvis. View full-sized image.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
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