originally posted on 10/13/2023
Photo: Courtney Burkarth. View full-sized image.
On Sunday, September 10, 57 ACE members and guests visited Dutch Wonderland (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) to enjoy the second annual Mayhem in Wonderland.
Dutch Wonderland staff and ACE members prepare to welcome attendees to Mayhem in Wonderland.
Photo: Rich Yekel. View full-sized image.
Attendees checked in at the park’s main entrance and were greeted by Marketing Director Courtney Burkarth and Director of Guest Services & Sales Angela Tessen. They were treated to a specially designed ACE Eastern Pennsylvania lanyard that featured the region’s event logos and a unique event button.
The event began with ERT on the park’s Custom Coasters International wood coaster, Kingdom Coaster — the company’s first creation — and continued with some favorites including The Twister.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
The day kicked off with an hour of ERT on Kingdom Coaster, Merlin’s Mayhem, Merry-Go-Round and Kite Flight. Both coasters were running wonderfully and attendees enjoyed multiple rides thanks to the quick and fun operations teams. The additional rides this year allowed members, young and young at heart, to enjoy a variety of thrills. Informal takeover times (ITOTs) were scheduled throughout the day on Joust, Bumper Cars and Double Splash Flume.
Attendees proved the young at heart are never too old for Joust — a Chance Rides Big Dipper — and also enjoyed ITOT on the park’s Double Splash Flume.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
Lunch was served at 12 p.m. in the Mill Stream Catering area. The park’s catering department treated attendees to a delicious meal that included a mac ‘n cheese bar with crumbled sausage, bacon and pulled pork, corn dog nuggets, soft pretzel bites, applesauce cups, carrot sticks, root beer or orange soda floats with vanilla ice cream and fountain drinks. The smoked, slow-cooked pulled pork was especially popular with attendees. James Paulding, Dutch Wonderland’s general manager, welcomed attendees to the park, spoke about his history in the amusement industry and his journey to Dutch Wonderland. ACE Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Representative Mike Matscherz made a few announcements, and offered special recognition to those visiting the park for the first time, which was almost half of all the attendees. The park also gave everyone a Dutch Wonderland drink cup, which allowed attendees free refills for the entire day.
Ride Operations Manager Jeffrey Adams led attendees on a photo walkback of Kingdom Coaster.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.
After lunch, Ride Operations Manager Jeffrey Adams led attendees on a personalized photo walkback of Kingdom Coaster and a behind-the-scenes tour of Merlin’s Mayhem’s control room. Tour attendees were treated to stories about both coasters’ histories and unique views of the maintenance shop.
A tour of Dutch Wonderland’s maintenance shop was enlightening to attendees.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
The ACE Eastern Pennsylvania regional representative team expressed its gratitude to Christine Coleman, Burkarth, Paulding, Tessen, Adams and the operations teams at Dutch Wonderland for going above and beyond in welcoming ACE members and their guests. Their hospitality continued to make this event truly magical.
— Mike Matscherz, ACE Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Representative
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