originally posted on 12/30/2024
Last month, I once again had the pleasure of attending the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida, representing ACE as well as enjoying the spectacle of more than half a million square feet of everything one can imagine being associated with amusement parks. Whether shopping for something exciting like a record-breaking roller coaster or an inflatable slide the size of a small passenger jet, or something more mundane like a floor cleaner or an insurance provider, the IAAPA Expo does not disappoint.
It is tempting to get lost in its magical chaos, sucking down free samples of sugary substances until insulin may be required. There is always a new roller coaster credit, usually in the form of an SBF spinning coaster that will end up being purchased by an amusement park operator looking to make a splash with a new ride in 2025. If you enjoy games, imagine the local Target gutted of all retail merchandise and transformed into an arcade.
One of the advantages of this year’s IAAPA Expo was getting to attend the East Coast screening of ACE’s “The Legacy of Schwarzkopf” documentary. I had the pleasure of speaking with many of those responsible for the film and after enjoying it with other ACE members, realized it not only typifies the term “labor of love” but also ACE’s standing in the amusement industry. It is impossible to view the work and not be impressed with how it both entertains and educates in equal doses.
Anton Schwarzkopf was a true pioneer, defined by splashy innovations whose ripple effect is still rocking boats in the waters of the industry more than five decades after the debut of his Wildcat model. I like to think that ACE is the same kind of industry pioneer, having spent the better part of five decades bringing people together around a hobby that is admittedly a little strange and unorthodox (although I suppose it can be said most hobbies share those traits). While “Herr Achterbahn” unfortunately stopped making rides in the 1980s, ACE is still going strong with members throughout the world doing amazing things, as the enthusiastic individuals behind “The Legacy of Schwarzkopf” have accomplished.
Those who know me will assert that I am not the “cheerleader” kind (and I’ll admit that’s best left to others with the appropriate skill sets), but reflecting on this, it’s difficult not to be proud of ACE as an organization as well as what my publications team creates with impressive regularity. Between the annual ACE calendar (now available for purchase), ACE News and our flagship magazine, RollerCoaster!, there is proof that instead of being antiquated reminders of a bygone era, digital and printed media have a place in today’s world. Among the three, ACE documents industry history and celebrates the passion of its members for present and future generations. It is an honor to be part of a long line of talented and enthusiastic individuals who set the tone for me, just as I hope to be an example for those that will follow in my footsteps.
— Rob Ascough, ACE News Editor
#ACENews