Blogs

originally posted on 5/12/2025

Photo: Sam Shurgott. View full-sized image.

The 2024-2025 winter had been exceptionally cold and snowy in the Northeast and Midwest, but fortunately there was no inclement weather on March 1 to keep ACEers and guests away from CoasterBash! XXXVI at Salvatore’s in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Salvatore’s has been the site of CoasterBash! for 15 years and offers a large room and lobby that can accommodate tables for attendees and vendors and space for a silent auction, photo contest, preservation table, bake sale, photo booth and Prize Wheel ‘n’at (everyone’s a winner!).

Maggie Altman’s table always has a theme, and for this year’s CoasterBash! the theme was Buc-ee’s!
Photo: Ed Gaskill. View full-sized image.

No doubt about where Ron Mazur and Ed Gaskill were sitting!
Photo: Ed Gaskill collection. View full-sized image.

Unlike most ACE winter events, CoasterBash! begins in the afternoon and runs late in the evening. The 194 attendees can enjoy social time beginning at 1:30 until the event begins at 3 p.m. After finding a table and greeting friends, attendees could also enjoy free soft drinks, a cash bar and free popcorn during the event.

At 3, the lights dimmed and Garrett Sauers’ “Summer Flashback” began — a photo reminder of the fun everyone had at the region’s events in 2024. This was followed by Ken Simmons’ “New Coasters of 2024,” an annual review. In the spirit of CBS television’s weekly investigative series “60 Minutes,” Videographer Sauers and Reporter “Ace Cooper” (aka Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer III) traveled to Kennywood for a “6 Minutes” investigation on why General Manager Ricky Spicuzza and Director of Operations Marie Ruby would be absent from CoasterBash! this year. Attendees were treated to Cooper’s pointed (and funny) interviews with the guilty (?) parties, in which they answered (or dodged) questions ranging from their whereabouts during CoasterBash! to their opinion of Cooper’s socks.

Linkenheimer then appeared as himself to welcome everyone to CoasterBash! A moment of silence was taken for Ed Adler and Barbara Ranker, members of the region who passed away in the past year, after which national and regional volunteers for ACE were recognized.

Mike Funyak spoke about some early aspects of Geauga Lake’s history.
Photo: Sam Shurgott. View full-sized image.

CoasterBash! has always included both presenters who represented amusement parks and those who spoke on issues of regional history and relevance. The first speaker, Mike Funyak, assistant director of operations at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park in Tipton, Pennsylvania, and author of West View Park: The Story of the T.M. Harton Company, qualified in both categories, but for this event he wore his park historian’s hat to speak on some aspects of the history of Geauga Lake. If it had survived, 2025 would have been the 100th anniversary of Big Dipper and what Funyak considered the beginning of Geauga Lake’s transition into a modern amusement park. He showed some of the 1969 marketing materials developed by Dale Van Voorhis, co-owner of Geauga Lake, and early photos of the park.

Next to speak was Rick Knoebel from Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, who is now also serving as the president of the Pennsylvania Amusement Parks and Attractions. He announced some significant upcoming dates for the park and reported on winter projects, which included new locations for the Rock-O-Plane (and new light package), Power Surge and Downdraft. The Giant Flume has been refurbished, restoration has begun on the Sky Slide and more track work was completed on the wood coasters.

Sam Shurgott brought Rick Knoebel the last sign removed from the Golden Nugget at Morey’s Piers before it was sold to Knoebels Amusement Resort.
Photo: Sam Shurgott collection. View full-sized image.

In 2024 Knoebels won two of Amusement Today’s Golden Tickets: Best Wood Coaster (Phoenix) and Best Food. In addition to anticipating the park’s 100th anniversary in 2026, Knoebels has many anniversaries to celebrate in 2025: handcars and motor boats (70 years), Ole Smokey and Pioneer Train (65 years), Roto Jets (60 years), S & G Carousel (50+ years), Giant Flume (35 years), Fandango and Flying Tigers (20 years) and Impulse (10 years). In honor of Phoenix’s 40th anniversary in 2025, Knoebel showed a video of it being built at the park in 1985. Look for Knoebels to be open till 9 more nights than last year, and bring a big appetite for the many new food offerings in 2025.

Sarah Windisch and Josh Brown at the ACE Preservation Fund sales table.
Photo: Sarah Windisch collection. View full-sized image.

ACE’s history and preservation director, Josh Brown, appeared to update attendees on how and where their preservation donations were being put to use. Beneficiaries were Bartlesville Kiddie Park, Camden Park (Big Dipper), Playland Fresno’s Dragon Coaster and Kirby Family Farm’s Flitzer. ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaques were presented to Pleasure Beach Resort (Grand National and Big Dipper) and Adventureland (Tornado) in 2024. 2025 will see plaques awarded to Six Flags Over Texas for Shock Wave, Six Flags Great America for American Eagle and Linnanmäki for Vuoristorata.

Brown also shared his history of attending Conneaut Lake Park (Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania) clean-up events as one of the “Blue Streak Boys.” Lenny Adams, who was previously closely associated with the park and is currently a Pennsylvania state rides inspector, joined Brown to explain some of the work done on Blue Streak and the crucial part ACE played in the coaster’s reopening. Volunteers played an essential role in the operation of the park, and the Blue Streak Boys were essential to the operation of the Ed Vettel ACE Roller Coaster Landmark.

Andrew Felice, Waldameer & Water World.
Photo: Dave Hahner. View full-sized image.

Representing Waldameer & Water World in Erie, Pennsylvania, was its operations manager, Andrew Felice. In wood coaster news, Ravine Flyer II now has a fully retracked lift hill, and Comet benefited from track work as well. Steel Dragon will feature a new control system. The Water World entrance is getting a complete overhaul, with four new entry lanes. This has meant both bad and good news for the Paratrooper, which had to be dismantled because of the new entrance. It will be refurbished before its hoped-for reappearance in 2026 in a new location. New for 2025 will be Time Twister, a family thrill ride from Zamperla, and some new drink stations.

David Gorman (Park President Steve Gorman’s son) has released The Hidden Heirloom, the seventh book in the Waldameer Mystery Files series. Each book includes real characters and places in the Erie park.

Waldameer now owns the property of the former mobile home park adjacent to its parking lots, which will be used immediately for overflow parking but later for something else. Looking ahead to 2026, expect major new waterpark attractions, and in 2027 stay tuned for an addition to the amusement park.

Chris Camp, president of Fun Fore All Family Fun Park in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, brought news from the park and some history as well. Fun Fore All was built in 1996, and the Camp family took it over in 2000. In 2018 and 2022 additional property was purchased. Within the next three years, Fun Fore All hopes to convert its go-kart track into a multitier structure. Camp showed a video of all there is to do at the park, both indoors in the game area and outdoors at the go-kart track, the mini-golf courses, batting cages and rides, including the Zamperla Fiesta Express. Camp brought Fun Fore All fun cards with a two-hour play pass for all attendees.

Chris Camp stands with the ACE Western Pennsylvania regional rep team, who presented him with the region’s annual Industry Appreciation Award.
Photo: Sam Shurgott. View full-sized image.

Every year ACE Western Pennsylvania recognizes someone in the amusement industry who has been helpful and supportive to the region with its Industry Appreciation Award, and this year’s winner was Camp. He has generously provided door prizes for CoasterBash! and offered discounts to ACE members when the park hosts the regional Fun Fore All Fiesta event.

CoasterBash! dessert was four themed sheet cakes.

Time for dinner! A generous buffet of chicken Romano, roast beef au jus, penne pasta and lots of sides and salads awaited attendees. Dessert was a piece of cake from one of the four sheet cakes — one with the CoasterBash! XXXVI logo, one with the Fun Fore All logo, one honoring Deno’s Wonder Wheel and another recognizing Kennywood Junction (the park’s reinvented Thomas Town section), complete with a “Bye bye Thomas” message! During the dinner break there was plenty of time to visit the vendors, vote in the photo contest, check out the photo booth or visit the Prize Wheel ‘n’at.

A speaker from Kennywood traditionally begins the after-dinner presentations, and attendees knew from the opening video that it would be Mark Frazee, regional content manager for Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild and SoakZone. After reviewing Kennywood’s events and updates from 2024, Frazee noted that opening day not only would be the earliest ever (April 12) but also would showcase a new event, Eggcellent Celebration, which will include Tuft, the Kennywood Easter bunny, and a park-wide scavenger hunt. Kennywood Junction has moved in to replace Thomas Town and will be ready for opening day. The Olde Kennywood Railroad will feature two trains: the newly branded Kenny Express and the historic Gimbels Flyer. Other rides in the area will pay tribute to Kennywood’s heritage.

Bites and Pints will return, and there will be a new event in July with a patriotic theme. Fall Fantasy parades will celebrate 75 years in 2025. As for later in the season, Phantom Fall Fest will begin earlier and run one weekend longer, and Holiday Lights will continue to expand its ride selection and number of days.

In Sandcastle news, opening day will be Memorial Day weekend, and the park will close after Labor Day. Expect “micro” events, foam parties and the usual fun water slides and pools. Although Kennywood and Sandcastle are located a few miles apart, Frazee shared that the ultimate goal is to bring the parks closer together in the minds of guests.

John Brocato, winner of the 2025 Golden Kenny award.
Photo: Tina Brocato. View full-sized image.

As usual, Kenny Kangaroo joined the proceedings to present The Golden Kenny, an annual award to a regional member to acknowledge their enthusiasm for ACE Western Pennsylvania. John Brocato, a quiet, cheerful, always friendly volunteer who provides the sound system and lighting for CoasterBash!, was the 2025 winner.

ACE’s events director, Dan Jones, was next with a national update. Showings of “The Legacy of Schwarzkopf” have been well received, and more are planned, including online and at Coaster Con. Jones recognized ACE’s new honorary members for 2024 (Rus Ozana, Robert Ulrich, Chris Kraftchick, Dave Hahner, Jason Knutson). Jones also reviewed ACE’s upcoming national events. A CoasterBash! exclusive: Attendees got a first look at the ERT schedule for Coaster Con!

Deno Vourderis and Rick Knoebel enjoy the dinner break.
Photo: Dave Hahner. View full-sized image.

Representing Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Brooklyn, New York, Deno Vourderis entertained attendees with a fascinating report on Wonder Wheel maintenance and some funny stories about his children’s school reports and adventures with Scully the Skeleton. The Wonder Wheel opened in 1920, and the Vourderis family bought it in 1983. It being a one-of-a-kind ride, maintenance procedures have evolved over the years, and the videos and photos illustrated how thinking outside the box is a must for keeping this ride running well. Encouraging attendees to come for a visit, Vourderis brought complimentary gift cards for everyone.

Vourderis had another message for attendees, about the value of ACE and membership in an organization that encourages people to have fun. In these stressful times, people should focus on what brings them together — what they have in common — and ACE provides a welcome opportunity to do just that. ACEers can use their love of roller coasters as a basis for making friends and extending the love for coasters to others they see in parks.

Sam Shurgott of IRM.
Photo: Sam Shurgott collection. View full-sized image.

Sam Shurgott, president of IRM, is an unsung influencer in the choice of rides in parks because he finds homes for used rides that need them. One of his recent efforts was to find new owners for all the rides in Joyland Amusement Park (Lubbock, Texas), which closed in 2022 after a new owner couldn’t be found. Look for the rides at Knoebels, Fun Spot Atlanta, Santa’s Village and Tweetsie Railroad, among others.

In a sequel to an earlier talk with a similar title, National Amusement Parks Historical Association’s historian Jim Futrell spoke about “ten more amusement parks you’ve never heard of.” The parks ranged from amusement sites in city parks to Super Slide Amusement Park in North Dakota (with the only roller coaster in that state) to parks in Idaho, New York, South Dakota and Europe (Jardin d’Acclimatation in France).

Jeff Croushore’s presentations always combine humor with updates.
Photo: Bill Linkenheimer III. View full-sized image.

Closing out the presenters was Jeff Croushore, marketing director at Idlewild and SoakZone, whose presentations are noted for being both informative and humorous. This year marks the 36th annual CoasterBash!, and Croushore pointed out that this is also his 36th appearance at the winter event. He then launched into a humorous summary of the first CoasterBash!, complete with funny photos. Anniversaries being celebrated at Idlewild this year: Paul Bunyan’s Loggin’ Toboggan (20 years), Balloon Race (30 years), Raccoon Lagoon (35 years), Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (10 years) and Loyalhanna Limited Railroad (60 years).

Visitors will note new track work on the 1938 wood Rollo Coaster and a new station design for Wild Mouse, which will now run five cars as originally designed. Carousel refurbishment continues. Idlewild’s 150th anniversary is in 2028, and Croushore hopes for new attractions by then. There was also an announcement about the world’s largest rubber duck making an appearance at the park this summer. [It was subsequently announced that it will take place June 27-29.]

Closing out the event, silent auction winners were announced, as was the total for all the sales and auctions, most of which benefited ACE preservation: $4,003! Jason Ballard, CoasterBash! photo contest coordinator, congratulated the winners: third, Cameron Hedfors; second, April Lucas; and first Jimmy Kerr. The traditional “symphony of volunteers” recognized everyone who had contributed to the success of CoasterBash!

Linkenheimer returned to thank everyone for attending and to remind them of the upcoming ACE Western Pennsylvania events. Even though this event ends late in the evening, it seems as if the hours fly by. One is reminded of Vourderis’ remarks about the fun and friendship that ACE membership adds to its members’ lives and how this winter event is an excellent example of how it all works.

— Lee Ann Draud, ACE News Managing Editor

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