originally posted on 11/3/2025
Photo: Brian Pickral. View full-sized image.
ACE Mid-Atlantic hosted its annual Fall Thrillfest at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, on Saturday, October 11, 2025. The event started with check-in, where the 164 attendees from 16 states and the District of Columbia claimed their name badges, event buttons and haunt attractions wristbands. While they waited for the park to open, they could purchase ACE and ACE Mid-Atlantic merchandise, including the region’s new lanyard, and they could even purchase raffle tickets for their chance to win one of two replica commemorative bricks for the park.
There was lots of competition for the Splash Gun tournament.
Photo: Brian Pickral. View full-sized image.
Before lunch, attendees participated in the Splash Gun game tournament. Three winners were crowned: congratulations to Alicia Montoya, William Morris and Connor Smoot.
Coaster wheels are always popular auction items.
Photo: Brian Pickral. View full-sized image.
The Joe Cool Driving School car was fun to try out.
Photo: Cy Kidd. View full-sized image.
Lunch was a time to eat and socialize with other ACE members and their guests as well as buy raffle tickets for the commemorative bricks and bid on some amazing auction items donated by the park, including a Joe Cool Driving School car. Some of the other auction items were two wheels from Anaconda (Arrow looper, removed in 2024), a wheel from Backlot Stunt Coaster (Premier Rides) and two wheels from Pantherian (Intamin gigacoaster).
An ACE commemorative brick.
Photo: Evangelos Ringas. View full-sized image.
Once most people had finished eating, Brian Raph, director of maintenance, answered questions from one and all. Following the Q&A, door prize winners’ names were announced, and there were lots of fun prizes to choose from. By the end of lunch, both the raffle and auction ended. The brick raffle raised $215, and the auction items raised $1,300.
In this walkback photo, Rapterra, Reptilian and Tumbili can be seen.
Photo: Jennifer Herchek. View full-sized image.
Rapterra.
Photo: Ethan Robertson. View full-sized image.
Reptilian.
Photo: Jennifer Herchek. View full-sized image.
After lunch, the guests headed to the Jungle X-Pedition section of the park for a walkback between Rapterra (Bolliger & Mabillard wing coaster) and Reptilian (Mack Rides bobsled) and the opportunity to get some behind-the-scenes photos.
Dominator, a floorless Bolliger & Mabillard coaster, began its life at defunct Geauga Lake in Ohio before coming to Kings Dominion.
Photo: Cy Kidd. View full-sized image.
Besides the tour, there were multiple informal takeover times (ITOTs) scheduled throughout the day. Most happened as planned, but the one originally scheduled for Pantherian was moved to Reptilian because Pantherian was closed for the day.
Twisted Timbers.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
Racer 75.
Photo: Elizabeth Ringas collection. View full-sized image.
Great Pumpkin Coaster was popular with all ages.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
The ITOT for Grizzly couldn’t take place because the area was being used for the GrimmWoods outdoor maze, but the ones for Twisted Timbers (Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid) and Racer 75 (Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc., an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark) went as originally planned.
Kings Dominion’s Halloween Haunt offered these haunts and scare zones.
Photo: Jennifer Herchek. View full-sized image.
Trick or Treat house.
Photo: Jennifer Herchek. View full-sized image.
That evening, before Kings Dominion’s haunts officially opened to the public, attendees were able to experience a lights-on walkthrough of the Trick or Treat house/maze with Jack (from entertainment) as the tour guide. He answered various questions about the house throughout the tour, and it was fun to see and appreciate all the details that went into the maze that may not be noticed during the lights-off haunt time. He explained that the park is fortunate to be able to keep the indoor maze up all year, which allows workers time to focus on ways to improve it for the following year, such as upgrading the sound and other effects.
Scenes from the Trick or Treat house.
Photos: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
Photos: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
After everyone finished the tour and once the scare actors were in place, attendees were the first to get scared in Trick or Treat. Kings Dominion’s Halloween Haunt, with its five scare zones, six mazes and three shows, offered guests plenty of thrills and chills throughout the park.
Thanks were extended to the ACE Mid-Atlantic rep team for planning the event and to all the volunteers who stepped up throughout the day. A big, appreciative shout out went to all of Kings Dominion’s staff who made this event so much fun!
— Melissa Buck
#ACENews