Blogs

Six Flags Mexico’s Coaster Count Climbs Into the Double Digits

By ACE News posted 5 days ago
All photos: courtesy Vekoma. View full-sized image . In the mid-1980s, the Vekoma boomerang was causing a stir. Loops were still en vogue, so a compact ride that delivered six inversions on a small footprint was heavily sought after. In all, Vekoma went on to sell more than 50. It was popular for multiple reasons. Even enthusiasts clamored to them when they first opened. Sure, they were a bit aggressive, but not much more than the standard looping fare of the era. They provided big thrills! It was the proliferation of them virtually everywhere that led to enthusiast apathy. “Oh, another boomerang.” Needless to say, the amusement industry bought them. ...

New GCII Woodie Heading to Czech Republic

By ACE News posted 5 days ago
All renderings: courtesy Skyline Attractions. View full-sized image . In an era when the balance of adding new wooden coasters and losing wooden coasters can tip either way, hearing of new wooden coaster projects is always a good thing. A new project from Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCII) is underway in the Czech Republic in Central Bohemian. The location is Park Mirakulum. While a far-flung woodie might not immediately excite those stateside, Europeans can easily get energized. Even those who aren’t avid enthusiasts can too. Why? It is the first wooden coaster in the whole country — at least since 1946. What makes it even more interesting ...

ACE Preservation T-Shirt Gala, Day 1

By ACE News posted 5 days ago
View full-sized image . The second annual ACE Preservation T-Shirt Gala started with a toast to ACE preservation, featuring this year’s mocktail, the ACE Landmark Lemonade. An update from ACE Preservation and History Director Josh Brown followed. He spoke about current ACE projects and ACE’s two donations this year to Alabama Adventure (Bessemer, Alabama) and to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (San Jose, California) to save Happy Hollow’s Danny the Dragon. He teased a few announcements that will be made public soon. Brown was able to offer some insight into the questions he is asked frequently, including suggestions he hears and what many ACEers are most ...

Nuts and Bolts

By ACE News posted 10 days ago
Cedar Point looks to reclaim the title of Coaster Capital of the World (with 18). Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image . Is There a Flip Back Between Coaster Capitals? It’s a shame to see coasters go, but losing children’s coasters is a lesser blow to most coaster enthusiasts. In a December announcement, Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California) reported that, as part of revamping its children’s area into Looney Tunes Land to welcome families in 2026, Magic Flyer and Speedy Gonzalez Hot Rod Racers would be replaced with other new activities. With the recent removal of a few of its coasters, Six Flags Magic Mountain will drop ...

ACE Western Great Lakes: ACE Members Cap Off No Coaster Con Weekend With High‑Energy WhirlyBall Bash

By ACE News posted 10 days ago
All Photos: Mike Bare. View full-sized image . On Sunday January 18, 2026, after a full day of No Coaster Con (NCC) excitement, ACE Western Great Lakes kept the momentum rolling with a lively post‑NCC tradition. They strapped themselves into bumper‑car‑like vehicles, grabbed plastic scoops and attempted a sport that vaguely resembles lacrosse, basketball and mild vehicular misconduct. Yes — it was WhirlyBall time again, the official sport of “I swear I meant to do that.” View full-sized image . View full-sized image . The WhirlyBall event brought together 25 ACE members for an afternoon of fast turns, friendly rivalry ...

ACE Member Coaster Milestones

By ACE News posted 10 days ago
1,150 — Cody McAllister, Emperor , SeaWorld San Diego. View full-sized image . 1,400 — Al Varano, Runaway Train/Santa’s Runaway Train , Winter Wonderland. View full-sized image . Have you reached a coaster milestone? Be sure to send a photo in to ACE News Editor Lee Ann Draud . #ACENews

ACE Western Great Lakes: No Coaster Con 2026

By ACE News posted 11 days ago
Photo: Mike Bare. View full-sized image . No Coaster Con (NCC), ACE’s lead event of 2026 — the first and still-going-strong midwinter celebration for coaster and park enthusiasts — was held at the Hyatt Place Hotel conference center in Rosemont, Illinois, on January 17. A total of 163 members and guests savored a 10-1/2-hour day of 19 presentations and camaraderie with fellow enthusiasts and ACE’s many amusement industry friends. Lead conference coordinators (and ACE Western Great Lakes assistant regional representatives) Scott Heck and Jackie Hodge, along with master of ceremonies Marty Moltz, welcomed everyone and explained the housekeeping ...

Dreamland Margate Permanently Closes Scenic Railway

By ACE News posted 11 days ago
Photo: Dan Brewer. View full-sized image . On January 27, Dreamland Margate (Kent, England, United Kingdom) made the surprising announcement to permanently retire its 106-year-old Scenic Railway , believed to be the country’s oldest roller coaster. Scenic Railway when it reopened in 2015. Photo: Michael Morris. View full-sized image . As expected of a ride having survived into its second century, the brakeman-operated scenic railway has a history punctuated by highs and lows. The roller coaster suffered fires in 1949, 1957 and 2008 —­ the last taking place three years after being taken out of service owing to the closing of the park. ...

A New Coaster Drifts Into Universal Orlando Resort

By ACE News posted Jan 28, 2026
View full-sized image . With the demolition of Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit and documentation attaching Intamin to its replacement, it is no secret a new roller coaster is on the horizon for Universal Studios Florida (Orlando). An announcement by the resort revealed it will follow in the footsteps of its California property and debut a thrill coaster called Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift in 2027. All that has been seen of this new coaster so far is a car shown at the 2025 IAAPA Expo. Photo: Haekyung Thompson. View full-sized image . Details are currently scarce. At this point, the only facts known are 360-degree rotating ride ...

ACE Western Pennsylvania: ACE Holiday Magic 2025

By ACE News posted Jan 28, 2026
Photo: Jennifer Herchek. View full-sized image . For the last several years, ACE Western Pennsylvania has held ACE Holiday Magic on Thanksgiving weekend, which is a good choice because many people come home for the holidays and are looking for opportunities to meet up with friends at a fun, attractive place. Kennywood is all that and more during its annual Holiday Lights, which this season, ran from mid-November 2025 through January 4, 2026. ACE Holiday Magic combines the best of what Kennywood has to offer plus perks specifically for attendees at the event. The unpredictable element in the event is the weather. It is western Pennsylvania, after all, ...

Remembering Richard Rodriguez, 1957-2025

By ACE News posted Jan 28, 2026
All photos: courtesy of Richard Munch. View full-sized image . World-class roller coaster marathoner Richard Rodriguez has died. He was 67. With no online obituary, general information has been lacking, as the print media did not cover this news. Only his Staten Island (New York) high school's Facebook page mentioned his passing in several postings in July 2025. He was a popular attendee at school reunions, updating his former schoolmates with stories about his latest endeavors. Scott Shelkin, Richard's friend and attorney, now living in Chicago, was helpful in providing some details. He revealed that he died on June 16, 2025, in his Manhattan (New York) ...

ACE Pacific Southwest: Gills and Thrills at SeaWorld San Diego

By ACE News posted Jan 28, 2026
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, ACE’s Pacific Southwest Region hosted its third annual Gills and Thrills event at SeaWorld San Diego (California). After breakfast, attendees enjoyed ERT on Manta . Photo: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image . The day of fun started with a continental breakfast of pastries, muffins and drinks at registration. After chowing down, the group enjoyed a fun hour of ERT on Manta , the park’s second coaster, which opened in 2012. Manta is still a fan favorite, and everyone enjoyed multiple rides, thanks to SeaWorld’s efficient ride operations. A “coaster takeover” of the park’s dive coaster, Emperor , followed ...

A Wood Coaster for MagicLand!

By ACE News posted Jan 22, 2026
Image: courtesy The Gravity Group. View full-sized image . Image: courtesy MagicLand. View full-sized image . Image: courtesy Martin & Vleminckx. View full-sized image . Fans of wood coasters and of “firsts” will welcome the news that MagicLand in Valmontone, Italy, will be opening a wood coaster in 2027, the first in the park’s history and the first to operate in Italy since 2007 when Sierra Tonante closed at Mirabilandia. This new coaster won’t be ready in time for ACE’s Rome With ACE trip in 2026 but will make MagicLand, the largest amusement park in central and southern Italy, a much-anticipated destination for ...

ACE Pacific Southwest: Party at the Pier

By ACE News posted Jan 22, 2026
Photo: Jackie Edwards collection. View full-sized image . Coastal living and coaster riding go hand in hand. Beachside roller coaster venues are the envy of the coaster world! Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier (California) is no exception. The pier has been the site of a few different amusement parks since it opened in 1916, and during that time it has hosted several different roller coasters. Pacific Park, the current occupant, has been entertaining those visiting the pier since 1996. The Santa Monica West Coaster roller coaster, built by D.H. Morgan, has been operating since then. Some attendees began their day with a visit to the Santa ...

ACE Digital Event: Adventures in Videography

By ACE News posted Jan 22, 2026
View full-sized image . The Adventures in Videography ACE digital event on January 15 was hosted by the Coaster Con Video Contest Coordinator Luke Fillion, who has been a member of ACE for 18 years and has been coordinator of the contest beginning with Coaster Con 47 in 2025. The presentation started with social interaction, as members shared their involvement in the contest in the past, and then moved into a brief history of the Coaster Con Video Contest. The contest was founded in 2000 by the late Alan Jay Glueckman, an enthusiastic volunteer who also served as an assistant regional rep and worked in the television and film industry in addition to ...

From the President

By ACE News posted Jan 11, 2026
I often hear from ACE’s industry partners about the kindness and gratitude you, our ACE members, show at events, and it makes me very proud. The thank-yous and positive attitudes uplift both those who serve ACE and those who host us, helping to build strong relationships that are essential to our success. ACE could not succeed without our industry partners. Recently, I watched a podcast featuring Jack Herschend, former president, CEO and chairman of Herschend Family Entertainment, in preparation for a discussion on servant leadership with our Youth Advisory Committee. His words resonated with me. I was reminded of the importance of continuing to build a culture ...

A Digital Event Featuring Clayton Lawrence, Six Flags Entertainment Creative Producer

By ACE News posted Jan 11, 2026
View full-sized image . An ACE digital event on December 18, 2025, featured Six Flags Corporate Producer Clayton Lawrence, who has been working with the entertainment and design area of parks for 21 years. Lawrence spoke about his background, starting as a life guard at California’s Great America (Santa Clara), where he served as a “greeter” to educate guests on the upcoming project, Boomerang Bay. His career then led to stage management and production design for musicals, working through the execution of different shows, when his love for the entertainment side really grew. As his career progressed, he realized that he could combine his love of entertainment ...

ACE Mid-Atlantic: Busch Gardens Williamsburg Hosts Coastin' Through the Snow 2025

By ACE News posted Jan 11, 2026
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image . On the morning of December 6, 2025, ACEers gathered at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia) for the Mid-Atlantic region’s annual Coastin’ Through the Snow event. A total of 98 attendees were granted complimentary access to the preferred parking lot, and, despite the chilly weather, spirits were high as event check-in began. The chilly weather wasn’t a deterrent for attendees. Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image . As is customary for Mid-Atlantic events, an ACE mini-merchandise store was open for business during check-in. Stickers, bags, lanyards and other trinkets were available ...

Remembering Barbara K. Ranker (1946-2025) and Robert J. Ranker (1943-2025)

By Mac Rush posted Jan 02, 2026
All Photos: courtesy the Ranker and Kanai families. View full-sized image . View full-sized image . After my mom, Barbara Ranker, died, I had no idea that I would be writing a tribute for both of my parents in the same year. My dad, Robert Ranker, passed only two months after my mom. Bob and Pam on the West View Park Tilt-a-Whirl. View full-sized image . Growing up, Bob rode the trolley to West View Park. In addition to roller coasters, Bob loved tilt-a-whirls. He often told the story of how he and a friend were really spinning it one time… and then the friend puked. He begged Bob to stop, but Bob replied, “C’mon, I ...

An Update From the October Executive Committee Meeting

By Mac Rush posted Jan 02, 2026
In October, the Executive Committee met in Charlotte, North Carolina, for one of its three annual in-person meetings. These in-person meetings provide valuable opportunities for collaboration that are not fully achievable in a virtual setting. Nine Executive Committee members attended in person, with Robert Ulrich and Chris Tilsley joining via Zoom. ACE’s association manager, Jeffrey Seifert, also attended virtually. A huge thanks was extended to the Executive Committee members for their time and travel. The following topics were discussed and reviewed: Hiring plan for a new association manager upon Jeffrey Seifert’s retirement: early preparation phase ...