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There are no coasters to ride or credits to add to a coaster count, but that’s not the point of preseason nonriding events. Inquiring minds want to know what will be new and fun during the upcoming coaster season, and what better way to find out than to go to a comfy indoor venue for an all-day nerdout with park presenters and fellow enthusiasts? Welcome to Eastcoaster 2026!
Volunteers were ready to greet attendees in the lobby of the Best Western.
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The threatened snowstorms didn’t stop 275 eager attendees and presenters from arriving at the Best Western Premier – The Central Hotel & Conference Center Harrisburg on February 7 to check in and enjoy an hour of social time before the event began at 10. A mini ACE store offered ACE merchandise, and other vendors sold clothing, photographs, coaster DVDs and just about anything else coaster related. Preordered regional T-shirts could be picked up as well.
Chris Smilek pointed out some of the delicious offerings at the bake sale.
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Another plus was the 14th annual Eastcoaster bake sale, ably organized by Chris Smilek and stocked with baked goods made by talented ACE bakers. Attendees who planned to visit Chocolate World also could purchase tickets for the Adventure Bundle 4 (Hershey’s Great Candy Expedition and Hershey’s Unwrapped) for $30 (normally $33.50). And there were auction items! For the first time, Eastcoaster used ACE’s online auction site to control the bidding and payment.
Mike Matscherz and Derek Shaw welcomed everyone to Eastcoaster.
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The Eastern Pennsylvania region will increase its events to 13 in 2026.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
At 10, Regional Rep Mike Matscherz and assistant rep Derek Shaw welcomed everyone and announced that again this year, Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. (PTCI) had agreed to sponsor Eastcoaster to reduce the cost for attendees. He listed Eastern Pennsylvania’s 11 events in 2025, mentioned the new regional T-shirt and announced 13 events for 2026: Hersheypark Off-Season Tour; Eastcoaster Chocolate Factory Behind the Scenes; Clowning Around at Dorney Park; ACE Flies With Knoebels 100; CocoaCon (Hersheypark); Slide With ACE (The Boardwalk at Hersheypark); Ride, Snack, Scram (Sesame Place); It’s a Thrill at Bushkill; Mayhem at Wonderland (Dutch Wonderland); HalloThriller (Dorney Park); and Merry ACEmas (Cointaker and Knoebels). The new event for 2026 is Merry-Go-ACE, which will take place at the historic Carousel in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in March.
Amanda Polyak and Quinn Bryner brought news from Hersheypark.
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Hersheypark is the traditional first park presenter at Eastcoaster, so up stepped Director of Public Relations Quinn Bryner and Public Relations Manager Amanda Polyak to review 2025 accomplishments and look forward to 2026. In park news, a new resort will open, and a new restaurant, Hershey Social, can be visited in town.
In ride anniversaries, the wood ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Comet will celebrate 80 years, Dry Gulch Railroad 65 years and four kiddie rides 60 years. The Boardwalk will see enhancements, and there will be special entertainment for America’s 250th anniversary. Bryner and Polyak reported on behind-the-scenes winter maintenance and the overhaul process of the Intamin accelerator coaster Storm Runner.
ACE President Elizabeth Ringas updated attendees on national ACE news.
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Eric Snow delivered ride and anniversary news from Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.
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ACE’s president, Elizabeth Ringas, was next with an update. ACE now has more than 7,200 members and in 2025 received $40,000 in donations and donated $25,000 to various preservation efforts. Also in 2025, ACE originated the Centennial Award for coasters that are 100 years old; Giant Dipper at Belmont Park (San Diego, California) was the first recipient. Three new Roller Coaster Landmark plaques were awarded (to Shockwave at Six Flags Over Texas, American Eagle at Six Flags Great America and Vuoristorata at Linnanmäki).
In other news, ACE has debuted a new website and will hold elections for president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Check the events page on ACE’s website for the national, international and many regional events in 2026.
Eric Snow, vice president and chief marketing officer at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, brought lots of news. After reviewing 2025, Snow provided 2026 updates, including the fact that the park is celebrating 80 years in 2026. Another anniversary prompted an amusing video, “The Diary of Phil,” which celebrated the park’s 25 years of free unlimited soft drinks. New portals have been created to introduce each of Holiday World’s “holidays” in the park. The Dinos in the Sky drone show will return as well.
In ride news, the height requirement for Thunderbird, the Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) wing coaster, has been reduced from 52 to 48 inches, and track work is ongoing on The Raven to reduce the rough spots. Friday Night Live! evenings are returning. Enthusiasts who love riding The Voyage in the dark should not miss the Friday night opportunities.
A ride teaser for 2027 has appeared on a fence surrounding the former Raging Rapids attraction in the 4th of July section of the park. The pattern of colorful flip flops headed downward suggests that the new ride will be in the water park — perhaps a water coaster? Stay tuned!
A generous lunch awaited attendees.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
The lunch break offered another opportunity to check out the vendors.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
Various door prize breaks happened between speakers, and suddenly it was time for lunch. At 12:30, a buffet-style lunch was served, consisting of soup and salad, beef pot roast, grilled chicken breast with cream sauce, and plenty of sides and desserts. Attendees had time after that to check out the vendors and auction items and catch up with friends before presentations began again at 2.
Ryan Eldredge (left) and Mike Fehnel (right) summarized what’s new at Dorney Park and Six Flags Great Adventure.
Ryan Eldredge, who is the public relations manager for the eastern Six Flags region, spoke about Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom (Allentown, Pennsylvania). After reviewing news from 2025, he mentioned an upgrade to the Zamperla family coaster Woodstock Express and told attendees to look for more updates from Dorney in the months to come. Talon (B&M inverted) is celebrating 25 years in 2026. Some returning events are Viva La Fiesta, Star Spangled Nights and Halloween Haunt.
As for what’s happening at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, Park Manager Mike Fehnel reviewed the upcoming events at the park (Heroes and Villains Fest, Star Spangled Nights, Fright Fest, Oktoberfest) and pointed to Intamin’s out-and-back El Toro track upgrades and the return of Safari Off-Road Adventure. Attendees were first to hear about the new-for-2026 Safari Spring Break Celebration. Look for an improvement project in the Boardwalk area.
Attendees only got a teaser and a “stay tuned” about the new record-breaking coaster that would fill the area where Kingda Ka, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom and Green Lantern used to stand in the park [more has subsequently been revealed].
Ray Brantley presented a history of the Rocky Springs Carousel and extended an invitation to see the carousel animals in a Lancaster gallery.
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An unscheduled guest, Ray Brantley from the Rocky Springs Carousel Association, stepped up to report the latest on the horses from this beautiful carousel, which have had an incredible journey on their way to their current location. When Rocky Springs Park in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, finally closed in 1981, the carousel found its way to Lake Lansing Park in Michigan and then to Dollywood in 1990, where it operated until 1998. It was saved by the Friends of the Rocky Springs Carousel in 1999 and brought back to Lancaster, where it remained in storage. When the Friends organization folded, the Rocky Springs Carousel Association formed in 2020, and the carousel animals were displayed for the first time in more than 25 years in 2025. In that same year, the association signed a letter of intent with the Choo Choo Barn Foundation to return the carousel to operation. It is hoped that within three to five years, the carousel will be assembled again and rideable.
Attendees were informed that they could view the carousel animals at a Lancaster gallery on Sunday. The region’s new event, Merry-Go-ACE, is an attempt to begin carousel-centered events in other places that could be themed to preservation.
Pete Owens from Dollywood brought news from Dollywood and the NRCMA.
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Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations Pete Owens, who is beginning his 27th season at Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee), had news from Dollywood and the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives (NRCMA). 2025 was Dollywood’s 40th season, and Owens reviewed the events of the year and the park’s successes. It won awards from Trip Advisor (No. 1 U.S. theme park), Forbes (top employer awards) and Newsweek Readers’ Choice (park attractions). In ride news, Blazing Fury received an upgrade.
The big ride news for 2026 is NightFlight Expedition, which celebrates another Smoky Mountain story and will be appropriately located in Wildwood Grove. The ride is based on Mack Rocking Boat technology and will combine water, dark ride and coaster elements. There will be 500,000 gallons of water in the ride, whose building is still under construction. Owens brought NightFlight pins and a sheet of facts about the ride for all attendees.
New events for 2026 will be the nightly Harvest Festival Dance Party, Harvey’s Boo Bash and Splash Country Neon Lights. Returning events are the I Will Always Love You Music Festival, Flower & Food Festival, Smokey Mountain Summer Celebration, Harvest Festival, Smoky Mountain Christmas, Thrills in the Hills and Smoky Mountain Coasterfest.
In their work to preserve, interpret and share the historical heritage of roller coasters, the NRCMA’s goals are both to protect the artifacts in their museum and to make them accessible to those who appreciate them. Owens provided an update on 2025 acquisitions, which included Canada’s Wonderland’s Time Warp, Carowinds’ Nighthawk and Six Flags Over Texas’ La Vibora. In addition, the museum received the first shipment from PTCI of cars that PTCI has been storing in its facility. Upcoming events are Spring Cleaning, where attendees can help with ongoing maintenance at the museum; post-Spring Con, an add-on day when attendees will get guided tours of the museum, as well as visit Wonderland Park in Amarillo; and Back to the Museum, the annual enthusiast event when museum progress can be seen.
Jim Napoli shared his story from his first trip to Hersheypark to work at Universal Creative.
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Attendees appreciated Deno Vourderis’ enthusiasm for Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Coney Island and ACE.
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Next up was Jim Napoli, associate manager, ride and show engineer, from Universal Creative, who had a personal story to tell that he called “a monstrous journey from enthusiast to engineer.” He currently works on Monsters Unchained, but his journey began during his childhood trips to Hersheypark and then a trip to Disney World that changed his life. A job at PTCI was sandwiched between his college degrees, after which followed an internship at Universal Creative and eventual involvement with Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. For attendees who hoped to find a career in the amusement industry, his was an inspiring story.
Deno Vourderis, co-owner of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Brooklyn, New York (and an ACE honorary member), announced that coming to ACE events raises his spirits. He reported that his father, Steve, won the Alan Ramsay Safety Award, named after a man who was a respected ride inspector for the Northeast Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. He shared some hilarious family stories and photos of his children’s involvement in the operation of Wonder Wheel park (“the sweatshop”). Vourderis had much praise for Dolly Parton and her involvement in providing books for children and said that she had inspired Deno’s to contribute books to libraries and orphanages.
He also described the proposed plan to build a casino and entertainment center at Coney Island, which everyone in the Coney Island amusement area opposed. Wonder Wheel Park is already a New York City Landmark, but when a state senator mentioned the possibility of the park also becoming a state landmark, Vourderis said that Deno’s would decline the honor unless the casino vote failed. It did fail, and now the park has New York Landmark status.
From Thanksgiving to early January, a lighted cross sits atop the Wonder Wheel. Originally installed to commemorate the end of World War II and welcome home the troops in 1945, it remains as a symbol of peace and remembrance. Its color changes to honor special causes, and Vourderis said that anyone can contact the park to request a certain color and Deno’s will feature it on its social media. He also mentioned the planned $1 billion transformation of the 102-year-old Coney Island boardwalk.
Vourderis ended with a message of hope — “liberty and justice for all” — and commented, “When things get tough, that’s what roller coasters are for.” He gave attendees $50 gift cards for use in the park and closed with a video, “How not to enjoy a ride.”
Brian and Rick Knoebel (left) and Kosmo (right, with Brian) brought many updates from Knoebels Amusement Resort.
Brian and Rick Knoebel and Kosmo, the Knoebel mascot, brought good news (and auction items) from the family park, Knoebels Amusement Resort, in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. 2026 will mark 100 years for Knoebels, and lots of celebrations are planned, including the Eastern Pennsylvania event ACE Flies With Knoebels 100 in July.
Knoebels’ 100th anniversary logo includes images of brass rings from the carousel.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
The new 100-year logo was unveiled, and attendees saw the 2026 in-season schedule. A video of winter projects was shown. The Panther Cars were rebuilt, and the Grand Carousel has a new queue. Mike Boodley is helping move the Bayern Kurve toward completion, and new wood was installed on Flying Turns.
The Eastern Pennsylvania regional rep team joined Elizabeth Ringas for the announcement that Flying Turns will be the first ACE Roller Coaster Landmark of 2026.
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And speaking of Flying Turns, Ringas took a moment to announce that Flying Turns would be the first ACE Roller Coaster Landmark announced for 2026. Modeled on the 1920s designs of Charles Bartlett and John Miller, Knoebels’ Flying Turns is most similar to the one that ran at defunct Riverview Park in Chicago. With no existing Flying Turns rides to copy, the park began construction in 2006, endured many design and equipment changes and opened the ride in 2013. It is the only one in the world.
Other ride news: a new design is planned for the Sky Slide, Knoebels acquired the kiddie Turtle ride from Conneaut Lake Park and Phoenix got a “new wound motor rotor” (Brian and Rick: “say that three times fast if you can and win free parking!”).
The official 100th-anniversary celebration will be July 3-5. Anniversary merchandise will be featured in the park as well as new historical signs and markers. Campground reservations can now be made online. A new 100th anniversary bench will be a great place for photo ops.
Knoebels brought several items from the park for auction.
Photo: Linda Weisenstein. View full-sized image.
In 2025, Knoebels won Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Award for best wooden roller coaster (Phoenix), and Twister and Flying Turns made the top 40 roller coaster list. Other park news: Knoebels now owns the parking lot!
As for ride anniversaries: Satellite, 70 years; Black Diamond, 15; Looper, 20; Umbrella ride, 50; Flyers (originally from Kennywood), 55 years; Downdraft, 25; and Tea Cups, 40.
Janine Rebbie Matscherz and Tom Rebbie were eager to share news from PTCII.
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PTCI is the traditional closer for Eastcoaster, and Tom Rebbie (president and CEO) and Janine Rebbie Matscherz (operations manager) were eager to share news from this company that began operations in 1904. After reviewing 2025’s accomplishments, they shared names of the coasters that were at the shop for rehab: Little Dipper and Viper (Six Flags Great America), Thunderhawk (Dorney Park), Boardwalk Bullet (Kemah Boardwalk), Great American Scream Machine (Six Flags Over Georgia), Rampage (Alabama Adventure), Blue Streak (Cedar Point), The Legend (Arnolds Park), Comet (Six Flags Great Escape) and Timberhawk (Wild Waves).
In personal news, Tom was voted into the Pennsylvania Amusement Park and Attractions Hall of Fame in 2025. His horse, ACE, is doing fine. Lots of laughs accompanied Tom’s traditional closing photos of “Things I See.”
The presentations ran overtime, but who cared? Matscherz returned to the podium to thank the presenters, volunteers and attendees for their contributions to Eastcoaster. Approximately $6,000 was raised in the live and silent auctions, with proceeds going to the ACE Archives, Preservation Fund and the NRCMA. Smilek reported that $800 in sales plus a $500 anonymous donation totaled $1,300 raised in the bake sale. Thank you!
Attendees were grateful for the Eastcoaster volunteers.
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Matscherz closed with a reminder about upcoming regional events, but attendees were grateful to be present at this one. Punxsutawney Phil might have predicted six more weeks of winter, but Eastcoaster attendees were already looking forward to the springtime opening of parks whose news of updates had brightened their Saturday.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE News Editor
#ACENews