Photo: Erik Stottlemyer. View full-sized image.
On July 18, 2026, ACE members met at Adventure Park USA in Monrovia, Maryland, for Wild West Fun Day. The event traces back to the 2007 SpringFest, which was the year Adventure Park got its first coaster — Wildcat. The 38 attendees for Wild West Fun Day came from six different states. For 11 members, it was their first time at Adventure Park USA, and it was two members’ first ACE event!
Wildcat.
Photo: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.
Tumbleweed.
Photo: Jessica Knouse. View full-sized image.
Go karts.
Photo: Evangelos Ringas. View full-sized image.
Attendees started off the day with ERT on a majority of the outside attractions, including the Schwarzkopf Wildcat, Tumbleweed (kiddie coaster), Blazing Trails Go-Karts, Rattlesnake (tilt-a-whirl) and Roadrunner (scrambler).
A major thrill was the opportunity to climb the Wild West Express lift hill.
Photo: Lisa Snyder. View full-sized image.
Photo: Evangelos Ringas. View full-sized image.
Sadly, Wild West Express (Zamperla Windstorm) was not able to operate owing to a lightning storm about a week prior to the event that damaged a public transformer. Instead, Erik Stottlemyer, the park's owner, offered attendees an exclusive experience to walk up Wild West Express’ lift hill. Special thanks to Stottlemyer for giving attendees this epic opportunity.
Early in the day, being outside was dreadful because the heat index was around 107 degrees. Hearing that lunch was going to be eaten outside didn’t sound very inviting, but Adventure Park USA offered members a beautiful pavilion with multiple ceiling fans, and it felt amazing! For lunch (around 1 p.m.), guests received food from the park’s onsite restaurant, Whistle Stop. Served were pulled pork sandwiches, real cheesy mac-and-cheese, vegetables and fruit and an assortment of cookies. Available to drink were pink lemonade and a cooler of sodas and water, which was left out for most of the day for members to use. Attendees were grateful to Anne Bailey, the restaurant manager and former ACE member, for the amazing meal.
Lunch was served in an outdoor pavilion with ceiling fans.
Photo: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.
Regional Rep Evangelos Ringas updated attendees on upcoming Mid-Atlantic regional events.
Photo: Karyn Hartman. View full-sized image.
During lunch, Mid-Atlantic Regional Representative Evangelos Ringas held a five-to-10-minute Q&A and talked about upcoming events, including a few informal meetups. The next regional event is Boardwalk Bash: A Haunted Mansion Farewell at Funland Rehoboth Beach Park (Delaware) on September 13, then Fall Thrillfest at Kings Dominion (Doswell, Virginia) on October 3, followed by Play Like a Kid at Fun Land of Fredericksburg (Maryland) on October 4.
Jennifer LaFalce (middle) and Robert Post (right) won the Wildcat wheels during the silent auction.
Photo: Evangelos Ringas. View full-sized image.
During this time, special door prizes were also awarded. While the door prizes and Q&A were taking place, a silent auction was also ongoing, which could be checked on people’s phones. The auction was for not one but two of Wildcat’s wheels. This silent auction raised a total of $88 for ACE’s preservation fund. Congrats to the winners Robert Post and Jennifer LaFalce for their winning bids.
As lunch was ending, thunder was approaching as well as heavy rainfall. Before most of the storm made it to Adventure Park USA, attendees scrambled to participate in the group photo. As they entered Wildcat’s helix, Stottlemyer decided to climb the lift hill and lie on the track to get the perfect photo of everyone!
Attendees found plenty to occupy their time indoors at Adventure Park USA.
After the photo, everyone rushed into the inside portion of Adventure Park USA, which includes an arcade, mini-bowling, a high ropes course, a sweets/ice cream shop, Whistle Stop, XD Theater (a 6-D theater ride/experience by TrioTech) and Lazer Tag. Everyone met at 3:30 to do a group Lazer Tag takeover!
After Lazer Tag, the event was officially over but most stayed and waited for the outside portion of the park to reopen. Attendees were given all-rides-all-day wristbands as well as an unlimited game card for nonticket games, so they basically had the rest of the day to themselves. Some did the ropes course; others rode more of the flat rides and go karts.
Wild West Fun Day this year delivered a great experience with exclusive coaster access, great food and indoor adventures. Much gratitude was expressed to Stottlemyer, Bailey, Lori, Chad and the entire staff for helping make this event unforgettable. ACE Mid-Atlantic looks forward to seeing everyone at upcoming Mid‑Atlantic events and continuing the tradition of fun, friendship and preservation that defines ACE.
— Adelie Matthews
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