Photo: Daphne Gindlesperger. View full-sized image.
It was sunny and windy on June 6 at Waldameer & Water World in Erie, Pennsylvania, and the 211 attendees who arrived for Ravine Flyer Frenzy came with expectations of a fun day riding coasters with friends at this family-owned traditional park on the shores of Lake Erie. The event flyer listed a day filled with informal takeover times (ITOTs), ERT, a behind-the-scenes opportunity, a picnic dinner and even the showing of a documentary. Wasn’t that enough? They were to learn later that Waldameer had a special surprise — an ACE exclusive!
Attendees lined up to check in at the West Lakeview Grove.
Photo: Mary Shewan. View full-sized image.
No one went hungry at Ravine Flyer Frenzy, thanks to Waldameer’s generous supply of doughnuts and coffee.
Photo: Dan Brewer. View full-sized image.
For 12 years now, the Lucas family has organized the Ice Cream for Breakfast fundraiser, using ice cream donated by Waldameer and toppings they brought themselves.
Photo: April Lucas collection. View full-sized image.
But first everyone checked in at the West Lakeview Grove. Awaiting them, in addition to a special event pin and wristband, were complimentary doughnuts and coffee, courtesy of Waldameer, and an opportunity to enjoy Ice Cream for Breakfast. This annual fundraiser (in its 12th year now) benefits Give Kids The World, the Florida nonprofit that provides a free week of fun at the Orlando-area parks to children with life-threatening diseases and their families. For a donation, attendees could enjoy ice cream, provided by Waldameer, along with toppings, provided by the Lucas family. This year the fundraiser raised a record $575 for the nonprofit.
It was impossible not to notice the machinery for construction behind the picnic pavilion.
While chowing down on doughnuts and ice cream, attendees couldn’t help but notice machinery for tree clearing and earth moving on the hill that dropped down to Lake Erie. Clearly work was beginning on — something. Something big. There was a lot of speculation but no answers.
Being able to check out the behind-the-scenes areas of coasters (in this case, Comet) is one of the major perks of ACE events.
At 10:15 attendees enjoyed an opportunity to investigate the behind-the-scenes area of Comet, the Herb Schmeck woodie that was celebrating 75 years at Waldameer. Unlike many backstage areas that lack vegetation, Comet’s includes several tall trees that have grown in the park for many years and add to the atmosphere of a Comet ride. A fun fact: attendees Dave Altman and Chris Trotter are the same age as Comet!
Comet.
Photo: Dan Brewer. View full-sized image.
Whacky Shack.
Photo: Sharon Bond. View full-sized image.
ERT was offered on both Whacky Shack and Comet before the park opened at noon. The Bill Tracy-designed dark ride Whacky Shack is the last of its type. A group photo in front of Comet shortly before the park opened marked a first for ACE Western Pennsylvania events: the group photo was taken during ERT!
Steel Dragon.
Photo: Riley O’Brien. View full-sized image.
Photo: Stacey Singer. View full-sized image.
L. Ruth Express train.
Photo: Dave Hahner. View full-sized image.
Photo: Dave Hahner. View full-sized image.
Afternoon ITOTs were on the Maurer spinning mouse Steel Dragon, L. Ruth Express train, Flying Swings and Thunder River, the family log flume. Flying Swings and Thunder River were both celebrating park anniversaries: 15 years for Flying Swings and 30 years for Thunder River (you will get wet!).
Whirlwind.
Photo: Riley O’Brien. View full-sized image.
Ravine Flyer III.
Photo: April Lucas. View full-sized image.
Although ITOTs were not scheduled for these coasters, attendees also enjoyed rides on Whirlwind, an SBF spinning coaster, and Ravine Flyer III, an E&F Miler Industries family coaster.
Brian Gorman introduced the trolley park documentary, which discussed the role of his grandfather, Paul Nelson, in developing Waldameer.
At 3 p.m. attendees could take a break from riding to watch a documentary in Rainbow Gardens. Brian Gorman, COO of Waldameer, provided background on “Trolley Parks: Great Lakes,” by filmmaker Peter Daulton, the third in a PBS documentary series on trolley parks, this one featuring Waldameer and Seabreeze. Attendees then watched the documentary about the last trolley parks located on the shores of Great Lakes. In 1896, Hoffman’s Grove was a popular local picnic spot that was purchased by the Erie Electric Motor Company trolley and renamed “Waldameer,” which means “woods by the sea” in German.
At 5 p.m, an all-you-can-eat picnic dinner began back at the West Lakeview Grove, featuring chicken tenders, hamburgers, ox roast and many sides, plus dessert and soft drinks. Regional Rep Bill Linkenheimer III welcomed everyone and announced that, with the exception of the pre-Coaster Con event at Waldameer in 2022, this year’s 211 attendees from 19 states and Canada set an attendance record for a regional event at Waldameer.
Linkenheimer then introduced Steve (park president) and Brian Gorman, who thanked attendees for coming and reviewed Waldameer’s 2025 accomplishments. One of the features of dinnertime at this event is a quiz to test attendees’ knowledge of the park, and Steve had brought prizes for the lucky winners.
Finally, with the obvious construction equipment visible behind him, Steve spoke about the elephant in the room — uh, the park. First he announced that Lakeview Grove, which was the station for the original Ravine Flyer, had been demolished. He asked if attendees could keep a secret until Monday, when the park planned to make a big announcement. Asking ACEers to keep a secret is a big ask, but attendees were honored to be first to hear this news.
Image: courtesy Vekoma. View full-sized image.
Waldameer has contracted with Vekoma to build a dual launch family coaster that will open in the spring of 2027 and will take advantage of the park’s hilly terrain (for details about the new coaster, see the June 11 ACE News post). The first drop will be 60 feet, top speed will be 46 mph and the coaster’s length will be 1,885 feet of track. Waldameer had been considering uses for this land ever since acquiring it, and Vekoma helped them work out a design that fit the terrain.
Does the coaster have a name yet? The name, Eagle’s Pursuit, was inspired by the frequent appearance of bald eagles flying over Lake Erie. The design of the coaster is reminiscent of eagles diving and soaring in search of prey, thus the name Eagle’s Pursuit.
Photo: Bill Linkenheimer III. View full-sized image.
Photo: April Lucas. View full-sized image.
Two after-dinner ITOTs were scheduled before park closing, one on the park’s walkthrough dark ride, Pirate’s Cove, and the other on the Dodgems.
Ravine Flyer II.
Photo: Sue Yekel. View full-sized image.
Photo: Michele Klingensmith. View full-sized image.
Riders were enthusiastic on the much-anticipated Ravine Flyer II ERT.
Photo: Dan Brewer. View full-sized image.
After the park closed at 9, the anticipated ERT on Ravine Flyer II began. It has been said many times that a night ride on this powerful woodie from The Gravity Group is a testimony to why wood coasters are so loved. It begins with a lift hill climb that provides a brief but spectacular view of Lake Erie, is followed by a speedy drop down a 118-foot hill and noisy roar across a highway (and an eventual return) and ends with disorienting turns and drops through tunnels before finally returning to the station. Attendees couldn’t get enough rides on Ravine Flyer II, which was voted the 10th best wood coaster in the 2025 Amusement Today Golden Ticket awards. ERT always ends too soon.
Attendees left Waldameer with happy memories of a day spent with friends at a charming traditional park and with anticipation for the debut of Eagle’s Pursuit in 2027. All were grateful to the Waldameer staff and the Western Pennsylvania regional rep team and volunteers for another successful Ravine Flyer Frenzy.
— Lee Ann Draud, ACE News Editor
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