ACE
Western Pennsylvania Welcomes
Ryan Lucas As New
Assistant Regional Representative!
Posted: November
16, 2011
We're
pleased to announce that Ryan Lucas has been
appointed to serve as an assistant regional
representative of ACE Western Pennsylvania.
A member since 1994, Ryan
has literally grown up with ACE. Along with his
parents, Dave and Val, and his sister, April, he has
been very active in the organization, attending
countless events and volunteering assistance along
the way. In 2010, he served on the Coaster Con
XXXIII regional planning committee and was
co-director of the convention's Midway Olympics.
Ryan is excited to join the ACE Western Pennsylvania
rep team and work to continue to improve what the
region offers.
Congratulations,
Ryan!
Two
Western Pennsylvania Parks Win Golden Tickets!
Posted: September 17, 2011
Idlewild
& SoakZone has been named the world's #1 Childrens
Park in the Golden Tickets for the second year in a
row. Last year, Idlewild ousted Legloland
California, which had the title several years.
Idlewild. After the addition of its new wave pool
this year, we're certain that Idlewild will continue
to reinvest in the park to keep its well-deserved #1
status. Idlewild's Jeff Croushore was on hand to
accept the award.
Even more good news is that you can help celebrate
Idlewild's status at an ACE Western Pennsylvania
event at the park next July. Expect a date to be
announced soon.
Kennywood's historic Noah's Ark has been recognized
by the Golden Tickets as the #1 Funhouse/Walk
Through Attraction in the world, for the second year
in a row! Kennywood's Jeff Filicko was there to
accept the honor.
ACE Western Pennsylvania and the regional rep team
congratulate Idlewild and Kennywood for bringing
such accolades to our region.
We are also pleased to report that the following
coasters in our region have been acknowledged among
the best in the world:
Ravine Flyer II, Waldameer, ranked #6 wood coaster
Phantom's Revenge, Kennywood, ranked #5 steel
coaster
Thunderbolt, Kennywood, ranked #14 wood coaster
Sky Rocket, Kennywood, ranked #44 steel coaster
Racer, Kennywood, ranked #43 wood coaster
Jack Rabbit, Kennywood, ranked #23 wood coaster
Blue
Streak, Conneaut Lake Park, ranked #46 wood coaster
The Golden Ticket Awards are presented by
Amusement Today, the world's leading source of
amusement industry news. For more information, visit
www.AmusementToday.com
and
www.GoldenTicketAwards.com.
Summer
In Western Pennsylvania!
Posted: August 16, 2011
Blue Streak
Blast - Conneaut Lake Park
Gary Baker
Memorial Day - Lakemont Park
Mid Summer
Scream - Waldameer
KennyKon XXII - Kennywood
Conneaut
Lake Park Wins Preservation Award From Preservation
Pennsylvania
Posted: August 13, 2011
Conneaut
Lake Park and their Blue Streak wooden roller
coaster have earned a Historic Preservation Award.
The community involvement in
restoring the coaster to operation in 2010 earned
the recognition.
The Crawford County community
and coaster enthusiasts all over the country came
together to help the park win a Pepsi Refresh Grant
to supplement the restoration project.
The Blue Streak is among a
long list of projects to be honored by Preservation
Pennsylvania on September 30th in
Gettysburg.
Kennywood's
Holiday Lights Coming This December!
Posted: July 6, 2011
Santa
Claus is coming to Kennywood!
For the first time in Kennywood's 114 season history,
the park will be open in December!
Kennywood's Holiday Lights is
a new holiday event that will feature tens of thousands of
lights, some set to holiday music in a light show that will
take place several times each night around the park's
lagoon.
A few rides will also
be open, including the Carousel, Kangaroo, Paratrooper, and
a holiday themed train ride. Several rides in Kiddieland
will also be open.
Santa Claus will be on hand
for pictures, and other activities will include cookie
decorating and performances by local choral groups. A
variety of food will also be offered, including kettle corn,
s'mores, a variety of hot drinks, and Potato Patch Fries!
Kennywood's Holiday Lights
will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – December 2 to
4, 9 to 11 and 16 to 18 – from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Parking will be free for the
event, but an admission fee has yet to be determined.
You can check out a video of
the announcement that took place at Kennywood by clicking
the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsBuvKiPl-0
Thanks
For Donating To Give Kids The World, and Promoting Our
Hometown!
Posted: June 17, 2011
Many
of you know or are familiar with Bryan Edwards, Cedar
Point's Sales Promotions Manager, who has been a guest
speaker at a past CoasterBash! as well as other ACE events.
Bryan is a likeable and all-around great guy, as illustrated
by the fact that he participated in Coasting for Kids last
year and raised over $1,000 for Give Kids The World, and
rode Gemini, despite the fact he (gasp!) doesn't like
roller coasters. In fact, we'll go as far to say that Brian
is an amazing guy -- now a fundraiser at all Cedar Fair
parks, Bryan and a friend actually created the Coasting for
Kids event a little over three years ago. Bryan recalls, "As
a father of three, I shudder when I think of anything bad
happening to them. For the families that Give Kids The World
helps, that fear that I had in my mind is their reality." So
the fact that Bryan Pittsburgh sports-basher and a fan of
the Cleveland Browns is can clearly be attributed to the
fact that he's simply a little misguided. We had a chance to
steer him right!
This
year, Bryan raised over $1,500 including over $500 in
donations from Western Pennsylvania so Bryan rode Magnum
XL-200 in a Steelers game jersey!
Give Kids The World is an amazing non-profit organization
that exists only to fulfill the wishes of all children with
life-threatening illnesses and their families from around
the world to experience a memorable, joyful, cost-free visit
to the central Florida theme parks attractions, often
working hand in hand with Make A Wish. Give Kids the World
is widely supported by the amusement industry and ACE is a
partner on the Coasting for Kids event.
ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. You can print a receipt
after donating and you will be emailed a receipt as well.
Coasting for Kids took place on Sunday, July 24 at all Cedar
Fair parks. For more information go to
http://www.givekidstheworld.org/coastingforkids.
Welcome
to ACE Western Pennsylvania's New Website!
Posted: April 11, 2011
Welcome to the new
ACEwesternPA.org. You can use this Website to
learn more about the
Coasters of
ACE Western Pennsylvania, explore the
Links
page, browse the
Photo Gallery,
research in our
News
Page,
and enjoy previous editions of
The Fun Times
newsletter. Please feel free to
contact us with any questions, concerns
or suggestions. The new ACE Western Pennsylvania
Website will be updated often so be sure to bookmark this
site and make ACEwesternPA.org part of your day, from home,
at work or on the go.
Waldameer's 2011 North End
Expansion
Posted: April 11, 2011
The expansion features three
new rides. The largest and most thrilling of
the three is the Flying Swings. It is a beautiful,
eye-catching ride that combines light and color with a dual
oscillating wave effect that will entice the entire family
to ride. Standing over 41' tall during operation, riders
will gracefully fly over the L. Ruth Express train and enjoy
views of Lake Erie and the Ravine Flyer II bridge spanning
Peninsula Drive. The Flying Swings can accommodate 64 riders
at one time.
Wendy's Tea Party is a popular
family ride that features a beautiful teapot surrounded by
six colorful teacups on a rotating platform. Each teacup is
equipped with a manual steering wheel that allows riders to
control the speed and direction of their teacup's individual
rotation. The ride can accommodate up to 24 riders.
The third ride is the SS
Wally. The entire family can set sail for adventure on this
brightly colored tug boat-look ride which combines unique
rocking and whirling motions. This innovative family ride
can accommodate 24 passengers.
Beautiful gardens with an
eight-foot tall flowing water fountain will greet you at the
entrance to this new area. Visitors will pass beneath a 20'
high by 21' wide decorative metal archway leading to the
three new rides. This new area will also feature colorful
potted flowers, bronze statues and welcoming benches with a
variety of jazz music provided by WQLN Radio.
Visit
www.waldameer.com for more information.
Wowabunga Family Wave Pool Coming to Idlewild & SoakZone
Posted: April 11, 2011
Summer thrill seekers are
invited to "catch a wave" this season at Idlewild &
SoakZone when the park debuts an exciting
new addition to its waterpark. A multimillion dollar family
wave pool will replace Idlewild's aging swimming pool built
in 1931.
"This wave
pool is a thrilling addition that will take the excitement
of the SoakZone to a whole new level for our Guests", said
Jeff Croushore, park spokesperson. "We've already been
recognized as the "Best Children's Park", but this
attraction's appeal to kids and adults, will help bolster
Idlewild's reputation of being one of the best parks for the
entire family!"
Following
intermittent periods of calm water conditions, a signal will
sound and the pool will generate waves at timed intervals,
allowing swimmers to ride the tide. The park plans to keep
the velocity of the waves at a level that will offer a
thrill to older guests but still allow younger children to
enjoy the fun.
The new pool
will feature a zero depth entry at its shallow end and a
depth of 6' at its deepest, with the following additional
statistics:
· Water
Capacity: 280,600 gallons
· Total Water Volume: 7,508 cu. ft.
· Water Surface Area: 14,728 sq. ft.
· Deep End Width: 70 ft.
· Shallow End Width: 137 ft.
· Pool Length: 182 ft.
The "beach"
area surrounding the wave pool will feature chaise lounges
offered firstcome, firstserved, and cabanas that guests may
rent as a shady spot to escape the summer sun.
Visit
www.idlewild.com for more information.
Idlewild & SoakZone World’s Best
Amusement Park for Children
Posted: April 11, 2011
At Idlewild
Park’s annual Hallowboo celebration, Pennsylvania House
Representative Mike Reese was on hand to present the Park
with a state proclamation recognizing the Park’s ranking as
the best children’s amusement park in the world by Amusement
Today Magazine!
“I have fond
memories of coming to Idlewild when I was a child and have
enjoyed building similar memories with my own children,”
said State Representative Mike Reese, who has been an
Idlewild and SoakZone season pass holder for the last few
years. “I am not surprised that the park has been given this
great honor. For decades, local families have been coming to
Idlewild. This award is a tribute to the hard work and
dedication of Idlewild’s management and staff. It’s a
reminder to everyone who resides in Pennsylvania’s 59th
Legislative District of the great treasure that is right in
our backyard,” Reese added.
“We’re
ecstatic about being recognized as the best kid’s park in
the world,” said Park spokesperson Jeff Croushore. “However,
what’s more special to us is how proud our guests, community
and team members are about our industry recognition – in
their hearts and ours, we’ve always been the best park in
the world for kids!
Visit
www.idlewild.com for more information.
