ACE - Ride With Us

Saddle up for a recap of Roller Coaster Rodeo 2026 at Six Flags Fiesta Texas! Host Jessica Gardner is joined by Nick and Kelly Carlos aka "The Quirky Coaster Couple" to share their coaster love story, from meeting at the park to getting engaged atop Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger and eventually hosting a theme park wedding at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Then they break down everything that makes Roller...

Step inside the National Roller Coaster Museum with host Jessica Gardner as she takes listeners on an exclusive audio tour of one of the most unique collections of amusement industry history in the world. Joined by museum board members Kris Rowberry and Josh Brown, Jessica explores legendary coaster trains, historic artifacts, preservation efforts and the stories behind some of the industry's most...

ACE Spring Con may be in the rearview mirror, but Coaster Con 48 is right around the corner!   Host Jessica Gardner is joined by ACE Communications Director Derek Perry and Events Director Tim Baldwin to recap all the excitement from Spring Con and look ahead to ACE’s biggest event of the year. From exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and unforgettable ERT sessions to unexpected moments (including a...

Jessica Gardner sits down with Adam Sandy, Roller Coaster Sales and Marketing Director at Zamperla, to explore how modern roller coasters are designed, built, and evolving. From the massive undertaking of Top Thrill 2 to the growing importance of accessibility in attractions, Adam shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to bring rides to life from concept to opening day. They dive...

Ryan Eldredge, Regional Manager of Public Relations for the East Region at Six Flags Entertainment Corporation oversees communications for Six Flags Great Adventure and Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. In this revealing episode, he chats with Jessica about the evolving future of Six Flags Great Adventure, current developments at the park and the role of public relations in the theme park indus...

The offseason is over and coaster season is back! The Ride With Us Podcast returns with a brand-new season and a brand-new original theme song created by The Perry Twins. In this episode, host Jessica Gardner heads to both LEGOLAND Florida Resort and LEGOLAND California Resort to explore the new LEGO Galaxy themed lands at both parks. The expansion introduces a new family launch coaster, Galactico...

On the 12 Days of Christmas, the Ride With Us Podcast gave to you… 12 interviews from IAAPA Expo!   Our latest episode features Jessica Gardner and Rachel Hawkins talking with parks and manufacturers straight from the show floor, sharing what they showcased and what exciting new additions are coming in 2026.   It’s the perfect holiday listen for coaster fans counting down to a thrilling new year....

As Six Flags America prepares to close its gates for the final time, the ACE Ride With Us Podcast takes a heartfelt look back at the park’s incredible legacy. Correspondent Bob Randolph chats with Brichette Reid and B. Derek Shaw to share stories, laughter and nostalgia about the park’s roller coasters, history and the community that grew around it. You’ll hear: Personal memories and fan-favorite...

Let’s look back at the 2025 ACE Preservation Conference, where members gathered in California for three unforgettable days celebrating the history and preservation of classic parks and roller coasters. From the thrills of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia to the marine magic of SeaWorld San Diego and seaside charm of Belmont Park, host Jessica Gardner and podcast producer, ACE Communications Di...

In this special episode, join the team behind ACE’s latest documentary, The Legacy of Schwarzkopf, ahead of its official debut on YouTube. Go behind the scenes as Kris Rowberry, Nicholas Laschkewitsch, Scott Schaffer and Bob Randolph share exclusive insights into the making of the film, the stories that shaped it and what viewers can expect from this exciting exploration into the world of these cl...

Coaster Con 47 Recap - Thrills Across the Midwest! Coaster Con 47 rolled through the Midwest in June 2025, and it was a ride to remember! This six-day adventure took the American Coaster Enthusiasts to Six Flags Great America in Illinois, the charming Little Amerricka in Wisconsin and the iconic Indiana Beach. Whether you missed out and want the inside scoop, or you were there and want to relive t...

We continue our deep dive into EPIC UNIVERSE, Universal's newest park that opened in Orlando, Florida on May 22, 2025. Host Jessica Gardner, along with correspondents Doug Perry, Gerik Gooch, returning guest Brichette Reid, and first-time guest Gregory Golub break down the must-see park's worlds, mind-blowing innovations, and everything you need to know. Whether you're trip-planning or just Celest...

Time to take a deep dive into EPIC UNIVERSE, Universal's newest park that opened in Orlando, Florida on May 22, 2025. Host Jessica Gardner, along with correspondents Doug Perry, Gerik Gooch, returning guest Brichette Reid, and first time guest Gregory Golub break down the must-see park's worlds, mind-blowing innovations, and everything you need to know.  Whether you're trip-planning or just Celest...

ACE Spring Con 2025 took place this year in Virginia! ACEers visited Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Kings Dominion. Host Jessica Gardner, Correspondent Gerik Gooch and ACE Assistant Regional Rep from North Central, HaeKyung Thompson were there and now they break the three fun-filled days down for us.   1:30 Meet HaeKyung Thompson!   7:45 Discussion of HaeKyung’s visit to the soon to be closed Six...

This episode is all about ACE members marathoning roller coasters! Kalin Profitt talks about getting 10,000 rides on Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Mike Cameron shares the journey to 25,000 rides on Renegade at Valleyfair!   1:57 - Meet Kalin Profitt 34:23 - Meet Renegade Mike www.youtube.com/watch?v=11yXGiRkpiY ‌ www.valleyfair.com/blog/2024/june/renegade-mike-hits-25k-rides   Share yo...

At the 2025 Themed Entertainment Awards Gala, the THEA’s, the Buzz Price Life Achievement Award Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements was awarded to Rick Rothschild. Our host Jessica Gardner was granted an impromptu sit-down with this legend who helped create memorable theme park attractions like Soarin’, The American Adventure, The Adventurers Club, Captain EO, Honey I Shrunk the A...

In this celebration of Black History Month, Gerik Gooch moderates a roundtable with four fellow ACE members who are Blusiasts: Black enthusiasts. Airtime Myke, Duwena Tillman, James Mason and Alan Franklin share their stories, reveal their favorite parks, events & coasters and discuss the joy of finding community. They also discuss the history of Black Americans and the importance of promoting...

Jessica Gardner joins fellow members of the podcast team, Gerik Gooch, Derek Perry and Doug Perry for a discussion about upcoming coaster events, new roller coasters being built and theme parks opening in 2025.    In this episode, the team breaks down ACE’s 2025 international, regional and digital events, along with park-sponsored events and they highlight some of the roller coasters and theme par...

Author Bill Shea has written a charming book that tells a story that might be familiar to coaster enthusiasts! Billy's Grandpa Joe is taking him to his favorite amusement park but when Billy wakes up, he sees nothing but rain. Tension mounts – will Billy and Grandpa Joe's day be a washout or will Grandpa Joe save the day?   In this episode, correspondent Bob Randolph talks with Bill Shea about his...

The annual IAAPA Expo brings manufacturers, innovators and coaster enthusiasts to the Orlando area for a whirlwind of activity. This year’s expo included many exciting reveals, shocking announcements along with a convention hall packed full of everything a theme park might ever need.   Our intrepid podcast team wraps up their coverage of this year’s expo with the second episode in our series. Join...

The annual IAAPA Expo brings manufacturers, innovators and coaster enthusiasts to the Orlando area for a whirlwind of activity. This year’s expo included many exciting reveals, shocking announcements along with a convention hall packed full of everything a theme park might ever need.   Our intrepid podcast team was on the show floor, taking in all of the excitement. Join the ACE podcast team: Jess...

ACE’s Preservation Conference marked the end of an amazing summer of conferences, regional events and informal meetups. We round out the summer with a mega episode that recaps 2024’s final national ACE event. Join us as correspondents/producers Derek and Doug Perry and co-host Jessica Gardner introduce our new correspondent Gerik Gooch to walk through this awesome weekend.   The Bertch family, own...

Since Worlds of Fun opened in 1973, it has delighted visitors to the Kansas City, MO location ever since. It’s home to many historic rides and has a rich history. ACE members had a chance to visit the park during the 2024 Preservation Conference, enjoying behind-the-scenes experiences, great catered meals, ERT and some thorough presentations.    During the conference, Unofficial Worlds of Fun Hist...

Tim Baldwin, John Davidson, Doug Perry and Derek Perry talk about four fantastic new roller coasters to open in 2024. Learn all about Voltron Nevera at Europa Park, Fire In The Hole at Silver Dollar City, Iron Menace at Dorney Park and The Bobcat at Six Flags Great Escape. In this Episode: [3:00] Voltron Nevera [22:22] Fire In The Hole [33:21] Iron Menace [42:32] The Bobcat   Share your ideas and...

Onboard audio can add so much to an already exhilarating roller coaster experience. Join correspondent John Davidson for his conversation with Devin Flannery, Solutions Architect at Alcorn McBride Inc. They take a deep dive into Devin’s journey to the role and uncover some tricks of the trade along the way!   Check out Alcorn McBride events during IAAPA Expo 2024 !   Share your ideas and thoughts...