ACE - Ride With Us

As our podcast team prepares to head to Orlando for the IAAPA Expo, co-host John Davidson took a moment to look back on the IAAPA Europe Expo in Amsterdam that took place this September. ACE Europe Regional Representative Jo Pools joins co-host John Davidson for a lively discussion of European theme parks, upcoming ACE Europe events and the Expo. In this episode: [01:52] IAPPA Europe is in the boo...

A chill is in the air these days and many beloved seasonal theme parks are now closed for the season. While we’re hunkering down for the winter, it’s a good time to remember some new rides that opened this summer with this First Drop.   This episode takes a close look at some new coasters from around the world. We start with ACE member Luke Reynolds joining co-host John Davidson to share his ride...

Coaster enthusiasts may know Dorney Park as a charming trolley park that grew from a salmon hatchery in the 1860’s into a park, then into a theme park. Today, it’s known as the home of historic rides like the Whip, some relocated rides from other parks (shout out to Demon Drop and Possessed!) as well as Thunderhawk – an ACE Landmark Coaster plus many other crowd-pleasing attractions. Though Dorney...

This week’s episode covers two important topics: the Phoenix Phall Phunfest at Knoebels Amusement Park and the ACE Events Rundown for November 2023.  The first segment has co-host John Davidson chatting with ACE Publications Director and Phoenix Phall Phunfest attendee Lee Ann Draud. It sounds like quite an event, with great food, ERT on the Flying Turns and the Halloween-themed antique cars, plus...

Over 200 ACE members from around the world gathered in Utah for the 2023 ACE Fall Conference. The group first visited Lagoon Park (We talked about Lagoon Park in a recent episode ) for 2 fun-filled days of ERT, ACE Landmark Coaster rides, fall events and of course, some fabulous food. The final event was a visit to S&S Worldwide, where some lucky attendees got a chance to ride the prototype Ax...

As ACE members, our love of theme parks and roller coasters can take us around the world. It’s no surprise that ACE Europe is growing quickly.  Co-host John Davidson joins ACE Europe Assistant Regional Rep Christopher Karlsson for a trackside chat about new coasters and experiences, plus some Europe region updates.   In this episode: [01:25] Meet Christopher, his home park is Liseberg in Gothambur...

ACE events happen year-round, with the biggest events bookending the summer.  Our summer started with over 1300 attendees at CoasterCon and it will wrap up with 208 attendees with representation from 34 states (plus Germany and Portugal!) heading to Utah for the Fall Conference at Lagoon Park and the S&S headquarters.   Regardless of whether you plan to attend or can’t make it this year, this...

As the hot summer days started to fade, a group of ACEers came together in New York to visit some very special theme parks and acknowledge the history behind them. Preservation Conference took place in late August. Attendees visited Playland Park, Adventureland, Luna Park at Coney Island and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, where the park owners, the Vourderis family, gave the group a warm welc...

Many theme park visitors walk right by something pretty special without ever knowing what it is. That something special is a plaque that’s posted on a small handful of roller coasters throughout the world, designating them as ACE Landmark Coasters.     A committee of dedicated ACE members/historians selects these coasters based on criteria including historical significance of the ride. If you’ve e...

The end of summer means one thing for theme park enthusiasts: Halloween!  Many parks bring out their best theming and scares this time of year; Knott’s Berry Farm has been leading the way since 1973, when local personality Larry Vincent brought his Sinister Seymour character to the park for an appearance that started a trend. That first year, Scary Farm was three nights long, it included scare act...

Behind the Thrills: Inside Coaster Maintenance and Safety The thrill of experiencing rides is based on the trust that comes from knowing that every park’s maintenance team works diligently to keep each ride safe for all riders. When a ride or attraction has an incident, it’s sure to get a lot of negative attention. The less visible side of maintenance is the number of hours and the attention to de...

Not one, but two KID FLASH Cosmic Coasters are coming to Six Flags parks at the same time. We also review the September ACE events. The 2022 IAAPA Expo included a lot of exciting announcements, including Skyline Attractions' news about building the family-friendly P’Sghetti Bowl coaster at two parks! The KID FLASH Cosmic Coaster is about to open at both Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Fiesta...

Before the days of social media, how did coaster enthusiasts connect?  In this episode, we go back to the early days of the internet when ACE members first found each other online. Join co-host John Davidson as he speaks with three enthusiasts about the creative ways they connected through early online forums, shared dial-up images, and meeting in-person at theme parks.   We'll chat with Bill Buck...

Unearthing the Secrets of Treasure Hunt: The Ride Embark on a thrilling journey as we dive deep into the immersive world of Treasure Hunt: The Ride. Located on the iconic Cannery Row in Monterey, California, this pirate-themed dark ride has taken the amusement world by storm, captivating both casual visitors and roller coaster aficionados. In this episode, join our co-host Jessica Gardner as she e...

It’s been a real zinger of a summer when it comes to theme parks, travel and enjoying new coasters around the world! We head into fall with a roundup of the summer’s newest attractions and great discussions with ACE members from around the world.   Co-host John Davidson chats with Paul Drabek, ACE Regional Rep for the ACE Heart of America Region. He shares his experience riding the all-new GCI woo...

Deno’s Wonder Wheel is a historic landmark ride which first opened in 1920. It still looms large on the Coney Island skyline, beckoning riders from near and far to climb aboard. The Wonder Wheel remains the anchor of what is now known as Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. The park has grown quite a bit and includes many recent additions including a Vekoma family thrill roller coaster, Phoenix. De...

This week’s episode covers a variety of topics! Join co-host Jessica Gardner and Ride With Us correspondent, Bryant Yeager, for a roundup of the Roller Coaster Rodeo event that was held at Six Flags Fiesta Texas this June. We’ll move on to Bryant’s interview with Ron McKenzie, ProParks Attractions Group Chief Marketing Officer during the inaugural AlohaCon 2023 event at Hawaiian Falls Waco. We wra...

Join us as we chat with the production crew of the Anton Schwarzkopf documentary "Legacy of Schwarzkopf," (debuting 2024) and meet the team behind the masterpiece - Kris Rowberry, Nicholas Laschkewitsch, Robert Ingle, and Scott Schaffer.  Hear about their adventures and challenges filming on location to capture Schwarzkopf’s groundbreaking roller coaster designs!  In This Episode:  [00:23] - Jessi...

Our podcast team isn't just our fantastic co-hosts, John Davidson and Jessica Gardner. It's a group of enthusiastic volunteers who work behind the scenes to put everything together. This week, we bring one of those behind-the-scenes ACE members to the forefront to talk about one of our favorite topics: theme park road trips and vacations! Meet Liz Tan, your show notes author and world traveler. Li...

Can you believe it? We're in the heart of theme park season and Coaster Con 45 is now just a memory! Join us as we revisit the unforgettable thrills of this grand event one last time. Feeling the Coaster Con blues? Don't worry! We've got you covered with a rundown of exciting July events happening in your region, guaranteed to keep your adrenaline pumping until we gather again for the next Coaster...

Coaster Con 45 - Part 2: Live from Carowinds Coaster Con 45 has finally drawn to an exhilarating close! Our dynamic co-host, Jessica Gardner, along with the vibrant "Ride With Us" podcast team, have concluded an unforgettable week at the thrilling Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina. We're excited to bring you a plethora of riveting content from the final leg of the Con, featuring a diverse mix...

Coaster Con 45 - Part 1: Live from Dollywood The week we've all been eagerly anticipating is finally here – it's time for Coaster Con 2023! Our radiant co-host, Jessica Gardner (along with the majority of the vivacious "Ride With Us" podcast team) has set the stage at the dazzling Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We're excited to be bringing you an abundance of thrilling content, featuring an...

It Takes a Village... or Two! In this week's episode, we explore the profound truth behind the saying, "it takes a village," as we journey to two exceptional and unique villages! We kick off with a heartwarming visit to Give Kids the World Village, an enchanting 89-acre non-profit resort located in Kissimmee, Florida. This magical haven offers cost-free, week-long vacations to critically-ill child...

As the weather warms up and parks and water parks open for the season, we're thrilled to share three (3) exciting new attractions at several parks. Get ready for a wave of thrills with Pipeline: The Surf Coaster at SeaWorld Orlando, Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood, and DarKoaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg! In this episode, our dynamic duo of co-hosts takes the stage. Jessica Gardner sets a new...

In this week's episode, our podcast co-host, Jessica Gardner, sits down with ACE member and volunteer Rachel Hawkins ( @rachello26 ) to chat about the recent Lone Star Coasterthon event held at Six Flags Over Texas. Rachel takes us through the logistics and excitement of this event and explains how it has gained popularity over the years. Tune in for all the exciting details! Moving on, we have a...