In This Issue
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2025
ARTICLES POSTED NOVEMBER 10
When Herschend Family Entertainment — owners of Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, and Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee — purchased Kentucky Kingdom (Louisville) in 2021, expectations ran higher than the park’s airport-related FAA height requirement
for new construction. While the park has yet to install the gigacoaster that enthusiasts have been clamoring for, the 2026 season will see the debut of Flying Fox.
(Posted 11/10/25) [MORE]
There’s always a good reason to visit Knoebels, and one of the better ones is ACE Eastern Pennsylvania's midsummer event, ACE Flies With the Phoenix, which this year happened on July 26. Some 223 attendees arrived at the Elysburg, Pennsylvania, park eager
to experience Knoebels’ eclectic collection of rides, chow down on its extensive variety of food offerings and meet up with follow enthusiasts. It was warm with threats of rain but nothing to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for
what promised to be a fun day ahead.
(Posted 11/10/25) [MORE]
What was your favorite thing about Scarefest 25?
(Posted 11/10/25) [MORE]
An ominous, rainy forecast did not dampen the spirits of the 167 ACE Dives attendees who traveled to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia) from 17 states. The forecast for Sunday, October 12, warned of coastal flooding, as a nor’easter was hitting the
area over the weekend. In anticipation of this, Busch Gardens and ACE Mid-Atlantic had a contingency plan in place for morning ERT on DarKoaster, the park’s indoor straddle coaster. Fortunately,
even though the weather was wet, with a steady light rain throughout the day, the heavy rain stayed away during the event.
(Posted 11/10/25) [MORE]
On what turned out to be a rainy, cold, windy October 19th in Mason, Ohio, nearly 100 members and their guests came out to ERScream! at Kings Island, the first regional event held at the park since 2016.
(Posted 11/10/25) [MORE]
ARTICLES POSTED NOVEMBER 3
S&S Worldwide of Logan, Utah, has always captured the interest of coaster enthusiasts. The company’s rides have introduced some notable installations. The air-launched coaster, such as Maxx Force at Coaster Con 47
cohost Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Illinois), is one such genre to bring thrills. More than a decade ago, people watched as the cantilevered massive vehicles of a 4-D Free Spin churned out flips on a vertical plane. Enthusiasts’
zeal for that model was tempered a little when it was rapidly duplicated, stripping away its uniqueness, but there was no denying it found its place in the market. And those ACE members who hopped aboard the Axis prototype,
specifically during the 2023 Preservation Conference, cannot wait to see one of those built closer to home; three that are under construction have been sold to facilities overseas.
(Posted 11/3/25) [MORE]
ACE Mid-Atlantic hosted its annual Fall Thrillfest at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, on Saturday, October 11, 2025. The event started with check-in, where the 164 attendees from 16 states and the District of Columbia claimed their name badges, event
buttons and haunt attractions wristbands. While they waited for the park to open, they could purchase ACE and ACE Mid-Atlantic merchandise, including the region’s new lanyard, and they could even purchase raffle tickets for
their chance to win one of two replica commemorative bricks for the park.
(Posted 11/3/25) [MORE]
Do you like to dream? Maybe you dream about new coasters to ride, parks to visit or ways to make the world better. I do too! I’ve always been a dreamer. And when I have a dream, I work hard to make it real. But the best part? I get to dream and build
right alongside all of you here in ACE. That fills my heart and inspires me every single day.
(Posted 11/3/25) [MORE]
- Karls coming to California
- Carowinds
- Dollywood Updates Blazing Fury
- Jenkinson’s Boardwalk announces Patriot’s Run
- Unbolted
(Posted 11/3/25) [MORE]
Santa’s Village Amusement and Water Park, a delightful family-oriented traditional North Pole-themed park in Dundee, Illinois, offers 22 rides and attractions, including three fun-for-all-ages roller coasters. In addition, the Village also offers a water
park section during the summer months; playgrounds for the kids; games to play; farm animals, birds and fish; a petting zoo and even real reindeer grazing; and finally, a Polar Dome ice skating arena with public skating hours
many weekends in the fall and winter months.
(Posted 11/3/25) [MORE]
Rendering: courtesy Kentucky Kingdom.
Download Past Issues
Letter From the President
Do you like to dream? Maybe you dream about new coasters to ride, parks to visit or ways to make the world better. I do too! I’ve always been a dreamer. And when I have a dream, I work hard to make it real. But the best part? I get to dream and build
right alongside all of you here in ACE. That fills my heart and inspires me every single day.
(Posted 11/3/25) [MORE]
Nuts & Bolts
Milestones
Upcoming ACE Events
Thank You
Editor: Lee Ann Draud
Photo Editor: Tim Baldwin
Layout: John W. C. Robinson
Online Content Coordinator: Mac Rush
Editorial Staff: Tim Baldwin, Michaela
Boros, Dan Brewer, John Gerald, Tom Nickerson, Rus Ozana and Elizabeth Werth
Contact ACE News Team
Photo: Brian Pickral.
Photo: Jon Roost.
Rendering: courtesy S&S.
Photo: Brian Pickral.
Photo: Tobias Niepel.
Photo: Jackie Hodge.
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