WORLD’S LARGEST RIDE ENTHUSIAST ORGANIZATION TO VISIT AREA PARKS

Preservation Con brings visitors from 26 states to celebrate roller coasters

DENVER, CO – August 20, 2021 – Nearly 145 members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) and their friends from 26 states will spend the weekend venturing across Colorado to experience Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs; Lakeside Amusement Park, Denver; and Elitch Gardens, Denver in celebration of the preservation of the classic roller coasters at one of the oldest amusement parks in the United States.

ACE’s Preservation Con draws members from around the world to gather and recognize parks with historically significant roller coasters. This year’s event is designed around a visit to Lakeside Amusement Park, one of only 13 trolley parks operating and one of the oldest amusement parks in the United States. Preservation of classic roller coasters, like those at Lakeside, is of utmost importance to ACE, as our mission is to ensure these engineering marvels are available for many more years of thrills and memories. The gathering was delayed a year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

”This weekend offers an opportunity to support ACE’s mission to preserve roller coasters by celebrating the efforts of Lakeside Amusement Park while doing what we love, riding roller coasters! We are here to applaud Lakeside Amusement Park for its exceptional efforts to continue to offer guests thrills and memories for years to come on the Cyclone, an official ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation reserved for rides of historic significance.” According to ACE Preservation Director, David Dragun.

Lakeside Amusement Park is the oldest operating park in Colorado and is stunning in its beauty, featuring structures and buildings that date to 1908, designed in the Beaux Arts style of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Attendees will also enjoy a visit to the distinctive Glenwood Caverns Amusement Park, America’s only mountain-top theme park, which features the world’s highest elevation full-size coaster, Cliffhanger, as well as unique experiences like The Haunted Mine Ride, which sends riders deep into the bowels of the earth, and two cave tours.

The weekend would not be complete without a visit to the 130-year-old Elitch Gardens, notable for its determination to relocate the park and its six roller coasters and over 40 rides for parkgoers to enjoy.

Highlights of the weekend include exclusive ride time sessions for attendees before and/or after the park opens/closes, presentations, workshops and behind-the-scenes tours.

Photo: Geoff Peterson. View full-sized image.

Photo: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.

Photo: Geoff Peterson. View full-sized image.

Photo: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.

Photo: Geoff Peterson. View full-sized image.

Photo: Elizabeth Ringas. View full-sized image.