Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk September Highlights:
The last Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach concert of 2010 is September 3rd, featuring The Tubes with Fee Waybill. For more information, see: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/concerts/
September 2nd is the last Pepsi Night of the season. An empty Pepsi can will entitle you to purchase an unlimited rides wrist band for $9.95 plus tax.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's rides are open weekends and Labor Day Monday in September. See the park's calendar for full details:
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/calendar/2010/september.html
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
web site: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzBeachBoardwalk
-- photo: Steven Wilson
Let's welcome Six Flags Discovery Kingdom's new Park President, Dale Kaetzel! Here is the official announcement:
SIX FLAGS DISCOVERY KINGDOM ANNOUNCES
APPOINTMENT OF NEW PARK PRESIDENT
Entertainment Veteran Dale Kaetzel returns to the Bay Area after 25 year absence
August 25, 2010 (Vallejo, CA) Six Flags Discovery Kingdom announced today the appointment of Dale Kaetzel as its new park president. Kaetzel, 51, had previously managed Paramount Parks properties and served as marketing director for the San Francisco Giants. Kaetzel will be responsible for all park operations, strategic direction and general management duties for the 135-acre combination wildlife, oceanarium and theme park.
“With his background in management, marketing and communications, Dale brings keen business acumen, as well as brand understanding, to Discovery Kingdom,” said Al Weber, Chief Operating Officer. “His experience in bringing unique and innovative approaches to his roles as a park general manager and marketing executive has lead to great results, and make him an excellent match for the Discovery Kingdom opportunity.”
During Kaetzel’s eight years as a senior executive in four of five Paramount Parks, he served as senior vice president and general manager of North America’s largest seasonal theme park, Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto. Prior to Paramount, Kaetzel served for 13 years as marketing and retail vice president for Centre Management/MCI Center in Washington, D.C., a preeminent sports and entertainment venue, now called the Verizon Center and home to major NBA, WNBA and NHL franchises and other live entertainment events.
As director of marketing for the San Francisco Giants in the mid 80s, Kaetzel was part of many memorable campaigns including the anti-mascot Crazy Crab, Croix de Candlestick, and the 1984 MLB All Star Game.
“I’m truly thrilled to be returning to the Bay Area to lead Northern California’s most unique family destination,” said Kaetzel. “I look forward to taking Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to a new level of family entertainment and providing guests with one-of-a-kind, memorable experiences.”
Kaetzel joins Discovery Kingdom as the park prepares for its 25th anniversary in Vallejo and as the Six Flags Entertainment Corporation celebrates its 50th year in 2011.
-- end of announcement --
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is open weekends and Labor Day Monday in September. See the links below for more info.
Buy your 2011 Season Pass now and get the rest of 2010 included along with lots of other benefits. For details, see: http://www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom/tickets/seasonpass.aspx
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
web site: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/discoverykingdom
-- Thanks go to Nancy Chan for the Dale Kaetzel announcement.
photo: Steven Wilson
Welcome to the August 2010 edition of ACE NorCal News!
In this issue:
ACE Day at the California State Fair 2010 hosted by Butler Amusements
ACE Day at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 2010
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Lunch with Legends
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 2010 Haunted Castle Grand Opening
California's Great America, August 2010 update
Gilroy Gardens, August 2010 update
Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, August 2010 update
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, August 2010 update
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, July 2010 update
-- Steven Wilson
ACE members pose for a group photo before ERT on the Pole Position spinning coaster
ACE Day at the California State Fair has been an annual event since 2002. The 2002 event was a joint venture with the Monorail Society. A standard feature of each event from the beginning has been complimentary ERT on the fair's coasters. Through 2008, the midway was operated by Ray Cammack Shows. Butler Amusements, Inc. took over the responsibility for the California State Fair's midway in 2009. The 2010 ACE Day at the California State Fair was the second time that Butler Amusements has hosted the event for us. We could not be happier that Butler Amusements has chosen to continue our traditional fun day at the California State Fair.
A big change for 2010 was that the fair moved its schedule up by about a month. This change was made in an effort to boost attendance by eliminating conflicts with school schedules. As a result, the 2010 ACE Day at the California State Fair was the first ever held in July.
Thanks to Butler Amusements, we started off our day at the fair with complimentary admission to the California State Fair. ACE's good friend Mike Gorman of Butler Amusements started things off by giving everyone some handouts with information about Butler Amusements. Then he surprised us with a drawing for some cool Butler prizes, including a ultra-rare 40th anniversary hard-cover book about Butler Amusements Inc. The winner of that treasured item was Nicholas Laschkewitsch.
ACEers pause for a group photo with a Butler Amusements truck
Next up, Mike Gorman led us on a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour which really gave us an appreciation of how enormous the task is to transport and operate such a large midway. The final stop on the tour was an unexpected treat. The entire group was warmly welcomed into the quarters of Mr. Earl "Butch" Butler, CEO and President of Butler Amusements, Inc. We enjoyed a fascinating conversation with him about the company and the amusement industry.
Following the tour, all were ready for some complimentary ERT on the fair's two coasters: the spinning Pole Position coaster and the Zillerator. At the end of ERT, the group gathered at the new Butler Amusements Magical Midway sign for a photo. Then, armed with a generous supply of free ride passes -- courtesy of Mike Gorman and Butler Amusements -- most of the attendees spread out to enjoy the rest of the day at the California State Fair.
After hearing Mr. Butler's description of the new LED lighting package on the Giant Wheel, many of the ACEers in attendance chose to stay until after dark. They were not disappointed. Consisting of 57,500 LEDs in 2400 modules, the wheel's lighting package is nothing short of spectacular, including amazing programmed patterns not seen before. As a further bonus, the new lighting package yields energy savings of 92%!
We would like to thank Mike Gorman, Butch Butler, and the rest of the team at Butler Amusements for their kindness and generosity. Special thanks also go to Richard Tuck, Frank Biafore, and Tim Sauer for their help in making the 2010 ACE Day at the California State Fair a success.
Brian, Nicholas, Cody, and Curt
Jeffrey, Christian, Mike, and Frank
Andy and Ellis
Leonard, Jandy, and Matthew
Eric and Kitty
ERT on the Zillerator
Curt and Emi
Thank you, Butler Amusements!
-- Steven Wilson
photos: Steven Wilson
On July 18th, ACE NorCal held an event at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Twenty eight people attended ACE Day at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, including three under the age of two.
group photo at picnic
Our picnic lunch by the lake was delicious and included pulled pork sandwiches in addition to burgers and dogs. During our lunch, the staff brought out a three year old alligator named Ali, a two-toed sloth, and a beaver. We were allowed to touch the alligator and sloth. The trainers answered questions about three animals. Charles Laureano was on hand to answer coaster questions from the audience. His favorite steel coaster is Medusa. While at the California Maritime Academy he was able to travel to some exotic amusement parks in Vietnam and Japan. He also talked about his career path and how he got his job as a Supervisor at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
Later that day, the park held a raffle. Some of the better prizes were paintings made by the camels, and Discovery Kingdom water bottles. The park also gave all attendees commemorative 10th Anniversary Medusa posters. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom also donated the custom Medusa 10th anniversary banners to ACE to be auctioned off in support of ACE's preservation and archives funds.
The final treat was an hour of ERT on Roar. The Roar crew was a lot of fun. The ERT was phenomenal, with two-train operation. Everyone could stay on board for the entire time if they wanted.
Edgar Vidal, Senior Account Executive for Tour and Travel at DK worked very hard to put this event together. Thanks, Edgar!
Illinois ACEer Ronald Jiu checks out the sloth
going for the gator
Sue checks out the sloth
getting to know the gator
Edgar Vidal and Manni Quiroga of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
photo: Steven Wilson
the end of a spectacular ERT
photo: Steven Wilson
-- Emi Pearce
photos: all photos courtesy of Emi and Matthew Pearce unless otherwise noted
