Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, April 2011 update

Giant Dipper sign
photo: Steven Wilson

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s rides are now open daily for full operation. For hours and dates, see the operating calendar for April here: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/calendar/2011/april.html

Grab the brass ring carousel celebration
From April 25th through May 1st, grab a brass ring while riding the Looff Carousel and exchange it for a prize at the new “Millions of Memories” store. This promotion is in honor of the carousel’s 100th anniversary this year.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
web site: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzBeachBoardwalk

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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, April 2011 update

V2

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is open daily for spring break through May 1st. We will let you know when we learn the opening date for the park’s new-for-2011 Sky Screamer.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
web site: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/discoverykingdom

photo: Steven Wilson

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ACE NorCal News, March 2011 Edition

Welcome to the March 2011 edition of ACE NorCal News!

In this issue:
Congratulations to Andrea Lucas!
Remembering Nut Tree Family Park
California’s Great America, March 2011 update
Gilroy Gardens, March 2011 update
Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, March 2011 update
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, March 2011 update
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, March 2011 update

– Steven Wilson

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Congratulations to Andrea Lucas!

ACE Northern California extends hearty congratulations to Andrea Lucas! Andrea is the winner of our ACE Northern California Facebook referral contest. As the winner, Andrea receives a party for ten at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach!

Congratulations again, Andrea! Thanks for your participation. Thanks, too, go to Playland-Not-at-the-Beach for donating the party as such a great prize for our contest.

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Remembering Nut Tree Family Park

Assistant Regional Representative Matthew Pearce recently stopped by the former Nut Tree Family Park.  According to their web site, the train and carousel remain in operation.  Some photos from Matthew’s visit are included below.

Nut Tree train station

former balloon ride

train track

missing: one roller coaster
Missing: one roller coaster.

You can visit the Nut Tree web site here: http://www.nuttreeusa.com/

photos: Matthew Pearce

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California’s Great America, March 2011 update

Carousel Columbia

California’s Great America opens for its 35th anniversary season on 27 March 2011. The park is open only on the 27th in March. In April the park will be open on weekends and for spring break. For the operating calendar, see: http://www.cagreatamerica.com/visit/visit_calendar.cfm

The park has a new lineup of shows for 2011.  For more information, see: http://www.cagreatamerica.com/attractions/category.cfm?ac_id=4

California’s Great America
web site: http://www.cagreatamerica.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cagreatamerica

– photo: Steven Wilson

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Gilroy Gardens, March 2011 update

Gilroy Gardens

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park sign

Gilroy Gardens opens for the 2011 season on March 27th. That’s the only operating day in March. In April, the park will be open on weekends and for spring break. For operating days and hours see: http://www.gilroygardens.org/calendar.html

Gilroy Gardens
web site: http://www.gilroygardens.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gilroy-Gardens/122943674395623

– photo: Steven Wilson

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Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, March 2011 update

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach

Roller Coaster Rampage!

ACE Roller Coaster Rampage at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach
photo courtesy of Playland-Not-at-the-Beach

Great progress continues to be made on the Roller Coaster Video Database  Project for the latest attraction at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, Roller Coaster Rampage. Visitors to this attraction will soon be able to choose a coaster from around the world, then, while seated in the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Giant Dipper Car, (graciously donated to our Museum of Fun by ACE members Nancy Redden and Mike Chew), watch the “point-of-view” footage. It’s the next best thing to actually riding on the real coaster! More than 100 coasters have been cataloged so far by father and son team Brian and Nicholas Laschkewitsch.  They are now adding statistics about each coaster for display in the kiosk. If anyone is interested in helping with this project, please contact Nicholas, an Assistant Regional Representative for ACE NorCal. You may contact Nicholas by clicking on his name on this page: http://www.aceonline.org/RegReps/?region=21

For more details on what’s happening at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach in March, see: http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org/calendar_01.html

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach nonprofit Museum of Fun, open to the public every Saturday, Sunday, and school holiday. Open evenings for private events 365 days a year. 10979 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 592-3002. http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org . Admission $10 for kids (to 13), $10 for seniors (55 and up), and $15 for general admission. Admission includes 34 free pinball machines, penny arcades, carnival games, treasure hunts, miniature dioramas, and surprises around every corner. ACE members receive a $5.00 discount on admission upon presentation of their ACE membership cards.

– Thanks to Frank Biafore for contributing this article.

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach
web site: http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Playland-Not-At-The-Beach/99162687027

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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, March 2011 update

golden sea horses
photo: Steven Wilson

March at the Boardwalk

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s rides are open this month on weekends. For hours and dates, see the operating calendar for March here: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/calendar/2011/march.html

A second Looff Carousel 100th Anniversary commemorative poster is now available.  Click on the thumbnail image to go to the Boardwalk’s online store to see a larger version.  While there, you can order the poster online.

Looff Carousel Horse Poster

Honor a friend or loved one on the Looff Carousel Memory Wall.  Similar to commemorative brick programs, you now has the opportunity to display a plaque honoring someone special on a wall inside the Looff Carousel building.  For more information, see: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/memorywall/

Clam Chowder Photo Report

clam1
photo: Nicholas Laschkewitsch

Nicholas Laschkewitsch has posted a set of photos from the recent 30th Annual Clam Chowder Cook Off. The photo set is on ACE NorCal’s new Flickr account. Check them out here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/acenorcal/sets/72157626094187343/

Current deals

Get your Boardwalk Super Savings coupon sheet online at:
http://beachboardwalk.com/01_coupons.html

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
web site: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzBeachBoardwalk

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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, March 2011 update

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom opens for the 2011 season on March 19th and will be open on weekends for the remainder of March. The park is celebrating twenty-five years in Vallejo, after moving to the larger Vallejo site from Redwood City. A special deal for opening weekend only is an offer for $25 admission. Read more about it here: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/events/OpeningDay2011.aspx

Stay tuned for details on when the park’s new-for-2011 SkyScreamer will open.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
web site: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/discoverykingdom

photo: Steven Wilson

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