2010 ACE Spring Preservation Conference Report

We had a great time Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the ACE Spring Preservation Conference. There were great coasters and, of course, great food. This spectacular weekend ended with Sunday ERT on Revolution, X2, Viper, Tatsu, and Terminator Salvation: The Ride during breakfast, and then Goliath, Colossus, Scream, and Batman The Ride shortly afterward. Terminator Salvation: The Ride is a nicely themed wooden coaster from Great Coasters International, Inc. that places you in the Terminator movie at Magic Mountain. If you have seen the movie, you have to ride the coaster. Door prizes were and coaster parts were auctioned during lunch. The ACE conference was our second recent ERT at Magic Mountain because we had also attended Theme Park Review’s West Coast Bash. I highly recommend attending TPR’s Bay Area Bash, which is just two weeks away.

On Saturday, we enjoyed Adventure City in the morning and Knott’s Berry Farm in the afternoon and evening. Adventure City has two Miler coasters: Freeway Coaster and Tree Top Racers which is a wild mouse themed as if the coaster cars were put together with junk parts. This was the best park for our daughters because there were three rides that they could ride, although they are still not tall enough for roller coasters. The three rides they could go on were a train that went around Adventure City, the carousel, and the Rescue Squad.

On Friday, the Spring Conference featured Castle Park and Belmont Park. Castle Park had a prize drawing for a walking tour of Ghostblasters during their delicious barbeque lunch. Following lunch was ERT on three coasters: Little Dipper, Merlin’s Revenge, and Screamin’ Demon. At lunch we learned about Bud Hurlbut who designed a lot of Castle Park after working for Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland. He still comes around every once in a while to see Castle Park. In addition to ERT, our visit included a round of mini golf and a bag of video game tokens.

— Emi Pearce