The Blog

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk May Highlights:

The new Haunted Castle ride opens Memorial Day Weekend!
Also see in this issue: Photo report: SCBB Haunted Castle Construction — 4 May 2010

More May highlights…

Amgen Tour of California Bike Race
May 18, Boardwalk
Your chance to see Lance Armstrong and check out this huge international sport. The 3rd Stage finish line is right in front of the Boardwalk.
http://beachboardwalk.com/01_events.html

Season Kick Off
May 22, 2010, Boardwalk
Preview all the summer entertainment on this big day. Events include a free beach concert with A Flock of Seagulls, Brazilian acrobats, sky divers, and more!
http://beachboardwalk.com/01_events.html

Did you try the Lazer Maze yet? Its new location is right across from the Pirate Ship. Here’s a short video.
http://www.youtube.com/beachboardwalkfun#p/u/1/O5tBuo_C3Tc

Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Boardwalk by taking your mom to the Mother’s Day Brunch: http://www.cocoanutgrovesantacruz.com/events.html

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s rides are open daily in May. Some days have limited operation. See the park’s calendar for full details:
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/calendar/2010/may.html

Stay up to date, up to the minute, on what’s going on at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk by becoming a fan on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzBeachBoardwalk

For more information on the park, visit
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s web site.

— Thanks to Brigid Fuller of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for contributing to this article.

— photo: Steven Wilson

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is open Friday through Sunday in May and on May 31st. Why not take mom to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for Mother’s Day? The park is offering a special Mother’s Day Picnic: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/events/MothersDayPicnic.aspx
Also, if you thought you’d missed out on the $49.99 season pass offer, it’s been extended through the 31st of May: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/tickets/seasonpass.aspx

To stay informed of what’s happening at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, become a fan on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/discoverykingdom

For more information about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, check out their web site.

photo: Steven Wilson

Welcome to the April 2010 edition of ACE NorCal News!

In this issue:
MEDUSA’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration
Nicholas’ Excellent VIP Adventure at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
San José has a new roller coaster!
California’s Great America, April 2010 update
Gilroy Gardens, April 2010 update
Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, April 2010 update
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, April 2010 update
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, April 2010 update

Also, please see this reminder for the fast-approaching 2010 ACE Spring Preservation Conference from our previous issue:
2010 ACE Spring Preservation Conference
Deadline for advance registration is today, 8 April 2010!

— Steven Wilson

ACE members pose for a group photo during MEDUSA’s tenth anniversary celebration.

Ten years ago, the coaster wars were raging in Northern California. Stealth versus Medusa generated a lot of media buzz with competing media preview days, a war of words about which was truly the world’s first flying coaster, and even airplanes flying about with banners touting the two coasters. Today, the coaster scene in Northern California is without coaster wars and many children are too young to even remember Stealth. Thanks to Nancy Chan, Charles Laureano, and their colleagues at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, NorCal ACE members got to experience a re-creation of Medusa’s original media preview on the occasion of the roller coaster’s tenth anniversary. While the tenth anniversary celebration was held on 25 March, Nancy pointed out that the original date had been 17 March 2000.

ACEers in attendance were treated to ultra ERT on Medusa. All were “wowed” by the generous spread of Greek food provided. The park commissioned a special tenth anniversary Medusa poster that was given out to all attendees. Door prize winners were Elliott Fong, who received a basket of Medusa memorabilia, and Roni Wolfe, who won a framed copy of the special Medusa poster that was signed by the artist.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom kindly provided ACE members with complimentary parking and free admission to the event. Upon conclusion of the Medusa celebration, attendees were welcome to spend the rest of the day enjoying the park.

Many thanks again go to Nancy Chan, Charles Laureano, and the rest of the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom staff for inviting ACE to such a fun and memorable event!

Scroll down for more photos.

See also:

+ news story and video about the event — http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_14763634

+ Six Flags Discovery Kingdom photo album of the event on Facebook — http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=197544&id=59636827742

+ recent NBC Bay Area report on Medusa (not taped at the anniversary event) — http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/weird/Coaster_Too_Much_for_This_Reporter_Bay_Area.html

This sign includes the commemorative MEDUSA’s tenth anniversary poster.

MEDUSA ERT!
Photo by friendly, helpful ACEer.

Andy, Ellis, Ray, and Mike
Photo by friendly, helpful ACEer.

Tom Fox expresses his opinion of MEDUSA during ERT.
Photo by friendly, helpful ACEer.

Ellis, Karley, and Eugene

Matthew, Rick, Roni, and Ian

MEDUSA turned her into stone.

Elliott Fong accepts his MEDUSA prize basket from Charles Laureano.

Captain Lee presents prize winner Roni Wolfe with a framed copy of the commemorative MEDUSA poster signed by the artist.

— All photos by Steven Wilson unless otherwise indicated.

Captain Lee, Nicholas, and Park President Eric Gilbert

One of Northern California’s most avid roller-coaster lovers and member of ACE, Nicholas Laschkewitsch, was recently treated to a once-in-a-lifetime adventure at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (SFDK) in Vallejo, CA. Nicholas was the winner of a contest sponsored by SFDK in which he referred more fans to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom’s Facebook fan page than anyone else. His VIP day included special access and gifts for him and three of his friends, including free admission to the park, free T-shirts, participating in the opening ceremony to open the park with Captain Lee and Mr. Six, ERT on Medusa, being a special guest trainer at the Dolphin Sea Experience, having an incredible gourmet lunch with Captain Lee and the Park President, Eric Gilbert, VIP seating at the “Celebrate Shouka” (whale) Show, VIP seating at Odin’s Temple of the Tiger Show, Seafari passes to feed many of the park’s animals, and a commemorative Medusa poster, suitable for framing (which Nicholas has already done!). Perhaps best of all, Nicholas and his three friends had a personal escort for the entire adventure: a wonderful staff member named Nichole. Nicholas was blown away by the incredible treatment he received and especially enjoyed the great conversations with Captain Lee and Eric Gilbert. What a memorable experience!

You can read all about his amazing adventure on his blog, at http://www.nicscorner.com/sfdk1.htm . Nicholas also encourages you to join Facebook, if you haven’t already, and become a fan of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom!

Nicholas and his family will be buying their season passes soon, as they are only $49.99 ($20 off) until April 11. The season passes include, among other great benefits, five FREE tickets for friends to use on selected days, as well as unlimited free admission to fourteen Six Flags parks (including Magic Mountain in nearby Valencia, CA).

— Brian Laschkewitsch

— photo: courtesy of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has improved! Now their rides include a roller coaster: the Pacific Fruit Express. The roller coaster is dedicated to a train that took fruit all over the Santa Clara Valley. Fruit labels decorate the side of the coaster and fruit trees are planted around the area. Roller coaster restrictions are 36″ escorted, 40″ unescorted.

From March 20th to May 28th, the park is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. From May 29th to September 6th the park is open until 7:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. If the ride’s line is exceptionally long, the roller coaster may close early at 4:00 PM. General admission is $12 for ages 2 through 69. Admission includes unlimited rides, puppet theater productions, playgrounds, upper and lower zoo experiences, and scheduled entertainment. Parking is $10 per car in the main parking lot and $6 per car in the lot behind History Park.

Keep yourself informed on all the latest happenings at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo by becoming a fan on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Jose-CA/Happy-Hollow-Park-Zoo/132942835175

For more information on Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, visit their web site:
http://www.hhpz.org/

— Emi Pearce

— photos: Emi and Matthew Pearce

Planet Snoopy and the Peanuts characters have arrived at California’s Great America. There is even a new Planet Snoopy web site:
http://planetsnoopy.com/cagreatamerica/ There are plenty of changes. So come on out to California’s Great America to see for yourself.

California’s Great America is open weekends this month. It’s also open for spring break now through 11 April and also from 14 April through 18 April 2010.

Be in the know on all the latest happenings at California’s Great America. Become a fan on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/cagreatamerica

For more information on the park, visit the California’s Great America web site.

— photos: Steven Wilson

Celebrate Gilroy Gardens’ Tenth Anniversary with special offers for children age ten and under from now though 31 May 2010. For more details, see:
http://www.gilroygardens.org/events2.html

The park is open for Spring Break from now through Sunday 11 April 2010 and Wednesday 14 April through Sunday 18 April 2010. After that, the park is open on Saturdays and Sundays for the rest of April.

For more information on planning your visit, go to
the Gilroy Gardens web site.

— photo: Steven Wilson

The photo above shows crowds flocking to one of the sold-out showings of the documentary “Remembering Playland” at the Balboa Theater in San Francisco. The documentary will be released on DVD in the near future. It will be available for purchase at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach.

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach recently was featured in an hour-long program on KQED Radio. You can listen to it here:
http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R201003191000

Stay up to date on happenings at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach. Become a fan on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Cerrito-CA/Playland-Not-At-The-Beach/99162687027

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach nonprofit Museum of Fun, open to the public every Sat, Sun 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 go to Richard Tuck for contributing to this article.

— photo courtesy of Playland-Not-at-the-Beach

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is hosting Comcast Spring Break at the park through Friday, 9 April 2010. There’s entertainment and special activities. For more information, see:
http://comcastspringbreak.com/

On Saturday, 10 April 2010, present your Season Pass card at the Casino Arcade entrance from 9:00 AM — 11:00 AM to enjoy exclusive free play time in the Boardwalk’s Casino Arcade! Play all the video games and laser tag you want! (Excluding redemption games.)

The Boardwalk’s Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach summer concert series lineup will be announced Friday, April 16. Sign up for the Big Kahuna Club Newsletter to get the news, or visit http://www.beachboardwalk.com/

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s rides are now open daily. Some days have limited operation. See the park’s calendar for full details:
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/calendar/2010/april.html

Stay up to date, up to the minute, on what’s going on at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk by becoming a fan on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzBeachBoardwalk

For more information on the park, visit
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s web site.

— Thanks to Brigid Fuller of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for contributing to this article.

— photo: Steven Wilson