Author: Steven

It’s December — time for Gilroy Gardens’ annual Holiday Lights special event! New for 2009 is the spectacular presentation of “Nights of Fire”. For more details, see: http://www.gilroygardens.org/hl.html For more information on planning your visit, go to the Gilroy Gardens web site. — photo: Steven Wilson

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s rides are now closed until 26 December 2009, when they reopen for limited operation. Please note that the Giant Dipper is scheduled to be closed for maintenance through 27 December 2009. Be sure to check with the park that it’s reopened before heading down to the beach with Giant Dipper…

Holiday in the Park has started at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. It runs through 3 January 2010. For full details see: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/events/HolidayinthePark2009.aspx For more information about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, check out their web site. photos: Steven Wilson

Welcome to the November 2009 edition of ACE NorCal News! In this issue: ACE NorCal Holiday Party 2009 Congratulations to Michael L. Boodley! Welcome, Katherine and Margaret! California’s Great America, November 2009 update Gilroy Gardens, November 2009 update Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, November 2009 update Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, November 2009 update — Steven Wilson

The 2009 ACE NorCal Holiday Party will take place on Saturday, 5 December, at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, the Museum of Fun located in El Cerrito (just north of Berkeley). The annual party is set for the first Saturday of December each year. The ACE party this year coincides with Playland’s Roller Coaster Weekend. ACE members will get…

NorCal ACEer Michael L. Boodley, co-founder of Great Coasters International, Inc., was awarded Honorary ACE Membership at the 2009 Phoenix Phall Phunphest at Knoebels Amusement Resort in October. The award is in recognition of Michael’s numerous significant contributions to wooden roller coasters and the amusement industry. He also rode the Coney Island Cyclone into the…

Assistant Regional Representatives Emi and Matthew Pearce welcomed new daughters Katherine Lee Pearce and Margaret Lee Pearce into the world on 19 October 2009! May the two sisters have a lifetime of fun-filled visits to amusement parks with plenty of roller coaster rides. Congratulations to the proud new parents!

California’s Great America has closed for the season. Next spring, the park will reopen with Planet Snoopy replacing Nickelodeon Central. For more information about California’s Great America, visitthe California’s Great America web site. — photo: Steven Wilson

Gilroy Gardens is open weekends in November! Gilroy summers too hot for you? Now is the perfect time to visit the park and avoid the heat. Operating hours in November are Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Then in December, Gilroy Gardens is open for its annual Holiday Lights special event. For…

Endless Summer continues at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. In November, rides are open for limited operation on weekends and on Friday, 27 November. Get to the Boardwalk and get your fill of rides for the month. After November, the rides do not reopen until 26 December! For more information on the park, visit The…