www.parkworld-online.com
Park Hoppin
In association with Park Hoppin’with Susan Storey A
ugust 16 is National Roller Coaster Day in the United States. I love silly holidays. From a public relations perspective,
they’re great ways to promote a ‘lesser’ product or story and on a personal level they provide a fun reason to celebrate a favorite hobby, food, or memory. So, in a world with over 4,600 operating roller coasters it makes sense that coasters have a day all their own. If the carousel represents nostalgia and the
history of the attractions industry, the roller coaster is its evolution and future. The original out-and-back style wooden coaster has given way to incredible steel coasters that fly, spin, surf, soar, operate indoors, transport riders to another galaxy, employ virtual reality, and even tell epic tales. This summer I had the opportunity to ride one of the newest, fastest, smoothest, and most fun roller coasters I’ve ever been on, ArieForce One at Fun Spot America Atlanta. It’s not often that I immediately jump back on a ride for another go round, but with ArieForce One I could not get enough. The front row is a coaster fan’s dream, and the combination of speed and force, and the incredible turn behind the park’s arcade put it on my ‘best of’ list. ArieForce One definitely sets the bar for today’s – and tomorrow’s – roller coaster. A few weeks later I experienced a classic coaster for the first time. The
Giant Dipper debuted at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 1924. Now approaching its 100th anniversary, the Giant Dipper was named as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. National Park Service in 1987. It’s a picturesque coaster – the very image most of us envision when we hear the words “wooden roller coaster.” According to signage in the station, Giant Dipper is the 6th oldest coaster in the U.S. and 60 million people have ridden it. One poster that caught my eye both horrified and delighted me. When the Giant Dipper opened, the San Francisco Chronicle described it as “…a tooth-loosener, eyeball-popper, and one long shriek.” Well, shriek I did. It’s a long ride, almost two minutes, and features the
clickety-clack of the chain and the roar of the train as it races up and down and around tight curves. When we rolled back into the station, I was definitely cheering. It’s interesting that both of my new coaster counts have similar color
schemes – striking white lattice work with blue and red accents on both the trains and track. Giant Dipper is also a sight to see at night with beautiful lighting that many recognise from movies shot on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, including “Sudden Impact”, “Bumblebee”, and one of my favorites, “The Lost Boys.”
While I was in California with the Giant Dipper, ACE, the American
Coaster Enthusiasts, was hosting its annual CoasterCon event in Tennessee. Held this year at Dollywood, CoasterCon is ACE’s annual week-long convention that celebrates its members’ shared passion for amusement parks, roller coasters and travel. ACE members love coasters – great and small. Their personal coaster ride lists are in the hundreds, and Dollywood’s new Big Bear Mountain was this year’s highlight. When together, ACE members have conversations comparing lift hills and G-forces as well as name coaster manufacturers as easily as they do family members. There’s something special about them. ACE has been hailing coaster fun and camaraderie for 45 years. Currently,
the club has more than 7,000 members around the world, and they host a whopping 80 coaster-focused events a year. From casual meetups at local attractions to multi-day gatherings that involve several parks and many rides, ACE members come together due to their shared passion and become friends for life. They even have virtual gatherings that include guest speakers from the industry, trivia nights and themed discussion nights. For younger members, ACE often serves as the gateway to learn about industry careers, as they are exposed to every aspect of park operations when they take part in club events. Roller coasters are great draws for amusement and theme parks. And
while a coaster can be the main reason someone first visits a park, it is the collective symphony of sights, sounds and smells that keep them coming back. For that reason, coasters are the rides that represent the industry’s future – massive experiences that open the park gates to the full collection of nostalgic rides and special treats. Marketing and branding experts know a company’s most avid fans can
serve as its greatest brand ambassadors. Members of ACE are among the attractions industry’s most ardent supporters and guests. Many have multiple season passes and spend their vacations visiting amusement parks. This summer a friend visited Europe just to ride coasters. He came home having experienced 120 coaster to add to his personal list. While I probably would have focused more on wine and cheese during a European adventure, people like him are the reason we have National Roller Coaster Day. No matter where you are in the world on August 16, take a few moments
to think of your favorite ride. Share photos or videos, or even better, reach out to a friend or family member and make a new coaster memory together.
AUGUST 2023
5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
