Spring 2010 The Official Newsletter of the ACE Mid-Atlantic region; Virginia, DC, Maryland, and Delaware. THE REBEL YELL Volume V, Issue 1 The iconic entrance to Scooby Doo Ghoster Coaster is one of many things on the way out Photo Courtesy of Benjamin Burnett NICKELODEON CENTRAL MEMORIES Kings Dominion is quickly moving on from Nickelodeon to Planet Snoopy. While new things are almost always welcomed with open arms, it’s the memories of things past that stick with us forever. Photo Courtesy of Kings Dominion ! Kings Dominion has always instead for our other Virginia park, been a favorite destination of mine. Busch Gardens. We continued Since the park opened, I have going to Busch Gardens until she been going there. Oh, there were a was pregnant. We, once again, few years that I had not gone in the stopped visiting either park while late eighties. In fact, it was we raised our infant son. When he probably four or five years that I was big enough to actually enjoy had not gone and was quite something, we’d go back. surprised to learn that the King ! Once he was able to ride a Kobra had been removed. Getting few rides, we got season passes to over that shock, I started going King’s Dominion. The kids area back to the park. My wife and I has always been tops. And he purchased season passes for quickly took to a few rides. The several years in a row but grew a pirate ship and the parachute drop A New Way In bit disenchanted with the way that were two of his favorites. Planet Snoopy is quickly moving in and Paramount was running the park taking over the former Nickelodeon and we stopped going, opting (Continued on page 3) Universe area of the park. [1] JEEPERS! It’s Winter! A warm sunny day greeted 70 we drew those winners – Ben Burnett BRRRR! ACE members as they arrived at Kings and Kathryn Johnson took both of Dominion on Saturday, February 20 those and $202 was collected to benefit from 7 states. The morning began with the ACE archives and museum and a stir of excitement as attendees preservation fund. More exciting things approached the Kings Dominion theater were yet to come with our first regional to see the test seat for Intimidator 305 auction- items were collected from sitting in front just for them to see. across the region and elsewhere, from a There were a few important pieces wheel from the Wildcat Roller Coaster missing that will be revealed later, but at Adventure Park USA to a banner we all got to enjoy seeing the main from the first annual Hurlfest at Kings aspects of what the ride will hold. Dominion. We also auctioned off a Everyone finally ventured in to remote control car from a media day, check out the auction items and get the two model roller coasters donated from day started. ACE Mid-Atlantic Regional Coaster Dynamix and the cover to Rep, Elizabeth Ringas, welcomed Superman: The Ride from Six Flags everyone and introduced those who America. Our auction raised $519 for assisted in organizing this event, John the two charities! One last surprise was Mellott and Robert Harvey along with prepared for the attendees, another those who processed all those season pass for one of the lucky registrations, Michelle Aquilino and visitors! Danny Barnes. The regional rep team Our day concluded with the was introduced along with a few others highlight! A tour of the construction site who gave time to our region. We were of Intimidator 305! While each group immediately onto the true topic of the ventured out to the muddy area to view day – Intimidator 305. John Pagel, ongoing construction as wiring was marketing manager for Kings Dominion, pulled through before the first trains shared pictures of the construction and are pulled through for the first time. a description of some of unique Viewing took place from under aspects of the construction process. Anaconda’s lift hill, where ACE After an in-depth look at Intimidator members discovered another piece of 305, Elizabeth was back to share other KD history – the hole for the weight and exciting news in the Mid-Atlantic and supports for the Schwarzkopf shuttle more door prize drawings. As lunch loop, King Kobra, that used to stand in drew near, attendees took a few that location. While alternating groups minutes to get to know each other and were touring, the other group enjoyed find someone in the room who had some peach basket fun in the Kongo. certain characteristics or achieved ACE members got their chance to different rides. They also took a guess check out how to play this game and at how much the front train cover of then show their skills in a tournament! Superman the Ride from Six Flags Five attendees showed their stuff to get America weighs. Bill Galvin found the into the final round with Stephen See, events can even be fun most people on his paper and Ben Spencer and George Gray taking home in the winter! ACErs had a Johnson got the closest with a guess of the top two prizes. blast getting together during the weight (which was 66 lbs). Lunch The day concluded with a walk was served while attendees shared through of the soon to be Planet the off season and getting to pictures from trips around the country Snoopy where John Pagel gave us a see all of the back scene last summer and we all wished for run down of what changes we can happenings at Kings warmer weather and opening days. expect. Don’t miss your chance for an Dominion. Throughout the morning, raffle ERT on Intimidator 305 at the unique tickets were sold for a chance to win a Fall Thrillfest 2010 on Oct 2. season pass to Kings Dominion or a -Elizabeth Ringas K’nex roller coaster model. After lunch, Photos Courtesy of Benjamin Burnett [2] Nickelodeon Central Memories him on that coaster. We were become the Flying Aces. Many of (continued from cover page) standing in line. I looked down at the existing names will be However, there is one him and could tell he was nervous. maintained, but have the character attraction in the area that he We might as well have been getting reference lopped off. For example, particularly liked and I got a real on the Millennium Force. To him, the Scooby-Doo Ghoster Coaster kick out of watching: the Rugrats this thing was huge. Anyway, will simply be called the Ghoster Toonpike. The Toonpike was trying to make him feel better, I Coaster. themed to the Rugrats animated said “I’m scared too…I might lose Perhaps the thing I will miss show and featured a small town my cookies.” Very seriously, he the most will be the Rugrats area. square with roads, stop lights, little looks up at me and says “I’ll hold Oh, the attraction and the meet scenery and a your cookies for you, so you won’t and greet are will remain, but the couple of ‘woose’ theme will change. The Toonpike, small them.” Of which will be known as Joe Cool buildings. course, I Driving School, is already in the The cars cracked up. I midst of its overhaul. The Rugrats were small, had to explain characters have been removed. child size to him what The loading station is missing most and could the saying of its scenery. Much of the be shut off meant. It was roadway scenery is gone. It will be remotely. a priceless replaced with new scenery and The kids got moment and such. But, I will miss the old Nick to drive one I will Jr stuff. around for never forget. Time moves on and so several I’ve must we. While we may wonder minutes. shared many why such changes take place, it is There were precious inevitable that they do. Like our signs and moments like children growing up. A new that with my generation of memories will be traffic Photo Courtesy of Kings Dominion signals that son, many of made with the Peanuts characters the children were supposed to them in the kids area. From in the new Planet Snoopy area and obey but usually never did. watching his eyes light up when we’ll have to be content with the My son, being eager to Spongebob came around, the ones we’ve already made. I, for prove how big he was, always tried many drives on the Toonpike, the one, will cherish them and will look to follow the rules. One day, we rides on the Ghoster Coaster, back fondly at a time when noticed he was just sitting on the watching him throw his arms up on Chuckie, Spongebob and Patrick street. My wife and I called out to the little pirate ship while the other could be seen wandering around and asked why he was sitting kids didn’t were just a few. the park. there. At first, he did not answer, My son is twelve now and outgrew Thanks to King’s Dominion, but, after calling to him again, he that area of the park years ago. Nick Jr and all of the people who says ‘THE LIGHT IS RED!’ He was We still go through it from time to operated the area and helped quite upset with us at the moment. time, remembering days gone by provide me with such wonderful Of course, all of the parents who and, yes, we still have to go memories.