Fall 2009 The Official Newsletter of the ACE Mid-Atlantic region; Virginia, DC, Maryland, and Delaware. THE REBEL YELL Volume IV, Issue 3
Riders glide into the station after one wild and frightful ride.
Photo Courtesy of Benjamin Burnett THE BIG BAD WOLF’S LAST RIDE... A coaster that joined the league in 1984, has served as a first coaster to many, and has brought a great ride to thousands of riders for 25 years took it’s last trip on Labor Day.
It's something that, as coaster of-a-kind roller coaster could be enthusiasts, we never want to think summed up by three words: full about. We read about it happening queue house. Not since the 1980s in other places, but it'll never had the Wolf seen so many people happen here, right? Right?? wait in a line that long that many On July 24, the unthinkable days in a row. While long lines for a happened. The big announcement roller coaster aren't all that unusual, came. The ride that got many of us the atmosphere in the Wolf queue hooked on roller coasters in the first was different than most. When place, the first “big ride” for a waiting to ride Griffon or Apollo's sizable number of us in Generations Chariot, most people converse X and Y; the Big Bad Wolf was within their own group but not being retired. The word quickly usually with the rest of the line. But spread: get to Williamsburg as the folks waiting to ride the Wolf all Photo Courtesy of Danny Barnes quickly as possible. There's only six had something in common: they more weeks to “Travel at the Speed had come to say goodbye. Getting Together of Fright”. ACE members from all over the coast For those six final weeks, the (Continued on page 3) traveled down to Williamsburg to take outpouring of nostalgia for this one- one last trip on the Big Bad Wolf.
[1] Coaster Stock 2009 at Carowinds behind the scenes tour, food, and was an amazing success. My prizes. The hot topic of the day was brother, Mike, and I attended the the soon-to-be-announced INTIMIDATOR inaugural marathon event, and look Intimidator. Several clues were forward to next year already. The given, about racing, and the day started at 7am with ERT on the number 3, which all make perfect Geauga Lake transplant, sense now. The day Carolina Cobra. In my continued on with more opinion, the best rides and more trivia, boomerang coaster Carowindsʼ ending with ERT on operating. We Coaster Stock, Thunder Road and continued on to the hosted by the park Afterburn. The Phantom Flyers. I turned out as a event came to a had no idea what I smashing success close at midnight. was about to for enthusiasts That must have witness. Coaster and the park! been the longest I enthusiasts have ever been at a abandoned ERT for for park, 17 hours from some high flyin' like I've start to finish. Dani never seen before. It was a Swords, PR Director at complete "snap"-fest. I learned how Carowinds, and Kings Dominion to snap that day, and look forward transplant, is doing a great job. to the flyers at every park I visit Bring on Coaster Stock 2010 with now. The day continued on with plenty of Intimidator ERT please! Park Jeopardy, Q&A session, !-Brad Dutterer
The Tallest, Fastest, Longest, Coaster in the Southeast! In 2010 Carowinds will debut Intimidator. Themed to Dale Earnhardt, the Bolliger and Mabillard mega coaster will be 232 feet tall, 5,316 feet long, and will go in excess of 75 mph!
Photos Courtesy of Carowinds
[2] (continued from cover page) operation, train 3 gave up and One last “Are you ready to ride?” And what a diverse group! People bowed out early, unable to make it One last release of the brakes. Our of all ages, from all over the place, to the finish line. But the Wolf ran final ride had begun, and it was as even those who don't ride roller on, unwilling to disappoint its fans the Big Bad Wolf was meant to be coasters, showed up. The common during its final days. ridden: in the dark. point in a lot of people's stories And so on Labor Day, Cheering as we left the (many of which they shared with ACErs from all over came to see station, by the time we reached the others in line) seemed to be that the Wolf off, wish him well and lift chain our cheers had turned to the Wolf was their first roller thank him for 25 years of screams, howling... and for some, tears. Up coaster, or their first “grown-up” laughter, and great rides. The the chain we went, and before we ride. The key to this was the Wolf's weather threatened to turn sour all knew it the Wolf was carrying us 42” minimum height requirement. day, and it did start raining several through the Bavarian village one That's just 3 ½ feet... a height most times. But as 7pm neared and the last time, skimming past the locked kids have reached by age 6, and a operating day came to a close, the doors and boarded-up windows as requirement a taller-than-average sun set and the clouds stepped the villagers hid from the menace. 4-year-old can meet. That's why, aside briefly as the last public Just outside the village, the Wolf for so many of us, the Big Bad Wolf riders made their way through the chases his tail and then pauses for was our introduction to roller line. After park closing, everyone a bit, sniffing the air and deciding coasters and the happiness they waiting for the front or back seat where to go next. Up the second provide. So even for non-coaster was allowed to stay in that line, so lift we go, higher and higher, and enthusiasts, the closing of the Wolf the last dozen or so trains went out we all started chanting “Wolf! Wolf! was something to be with only two or four riders, and it Wolf!” (This was the point where I acknowledged, a reason to drive to was well after 8pm before the line lost it... I couldn’t hold back the Williamsburg and re-live a part of emptied. tears any longer.) Finally, we were their childhood before it slipped Earlier in the week, Busch at the top, the beginning of the away forever. Gardens had put up 24 of the last end, the Wolf’s big finish. Diving For ACErs, and particularly 28 seats for auction, to benefit the toward the Rhine River, the Wolf those of us who grew up in Sea World & Busch Gardens struggles to hold onto his prey as Virginia, it was far more than that. Conservation Fund. In honor of the he skims the river and darts We had lost rides before: the Wolf, the $2500 raised went to through the woods, up the hill and Rocket at Ocean View, Drachen support the Mexican Grey Wolf, an around the curve towards his den. Fire and Hypersonic XLC, among endangered species. Also on He is home, and our ride has come others. But this one was different. board the last train was the very to a full and complete stop. The Because there has never been, nor first rider on opening day way back Big Bad Wolf is at rest. will there ever be, another ride in 1984. On that day, when the -Danny Barnes quite like the Big Bad Wolf. As we Wolf opened to the public, John watched more aggressive rides Stout was the first in line and rode close after just a few years, the in the front row of the first public Wolf stood the test of time. Ten train. Twenty-five years later, Stout A Season of Milestones years passed, then 20, and we just joined us for the very last train. knew that after 25 years the Wolf When the time came, we were This past summer, Shannon was here to stay. The Loch Ness initially gathered at the Somerville of Chaptico, MD, rode Monster had just celebrated 30 QuickQueue/wheelchair entrance. her 300th roller coaster. Evil years, and it was still going strong. But park officials decided that the Knievel at Six Flags St. Louis in So why would we have any reason last riders should go through the Eureka MO on July 16th 2009. to believe the same wasn't true for turnstile one last time, so we Also during the first two weeks Nessie's younger sibling over in moved to the main entrance. After of august, her boyfriend (and fellow Oktoberfest? a few words from Busch Gardens' ACEr) Bob Ziems of Falls Church, During those final six General Manager John Reilly, we VA, reached a couple milestones weeks, the Wolf and its crew did were sent one-by-one through the himself. He recently got his 700th their best to handle the long lines, entrance and the turnstile, and credit, Big Timber Log Ride at and for the most part the line chose our seats. As I had hoped, I Enchanted Forrest in Turner, OR. moved quickly. But the increased was able to ride in my favorite seat He also visited his 200th park, load took its toll, and it became on the Wolf: left front seat of the Silverwood in Athol, ID. clear why the park had made the last car. After everyone was in their Congratulations to both of them for decision to retire the ride. The Wolf selected row, the gates opened reaching their milestones! was tired. During the final week of and we boarded for the last time. -Shannon Somerville One last check of the harnesses.
[3] A SEASON OF MILESTONES!
Photos Courtesy of Shannon Somerville
From The Backseat