ACE - Ride With Us

What does preservation really mean in the amusement industry? It’s about more than keeping an old roller coaster standing. It’s about the stories, the people, the craftsmanship, the communities, and the memories that make these places worth preserving. In this episode of the ACE Ride With Us Podcast, host Jessica Gardner is joined by Gerik Gooch, podcast team correspondent, and Jes Niemec, ACE Events Director, to look back at the 2026 ACE Preservation Conference in the Pacific Northwest. The conference took ACE members to three very different parks with remarkably rich histories: the hand-built Enchanted Forest in Oregon, historic Oaks Park in Portland, and Wild Waves Theme & Water Park in Washington during its final season. Along the way, Jessica, Gerik, and Jess talk about the history of these parks, the rides and attractions that make them special, their personal experiences during the conference, and why enthusiasts play such an important role in preserving amusement history.   01:23 — Meet Our Guests Welcome back to Gerik Gooch and Jes Nemec, including Jes's new role as ACE Events Director. 03:18 — Why the Pacific Northwest? The team discusses why these parks were chosen and why this particular Preservation Conference felt so connected to ACE's preservation mission. 06:24 — Enchanted Forest: A Park Built by Hand Gooch introduces Enchanted Forest and the remarkable story of founder Roger Tofte. 38:00 — From Enchanted Forest to Oaks Park The conversation moves to the next stop of the conference and what makes Oaks Park such an important piece of Pacific Northwest amusement history. 40:29 — Oaks Park: More Than a Century of History Jess takes us through Oaks Park's origins as a 1905 trolley park and its evolution over the decades. 49:00 — The Importance of Preserving the Rides The group talks about Oaks Park's historic attractions, its preservation mission, and the rides that have come and gone over the years. 55:00 — What Does Preservation Really Mean? Jessica, Gooch, and Jes discuss what makes a ride, park, or attraction worth preserving—and why the history behind the experience matters. 01:01:43 — The Role of Enthusiasts in Preservation Gooch explains why enthusiasts care so deeply about the details and stories behind amusement parks and why that passion matters. 01:03:02 — Wild Waves: A Final Season The conference's final official stop takes on a more emotional tone as the group visits Wild Waves during its final season. 01:04:00 — The History of Wild Waves Jessica shares the history of the park, from Enchanted Village to the development of the Wild Waves property. 01:08:30 — What Does It Mean When a Park Closes? Jessica, Gerik, and Jess reflect on Wild Waves, its community, and the experience of visiting a park knowing it won't be there the following season. 01:20:24 — Parks Closing & Parks Being Born Jessica connects the experience at Wild Waves with her visit to the brand-new COTAland, reflecting on the strange cycle of amusement parks closing while new ones are being built. 01:23:00 — What Preservation Means to ACE The conversation returns to the larger mission of preservation and why ACE's focus on amusement history is so important. Have a question, comment, or an idea for a future episode? Email [email protected]. Visit ridewithace.com and follow @RideWithACE on social media for more coaster, park, and preservation news. 

Join us as we look back on Coaster Con 48, ACE’s annual convention that took members across New England for six unforgettable days of roller coasters, behind-the-scenes experiences, exclusive ERT, and plenty of memories. From the opening festivities at Six Flags New England, to marathon rides on Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce, to bucket-list moments on Comet at Great Escape, we recap the highlights, funny stories, favorite experiences, and the people who made Coaster Con special. Whether you attended Coaster Con 48 and want to relive the adventure or you’re curious about what makes ACE’s biggest annual event so unique, this episode is for you.   Timecodes: 1:08 – Meet ACE Members HaeKyung Thompson, Hannah Lee, Luke Reynolds, and Shawn Montano! 5:15 – Six Flags New England: Rainy Day Fun & Behind-the-Scenes Tours 10:05 – ACE Photo Contest & Capturing the Convention 15:09 – Midway Olympics & Volunteer Highlights 17:28 – ACE Business Meeting & Leadership Conversations 23:41 – Heading to Lake Compounce 25:03 – Boulder Dash, Wildcat & Lake Compounce Highlights 32:27 – The Scenic Train Ride (or Walk!) to Lunch 36:12 – The Legendary Lake Compounce ERT Snack Buffet 42:05 – Great Escape / Enchanted Parks Begins 46:02 – Comet, Bobcat Milestones & Favorite Rides 53:01 – SoloCon Community & Making Friends at Coaster Con 59:05 – Rubber Ducky Regatta Turns 10 1:03:18 – Enchanted Parks CEO James and Behind-the-Scenes Stories 1:14:58 – Final Thoughts & Why You Should Experience Coaster Con   Congrats to Spirit of ACE Award winner Mike Matcherz! Also congrats to the following: Photo Contest Winners 1st – Jason Huber 2nd – John Devecka 3rd – Codi Thordorson   Video Contest Winners 1st - "Thank You" by Dalton Crider Video link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TiJ0eoLoq0BOjnJWXfmqlEZD0wk0riPe/view?usp=sharing   2nd - “You might be a coaster enthusiast” by Daniel Scott Video link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NIJtqwz1ecfBNlDFQkGlo6TOFDdxyCXM/view?usp=sharing   3rd - “Six Flags State of Mind” by Eric Feichthaler Jr. Video link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x6dzKt1KTIMpWgd7A9LHLXABT6J4PG9L/view?usp=sharing   Ride With Us is the official podcast of American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) @ridewithus   Podcast Team Host: Jessica Gardner @themeparkette Producers: Doug Perry and Derek Perry Edited by: Bob Randolph Podcast Team: Bob Randolph, HaeKyung Thompson, Ben Weinrach, Gerik Gooch, Brichette Reid, Corey Wooten, Corey Brown, and Parker VanBelleghem.   Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected].    Did you know anyone can join ACE? Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Saddle up for a recap of Roller Coaster Rodeo 2026 at Six Flags Fiesta Texas! Host Jessica Gardner is joined by Nick and Kelly Carlos aka "The Quirky Coaster Couple" to share their coaster love story, from meeting at the park to getting engaged atop Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger and eventually hosting a theme park wedding at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Then they break down everything that makes Roller Coaster Rodeo one of the most unique enthusiast events around, including exclusive ERT, lift hill climbs, behind-the-scenes tours, VIP perks, and tips for first-time attendees. Whether you’re planning a future Rodeo trip or simply want to hear about one of the industry’s most beloved events, this episode is for you.   0:52 Meet the Quirky Coaster Couple 4:04 A roller coaster love story 21:59 How the Quirky Coaster Couple began 28:35 What is Roller Coaster Rodeo? 34:25 Day One  49:24 Day Two  1:22:17 Day Three  1:26:35 Tips for first-time attendees 1:32:24 What’s next for the Quirky Coaster Couple? 1:33:17 Final thoughts   Follow the Quirky Coaster Couple on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Threads: @quirkycoastercouple Ride With Us is the official podcast of American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) @ridewithus   Podcast Team Host: Jessica Gardner @themeparkette Producers: Doug Perry and Derek Perry Edited by: Bob Randolph Podcast Team: Bob Randolph, Ben Weinrach, Gerik Gooch, Brichette Reid, Corey Wooten, Corey Brown, and Parker VanBelleghem   Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected].  Did you know anyone can join ACE? Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts.  

Step inside the National Roller Coaster Museum with host Jessica Gardner as she takes listeners on an exclusive audio tour of one of the most unique collections of amusement industry history in the world. Joined by museum board members Kris Rowberry and Josh Brown, Jessica explores legendary coaster trains, historic artifacts, preservation efforts and the stories behind some of the industry's most beloved attractions. From the Matterhorn Bobsleds to Big Bad Wolf, Iron Wolf, Disaster Transport and more, this episode celebrates the rides, memories and enthusiasts helping preserve roller coaster history for future generations.   00:28 – Meet museum board members Kris Rowberry and Josh Brown and learn about the mission of the National Roller Coaster Museum 01:23 – How artifacts are acquired and why preservation matters 05:51 – The museum's master plan and future guest experience 06:45 – Disaster Transport, Avalanche Run and a massive piece of coaster history 08:00 – How the museum became a reality and the role of fan donations 10:47 – The Mean Streak Buzz Bar built from actual coaster materials 12:18 – Hidden coaster Easter eggs throughout the museum 13:06 – Inside the main exhibit hall: Kingda Ka, Montezooma's Revenge, Volcano, Disney artifacts and more 14:48 – The oldest coaster car in the collection: Lakeside Park's Derby Racer 15:15 – Revolution's 50th anniversary and restoration discussions and challenges 16:45 – Future expansion plans and the museum's 20,000-square-foot facility 18:14 – Texas Cyclone, Rollo Coaster, a modern GCI track display and the restoration of the Iron Wolf train 20:15 – Six Flags New Orleans artifacts and the impact of Hurricane Katrina 21:24 – Big Bad Wolf and an interactive restraint demonstration 22:20 – How listeners can support the National Roller Coaster Museum   Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/2WbPksGRGio?si=fZ--u2Vr8PcGyCcJ Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected].  Did you know anyone can join ACE? Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts. Podcast Team Host: Jessica Gardner Producers: Doug Perry and Derek Perry Edited by Ben Weinrach and Derek Perry Podcast Team: Bob  Randolph, Gerik Gooch, Brichette Reid, Corey Wooten, Corey Brown and Parker VanBelleghem  

ACE Spring Con may be in the rearview mirror, but Coaster Con 48 is right around the corner!   Host Jessica Gardner is joined by ACE Communications Director Derek Perry and Events Director Tim Baldwin to recap all the excitement from Spring Con and look ahead to ACE’s biggest event of the year. From exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and unforgettable ERT sessions to unexpected moments (including a park-wide power outage), we revisit the highlights from Texas and Oklahoma, including visits to Six Flags Over Texas, Frontier City, and briefly discuss the National Roller Coaster Museum.   Then we shift gears and preview ACE Coaster Con 48 in New England and New York, covering what first-time attendees can expect, how ERT schedules are created, event traditions, insider tips, and why Coaster Con continues to be a can’t-miss experience for coaster enthusiasts.   Plus… a few early thoughts on Preservation Con.   Timecodes: 3:01 - Spring Con! Days 1 and 2 at Six Flags Over Texas 22:50 - Frontier City 35:26 - National Roller Coaster Museum 36:22 - Coaster Con 48 Preview 57:55 - Preservation Con sneak peek   Have a favorite Spring Con memory or heading to Coaster Con? Share your thoughts with us and join the conversation. Share your ideas and thoughts about this podcast via email: [email protected].  Did you know anyone can join ACE? Visit ridewithace.com to learn more about the non-profit organization American Coaster Enthusiasts. Podcast Episode Team Host: Jessica Gardner Producers: Doug Perry and Derek Perry Podcast Team: Bob  Randolph, Ben Weinrach, Gerik Gooch, Brichette Reid, Corey Wooten, Corey Brown and Parker VanBelleghem     #RideWithUs #ACE #AmericanCoasterEnthusiasts #CoasterCon #SpringCon #RollerCoasters #ThemeParks