American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a non-profit organization focusing on the enjoyment, knowledge, and preservation of roller coasters as well as recognition of some as architectural and engineering landmarks.^[1] Dues-paying members receive the quarterly magazine RollerCoaster! and bi-monthly newsletter ACE News.^[2] Amusement parks have also invited members to exclusive ride events at amusement parks as well as sneak peek events at new roller coasters under construction.^[3]

This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2018)

Quick Facts Founded, Location ...

American Coaster Enthusiasts

Founded	1978; 46 years ago (1978)
Location	PO Box 540261 Grand Prairie, Texas 75054-0261
Members	over 6,500
Website	www.aceonline.org

Close

The organization maintains an online database of roller coasters including ride specifications and archives of published news articles. The club also recognizes historically significant roller coasters with the Coaster Classic and ACE Coaster Landmark statuses.

Organization founders Roy Brashears, Paul Greenwald and Richard Munch met at a roller coaster riding marathon event promoting the 1977 movie Rollercoaster at the Rebel Yell roller coaster (now called Racer 75) at Kings Dominion amusement park in Doswell, Virginia. The three discovered they shared the same passion for roller coasters and decided to form a club that would allow others that shared the same interests to join. They organized Coaster Con I the following year at Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park in June 1978. On the final day of the event during a business meeting, the name American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) was chosen as the club's name. Coaster Con events have been held annually ever since.^[4]

The organization is almost entirely run by volunteers, with the exception of an independent contractor who runs certain day-to-day operations regarding mailings, receipt of event payment/membership dues and merchandise. ACE members are required to pay annual membership dues that are available in individual, couple, family and corporate packages. The organization fulfills one of its primary goals of providing education through its publications.^[2] Other goals include promoting the conservation, appreciation, and enjoyment of roller coasters and their place in history as architectural and engineering landmarks.^[1][5]

ACE is governed by an executive committee of five officers and seven directors. Four of the officer positions are directly elected and one indirectly elected by the club's membership. These officers are the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Immediate Past President. The seven directors are appointed by the president and approved by a majority vote of the remaining officers.^[6] The Region Director, oversees a system of ACE regions, which sponsors events and publishes regional websites and email newsletters.

ACE Regions

• California Northern
• Canada (except British Columbia)
• Eastern Great Lakes (Ohio and Michigan)
• Europe
• Florida
• Heart of America (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and southern Illinois)
• Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia)
• Midwest (Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia)
• New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont)
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Central (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota)
• Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington)
• Other Countries
• Pacific Southwest (Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada and southern California)
• Pennsylvania Eastern
• Pennsylvania Western
• Rocky Mountain (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming)
• South America
• South Central (Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas)
• Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee)
• Western Great Lakes (Wisconsin and northern Illinois)

The national organization sponsors the annual Coaster Con convention, international tours, seasonal conferences, and a conference focused on coaster preservation.

ACE takes an active role in the preservation of endangered roller coasters. Since 1985, the club has either directly or indirectly helped save more than half a dozen. One of the most notable include the Phoenix located at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. The wooden coaster was relocated from Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas. Another that the organization saved was Leap the Dips, the world's oldest operating roller coaster, located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In addition to preservation, some parks have also sought the opinions of ACE members regarding roller coaster installations, such as Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point^[11] and roller coaster design, as was the case with The Legend and The Voyage at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana.