DENVER, Colo. — 150 roller coaster enthusiasts from across the U.S. will trek to Elitch Gardens (May 17-18) and Lakeside Amusement Park (May 18-19) to celebrate these traditional amusement parks and recognize coaster preservation efforts. This three-day celebration is the preservation conference of American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), which will be held Friday through Sunday at two parks full of thrills, character and history. A prime feature of the conference will be multiple hours of riding the two wooden and several steel roller coasters at both parks.

Participating ACE members can also attend multiple VIP park tours at these two great Denver parks.
Attendees will enjoy camaraderie with like-minded people and share stories of coasters ridden in all corners of the world as many ACE members have traveled to Europe, Central America and Asia.
Anywhere there is a coaster, you will find an ACEer.

More information on the event is available at AmericanCoasterEnthusiasts.org.

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013 will commence the first phase of the project — removal of the Star Jet and the other related debris in the water. Weeks Marine will be working around the clock on the removal until completion. The entire project will take several days to complete once they begin on Tuesday.

Members of the media will have the opportunity to observe the commencement of the removal process on Tuesday, May 14th. All media representatives must have their credentials and sign in with the Casino Pier representatives starting at 1 p.m. at the check-in table located at the corner of Sherman Avenue and Ocean Terrace.

At approximately 2 p.m., Casino Pier will conduct a short Q & A for the press with representatives from Casino Pier, Weeks Marine and Seaside Heights municipality. At this time, details of the removal process will be addressed and there will be further opportunity for questions. Following the Q & A, Casino Pier and Seaside Heights representatives will be available for any additional questions.

Casino Pier is located at 800 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights, N.J. For more information on Casino Pier, please visit casinopiernj.com.

Slated for Saturday, July 6, 2013, SnoopyCon is a park-sponsored event that will offer coaster enthusiasts and their families unequaled access to the park’s new record-breaking Planet Snoopy. SnoopyCon attendees will be treated to a Peanuts character breakfast, early ride time on all 18 rides in Planet Snoopy, behind the scenes tours of the new section and its new live shows as well behind-the-scenes activities including a tour of the Intimidator 305 giga coaster. Other surprises (including a major perk that coaster fans won’t want to miss) will be announced at a later time.

“As the home of the bigger, better and world’s largest Peanuts-themed children’s area, Kings Dominion is very excited to host the first-ever SnoopyCon event. With eight new rides (18 total) in our new Planet Snoopy, SnoopyCon is the perfect opportunity to get exclusive access to all the excitement we have to offer here at Kings Dominion with the entire family,” said KD Public Relations Manager Gene Petriello. “Our guests will also have the opportunity to get behind-the-scenes access to the park, along with a chance to experience all that Kings Dominion has to offer, all in one day. We are looking forward to all the smiling faces on the families of our coasting community, family and friends that we’ll see on July 6!”

A full list of event details can be found online at: kingsdominion.com/snoopycon.

One of a relatively new genre, GateKeeper pushes the dimensions of the wing coaster to new statistical dimensions — longer, taller and faster than any before. With two of the ride’s six inversions slicing right through two keyhole maneuvers literally above the park entrance, arriving guests have no question from the first moment that a day of the latest thrills lies ahead. This new installation also opens up the Lake Erie beach to new attractive views that have not been seen by park guests before.

Miniature golf became an official competitive sport in the US in the 1930s and has been a beloved leisure time activity worldwide for even longer. Palace parks entertain millions of guests of all ages every year on and off the miniature golf course. Each family entertainment center offers hundreds of rides, arcade games, and attractions in addition to multiple mini golf courses with unique themes and obstacles.

For the park nearest you and to print a coupon for a free round of golf on May 11, visit the park websites at boomersparks.com, mountasia.com, malibugrandprix.com, or speedzone.com.

Science Adventure was created with the assistance of New England educators to utilize the park’s top attractions and formulate a Science curriculum around them. Throughout this program, the Girl Scouts will be invited to explore the park in a thrill-packed scavenger hunt, following clues and answering questions about energy and motion along the way. These future scientists will take the field as they compete in teams to earn fun and exciting prizes. The Girl Scouts Science Adventure program includes a Q & A with Six Flags’ very own Corporate Engineer, Mike Neuzil. Mike will discuss the importance and relevance of modern technology within the theme park industry. After the Girl Scouts complete the entire program, they will be awarded a Science Adventure patch and Certificate of Completion.

“Women’s representation is low at all levels of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) career pipeline, from interest and intent to majoring in a STEM field in college to having a career in a STEM field in adulthood,” said Pattie Hallberg, Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) CEO. “Studies show that girls lose interest in math and science during middle school, and STEM interest for girls is low, compared to boys. Partnering with Six Flags to bring the science and thrill of motion alive for girls is a fabulous opportunity to provide inspiration. Inspired girls may just become the next generation of inventors and innovators building the next thrilling roller coaster.” Science Adventure is open to students in grades 4 through 12.

Interested schools and learning professionals will want to reach out directly to Samantha Biondolillo at sbiondolillo@sftp.com.

The three-minute, custom-manufactured event was produced by Dave Groves and Scott Britt with Interlaced Productions of Atlanta. The company used 850 cues of pyro, shot from five ground locations in front of the 500-ft. tall tower and up and down in angled directions from the unoccupied passenger gondola. Fireworks set to angle from four locations atop the ride’s machine house, cleared the attraction’s mast. The tallest pieces of the display launched fireworks 750 to 800 feet in the air in a demonstration of impressive close-proximity pyrotechnics.

Summer Adventures in Fair Park officially opened to the public weekends beginning May 4 with daily operations starting June 7 through August 18, 2013. For more information visit fairparkfun.com.

This year’s speaker, O. Lee Mincey, most recently spoke at IAAPA’s FEC Phoenix conference. He is a results-oriented HR Executive with in-depth knowledge of HR practices and the ability to integrate HR and business strategies. He has strong experience in managing and leading large operations, learning and development, branding and customer experience within iconic brands with high volume and complex operations (Coca-Cola Attractions, Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Entertainment).

Supervising others within the leisure and entertainment industry can be a tough job. Between delivering a great guest experience, managing time and vital tasks, helping fellow team members solve problems and complete tasks, and helping other members of management, a supervisor’s day can fill up before they know it.

This full-day learning session will help supervisors become more efficient and proficient, with information on delegating, managing time, setting goals and expectations (for themselves and others), providing feedback, resolving conflict, and administering discipline. For more information visit the NEAAPA seminar website.

These births are critical to help preserve the species. Malayan tigers are critically endangered. Scientists estimate that only 500 remain in the wild. These newborn cubs will add to the genetic diversity of the Malayan tiger population and contribute to conservation efforts for the species.

The births are part of park’s partnership in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The mission of the SSP is to cooperatively manage specific, and typically threatened or endangered, species populations within AZA-accredited facilities. There are currently just over 50 Malayan tigers in the Species Survival Plan.

Malayan tiger cub births in managed care are rare — just one successful birth in 2012 as part of the SSP. These are the first Malayan tigers born at Busch Gardens Tampa and the first offspring for both the mother Bzui and father Mata.

The tiger cubs, along with Bzui and Mata, are currently behind the scenes and are being monitored around the clock by the park’s animal care team.

In approximately one month, the Busch Gardens animal care team will start introducing the cubs to the Jungala habitat. The cubs will rotate separate sessions on the habitat with the Bengal tiger groups that currently reside there. Until then the cubs will remain behind the scenes with their mother and keepers. Anyone interested in the cubs can follow their progress onBuschGardensTampaBlog.com.

One of the male cubs is suffering from anemia and has developed a rare but benign skin condition that also occurs in both wild and domestic felines. The condition is being monitored by Busch Gardens’ veterinarians. The cub is currently in serious condition and is undergoing treatments.

Found only in the southern tip of Thailand and the Malay Peninsula, it’s estimated that only 500 Malayan tigers remain in the wild. Habitat fragmentation caused by logging and the development of roads and commercial poaching are the two leading causes. The species also often comes into conflict with people over livestock predation.