Nor Easter 2011

[mrceagle]

The event started out with a welcome and a quick names with questions about New England parks. There was a very good turnout. The event was held in the employee training area which is upstairs from the employee brake room. The event hosted 4 sales areas. There were about a dozen first timers to a Nor Easter event. It was even the first time at Canobie for a couple visitors. Chris Nicoli welcomed us to the event.

 

They started out with small park news. The only parks discussed is Storyland’s new Splash Battle named Pharaohs Reign. There are a hand full of other additions and improvements around the area but non were discussed.

 

Jason Freeman – SFNE

Jason talked about SFI, crowd control is going to be a focus. Mr 6 has been removed from the commercials; commercials will be more regional based with park rides. They will also be focused to the market in which they are advertising. No more wiggles it’s now Kidzopolis. A lot of further comments dealt with Bizaros Sound. And removing the head rests if the sound was removed.

 

After Peg moved on to Quassy and presented a slide show of Wooden Warriors Construction.

Mike Thompson spoke about ACE regional and national events. He talked about Quassy’s opening day April and the Wooden Warier media event ride event on May 24th. Possibly a Boolderdash event this year. A possible Canobie/Funtown weekend event in August 13 and 4th. Ace Convention will be Jun 18/19th in Dallas. There is also a ACE planed Tour of Texas with trips to Sclitterbahn, SFFT, Sea world, Kemah Boardwalk.

 

There was a pause to do door prizes before having lunch. While we waited for it to be set up we were shows a few videos. Texas Giant was presented in a couple of them. A video previews Coaster con which is being held in Central Texas this year and a video for NJ parks. Jason presented Canobie with a Plaque of appreciation for hosting the 2011 Nor Easter event. The Ace New England appreciation award was given to Russel Danam.

 

Jeff Cord presented for the Western NY Coaster Group. Their coaster fest will be going old school featuring 4 parks in 2 days. Derien lake/Sea Breeze with

 

Chriss Nicoli – Canobie Lake Park

First off they were presented with their plaque for hosting the event. The summer of Superstars returns for another season with Elvis, Michal, Tim, and Janet Jackson. Wildlife Encounters will return for another season. New food options: New Ribs will be added to the Dancing bear, Funnel cake sticks, and Roast beef by Untamed. Cannonball will get a new Wrap for the cars. Untamed is the new ride with a woods theme. Ryan talked about Untamed: There is a fiberglass Grizzly bear that will be part of the themeing. It should open around Memorial lad or Mid jun. Screemfest - Still a new attraction it’s doing well and will continue to grow, they will keep trying to expand, there will be 2 separate Haunt zone: one in castaway and the north end by untamed.

 

Michael Coutermarsh - New Whalom Park

The New Whalom Park Ownership Program talked about their efforts to develop a Whalom museum and small family attraction Nearby to the lost whalom park. The group has over the last year moved forward in the acquisition of artifacts for the museum. Before a storage building was removed from the original park property The Whalom Program saved 2 coaster cars, a bouncer ride car, Ring toss Bottles, Glass Coke Bottles used for ring toss, and many small artifacts. The group is watching 4 regional properties with plans to build an attraction that consists of a Museum, Restaurant, Indoor amusement area (arcades, rides, and other year round entertainment), and an out door rides section. A focus on controlling noise possibly through an enclosed courtyard. There was also a mention on their designer Andrew Probert a Hollywood/TV production artiest, and ex Disney Imaginer who worked on projects like Back to the Future to Star Trek.

 

The event went very well. Those in attendance seemed to enjoy themselves. The Event wrapped up with the traditional Auction. SFNE sent in the past Superman ROS Golden Ticket banners and Canobie offered separate Envelops of 4 tickets. The Auction pulled in 80-90 for the tickets. And the Banners went for 25-50 each. Canobie to end the event played for us their Employee video which showcased the parks history as well as many of the modern rides. I really enjoyed this year’s event and it was good to see Members from SFNEonline, the Whalom Forums, Mainly coasters, and other forums at the event

 

I poster my trip report along with the Q&A for SFNE, New Whalom Park, and Canobie lake park at the Whalom forums: http://s6.zetaboards.com/New_Whalom_Park/topic/8724567/1/

 

Photos coming soon, but a small selection of photos form my camera phone can be found here - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=295678&id=591859751&l=7b5d01e292

[mrceagle]

SFNE and Whalom were the only 2 parks, other then Canobie, on hand to speak to the group.One of the managers at LC passed so the park was unable to attend.

 

 

This carousel horse was on display at the Employee training room.

 

The Rowdy roosters are one of the many rides receiving rehab for this season

 

Here you can see some snow damage.

 

The park took some time at the construction site to talk about Untamed.

 

The station is just about done

 

Snow still covers section of the park but some rides look ready to go

 

The USA Mission ride was removed to make room for the untamed area entrance

 

The employee area made for a great location for this years Nor Easter

 

See the entire album here: photos.newwhalom.com/Nor Easter 2011

[the ghost]

The event looks cool and all, but I can totally see why I like TPR more than ACE in this report... no offense to the Acers here. I just can't imagine sitting down to listen to someone talk about a park for a few hours and not get to ride anything..., it would kill me. I know there are tours and presentations at WCB, and I totally enjoy those, but I dont think I would enjoy them nearly as much if it were not for backstage stuff and ert. Cool TR and I enjoyed reading the summarized transcript, but this is just not my cup of tea at all.

[QueerRudie]

^^ I'm terribly sorry to see the Rocket ride go; as a (young young) child it was one of my first attractions I went on at Canobie Lake- But progress is needed, but so sad for history.

 

R.D.

[mrceagle]

The event looks cool and all, but I can totally see why I like TPR more than ACE in this report... no offense to the Acers here. I just can't imagine sitting down to listen to someone talk about a park for a few hours and not get to ride anything..., it would kill me. I know there are tours and presentations at WCB, and I totally enjoy those, but I dont think I would enjoy them nearly as much if it were not for backstage stuff and ert. Cool TR and I enjoyed reading the summarized transcript, but this is just not my cup of tea at all.

 

The event was an off season event. Parks in This area do not open for another month.

Nor Easter is simply a venue to discus the attractions coming to the parks for the season and to meet up with ACErs and friends in attendance. The summer events will have the ERT that you talked about. Funtown fest for example is normally 3 hours of night ERT and 2 hours of morning ERT.

 

Boolderdash is 1.5 hours of ERT on Bolder dash mid day before the park opens for Haunted graveyard.

 

But The new England region is not good about setting up events. I have been discouraged about it's leadership for a while now. But I am not the only one that feels this way.

 

^^ I'm terribly sorry to see the Rocket ride go; as a (young young) child it was one of my first attractions I went on at Canobie Lake- But progress is needed, but so sad for history.

 

The rocket is a bit of a loss though it has been in the park without operating for about 10 years now. I do know from talking to one of the owners closing day of 2010 that he wants to figure out something to keep it around. Place it on a building or set it up in another area of the park.

 

Only time will tell.

[David H]

The event looks cool and all, but I can totally see why I like TPR more than ACE in this report... no offense to the Acers here. I just can't imagine sitting down to listen to someone talk about a park for a few hours and not get to ride anything..., it would kill me. I know there are tours and presentations at WCB, and I totally enjoy those, but I dont think I would enjoy them nearly as much if it were not for backstage stuff and ert. Cool TR and I enjoyed reading the summarized transcript, but this is just not my cup of tea at all.

 

This event is meant to be a winter event to hold people over until the coaster season starts in snowy New England. A chance to get some coasters news and presentations from the parks, and to hang out with your coaster friends in the mid-season. I don't go because, as a waiter, I can't justify losing $200+ in tips, plus paying for car rental and gas and the cost of the event itself. Hell, I generally can't justify that for an event at a local park that DOES have riding and ERT! But for people with the day off, it seems like a fun way to get together with friends and keep up with what's going in in the local coaster world.

 

As for riding, ACE events almost always have ERT. In fact, this year's convention has 13+ hours of ERT. The official tour of Texas add-on brings that total to over 20 hours of ERT in a week. (And the regional chapter's add-on days before and after the Con brings that total to around 25 hours.) I believe that this may be more ERT than any coaster event or trip in 2011 by anyone.

 

There may be other reasons to like or dislike ACE, but not getting ample riding opportunities is not one of them!

[mrceagle]

Yes, ACE summer events include ERT. Ghost I noticed that one of your Most active posts in for DCA, do you live in Ca or near it. The winters in that area are mild and there are many attractions they stay open year round. In this area parks are open late April or May to Sept or October. One park Santa;s Village opens form Black Friday till new years, and is the only park operating in the Winter.