ACE's Elizabeth Ringas Returns! | Roller Coasters, Coaster Con 2026, & Industry Insights
Join Clete Reinberger and David Detling on the Attractions Group Podcast as they welcome back a very special guest: Elizabeth Ringas, President of American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE)! In this deep-dive episode, we explore the current state of the coaster community, the massive lineup for Coaster Con 2026, and the bittersweet transition as Elizabeth enters the final months of her impactful presidency.
From the latest news on Project Purple at Six Flags Great Adventure to a heated debate on what truly constitutes a roller coaster (looking at you, Nightflight Expedition), this episode is packed with industry news, nostalgia, and expert insights. Whether you're a "track-head" or just love a good theme park story, this is an episode you can't miss!
Episode Highlights & Keywords
ACE Presidency & Transition: Elizabeth reflects on four years of leading the world’s largest coaster club.Coaster Con 2026: Full breakdown of the upcoming convention featuring Six Flags New England, Great Escape, and Lake Compounce.Landmark Awards: Celebrating the history of Flying Turns (Knoebels), Bobsleds (Seabreeze), and the centennial of the Jack Rabbit.International Coaster Travel: Details on the "Rome with ACE" trip and European coaster culture.Industry News: Updates on SeaWorld/United Parks ADA lawsuits, Disney Adventure World (Paris), and the closure of Wild Waves.Chapter Times & Timestamps
[00:00] – Welcome & Industry News: Project Purple, Euromir, and World of Frozen.[03:35] – SeaWorld Lawsuit: Discussion on wheeled walkers and ADA compliance.[06:18] – Dumb Things Guests Do: The "Home Edition" & crazy refund requests.[12:45] – Interview Starts: Welcoming Elizabeth Ringas back to the show.[14:20] – ACE Merchandise: The "Renaissance" of ACE apparel and generational branding.[17:10] – Membership Growth: How ACE has expanded to 7,000+ members worldwide.[19:10] – The Election Process: How the next ACE President will be chosen.[22:15] – Coaster Con 2026: A full week of coasters in New England.[26:15] – Spring Con & Texas: Visiting Six Flags Over Texas and the National Roller Coaster Museum.[28:40] – Preservation Con: A final send-off for Wild Waves.[30:30] – Rome with ACE: Planning international trips for 120+ enthusiasts.[35:35] – ACE Landmarks: Recognizing Flying Turns and the world's oldest steel coasters.[41:40] – Centennial Awards: Celebrating 100 years of the Jack Rabbit.[43:25] – The Backyard Coaster: Elizabeth’s pick for a personal coaster (The Beast!).[51:10] – The 4,100 Mile Road Trip: Elizabeth’s epic solo coaster journey.[58:00] – The Great Debate: Is Nightflight Expedition (Dollywood) a coaster?[01:03:40] – World Roller Coaster Appreciation Month: June festivities.Connect With Our Guest & Hosts
Elizabeth Ringas & American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE)
Website: https://www.ridewithace.com/homeMerchandise: ACE Web StoreWorld Roller Coaster Month: WorldRollerCoasterMonth.orgFacebook: @AmericanCoasterEnthusiastsInstagram: @aceonlineorgTwitter/X: @aceonlineorgWebsite: https://theattractionsgroup.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/attractions_grp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/attractions-group Attractions Network: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12649603/ Facebook: @TheAttractionsGroup
#RollerCoasters #ThemeParks #ACE #CoasterEnthusiasts #CoasterCon2026 #ElizabethRingas #TheBeast #SixFlags #AmusementParks #CoasterLandmarks #Podcast #AttractionsGroup #ThemeParkNews #TheAttractionsGroupPodcast
Keywords: Roller Coasters, Theme Parks, American Coaster Enthusiasts, Coaster Con 2026, Amusement Park History, Elizabeth Ringas, Themed Entertainment, Park Operations, Roller Coaster Landmarks, ACE.