Celebrating Coaster History in California at Preservation Conference 2025

Let’s look back at the 2025 ACE Preservation Conference, where members gathered in California for three unforgettable days celebrating the history and preservation of classic parks and roller coasters. From the thrills of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia to the marine magic of SeaWorld San Diego and seaside charm of Belmont Park, host Jessica Gardner and podcast producer, ACE Communications Director Derek Perry relive the highlights of the weekend.  Then, the audio from Tim Cole’s presentation on how he helped save Belmont Park and the Giant Dipper is shared. Learn more about the park’s history and his efforts by checking out his book Saving Belmont: An Up and Down Journey.  Don’t forget to check out the recap of the weekend on ACE’s Youtube page 1:32 - Six Flags Magic Mountain  7:33 - SeaWorld San Diego 10:40 - Belmont Park  13:11 - The ACE Centennial Award  15:55 - Tim Cole’s Presentation  17:25 - History of Belmont Park and Giant Dipper 25:22 - How Tim Cole got into roller coasters 27:50 - The Gigantic first ride  29:22 - The closure 34:50 - Getting involved 41:29 - The Save The Coaster Committee 49:00 - Top Gun 54:10 - August 1990 - The first test run 54:31 - Q&A and Tim’s message to ACE 58:19 - Preservation Conference 2026, Volunteer Appreciation  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: Derek Perry and Doug Perry Episode Editors: Bob Randolph, Ben Weinrach and Derek Perry Correspondent: Gerik Gooch Production Manager: Corey Wooten