Beech Bend is getting a new drop ride. Not just any drop tower, but a tower ride that rises 140 feet into the air! The yet-to-be-named ride is 140 feet tall, holds 12 riders seated in a circle around the tower and drops at almost 60 miles per hour!  The new ride will begin arriving soon and will be ready to go on opening day, May 5th, 2012.

We need your help picking out the perfect name. Please send name suggestions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with "Drop Ride" in the subject line before December 10th to be considered.  If we use your name suggestion, you will receive four free tickets to the park to be used anytime in 2012!  In the event of a tie, the person who suggested the winning name first will be declared the tickets winner.

Chris Moore

Occupation:  Sales / Customer Service at InterStar North America

Hometown: Florence, KY

Years in ACE : Five Years (Will be six in December)

Favorite ACE Event : Winter Soar at Kings Island - It was cool to see my "home park" in the off season and listen to all of the interesting presenters (but the truth is, that is the only ACE event I have been to other than park sponsored events like Holiwood Nights - but I hope to change that soon and make it out to more ACE Activities.)

Coaster Count:
Wood: 70
Steel:168

Top 5 Steel Coasters:
1. Diamondback - Kings Island
2. Phantom's Revenge - Kennywood
3. Millennium Force - Cedar Point
4, Magnum XL-200 - Cedar Point
5. Mindbender - Six Flags Over Georgia

Top 5 Wood Coasters:
1. The Voyage - Holiday World
2. El Toro - Six Flags Great Adventure
3. Phoenix - Knoebels
4. The Legend - Holiday World
5. Lightning Racer - Hersheypark

Top 3 Amusement Parks:
1. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
2. Kennywood
3. Silver Dollar City

Other Activities: Big Cincinnati Reds baseball fan.  My wife and I spend most of our summer free time at the ballpark and we like to travel to see other ballparks / stadiums (and these trips always involve stopping at as many theme parks as we can fit in.) 

Additional Comments:  I am recently married (Sept 24) and my new wife is not really a fan of coasters - but I am working hard to change that!  She is trying out some coasters now and is up to almost 40, although she prefers not to go very far off the ground!

Construction is well underway at Beech Bend Park. They're taking entertainment to a whole new level in 2012 with "Wild Bill Hiccup's Wild West Show". Your family will love the slap stick comedy and hilarious antics of Wild Bill Hiccup and his gang of bandits. Sheriff Roscoe will have his hands full trying to tame Annie Oaktree, Bad Bart and Daredevil Dan. Did I mention the chicken and coyote? Don't miss this exciting new family show!

Also, we're proud to announce a new Tiki Grill eatery and Hydration Station adjacent to Tiki Island. This new foods area will feature a food court, a unique menu, a self-serve drink station and restrooms. Construction of the site is well underway and will be ready to open in mid-May when Splash Lagoon opens for the 2012 season.

ACEmidwest.com is pleased to announce our 2012 regional event schedule.  Mark your calendars for the following dates:

Beech Bend Bash
Sun, June 3rd Beech Bend Park

Hawg Wild
Sat, July 28th Indiana Beach