CRANRAIL CORPORATION ASSETS TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION
Crainrail, the company that operated Edaville USA for the past few years, is selling off its assets in an auction scheduled for Thursday, May 13. Among the items on the block will be the Tumble Bug that Cranrail had purchased from Whalom Park some time ago. Whalom's Tilt-a-Whirl and Hershell Astronaut (kiddie) ride are also up for bids. Auction details are available from
www.kaminskiauctions.com/edaville.htm. This is all taking place in spite of Edaville's web site,
www.edaville.com, which indicates the park is opening for an abbreviated season on September 4. It is unclear as to whether a new operator will be coming in to open the park or if it will in fact be closed for the season (and perhaps forever). Given the volume of items being auctioned, logic would unfortunately seem to dictate the latter. More information, particularly on the status of the Whalom Tumble Bug, as it develops.
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SUPERHERO CELEBRATION 3 RESCHEDULED
I received an email today from our contact person at Six Flags New England indicating to me that the Superhero Celebration event, originally scheduled for June 11, is being postponed. The
likely new date will be Friday, August 27, but this is
NOT yet confirmed at this time. The ERTs will basically remain the same, with the big difference being that the Superman ERT will run from 10pm until midnight.
Our park rep writes:
"This is in no way meant to indicate when the Superman Ride of Steel will reopen, I do not know the timetable. For enthusiast event purposes, I just want to ensure 2 train operation on SROS as best I can. I feel a date later in the season is the best course of action for ensuring a wonderful ERT session."
If the new date is confirmed and/or the flyer updated, information will be posted here.
INFORMAL GATHERING PLANNED AT LAKE COMPOUNCE MAY 16
On Sunday, May 16, an informal gathering is tentatively planned in celebration of opening weekend at Lake Compounce. You probably know the drill by now...there'll be no discounts, ERTs, meals, etc. planned--just the company of your fellow coaster fans. We'll meet at the entrance to Boulder Dash at 4pm, go for a ride or two and take it from there. Hope you can join us!
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URGENT NEWS - PRESERVATION CONFERENCE HOTEL
From Gary Baker (slightly edited):
"To all,
I received a phone call this morning, that the Ridgeway Inn, in Memphis
and owned by the Peabody Hotel Group will be shutting down on May 31st.
The property is more valuable for an office, even though this hotel is
not that old.
The employees were told last Friday and this was a surprise to all. I
understand the tourist business in Memphis is off and the corporation
does not want to hurt the Peabody, in downturn Memphis.
The hotel has already contacted their next door neighbor hotel (Holiday Inn Select) to work with me and honor what I have contracted with the Ridgeway Inn. The Ridgeway folks will forward all reservation calls
to whatever lodging property(ies) I contract with, until they close.
Plus, they will supply me with a list of rooms reserved and they will
call those folks and give them the new recommended ACE lodging, for the
conference.
I plan to contact the Baymont Inns, in Memphis and see of one is as
close as the Ridgeway Inn and if they will offer a better rate than
what I had. Especially, since the Baymont's have a free breakfast bar.
I will have this solved by the middle of next week. I hope to only
have one listing, as before, for Memphis."
In summary, the hotel is closing and an update will be on the ACE web site ASAP as well as in the next issue of ACE News.
