02/22/2026
You heard that right! If you attended the Preservation T-Shirt Gala this weekend, the 2026 American Coaster Enthusiasts Preservation Conference will be held right here within the Northwest Region! The event will fall on Labor Day weekend: September 3-5. The main event will run September 4&5 with an optional add-on for September 3 at Enchanted Forest. More details are yet to come as we’re still putting things together!
The event will start with an optional add-on hosted by ACE Northwest at Enchanted Forest on Thursday September 3. If you have not experienced this park, it is truly a gem! Imagined and mostly hand-built by the legendary Roger Tofte, this park has much to offer with the home-built "Ice Mountain Bobsleds" to "Big Timber Log Ride" an E&F Water Coaster. This was the second water coaster in the world (first in a permanent location) following E&F’s traveling coaster "Kerplash!" Enchanted Forest is also home to the only permanent dark ride in the Northwest Region: "Challenge of Mondor" which was recently retrofitted! Sadly, Mr. Tofte passed away last week; however, his legacy and vision still lives on within the four generations of his family that have continued to learn and expand this vision. Prepare to be inspired, as you will surely fall in love with this park!
On Friday September 4, you will visit The Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, OR. It is the oldest continually-operating amusement park in the Northwest Region which opened in 1905 as a “trolley park” that were often constructed along the streetcar lines throughout the Pacific Northwest. Jantzen Beach was a historic park on Portland’s Hayden Island which resides within the Columbia River on the Oregon & Washington Border which was often heralded as the “Coney Island of the West” and featured a Carl E. Phare wooden coaster. The park closed in 1969, along with many other trolley parks throughout the Pacific Northwest. Oaks Park is one of the last-surviving of these parks and is home to a Hershell-Spillman Carousel that was built in 1912 as well as two coasters. "Adrenaline Peak", the park’s Gerstlauer coaster, is currently the tallest structure in the park; however, that will soon be eclipsed by a new drop tower which is set to open in 2027! The park has other classic flat rides, a roller rink that is open year-round and midway games.
Last, on September 5, you will visit Wild Waves Theme & Water Park: Washington State’s largest theme park, opened in 1977. The park opened as Enchanted Village by Byron Betts, an operator at nearby Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. The park was originally designed as a park for children with fairy-tale-inspired scenery. In 1984, Wild Waves water park was built and eventually the expanded amusement park which added more flat rides and eventually thrill rides such as its first big coaster in 1997: the arrow looper "Wild Thing" which was relocated from the defunct Rocky Point Amusement Park in Rhode Island. The park also is home to "Timberhawk: Ride of Prey" which is S&S’ first wooden roller coaster. The park also has two other roller coasters. Sadly, it was announced late 2025 that Wild Waves will permanently close at the end of the 2026 season. This could be the very last opportunity for ACE members to experience this park!
The Northwest Representative Team, along with the ACE Events Committee is hard at work with finding other opportunities for ACE members during this fun-filled weekend! We’re excited to welcome you to the Pacific Northwest!
