Today in Kings Island History: First ACE Walk Back, 1979

In 1979, the phenomenon known as The Beast debuted at Kings Island. The ride’s opening in 1979 shook the roller coaster world to its very foundations, breaking all existing records as the longest, the fastest and baddest ride in the world. In roller coasters, there had been nothing else like it anywhere and it took riders to a place they’d never been before, delivering the next level of big thrill, adrenaline-pumping excitement.

People from all over the world began descending upon Kings Island specifically to ride The Beast, including members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), a non-profit organization founded a year earlier in 1978.

Through Kings Island's first five weekends in 1979, more than 100 ACE members from as far away as California, Florida, Georgia and New York had visited the park in an attempt to tame The Beast. Some members from Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh and other cities outside of Kings Island's core and primary markets were coming every weekend. This caught the attention of Kings Island’s public relations manager at the time, Ruth Voss.

Ruth, who passed away in 1998, battled arthritis and had been taking a ride each morning on The Beast, which she said helped relieve her stiff joints. She decided to invite ACE members to join her for the first ride of the day and on May 19, 1979, the first ACE Walk Back took place. A new Kings Island tradition for roller coaster enthusiasts was born.

From that day on and over parts of the next four decades, every public operating day someone from Kings Island’s marketing department or guest services would meet ACE members at a designated location on International Street and escort them to The Beast at approximately 9:45 a.m. Sometimes The Beast was ready for riders upon the ACE's arrival and enthusiasts would get two or even three rides in before the ropes dropped and guests made their way back to the ride.

I began taking part in the Walk Back in 1981. In addition to getting a ride or two in before the park opened, it gave me an opportunity to meet and become friends with literally hundreds of ACE members. I always enjoyed hearing stories of their roller coaster adventures, the parks they'd been to, what they liked about Kings Island, The Beast and The Racer. I also enjoyed riding with someone taking their first-ever ride on The Beast.  

Something else fun about the Walk Back was seeing the faces of guests who would scurry to The Beast after the ropes dropped on International Street only to find they'd been beaten by a group of people to the ride. Usually out of breath and confused, they’d ask, “how did you beat us here?” ACE members would respond by telling them, “We walked” which created an even more befuddled look on their faces.

When I began working at Kings Island in 2007 managing PR, I was excited to oversee the tradition that Ruth had created. I looked forward to seeing old friends and making new ones each morning. It was a great way to start my day. In 2008, more than 300 ACE members took part in the Walk Back. The excitement of being one of the first riders of the day on The Beast had not worn out. 

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end and after 30 seasons, the Walk Back came to an end prior to the start of the 2009 season due to a new benefit that had been created for Gold and Platinum Passholders: Early Ride Time on select attractions 30 minutes before the park opened each day. 

But such is the way of these things, you know?

While it has been 14 years since the last Walk Back was given, ACE is still alive and well. The club has more than 6,000 members from all 50 U.S. states and more than a dozen other countries and is the largest ride enthusiast organization. Its members are the most educated, dedicated, and passionate amusement park guests.

ACE’s activities are extensive and include award-winning publications, action-packed events, and exhaustive preservation efforts.

For more information about ACE, visit the club’s official website.