Kings Island Hosts 30th Annual ACE Summer Con

Kings Island, OH -- Kings Island continues its 35th anniversary celebration by hosting roller coaster enthusiasts from 35 states across the USA as well as from Canada, Australia and Europe. Well over 500 members from American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) will kick off their 30th annual Coaster Con convention at Kings Island June 17-20.

Coaster Con is an exclusive seven-day event that features behind the scenes tours, catered meals, guest speakers and a coveted twelve hours of Exclusive Ride Time on Kings Island's fourteen world-class roller coasters.

Kings Island is one of the most popular places on the planet according to Mark Cole, ACE president.

That shouldn't surprise anyone, considering Kings Island boasts fourteen roller coasters including Firehawk, an innovative flying roller coaster that has riders literally flying in the prone position. Kings Island is also home to The Beast, renowned for being the world's longest wooden coaster.

"Kings Island has a rich history with ACE. The park hosted the organization's second convention back in 1979," said Cole.

Perhaps the highlight of the event will be The Racer, the venerable 1972 twin-tracked ride, which will be honored as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, an award reserved for rides of historic significance.

According to Richard Munch, ACE's historian, "The Racer was the first wooden coaster to be built in a modern theme park and helped spawn a rebirth of wood coasters."

A permanent marker for the Racer will be unveiled at a ceremony on June 18.

For more information, visit www.pki.com.