American Coaster Enthusiasts
American Coaster Enthusiasts is a 48-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the world's largest roller coaster enthusiast club, serving 7,000+ members across 16 countries with a subscription model bundling publications, events, park discounts, and preservation programming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersGrand Prairie, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What American Coaster Enthusiasts does
American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1978 and headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas, that operates as the world's largest roller coaster enthusiast community with 7,000+ members across 48 regions and 16 countries. The organization is entirely volunteer-led, with an elected Executive Committee, 48 regional representatives, and a staff of volunteer editors and podcast producers managing content and events. ACE's core offering is a membership subscription (Individual, Couple, Family, Corporate, Associate tiers starting at $35 annually) that bundles access to a quarterly printed magazine (RollerCoaster!), a weekly newsletter (ACE News), a podcast (Ride With Us), member-only discounts at partner parks, and entry to events.
ACE's business model centers on recurring annual membership dues, supplemented by merchandise, event registration, documentary and book sales, and contributions to its preservation fund. Go-to-market is community-led: members recruit new members through word-of-mouth and shared experiences at regional meetups, an annual flagship convention (Coaster Con), two national conferences, 75+ regional events per year, and international trips such as the 2026 Rome With ACE tour. Distribution is primarily self-serve via the ridewithace.com website, supported by a field network of regional representatives and partner park discount channels (Tickets At Work, Hotel Engine, AAA).
The product surface extends beyond membership into preservation and recognition programs: ACE has designated 54 Roller Coaster Landmarks and 21 Coaster Classics, operates an ACE Preservation Fund that has financed restoration of historic rides including Leap-the-Dips and Giant Dipper, and spun off the National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives (NRCMA) in 2002 as a separately governed nonprofit. ACE also produces documentary content (Legacy of Arrow, Legacy of Schwarzkopf) and a designer book series. The underlying technology stack is a Higher Logic-powered community platform with a member portal, Discord server, and standard podcast distribution — there is no disclosed proprietary technology, API, or AI capability.
American Coaster Enthusiasts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Coaster Enthusiasts
- Legal name
- American Coaster Enthusiasts, Incorporated
- Website
- https://ridewithace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- American Coaster Enthusiasts is a 48-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the world's largest roller coaster enthusiast club, serving 7,000+ members across 16 countries with a subscription model bundling publications, events, park discounts, and preservation programming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Coaster Enthusiasts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hobbyist Membership Organization
- NAICS
- Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7139)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Amusement Parks & Theme Parks (THAAAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers (THAHABAN)
Keywords
Where American Coaster Enthusiasts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grand Prairie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Coaster Enthusiasts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: ACE generates primary revenue through annual membership dues at various levels (Individual, Couple, Family, Corporate, Associate). Membership fees provide access to RollerCoaster! magazine, ACE News, exclusive ride time events, park discounts, and community benefits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Couple Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Family Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership Starting Price |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
American Coaster Enthusiasts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization that sells annual memberships giving roller coaster enthusiasts access to exclusive ride-time events at partner amusement parks, the quarterly RollerCoaster! magazine and weekly ACE News newsletter, conventions (Coaster Con, National Conferences, Preservation Conference), regional events, international trips, and discount programs. The organization also operates preservation and recognition programs (ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks, ACE Coaster Classics, ACE Preservation Fund, the National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives) and produces original content including podcasts, documentaries, and a designer book series.
Product overview
American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering a unified membership-based platform centered on roller coaster appreciation, preservation, and community. The core product is ACE Membership, which bundles access to multiple services including the quarterly RollerCoaster! Magazine, weekly ACE News newsletter, ACE News Now blog, and the Ride With Us Podcast. ACE organizes events at three tiers: the flagship annual Coaster Con convention, two National Conferences, and dozens of Regional Events throughout North America. International travel is offered through trips like Rome With ACE. ACE also maintains two recognition programs—ACE Coaster Landmarks (54 designated historic coasters) and ACE Coaster Classics (classic wooden coaster designations)—and supports preservation through the ACE Preservation Fund and the National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives. The organization produces documentaries (Legacy of Arrow, Legacy of Schwarzkopf) and a book series on coaster designers. All offerings are bundled within the membership structure, with no separate product tiers or modules.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ACE Membership Annual membership giving individuals, couples, families, and corporate accounts access to exclusive ride-time events at partner parks, the quarterly RollerCoaster! magazine, the weekly ACE News newsletter, regional and national events, and member discounts worldwide.
- RollerCoaster! Magazine ACE's quarterly full-color printed magazine featuring in-depth articles about parks and coasters of the past and present, highlighted with photos submitted by ACE members and industry professionals. Full membership benefit.
- ACE News Weekly online newsletter filled with detailed articles on new rides, accounts of ACE events, and other organization news, accompanied by dozens of photos. Available to all membership tiers.
- ACE News Now Online blog-style news updates providing latest coaster and amusement park industry news and ACE announcements.
- Ride With Us Podcast Weekly podcast featuring the amusement park industry, manufacturers, parks and individuals, as well as upcoming ACE events. Includes interviews with industry professionals about parks, rides, and careers. Distributed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Podbean.
- Coaster Con ACE's flagship annual convention typically lasting five to six days, featuring exclusive ride time (ERT), presentations, workshops, photo and video contests, catered meals, and a gala banquet with industry keynote speakers.
- ACE National Conferences Two weekend conferences held annually featuring ACE events at various amusement parks throughout North America.
- Rome With ACE International Trip International group tour to Italy starting in Milan and ending in Rome, with an optional add-on to Naples and Sicily; visits multiple Italian amusement parks and includes organized enthusiast experiences.
- ACE Preservation Conference Annual conference dedicated to roller coaster and amusement park preservation, featuring visits to historic parks and coasters in the Pacific Northwest.
- ACE Regional Events Dozens of local and regional events held annually at amusement parks closer to members' homes, including exclusive ride-time (ERT) and informal meetups.
- ACE Coaster Landmarks Recognition program established in 2000 designating historically significant roller coasters with permanent historical markers presented to parks. 54 coasters have been designated as ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks.
- ACE Coaster Classics Designation for classic wooden roller coasters that adhere to traditional principles including lap bars for airtime experience, free lateral movement, and unobstructed views of upcoming thrills.
- ACE Preservation Fund Financial assistance program offering funds to roller coaster owners and operators worldwide for repairs or refurbishment work. Has supported preservation of rides including Leap-the-Dips, Zippin Pippin, and others.
- National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives Separate organization established by ACE to develop, build, and operate a comprehensive roller coaster museum. ACE's archival collection includes thousands of items including unique roller coaster cars.
- Legacy of Arrow Documentary Documentary produced by ACE about Arrow Development, covering the company's history from 1945 to 2002 and how it revolutionized the amusement industry.
- Legacy of Schwarzkopf Documentary Documentary produced by ACE about Anton Schwarzkopf Industries, covering the pioneer in roller coaster design and manufacturing from 1939 to present.
- ACE Book Series Designer series books including 'Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror' (1982) and 'Herbert P. Schmeck: The Forgotten Legacy' (2007) documenting the history of prominent coaster designers.
- ACE Roller Coaster Calendar Annual calendar featuring roller coasters from host parks, new rides, and coasters celebrating anniversaries. Available each fall.
Quantifiable outcome
- Saved and restored historic coasters including Leap-the-Dips (world's oldest operating coaster) and Giant Dipper in San Diego
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use American Coaster Enthusiasts
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
American Coaster Enthusiasts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
American Coaster Enthusiasts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives (NRCMA)coreACE established a separate organization, the National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives (NRCMA), to pursue the goal of developing, building, and operating a comprehensive roller coaster museum. ACE's own archival collection, consisting of thousands of items including unique roller coaster cars, shares similar goals of documenting the history of the roller coaster and amusement parks.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
American Coaster Enthusiasts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Theme Park Review: Major online theme park enthusiast community with extensive media coverage of rides and parks. Comparable enthusiast platform with similar content-led member engagement.
- National Amusement Park Historical Association: U.S. nonprofit dedicated to amusement park history preservation and documentation. Closest U.S. peer in mission overlap, particularly with ACE's preservation programs.
- Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain: UK-based membership club for roller coaster enthusiasts with events, publications, and ERT partnerships. Closest direct peer to ACE in mission, structure, and revenue model.
- European Coaster Club: European roller coaster enthusiast club offering membership, magazine, and ERT events across European parks. Directly comparable international peer serving a parallel mission outside North America.
- Coasterbuzz: Long-running online roller coaster enthusiast community with forums, news, and trip planning. Comparable as a competing community platform for the same enthusiast demographic.
- Theme Park Insider: Online theme park enthusiast community with reviews, forums, and news. Comparable digital-native community serving overlapping enthusiast audience.
Others
- Sierra Club: Long-established U.S. nonprofit with membership model, magazine, regional chapters, and advocacy mission. Comparable as a decades-old nonprofit enthusiast membership organization with content and event-led engagement.
- American Alliance of Museums: U.S. nonprofit membership organization supporting museums with conferences, publications, and advocacy. Comparable in mission-adjacent nonprofit structure, especially given ACE's NRCMA museum initiative.
- Audubon Society: Large U.S. nonprofit hobbyist/conservation membership organization with chapters, magazine, events, and advocacy. Comparable operational model as a mature hobbyist nonprofit membership organization.
Broad incumbents
- IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions): Global trade association for the amusement park industry, including operators, manufacturers, and suppliers. Operates at broader industry level rather than enthusiast niche, but intersects with ACE's mission of supporting the amusement park ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Coaster Enthusiasts social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Coaster Enthusiasts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Coaster Enthusiasts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
American Coaster Enthusiasts subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
American Coaster Enthusiasts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Coaster Enthusiasts M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Coaster Enthusiasts
What does American Coaster Enthusiasts do?
American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization that sells annual memberships giving roller coaster enthusiasts access to exclusive ride-time events at partner amusement parks, the quarterly RollerCoaster! magazine and weekly ACE News newsletter, conventions (Coaster Con, National Conferences, Preservation Conference), regional events, international trips, and discount programs. The organization also operates preservation and recognition programs (ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks, ACE Coaster Classics, ACE Preservation Fund, the National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives) and produces original content including podcasts, documentaries, and a designer book series.
Is American Coaster Enthusiasts a public or private company?
American Coaster Enthusiasts is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Coaster Enthusiasts founded?
American Coaster Enthusiasts was founded in 1978. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is American Coaster Enthusiasts based?
American Coaster Enthusiasts is headquartered in Grand Prairie, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Coaster Enthusiasts make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Dues.
Who are American Coaster Enthusiasts's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Theme Park Review, National Amusement Park Historical Association, Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, European Coaster Club, Coasterbuzz and Theme Park Insider. Others are Sierra Club, American Alliance of Museums and Audubon Society. IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does American Coaster Enthusiasts have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Coaster Enthusiasts.
What industry is American Coaster Enthusiasts in?
American Coaster Enthusiasts's product category is Hobbyist Membership Organization. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAAAA, Amusement Parks & Theme Parks, with a secondary code of THAHABAN, Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers. Its NAICS code is 713 and its SIC code is 7997.