Before the internet revolutionized communication, roller coaster enthusiasts had a different way of staying informed: the Coaster Hotline.
Run by members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) based in Southwest, Ohio, this telephone service provided up-to-date information on roller coasters, amusement parks, and ACE-related news.
Launched in the 1980s, the hotline featured a pre-recorded message that members could access by dialing a designated number. Volunteers updated it periodically—often monthly or as major news broke—offering details on coaster events, new ride openings, park operations, and preservation efforts. At a time when ACE members relied primarily on newsletters and magazines for information, the Coaster Hotline helped bridge the gap between the bimonthly ACE News and the quarterly RollerCoaster! Magazine.
For years, the hotline served as a vital resource, reflecting ACE’s early commitment to keeping its community connected. However, as digital communication advanced in the late 1990s and early 2000s, ACE shifted to email updates and its website, rendering the telephone service obsolete.
Though long retired, the Coaster Hotline remains a nostalgic piece of coaster history—an innovative tool that kept enthusiasts informed and united in a pre-internet era.
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