The mythology surrounding Action Park presented the authors with the narrative equivalent of a trip down the Alpine Slide. Go too fast and you risk getting caught up in the mania and heightened recollections of those who were there. Too slow and you can’t capture the frenetic pace that defined the era. Separating fact from fiction was a priority; we did not intend to veer into the realm of the exaggerated, suffering the bumps and bruises of printing the legend when the fact is plenty insane on its own.
To supplement Andy’s recollections, we spoke with more than seventy people. Some were and remain his closest friends. Others knew Gene well. All offered invaluable insight into a place that, by all rights, should never have existed, helping us understand the peculiar series of circumstances that kept the park alive and thriving for nearly two decades. All gave freely of their time and memories to help fill these pages with details of days long gone but never forgotten.
Stig Albertsson, Scott Albuschkat, Kurt Bailey, Rob Bixon, Rick Bolger, Chuck Dickinson, Glen Friedman, Rick Hunter, Bruce Kawut, Tom Merrell, Tim Nagle, Gus Picariello, Michael Redpath, Steve Richer, Evan Schuman, Bob Wolek, and Gary Zuercher all gave us much-needed perspective on the park’s operational side.
Father John Boland, Bob Brennan, Bunny Cacula, Suzy Chaffee, Stan Checketts, Al DeCotiis, Bud DiFluri, Tommy DiMaggio, Bill Dusche, Carmen Imgrund, Mark Imgrund, “Wacky” Joe Mazier, Vic Marotta, Sam McNulty, Jessi Paladini, Mike Palardy, Tony Pecoraro, Chaplain Henry Porter, Adam Ringler, Roy Scovill, John Steinbach, Jimmy Sturr, Marshall Swartwood, and Debra Evers Tierney helped pull back the curtain on Gene.
Phil Altinger, Benji Bressler, Bill Benneyan, Jim Bineau, Dave “Brownie” Brown, Andy Buckley, Kevin Curley, Mac Harris, Dale Kelley, Chuck Kilby, Bob Krahulik, Mike Mancuso, Vinnie Mancuso, Vernon “Kip” Merritt, Nicole Molina, Ann Murphy, Steve Sokil, Kevin Steinbach, Rich Szuch, Jeff Taylor, Adam Tracy, Charles “Chaz” Wagnor, Rob West, Artie Williams, and Laurie Zickler rewound their friendship with Andy to jog memories and add details. A special thanks to Glen “Smoke” Smocovich, the true heart of Action Park.
Jim DeSaye, Chris Ish, Steve Liss, Frank Sherwood, and Corrine Zimmerman wore a path around the grounds of Action Park and recalled their time with fondness.
Steve Langenthal took us through one of the darkest days in the park. We thank him for it.
Several other former park citizens contributed but thought it best to have their names withheld from print as they are now respectable members of society. Where requested, names were changed to protect the extremely guilty, and some of the more rampant excesses were omitted owing to matters of good taste. If you see one of the authors in person, they’ll be happy to share a few tales.
Many people who helped define the park are no longer with us. We’re certain they’re building rides or chasing trouble up in heaven with Gene. Otto Binding, Jim Conlin, Tom Conlin, Dick Croul, Sam DeGonge, Ron Dyno, Pat Galgano, Phil Gerard, Stanley Holuba, Bud Kelley, Jack Kurlander, John Lehman, Charlie O’Brien, Al “Indian” Paugh, Amos Phillips, and Bobby Piercy will never be forgotten.
We’re forever grateful to Jon Fine for seeing a spark of potential in the story of Action Park, and to Rick Kot at Penguin Random House for listening to his friend Jon Fine. Sam Raim at Penguin picked up the baton and saw us through the challenging prospect of telling three stories in one—Andy’s, Gene’s, and the park itself. He smoothed the rough edges and got us back on track when we were lost in the woods. Cliff Corcoran examined the manuscript with a diligence not normally associated with Action Park and we’re better for it. Alec Shane at Writers House believed in the story from its earliest incarnation, which was scarcely more than a loose assembly of ideas, and walked us through the nuances of the publishing business with support and welcome optimism. Finally, Matt Klise saw us to the finish line. This book owes its existence to them.
It was a serious responsibility to the Mulvihill family to do justice to their father’s story. Splinter, Pete, Jimmy, and Christopher all labored to realize their father’s vision, even when they didn’t know what exactly that vision was. Julie was and continues to be Andy’s partner in the resort business and the best operator around. Their mother, Gail, stood by Gene and the family through the best and worst of times. Ellen Mulvihill and her sister, Erin, came along for the ride, too. The park belongs to all of them.
Andy wishes to thank his wife, Katrina, who urged him to set the record straight on Action Park for their daughter, Alex, a next-generation Mulvihill carrying on the same thirst for fun, adventure, and the pursuit of greatness.
Jake wishes to thank his father, Tim, his sisters Lisa, Dawn, and Susie, and his brother, Brandon, for their unwavering support; Jenn Wood, for keeping him sane; Professor Aja Martinez, for pushing him; Anne, for always inspiring him even in absentia; and S.H., just because.
And thank you, Gene. For everything.
Except the Cannonball Loop.