Who says you can’t get your roller coaster fix in the winter? Typically, if you live outside of Florida and California you have to wait until at least March for your nearest amusement park to open. In the last few years, German company Wiegand, has installed their Alpine Coasters at many ski resorts throughout the World including four in the States. They’re not in the RCDB, so they may technically not be roller coasters, but they sure look like a lot of fun. The sled-like cars fit up to two people (snugly) and allow for the riders to adjust their speed if they want to. The brake may help those who can’t handle the out of control feeling inherent to roller coasters, but coaster enthusiasts like myself would probably never even look at the brake, much less use it.
Now, if you live near one of these four ski resorts you can get your roller coaster fix in the dead of winter. I’d imagine that they’re a smart investment for the ski resorts as it allows them offer another summer activity to their guests.
Currently, the U.S. Alpine Coasters are:
Alpine Coaster at Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts
Alpine Coaster at Park City Mountain Resort in Utah
Mountain Coaster at Wisp Resort in Maryland
Canyon Flyer at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Colorado
Rides are a bit pricey. It’s $10 for one rider or $15 for two riders for just one spin on the Mountain Coaster at Wisp. On the other hand, it is a pretty unique experience and probably worth a try. Check out this pov video on the Alpine Coaster at Park City Mountain Resort:
Read about other unusual roller coasters:
Backyard Coasters
People Powered Coaster
What’s Your Take?
What do you think of these ski resort coasters? If you’ve been lucky enough to ride one of these mountain coasters or one in another country leave a review below. Leave a comment below. Thanks to reader Judy for sending me info on this.
Coaster Critic 
31 responses to “Roller Coasters at Ski Resorts”
Ive done the Alpine Coaster at Park City Twice. Its a great ride, and the "do your own" style for the breaks allows us crazies to go down the run at breakneck speed. Ive only gone in Januarary/February, I assume (and it looks by the POV) its a lot more enjoyable in summer
I'd pay a couple of bucks for a go on one of these, but $10 is a bit ridiculous. They must really have to squeeze money out of these things to make them worth it. I'd like to see Intamin try to revive the bobsled designs to compete with these things.
If I'm ever near one I'll definitely give it a try. I'd like to think I wouldn't use the brake. Too bad there aren't any of these in Smoky Mountains nearby. I saw that these Alpine Coasters are in Roller Coaster Tycoon 3. Anyone know why they're not listed in RCDB? Just curious.
Wheni was a kid and my family drove across country a few times (late 70s) we did these things. Those were concrete chutes and the sled had a brake-type thing. If you pushed forward you were on wheels and if you pulled back you were on fiberglass runners of some kind. There was the very real danger of flying off the "track." There was no way you couldn't use the brake. Definitely good fun and definitely scary. Cool to see them coming back and interesting to see the new technology.
This isn't really a roller coaster per se but there used to be a waterpark/ski resort up in northern NJ called Action Park that had an Alpine Slide. It was like a side-winding trough that you rode down on small, flat carts. The carts had a brake and if you didn't use it…well, then you'd risk terrible injury. They actually had photos of awful scrapes at the station platfrom from people who didn't follow the rules. It was very comforting. lol
so you're saying they showed major accidents in the station, probobly making some riders leave?
cool
imagine one of those going down Mt.Everest.
I'm planning to further than that. Someday, I want to buy a small mountain, maybe 1500 ft tall, then convert it to a mountainous theme park. Beat that, Boulder Dash!
ok, i will! a theme park in the world's largest airplane!
A theme park on the Moon!
that might take a little longer, (mostly cause of no oxygen and all,) but maybe for that thought, maybe a theme park in a rocket?
A theme park in a real mideval castel!
A theme park on land!!! just kidding but really a rollercoaster that goes underwater would be sweet! (oh you wouldn't get wet, the coaster travels into tubes).
There is an alpine slide @ Ober Gatlinburg but it the kind that runs in a trough. I rode it years ago.
i thought of that idea before, i just don`t own a theme park. how about a theme park in a whether dome, a building that makes it feel like sumer all year long, i mean.
OKAY, OKAY! I see what you are trying to say. It was a rhetorical statement, for heavens' sake! Still, a whole park on a mountain would be pretty cool, if you can get by the steep slopes.
Also, Schwarz, there is a roller coaster like that. I saw it in a picture once, but it didn't show the name or location. It looked like one of those urban coasters to me.
As far as a theme park on a mountain, Dollywood is pretty close. Tennessee Tornado uses the side of a mountain. But, Ghost Town in the Sky is actually an amusement park on a mountain. Sadly, it's in trouble again and may go bankrupt. Here's a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&q=Ghost+Town+in+the+Sky%4035.529179,-83.102367&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=&ll=35.52924,-83.101809&spn=0.004549,0.009645&z=17" rel="nofollow">satellite view although it's a bit hard to see. And here are some <a href="http://www.coasterimage.com/pictures/ghost-town-in-the-sky-pictures/" rel="nofollow">Ghost Town in the Sky pictures.
GTITS`s tumbleweed looks a lot like kennywood`s high speed thrill coaster. CFC, it was just sort of a contest after your comment, to see who could come up whith the best idea for a theme park.
PS-has anyone nticed something WRONG about my first idea, ive been waiting for someone to notice ever since i wrote it.
anaconda goes under water, and i saw the video u guys r talkin about, and i think its called the vanisher
"PS-has anyone nticed something WRONG about my first idea, ive been waiting for someone to notice ever since i wrote it."
I guess you mean the Everest one. I think it's a good idea; after all, people have skied down Everest so I guess an alpine coaster couldn't be that much worse! I think the risk of sailing down the Lhotse Face at 130mph, feeling the hundred below wind chill whip at your face, and suffering enough frostbite to make Everest survivor Beck Weathers cringe is strangely alluring.
lol
Another thing is on the news it said that 3 of every 8 people that attempt to climb up mt. everest die. So how many workers will die trying to make this ride?!?!
Actualy i meant my first theme park idea, here`s a hint: How do roller coasters work?
looks fun
I just came back from a ski resort! But no roller coasters. 😦
Definitely! They look like fun. Wouldn't mind having one in my own backyard…. if I had that kind of acreage and cash. I'm not far from Wisp. Maybe I'll give it a shot and report on it. Maybe shoot a little video.
There is an Alpine slide still operating at Pico a Vermont ski area next door to Killington. You can go full speed after a lot of practice. Super fast, fun and scary. It's way better than the before mentioned defunct one from the old action Park in Vernon Valley NJ. Vernon Valley is now called Mountain Creek they still operate the water park on the ski hill. Also Diablo Freeride Park…the best downhill Mountain bike park in the country.
http://www.killington.com/summer/activities/pico_…
http://www.mountaincreekwaterpark.com/site/rides….
http://diablofreeridepark.com/
Just went on one in austria twice… It was long, exciting, but most importantly, OUT OF CONTROL! This was on one pipe running down the track, and some turns required a brake or you would fall off, not that I did… I highly recommend it to anybody looking for a cheap way to have some fun
I just did my first Alpine Coaster, the one at Wisp in MD. This Alpine Coaster took coaster#100 for me. [ I can't imagine why it would not qualify as a roller coaster. It has tube steel rails, wheels on the car, even up-stop and side-stop. Also it's a complete circuit with a cable lift hill and a safety belt. ] I am glad it was my #100 because it was way more memorable than a regular coaster. Very fast, way faster than it looks on the videos.
I would bet anyone who is not too light that they will use the brakes. I'm up there near 250LBS and I had to use the brakes for the bad turns. They don't bank the tracks enough on the strong turns so I kind of felt like I could pop off the sled if I did not brake. Probably impossible because of the seat belt. But years ago on an Alpine slide I caught some air, broke a runner on landing and crashed. I'm a bit older, I'm heavier, and a bit more cautious. My wife is way lighter than me and she said she did not have to use the brakes much. These things should be added to any enthusiasts must do list. A completely different experience because of how you have to control the speed.
Also there are more of them popping up now. IE… Okemo in VT, also new ones in CO, and MN.
2 within 10 miles of each other in NH right near Mt.Washington
Nor'easter Mountain Coaster at Attitash ski area
http://vimeo.com/25516353
The Cranmore Mountain Coater… http://www.cranmore.com/winter/cranmore-mountain-…
There is also one at Spirit Mountain in Duluth MN. It is a blast, but yes pricey. $8.50 a person here.
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