Alpine Coaster in Colorado - first one in the USA!

The Alpine Coaster craze in Europe has finally reached the US. The new ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, CO is suppose to open this Spring. Hopefully we can get some enthusiasts to post some pictures. I'd love to see the east coast mountains get one of these. Gatlinburg has an Alpine Slide but the Alpine Coaster looks waaaaaay more fun. :)

link to park's site:
http://www.glenwoodcaverns.com/contest.htm

They have several other intense rides. A high speed Zip Line & Giant Swings that swings out into Glenwood Canyon.

Sweet!

I'll definately be giving this thing a try this summer.

And if your in the area, don't forget to take a dip in the world's largest hot springs pool. What a beautiful area.:)

nice addition and its only a 3 hour drive away from my house. I just hope they do something to increase their uphill capacity on their gondola, otherwise it could make for some long lines on weekends.

I am SO there...:)

Isn't it kinda cold there now? ;)

The good thing about these Alpine Coasters is that they run them all year round. Even in knee deep snow!
Take an entire front seat ride on this site. Click the video link:

http://www.ukridesvideos.myqth.co.uk/alpine.htm

Another great site:

http://www.gaponline.de/landkreis/oberau/bilderwelt/2003_09_05_Alpine-CoasterImst.html

and this one too: :)

http://www.geise-engineering.com/coaster_photos.htm

Worlds longest Alpine Coaster:

http://freizeitparkweb.de/cgi-bin/dcf/dcboard.cgi?az=printer_format&om=1643&forum=DCForumID39

Wow, this is the second thing in two years to be the first in the U.S. (Halfpipe last year). I have never seen these rides before, but they look pretty fun. *** Edited 4/13/2005 3:52:39 AM UTC by RubberDucky***

Moosh, it's only cold for you thin blooded wussies that live in the southern parts of the U.S. Mid 50's doesn't sound too cold to me. Then again I've got my own supply of blubber.

Robo, I smell a road trip. I desparately want to hit Lagoon before I move back to the midwest at the end of this summer. This would be a great stopover between Denver and Salt Lake. Could also hit some more traditional alpine slides while we're in the mountains.

I ain't no wuss, I'm a wimp! Get it right, Inci ;)

Mid-50's is "light jacket" weather to me. ;-)

The Alpine coaster looks VERY sweet!

-Tina

*** Edited 4/13/2005 10:54:50 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

I have a few questions - What are the handles for? Are they the brakes? How safe is this ride? Thanks!

By the pictures it looks like the handles do the sames as the handle on an alpine slide... push forward to go faster ... pull back to brake.

I really got to find the closest alpine slide to NJ since they took the one away from Camelback in the Pocono Mountains. I really miss that ride.

Lake Compounce! Buy one damnit! lol Seriously though, there's a ski area just next to Lake Compounce, I'd love to see something like this in my area. Looks like a ton of fun.

I just received confirmation from Glenwood Caverns, the alpine coaster opens this weekend, $7 a ride. Might just have to make a trip to Glenwood Springs this weekend.

hmmmm....... since i live in tampa dont think that ima be able to ride it- o well dont reely know wat a alpine coaster is anyways

Great video of the rides and Alpine Coaster at Glenwood Caverns:

http://www.glenwoodcaverns.com/gc_video.html

Darn thing has 3400ft of track!!! That's longer than most theme park coasters. NICE!!

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UBRhino said:
They have something similar at Pico Mountain in VT. The car isn't attached to a track like that is. It's more of a bobsled type ride.

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You would be talking about an alpine slide! I've hurt myself on these dozens of times growing up. Real fun stuff. They use to be all over the northeast part of the US, usually at ski resorts to bring in money during the summer.

Doing a Google search, it looks like there are quite a few still around. If anyone is too far from Colorodo (like me) for an alpine coaster, a slide should hold you over.

I couldn't believe it when I opened that video. I'm from Stoke originally, I've moved to San Diego now, terrible move!!!! but, you can,literally see that dry ski slope from my parents house, I never knew they had this there.

I'm visiting in July so I'll be riding that sucker then!!

Like UBRhino said, there are some that are more like a bobsled type.

Song Mountain ski area in Tully New York right outside of Syracuse still has one which they don't use anymore. I remember going on it probably 7-8 years ago and it hasn't been open in at least 5.

I was at Gore Mountain and riding up the Straightbrook Quad the top of the best skiing in New York I had conversation with a guy who actually does the inspections for these things. He said that for the most part they are safe, but only if they are maintained. He said that he also helped inspect the one at Pico, and I think he worked for the company that made them as well. But he also said that some designs have been more problematic than others and have forced them to closed. Whether it be to tight of turns, too much speed, or too little speed.