North Carolina's First Mountain Coaster Is Finally Open & Ready For Riders
There's really no feeling that can compare to getting on your favorite rollercoaster at an amusement park and feeling your stomach drop into your toes. A new adrenaline-fueled attraction recently made its debut on the East Coast. This mountain coaster in North Carolina is finally up and ready to take you on an alpine ride!
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is located in Banner Elk, North Carolina, right down the road from Sugar Mountain Ski Resort.
The coaster is still in its first phase of opening, so only visitors who live within 45 minutes of the location will be able to make a reservation to ride. They'll also be offering a $3 discount on reservations during the initial phase.
But don't lose hope just yet out-of-towners. For those of you who live a bit further away, the business announced on Facebook that they're hoping for a full opening to all riders after May 22.
The mountainside ride was first announced in January with an original opening date expected for sometime in mid-February. Due to inspections and COVID-19 setbacks, that date was pushed back, but soon everyone will be able to enjoy this downhill jam.
The coaster's track is more than 2,000 feet long and works with gravity. You control your speed using a lever on the cart, so even those who hate rollercoasters can enjoy this attraction at their own pace.
Not only will riders get a thrill while zipping down the mountain, but they'll also get some pretty spectacular views of Sugar Mountain.
After deciding whether to ride in a single- or two-seater, the cart will slowly take you up to the very top of the mountain and then let her rip down the tracks' twists and turns.
A three-story clubhouse is also located at this attraction where guests can sit and watch people go down the mountain. You can relax here and even grab some cool merch to prove you survived the adrenaline-filled adventure.
YouTuber Brittni McCann claims she was one of the first people to catch a ride on the state's only mountain coaster on May 14, documenting her entire experience from the drive over with her family to her rush down the track.
If you don't think you'll be brave enough to hit the slopes, McCann's video gives you a first-person view of the whole ride. She enjoyed it so much that she rode it three times.
This is the only alpine coaster in all of North Carolina, so plan for potentially long lines when it fully opens to the public. It's one of only 30 mountain coasters still left in the country, and one of 270 left in the world per Spectrum News.
