Sunrise Park Resort announces the development of the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster, the first tribally owned/operated coaster in the country and the second mountain coaster in the state of Arizona.
The Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster will provide guests with thrilling drops, heart-pounding turns, and breathtaking views as riders glide through the trees along the side of Sunrise Peak.
This guide features everything you need to know about riding the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster, including insider tips and advice, so keep reading to find out more!
Contents
- What to Expect
- How Long?
- How Fast?
- What is an Alpine Coaster?
- Video
- Cost
- Rider Requirements
- Location and How To Get There
Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster – What To Expect
The Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster will offer thrills to families, with individual carts that provide a secondary seat for children to ride with an adult. Riders can control their speed with a handbrake on each ride cart and an advanced safety system maintains a set following distance between carts.
The Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster was installed by Wiegand, the inventor and world leader of alpine and mountain coasters. This installation will be version 2.0 of Wiegand’s coaster, offering advanced safety features and a smooth ride experience.
How Long is the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster?
The Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster is approximately 3,287 feet (1,001m) in length and offers riders an exhilarating ride with multiple 360-degree loops, twists and turns as it winds its way through the trees and down the mountain.
How Fast is the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster?
The Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster can reach a maximum speed of 25 mp/h (40 km/h).
The alpine coaster rides on a dual track that is elevated slightly above the ground and because of this close proximity, you’ll feel like you’re going much faster!
But fear not, as a safety feature, mountain coasters are fitted with an automatic braking system that prevents the carts from going over the maximum speed.
In addition, this mountain coaster is fitted with a manual brake that lets riders control the speed of their descent. The manual brake is a handle located on either side of the driver. You pull back on it to engage the brake and push it forward to accelerate.
If 25 mp/h (40 km/h) is too fast for you, you can slow the ride down to a speed that feels more comfortable.
What is an Alpine Coaster?
If you’re unfamiliar with alpine coasters (also known as mountain coasters), check out the post we wrote.
Alpine or mountain coasters are gravity-powered roller coasters that use the natural contours of a mountain to provide riders with a thrilling downhill ride experience.
Alpine coasters are a great activity that the whole family can enjoy. However, given the nature of this ride, some age and height restrictions apply.
In addition, alpine coasters are equipped with a manual brake, enabling riders to adjust their descent speed.
This unique feature allows riders to have greater control of their experience.
If things get a bit too fast for your liking you can apply the brake, if you’re more of the daredevil type then you can leave the brake untouched for maximum speed.
And finally, no prior experience or training is necessary. You can just jump in and enjoy the ride.
Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster Video
Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster Cost
At the time of writing, the cost to ride the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster is as follows:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Single rider | $19 |
| Three rides | $38 |
Rider Requirements
As with any ride of this nature, some rider and passenger requirements are put in place for your safety.
The key height and age restrictions to ride the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster are listed below:
- The minimum height for a driver is 54″ (137cm)
- The minimum height for a passenger is 38″ (97cm)
- The maximum combined weight per cart (passenger + driver) is 330 lbs (150kg) on a wet track and 375 lbs (170kg) on a dry track.
Location and How To Get There
The Sunrise Apache Mountain Coaster is located at the Sunrise Park Resort in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona.
The resort is just a four-hour drive from Phoenix with two different routes of similar drive times. Sunrise is also under four hours from Tucson or Albuquerque, NM.
A full set of directions can be found on the Sunrise Park Resort website here.
The ride is located at the base of the mountain – below is a screenshot from the resort map showing the location.
Before You Go..
If you’re looking for another mountain and alpine coaster then be sure to check out the Canyon Coaster in Williams, Arizona.
