Arizona's newest mountain coaster opens soon. Here's when, where and who can ride
The newest mountain coaster thrill ride in Arizona is getting closer to opening.
The Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster is being built at Sunrise Park Resort in the White Mountains and is expected to be open for summer 2024.
The ride, which spans 3,287 feet of track, promises thrilling drops, heart-pounding turns and captivating mountain views. The coaster is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe, making it the only tribal coaster in the country and one of two such coasters in Arizona. (The other mountain coaster is in Williams, AZ.)
Here's what to know about the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster and when it will open.
What is a mountain coaster?
A mountain coaster, also known as an alpine coaster, is a type of roller coaster designed to take advantage of hills or mountain slopes. In contrast to traditional roller coasters, mountain coasters integrate with the natural landscape, twisting and turning through the mountainous terrain.
When does the Sunrise Park mountain coaster open?
The alpine coaster originally was set to open on Memorial Day weekend 2024, but due to some construction delays the opening date has been moved to the summer of 2024.
"We had a few construction delays because of heavy snowfall in late March and some international shipping delays that caused us to push the opening date of the coaster by a few weeks," said Tyler Shultz, marketing director for Sunrise Park Resort.
"Although I don't have an exact opening date to share, we expect the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster to open in June. We will update our website with an exact opening date soon as we have more information."
Pricing has yet to be announced. Check www.sunrise.ski for updates.
How to ride the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster
The Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster features individual carts. Riders control their speed using a hand brake. With a top speed of 25 mph and automatic maintenance of safe distances between carts, the ride is suitable for families. The coaster will operate in summer and winter.
Riders must meet specific height requirements, with a minimum height of 54 inches for a person riding alone and a minimum height of 38 inches for an additional passenger.
The coaster accommodates a maximum weight of 330 pounds on a wet track and 375 pounds on a dry track.
The Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster's track is 3,287 feet long, featuring 994 feet uphill, 2,293 feet downhill and an elevation change of 207 feet.
Things to do at Sunrise Park Resort
Sunrise Park Resort offers a range of recreational activities all year long. Here are some popular winter activities:
Snowboarding.
Skiing.
Ski bikes.
Snow tubing.
Cross-country skiing.
Popular summer activities at Sunrise Park include:
Downhill mountain biking.
Scenic chairlift rides.
3D archery.
Hiking.
Zipline.
Details: Sunrise Park Resort, 200 State Route 273, on the Fort Apache Reservation near Greer. 855-735-7669, www.sunrise.ski.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's newest mountain coaster coming to Sunrise Park Resort
