Western North Carolina is boundless for outdoor fun, and now, if you want to take a ride on a mountain coaster you can with the state's first-ever mountain coaster that opened last year in Banner Elk. Go racing down the mountain at speeds of 27 miles per hour on your very own coaster and experience total exhilaration on North Carolina's first mountain coaster at Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster in Banner Elk.
Constructed within the forest on the side of a mountain, Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is one of the funnest things you can possibly do in North Carolina.
The brand new facility opened weeks before the pandemic forced a closure of a number of months, but the attraction has been reopen for a while now and operates seven days a week at full force, rain or shine.
It's easy to see why the adventure park here is so popular among locals and visitors alike.
Whether you ride in tandem with another, smaller, individual or have your coaster all to yourself, you're sure to love the journey up the straight track to the very top of the ride. The anticipation, alone, is nail bitingly fun.
And then once you arrive at the top and start your journey down the 2,390 feet of track from the top to the bottom, winding your way around loop after loop through the forest, you'll love the thrill of the ride.
To keep a better grip on staging visitors evenly throughout the day, the attraction requires you to make an arrival reservation time. You can register here. You'll purchase your tickets once you arrive,
And if you think riding down this mountain coaster in the daylight is fun, consider buying an after dark ticket, too!
Tickets can be purchased as a single pass or in bundles that'll save you some dough. A child (age 3-6) single ticket is $6; a child (age 3-6) bundle ticket is 3 rides for $12. A youth (age 7-13) single ticket is $13; a youth (age 7-13) bundle ticket is 3 rides for $29. An adult (age 14 and over) single ticket is $16; an adult (age 14 and over) bundle ticket is 3 rides for $35.
Well worth it for the fun you're bound to have on North Carolina's only mountain coaster at Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster!
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is open year-round. The current hours are Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday/Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Keep in mind that reserving a check-in time is recommended over just walking in off the street. Learn more from the official website for Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster!
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is located 73 miles northeast of Asheville, 117 miles northwest of Charlotte, and 15 miles west of Boone, North Carolina.
Have you already taken a run down the coaster? Let us know about your experience by leaving a comment!
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