Live Well Estes - October 2020

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2021

The developer used helicopter to pour the first concrete pads of the mountain coaster this summer.

File photo / Estes Park Trail-Gazette

Mustang Mountain Coaster races toward opening day By Tim Mosier Trail-Gazette

T

he long-awaited Mustang Mountain Coaster is on track to hold its Grand Opening during Memorial Day weekend 2021. The coaster will be about 1,000 linear feet on the uphill track pulled by an electric cable and bullwheel that is installed in the ground, and will travel roughly 2,000 linear feet of gravity-fed descending track. Building the Mustang Mountain Coaster has been an exciting experience for me personally and profes-

sionally,” said owner and operator, Cody Walker. “Getting to work with this crew of young people and seeing their work ethic, dedication and skill really has been an encouragement that the next generation has some hope.” The project is a single-ride attraction and no additional infrastructure will be installed besides a storage shed for coaster carts and a building that will operate as a ticket booth, office space, and bathrooms. A 19-spot parking lot will be at the base of the coaster and there will be a shuttle service from the Mustang Mountain Coaster offices on

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US 34 to the coaster lot. “Our infrastructure is bare bones. The entire project has a very simplistic in design, we definitely did not want to do anything overly ornate to contrast the native land,” said Director of Operations, Gregg Hecker. “It’s all going to fit in well with the natural aesthetic of the land.” Almost daily, Walker tours the project by taking “Lifetime Passholders” on walking tours, and he sees his dream inching toward completion. According to Walker, the construction process for the coaster track itself has gone

seamlessly because of the diligent work, great weather and extensive planning that has been part of this process. “The most gratifying part of building the Mustang Mountain Coaster has been the amazing feedback we have received both personally and on social media,” said Walker. “The support in the Estes Park community, through phone calls, emails, letters and just getting stopped on the street has been truly humbling. There isn’t a day that goes by we don’t receive a note or have a conSee COASTER, pg. 18