Press Release – Aug 18, 2011
Calling All Thrill Seekers: Adventure Awaits in Ellicottville
Ellicottville, NY – From a one-of-a-kind ride down a spiraling mountain to a challenging walk high in the trees, all the adventure you need is right here in Ellicottville, with the highly anticipated Mountain Coaster at Holiday Valley’s Ski High Adventure Park set to celebrate its Grand Opening on Saturday, August 20, at 10 a.m.
Similar to an amusement park roller coaster, the Mountain Coaster features cars that ride on a track and travel uphill before making a descent. What sets it apart is its size – there are 15 curves, 12 waves, two jumps and a giant spiral the length of the ride, all while you make a 2,490-foot descent zigzagging and spiraling down through the woods – and the fact that riders can accelerate or decelerate using handles on the sides of the cars. Don’t believe it? See for yourself at http://vimeo.com/25567269.
“This unique ride is just one more reason to pay a visit to Ellicottville,” said Brian McFadden, Executive Director at the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, noting that the Mountain Coaster was designed, engineered and manufactured by Weigand of Germany, shipped in seven containers and took 10 weeks to construct. “Thanks to Holiday Valley and the Ski High Adventure Park, we are once again raising the bar as a four-season recreational destination,” he said.
Equally invigorating is the Aerial Park which opened at Sky High Adventure Park earlier this summer. Stretched across a four-acre section of woods, the Aerial Park boasts eight separate courses of varying degrees of difficulty, each one consisting of a series of wooden platforms and bridges connected between trees and presenting the challenge of how to get from one to the next. The more difficult courses are higher up in the trees, with some featuring exhilarating zip lines as well.
“The Aerial Park is a spectacular venue for families and friends of all ages,” notes McFadden.
Meanwhile, just down the road from Ellicottville, more adventure awaits at the Kinzua Bridge State Park in Mount Jewett, Pa., where the newly constructed Kinzua Sky Walk is scheduled to open September 15. Featuring a partial glass floor, the pedestrian walkway is built on the historic towers of the Kinzua Viaduct, offering a breathtaking “walk across the sky.” The Kinzua Bridge Fall Festival immediately follows the walkway Grand Opening, featuring live music, crafts and local food vendors daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., September 17-18.
For More Information
The Sky High Adventure Park’s Mountain Coaster will operate daily through September 5 and on weekends through October 9. The coaster will also operate during the winter season. The cost of a single ride is $6 during the summer season. For more information about the Aerial Park, including individual and group rates, please visit http://www.holidayvalley.com/HolidayValley/info/skyhigh.aspx.
For additional details about attractions and events in Ellicottville, visit www.ellicottvilleny.com and click on Events, or contact the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-349-9099. ‘Fans’ are also welcome at www.facebook.com\Ellicottville.
