The new Cliffside Mountain Coaster at the newly transformed Mt. Van Hovenberg, Lake Placid’s Olympic Sports Complex is now open year-round. This coaster is said to be the longest mountain coaster in the United States.
The coaster travels alongside the 1980 Olympic bobsled track and is part of New York’s efforts to modernize the entire Mt. Van Hovenberg Complex, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“The Cliffside Coaster is one of our latest and most thrilling additions to the Olympic Development Authority (ORDA) venues, and part of our ongoing effort to modernize the entire Mt. Hoevenberg complex,” Cuomo said. “This revitalization is transforming the complex into a year-round provider of excitement and entertainment for both athletes and families and it will attract more summer visitors and provide a critical boost to local businesses as we work to bounce back and build back better.”
The mountain coaster is equipped with a timing and audio system that allows visitors to experience the thrill of what it was like to be an Olympic bobsledder during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid. The coaster will be open to the public on weekends only, with extended hours on Columbus Day weekend, and includes informative commentary for riders as they glide through twists and turns replicating the historic track
The 1.4-mile cliffside coaster takes riders uphill. Once the bobsleigh completes the climb, riders gain control, navigating the track’s twists and turns at their own pace.
Now, this is something I can get into. I hope to visit here soon.
The coaster is part of a larger plan to make the Lake Placid Olympic site more of a destination. Other new park features include the Sky Flyer Zipline, an ADA-compliant gondola, and the Mountain Pass Lodge.
ORDA President & CEO, Mike Pratt said, “The cliffside Coaster is a one-of-a-kind attraction and will provide an exhilarating experience. The coaster follows the alignment of the 1932 and 1980 track as it descends the mountain.
Gov. Cuomo committed almost $240 million in funding to support the state’s Olympic Regional Development Authority properties and to improve the infrastructure of ORDA facilities to continue to attract support for large-scale, global events.
Guests will be required to purchase tickets in advance for capacity control and the carts will be wiped down and sanitized between each ride to follow New York State protocols. Face coverings are also required.
In addition to the new attractions and improvements, the new frost rail systems on the 90M and 120M ski jump at the complex and Mountain Pass Lodge features a state-of-the-art indoor bobsled and skeleton start track, a 30-point biathlon range, 5km of newly built Nordic trails with a 3-million gallon snowmaking reservoir. New trailheads will also be coming soon for Cascade and Porter Mountains.
For more information, visit www.mtvanhoevenberg.com/todo/cliffside-coaster.
