Aerie's Alpine Coaster Celebrates Grand Opening
![a mother and son enjoy an exhilarating ride on the Aeries Mountain Coaster in Grafton, IL](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Aeries-Mountain-Coaster-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=2b74301d85e14f5974223b72fdbdbe09 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Aeries-Mountain-Coaster-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=3b093f1b5ca72281cacfab9e10c5ac89 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Aeries-Mountain-Coaster-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f71479b503e269bc3706bb120aebe442 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Aeries-Mountain-Coaster-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=4fd9a1f1bdcf20ebe2f518c9e87524b7 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Aeries-Mountain-Coaster-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e14a649236fc12ea915b4b16f23d003f 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Aeries-Mountain-Coaster-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=0d2032580351296c151218557f1b54e0 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Aeries-Mountain-Coaster-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=1f3bee8e75873f104dbfdc7478304f2b 1920w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Aeries-Mountain-Coaster-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=8ddc7dc8c4fbc0b28dec10ac67dbb2b9 2560w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Aeries-Mountain-Coaster-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=5472edc9f1720b0330fec3d59023b84c 3840w)
Ribbon Cutting set for Tuesday, Oct. 11 for Illinois’ first-ever alpine coaster
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Alton, IL – Oct. 5, 2022) Enjoy a thrill ride like no other in Illinois when Aerie’s Resort in Grafton celebrates the Grand Opening of the Aerie’s Alpine Coaster, 600 Timber Ridge Rd., Grafton at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Aerie’s will host a ribbon cutting for the much-anticipated Alpine Coaster which officially opened for business Sept. 29. State and local officials will be on hand to commemorate the opening of the only Alpine Coaster ride in Illinois.
“This is truly an attraction like no other in Illinois,” JD Lorton, Director of Operations for Aerie’s Resort noted. “We have worked to build the coaster with the help of Wiegand Sports USA during the winter and now we have a world-class attraction open in Grafton that will give visitors and residents alike year-round fun.”
Riders board a two-person coaster sled and fly down the Aerie’s limestone bluff on over 3,000 feet of a stainless-steel rail system. The natural landscape of the river bluff was maintained to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for riders. The ride includes cruising through seasonal foliage, skimming along limestone outcroppings and twisting and turning around natural formation in the landscape at speeds of up to 28 miles per hour. At the end of the line, a cable system pulls the sled and rider up 875 feet, returning to the starting point. The ride features seven hairpin turns, eight waves and twists.
“The experience is better and better each time you ride it,” Lorton noted.
Aerie’s partners with Wiegand Sports to build and design the coaster. Wiegand is the market leader in the mountain coaster industry with over 270 installations worldwide.
“With the opening of the new Alpine Coaster at Aerie’s Resort, we anticipate thousands of new visitors will flock to the Great Rivers & Routes region of southwest Illinois to explore all Aerie’s – and the region – has to offer,” Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Region of Southwest Illinois said. “This is a major addition to the already strong slate of attractions available at Aerie’s and in our region.
The Aerie’s Alpine Coaster will be open year-round. Tickets are $18 per person or three rides for $36. Children can also ride the coaster with an adult -- certain height restrictions apply -- for an additional $10 per ticket.
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(The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau is a certified Destination Marketing Organization serving Madison, Jersey, Calhoun, Macoupin, Montgomery and Greene counties and East St. Louis in St. Clair County. The bureau is dedicated to educating visitors about the region by providing information regarding the area’s history, unique landmarks, recreational opportunities, leisure attractions, special events and scenic marvels.)