Mountain Coaster opens at Mt. Van Ho

NORTH ELBA | The Olympic bobsled complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg just opened a swooping mountain coaster, the Cliffside Coaster, which runs in rolling turns and drops alongside the Olympic bob run. Built as part of ongoing updates at the Van Hoevenberg sledding complex, it is designed to stay open year-round. Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed the new attraction in an announcement last week. "The Cliffside Coaster is one of the latest and most thrilling additions to the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) venues, and part of our ongoing effort to modernize the entire Mt. Van Hoevenberg complex," he said. "This revitalization is transforming the complex into a year-round provider of excitement and entertainment for both athletes and families, which will provide a critical boost to local businesses as we work to build back better." Senator Betty Little said the attraction is "truly is one-of-a-kind." And Essex County Board of Supervisors Chairman Shaun Gillilland called the Cliffside Coaster a fun addition to the historic bobrun facility. "This coaster is the latest addition to a formidable set of attractions in Lake Placid and will highlight the year-round benefits of visiting this beautiful area," Gillilland said in a news release. The rolling track beside the bobrun has timing and audio systems that allow visitors to experience the thrill of what it was like to be an Olympic bobsledder during Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid. Riders control the pace themselves. "The coaster follows the alignment of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Bobsled track as it descends the mountain," ORDA President and CEO Mike Pratt said. "The views are amazing and the curves get your heart pounding. Everyone will feel like they deserve a medal." The Cliffside Coaster and Sky Flyer zip line at the ski jump complex in Lake Placid are two visitor experiences installed this year, part of $240 million in state-funded investments to upgrade ORDA venues ahead of the 2023 World Games. "These unprecedented investments are improving the infrastructure of ORDA facilities to ensure they can continue to attract and support large-scale, global events while transforming these facilities into year-round attractions," ORDA said in a news release. ORDA with the weather the loss this winter of sledding, World Cups, and World Championship events due to pandemic travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. Races were moved to Germany. But Lake Placid has remained a tourism force throughout the summer and autumn season. The new outdoor adventure rides are designed to extend the tourism season. And Cuomo said on Saturday that ski resorts will be able to open on November 6 with reduced gondola capacity based on numbers of trails open and guests at the mountains. In addition to Whiteface Ski Resort, ORDA runs Gore Mountain in North Creek and Belleayre Mountain in the Catskills. Other updates completed this summer at ORDA venues include the new eight-person, ADA-compliant gondola at the ski jumps and the glass-enclosed elevator on the tower there. New frost rail systems have been installed on the 90M and 120M ski jumps. The Mountain Pass Lodge at Mount Van Hoevenberg with a state-of-the-art indoor bobsled and skeleton start-track, a 30-point biathlon range, 5 kilometers of newly built Nordic trails, and a three-million-gallon snowmaking reservoir are also in place. ORDA said "coming soon" will be new trailheads for Cascade and Porter Mountains, which will start at a new hiking center and expanded parking at the Mount Van Hoevenberg cross-country ski area. FIND OUT MORE The Cliffside Coaster at Mt. Van Ho looks to run year-round, and the Sky Flyer has tickets available online through the end of November, also only on Saturdays and Sundays. Guests have to purchase tickets online to allow capacity control management at the venues. ORDA has provisions in place to sanitize carts and seats between use, following state public health safety protocols as required for protection during the Covid pandemic. Masks are required at all venues. For more information about the Cliffside Coaster and the Lake Placid Olympic sites, visit www.mtvanhoevenberg.com Online tickets must be purchased at least one day in advance. They cost $55 for the driver (Ages 9+); and $65 for a driver with a passenger. Drivers must be ages 18-plus when riding with a passenger. Passengers must be between ages three to 12 and can only ride with a driver. The Cliffside Coaster operates, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday.

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Mountain Coaster opens at Mt. Van Ho

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