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Courtesy of Aerie's Resort
Alpine Coaster
Families riding the new Alpine coaster at Aerie's Resort
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Courtesy of Aerie's Resort
Alpine Coaster
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Courtesy of Aerie's Resort
Alpine Coaster
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Courtesy of Aerie's Resort
Alpine Coaster
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Courtesy of Aerie's Resort
Alpine Coaster
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Courtesy of Aerie's Resort
Alpine Coaster
Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, Illinois, is making a bid to attract more families to its hilltop adventurescape 45 minutes outside of St. Louis: It recently installed a new Alpine coaster, a type of thrill ride similar to a roller coaster, typically found in mountain or ski resorts. It’s the first of its kind in the state of Illinois and will run year-round (yes, even in the snow).
Jeff and Sandy Lorton, the owners of Aerie’s, purchased the property in 1998, and have been adding to it throughout the years. The hilltop retreat now offers a lodge for overnight stays, winery and restaurant with a scenic view of the confluence of the Missouri and Illinois rivers, the Grafton SkyTour aerial lift, the Grafton Zipline, and now the new coaster.
Building a ride of some sort to draw in families was always part of the plan for Aerie’s, and the Lortons took inspiration for the Alpine coaster from Grafton’s topography as well as places like Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which has the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, the longest downhill track in the country. (Branson also features the U.S.’s first double Alpine coaster, The Branson Coaster.) The Alpine coaster was purchased from European company Wiegand Sports and is custom made to fit into the terrain.
Here are eight more things to know about the new Alpine coaster:
1. Your adventure begins at 14 W. Main, right across from the Grafton Ferry. You must ride the Grafton SkyTour up the hill to the Alpine coaster. You can also register for the Grafton Zipline here.
2. Once you disembark the SkyTour and purchase your ticket at the coaster site, a tech will show you how to operate your car. The Alpine coaster is powered by gravity and a hand brake. Handles on either side of the car allow the rider to control how fast or slow the ride goes. That means that more timid kids can take the ride a little slower, and daredevils can go full throttle. But it also means that, unlike a roller coaster where you board the car and let the ride do the rest, you have to manage the space between your car and the one in front of you. Aerie’s asks that you keep 80 feet of distance, and helpful signs show you what that looks like.
3. It depends on how fast you go, of course, but the ride typically lasts about four minutes. The track is nearly 4,000 feet long and includes seven hairpin turns and eight waves or twists.
4. Each coaster car has two seats. Kids as young as 3 can ride with an adult, and there is a second seat belt for the front seat. (Two adults may not ride together.)
5. Because the coaster was built into the terrain, Aerie’s had to clear a few trees to make room, but a lush forest canopy remains, making this quite possibly the most aesthetic coaster in the region. Your social media–obsessed children will be pleased with the Instagram ops.
6. Rides start at $18 for a single adult, $13 for a single child, and $28 for an adult and child. Purchase a bundle of three rides, and the price drops, to three rides for the price of two.
7. If your kids are extreme thrill-seekers, Aerie’s also offers a 1–2.5-hour canopy tour with seven different zip lines and two suspension bridges. Prices start at $79 per person Sunday–Friday and $89 per person for Saturday tours.
8. If you want to make a weekend out of your Aerie’s trip (or leave the kids at home and take a couple's getaway), here’s an insider tip: Cottage 37 is the only cottage available to rent. Make sure to ask for it when you call to book.
Watch more videos of the Alpine coaster experience below:
