March 20, 2019

Alpine coaster would soar above Leavenworth

Image from city of Leavenworth documents [enlarge]

The coaster would have 2,000 feet of down-track and 750 of up-track.

Adrenaline junkies, are you pining for something more than the handful of ziplines that run through our state's forests? If so, get ready for Washington's first Wiegand alpine coaster.

Mercer Island businessman Dave Moffett has plans in with the city of Leavenworth to build Leavenworth Adventure Park, which includes an alpine coaster. Moffett's family in the past owned ski operations at Snoqualmie Pass.

Leavenworth Adventure Park would be built in two phases, with the first including the coaster, a climbing wall and/or tower, a bungee trampoline and a sluice mining attraction for tourists. It would be built on 10 mostly vacant acres off Highway 2 at the city's west end, at 9342 Icicle Road. Plans indicate it could open in early 2020 and operate at least 225 days a year.

The coaster would haul riders in small bobsled-like carts up the sloped site along 750 feet of track, then release them at the top for a 2,000-foot run with a vertical drop of 234 feet. Riders would be able to control their speed using handles on both sides of the carts while whizzing through twists and turns. Similar Wiegand tracks limit speeds to about 25 miles per hour.

Documents at the city indicate the coaster would have a dual-rail system, with metal track supported on foundations that could consist of large precast concrete blocks anchored to the slope.

Germany-based Wiegand says it has installed more than 180 alpine coasters around the world, including 27 in the U.S. The closest, at Bogus Basin in Idaho, is called Glade Runner. It is 4,330 feet long with an 800-foot drop. It opened in December 2017 and cost $3 million to build, according to an article in the Idaho Statesman.

Phase one in Leavenworth would include a base area with loading/unloading, storage, ticketing, retail, restrooms, a picnic area, office and food services, landscaping, 69 guest parking stalls, a crosswalk and fencing. Any buildings would have to comply with the city's Old World Bavarian Architectural Theme Code and can't be higher than 35 feet.

The second phase would build an aerial ropes course with a Via Ferrata climbing experience, 5,000 square feet buildings for food services, landscaping and more parking. It would be built if phase one is successful.

The project recently received a mitigated environmental determination of non-significance, which has been appealed. A city official said the appeal hearing will likely be held in April or May and that date will be determined by Friday.

Here's the project team listed on a city document from last summer: D.R. Moffett & Associates, owner/developer/agent; John Sutherland, project manager; Syndicate Smith, architect; RH2 Engineering, civil and geotechnical; Grette Associates, environmental; RBT Consultants, traffic; Cultural Resource Consultants, cultural assessment; and Chelan County PUD, electrical.

Attempts to contact Moffett were unsuccessful.