Rip through the B.C. mountains on a roller coaster

You may have seen the B.C. mountains, but never quite like this.

The Revelstoke Mountain Resort is getting ready to open The Pipe Mountain Coaster, which is the first of its kind in North America, according to the resort.

The single-track 1.4-kilometre coaster, which opens May 21, will travel up to 42 km/h from Revelation Lodge to the Village Plaza.

Peter Nielsen, vice president of operations at the resort, says it is primarily a destination for skiers but with the addition of the rollercoaster, that will soon change.

“It’s the first step in the development of our summer program,” he said. “We’re planning to add a series of different types of activities as the summers progress.”

Unlike a traditional roller coaster, the Mountain Coaster allows a person to ride individually and control his or her own speed.

According to the resort, the rollercoaster is designed to have minimal impact on the environment.

“We really wanted to have it go through as much natural landscape as possible and we’ve already got lots of cleared areas, mostly just to provide sightlines and stuff and safety factors – that there’s lots of space between where you’re travelling and where there’s obstructions,” Nielsen said.

The track is designed to be assembled every spring and then deassembled every winter.

A single ride will cost $19 for adults. Seniors and children get 15 per cent off.

Nielsen said project construction was already completed in November and test rides and safety inspections have been completed.

Revelstoke is 200 kilometres northeast of Kelowna.