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Rocky Mountain Construction

Roller coaster manufacturer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rocky Mountain Construction
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Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) is a roller coaster manufacturing and construction company based in Hayden, Idaho, United States. It is best known for its I-Box track and Topper Track for wooden roller coasters. Founded by Fred Grubb and Suanne Dedmon in 2001, it has built over 20 roller coasters. In 2023, amusement ride manufacturer Larson International merged with it.

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History

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In 2001, Rocky Mountain Construction was established by Fred Grubb and Suanne Dedmon. Fred Grubb previously had experience in the construction industry having worked on custom homes and zoo exhibits. The company has worked on several projects including the construction of roller coasters, water parks, steel buildings, miniature golf courses and go kart tracks.[1]

In 2009 Alan Schilke of Ride Centerline began providing design and engineering work for Rocky Mountain Construction. He previously worked with Arrow Dynamics (later S&S Worldwide) to design Tennessee Tornado, Road Runner Express, and X.[2][3][4] Working with Rocky Mountain Construction, Schilke and Grubb designed the I-Box track for wooden roller coasters.[5] The first installation of this track technology debuted on New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas in 2011.[6]

In late 2011, Schilke announced that the company would be working on two projects throughout 2012 which would both open in 2013.[7] These were later revealed to be an I-Box retrack of The Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and a new roller coaster designed from scratch at Silver Dollar City named Outlaw Run.[8][9] The track technology used for Outlaw Run, which allows a square beam of wood to be twisted, took 4 years to develop. It allows Rocky Mountain Construction to design layouts with maneuvers that are not traditionally possible with wooden roller coasters such as heartline rolls. Grubb has stated the technology could be used for new elements in the future.[10] Some new elements were realized with the announcement of Goliath at Six Flags Great America. The ride features a dive loop and a zero-g stall. The ride opened in June 2014.[11]

In 2013, Rocky Mountain Construction signed a deal with Dutch amusement ride firm Vekoma. The agreement allows Vekoma to sell Rocky Mountain Construction's roller coasters outside the North American market.[12] In 2014, Kolmården Wildlife Park in Sweden announced plans to build the first Rocky Mountain coaster in Europe called Wildfire, which opened on June 28, 2016.[13] To handle increased demand, Rocky Mountain Construction opened a new factory, twice the size of their existing one, in August 2014.[14]

In a press release on April 11, 2023, amusement ride manufacturer Larson International, known for its Fire Ball models, merged with Rocky Mountain Construction.[15]

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Technology

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Topper Track (left) and I-Box Track (right) display at Rocky Mountain Construction's booth at IAAPA IAE 2017, with the Raptor Track display behind them to the right
  • I-Box Track (also known as Iron Horse Track) – Rocky Mountain Construction's most common product. A formation of replacement steel track for wooden roller coasters. The first installation of this track was on New Texas Giant in Six Flags Over Texas.[16][17]
  • I-Box (Large Track Version) – Specifically designed to run the S&S Free Spin 4D coaster clones.
  • Topper Track – Installed on several coasters around the United States.[18][19][20] The track is designed to reduce the maintenance required for a wooden roller coaster and provide a smoother ride experience.[19][21] This steel track replaces the upper layers of laminated wood.[21]
  • Wooden roller coaster trains – specifically designed to run on the company's own Topper Track, however, they could be added to other wooden roller coasters as well. The trains feature steel wheels as opposed to polyurethane wheels found on most trains.[7][8]
  • 208 ReTrak – Debuting in 2021 on Silverwood's Tremors roller coaster, similar to the I-box track, 208 is designed to be used as a replacement for sections of old wooden coasters to decrease maintenance and add lifespan to the coaster as well as increase rider comfort and enjoyment.
  • Wild Moose – A version of the classic wild mouse coaster type using I-Box track, featuring entirely redesigned trains and a compact layout.
  • Raptor Track – A single rail steel track that features inline seating for passengers.
  • T-Rex Track – Similar to Raptor track, the T-Rex track is a single rail track. It is a larger single rail model that permits two seat-wide trains on the track rather than one.
  • Swing Axle Trains – Debuting in 2018 on Twisted Timbers, the Swing axle train features a pivoting front axle allowing for smoother transitions between elements.
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List of roller coasters

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As of August 2023, Rocky Mountain Construction has built or refurbished 25 roller coasters around the world, all of which are currently operating, and two more are being constructed.[22]

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Other projects

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Topper Track, no layout changes

Construction

Source:[59]

Repairs

Source:[59]

Miscellaneous

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The wave pool at Boulder Beach was constructed by Rocky Mountain Construction

Source:[59]

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References

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External links

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