...And as early as next summer, look on the Breckenridge ski resort slopes for an alpine coaster with a 2,500-foot drop. It was recently approved by the Breckenridge planning commission....

http://www.denverpos...day/ci_15853339

...in Colorado...

Well I go to Breck every year to ski, and somehow I can't figure out the point of an alpine coaster there. and it must have been a typo, im guessing it meant 250 feet.

You would be wrong:

http://summitcountyv...sed-for-peak-8/

No typo...

See also, in Utah:

http://www.parkcitym.../alpine_coaster

They do mean length of track, not the vertical elevation change...

Thanks terp, and I saw the plans and I don't like them, that area is a really nice area with long trails, places to eat, and lots of lifts that take you to almost any point in the mountain. For some reason putting an alpine coaster in the middle of all this just doesn't sound good. I may love rollercoasters, but they don't belong at a ski resort.

And note the Utah place is charging $20 per ride...

I expect the Colorado one will, too...or more.

Also, note the Utah place's ride warning:

http://www.parkcitymountain.com/winter/activities/alpine_coaster/Alpine_Coaster_Warning.pdf

I just rode my first Alpine coaster earlier this week, (Wisp resort in MD). Surprisingly they don't effect the scenery in the area much at all. The tracks are quite low to the ground and disappear in the trees to anyone not riding them. While they are not quite as wild as a traditional coaster they have their own thrills.