Mountain Coaster coming By Greg Jordan
Vacationeers local or visiting usually think about places like Myrtle Beach and Pigeon Forge when they imagine riding anything like a rollercoaster, but now they don’ t have to travel any further than Mercer County to enjoy a thrill ride.
Geoff Nordloh, a manager at Brush Creek Falls Resort, said the new attraction coming into being across Eads Mill Road is the Brush Creek Holl’ R Mountain Coaster. This mountain coaster’ s journey started overseas and then came to Mercer County.
“ The manufacturer is a company called Wiegand,” Nordloh said.“ They’ re based in Germany and under the typical way they do it, they manufacture all the rail parts and everything based on the specific designs and they ship them here to the US and then their supervisors come out and work with people that we hire to assemble everything.”
Brush Creek Holl’ R Mountain Coaster’ s size can be glimpsed by travelers going north and south along I-77 near Exit 14. Visitors coming to take a ride will soon learn that it’ s about 3,200 feet long.
“ And people have asked me how long it takes to ride it,” Nordloh said.“ That depends on how fast you go down.”
There is a difference between an alpine or mountain coaster and the huge rollercoasters found at major amusement parks like Six Flags, he said. A mountain coaster isn’ t as fast and heavy as the big rollercoasters. Riders used to the big rollercoasters will notice two other variations.
“ The difference is you ride in a cart that holds one or two people,” Nordloh said.“ And you have control over the speed.”
Inclement weather slowed construction somewhat, but plans are being made to open Brush Creek Holl’ R
Mountain Coaster to the public.“ Sometime in the next 30 days, which could be five days from now or it could be 30 days from now,” Nordloh said May 13.“ We have an inspection this week for licensing purposes with the state Department of Labor which oversees amusement rides.”
Work on the alpine coaster’ s building was still underway May 13, so when it can open will depend on the West Virginia State Fire Marshal. People eager to know when West Virginia’ s first and only mountain coaster opens can watch the Brush Creek Holl’ R Mountain Coaster website for announcements.
“ They can check our website and we’ ll let them know,” Nordloh said.
They can also watch a billboard along I-77. One idea is to add a Now Open banner when the mountain coaster opens. Getting to it won’ t be difficult.
“ It’ s Exit 14, Mercer Springs Road, I-77,” he said.“ You turn east and go about 100 yards and then turn left onto Eads Mill Road. And then you come 2 miles north on Eads Milll Road parallel to the freeway to get here.”
Interstate 77 travelers going north and south to and from other vacation destinations often use Mercer County as the midway point of their journeys. People calling Ohio, Canada and other places hundreds of miles away home often stop and relax before tackling the next legs of their journeys.
The neighboring Brush Creek Falls Resort has full hookups for RVs, but it also offers cabins and suites. And the mountain coaster isn’ t the only source of entertainment. There are plans to create additional amusements near the mountain coaster.
Besides the new Brush Creek Holl’ R Mountain Coaster, the resort features a general store, a challenging mini golf course as well as a gem mine where families with young explorers can search for a wide variety of gemstones and fossils.
One recently completed amenity is the resort’ s Event Barn. There is room for 100 guests coming to weddings, parties, family reunions, company gatherings and other activities were plenty of comfortable space is needed. A fully equipped kitchen as well as fireplaces completes the setting. Brush Creek Falls Resort also serves as a pleasant base for visitors wanting to explore the other sights that Mercer County and the surrounding area have to offer. One natural attraction which is practically next door is Brush Creek Falls State Park. A quick trip further down Eads Mill Road brings visitors to the park’ s trailhead.
Recent work has enhanced the trail leading to the 30-foot Brush Creek Falls and further down to White Oak Creek Falls. The trail – 2 miles to the Bluestone River and 2 miles back – becomes a 4-mile hike through a canyon offering West Virginia’ s scenic beauty.
More hiking and other recreation opportunities are close by at Pipestem Resort State Park near the Summers County line. Short drives also take visitors to the Pocahontas Trail, Mercer County’ s branch of Hatfield-McCoy Trail, near the Town of Bramwell for ATV and dirt bike riding as well as visits to the historic town built by coal millionaires. The routes to the ATV trail also takes visitors to shopping opportunities in the cities of Princeton and Bluefield.
The new Brush Creek Holl’ R Mountain Coaster is the latest edition that makes Mercer County and the surrounding region a tourist destination as well as a place where residents can always find something to do.
JUNE’ 25 � DESTINATIONS � 21