originally posted on 8/18/2023
All renderings courtesy of Rocky Mountain Construction. View full-sized image.
Following an extended period of social media teasers, Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) has finally announced a moose is on the loose in the form of a new roller coaster concept. A fresh reimagining of the traditional Wild Mouse, Wild Moose roller coasters will be targeted at the family audience likely including members not yet ready for the company’s aggressive I-Box creations like New Texas Giant, Steel Vengeance and Iron Gwazi.
According to Design Engineer Bailey Bruce, the company’s movement into the family coaster space was a logical extension of its recent merger with Larson International, as well as a desire to maintain and honor RMC’s reputation as a creator of some of the most thrilling and unique roller coaster experiences currently offered to the amusement industry.
“The Wild Moose is exciting because it maintains the heart and soul of an RMC ride experience while simultaneously ensuring it is accessible to a younger generation of riders. Our patented I-Box track system has been thrilling riders for over a decade, and we’ve scaled it down here to accommodate track fabrication so twisted that it seems impossible. Taking these tight elements at a slower average velocity gives us the opportunity to introduce the unmistakably RMC experience to the entire family.”
One look at the track of a Wild Moose coaster will leave no doubt about the company behind the work — at first glance, it resembles a scaled-down I-Box creation.
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In addition to the concept’s wide demographic focus, Wild Moose coasters will be designed to be appealing to amusement park operators, led by the fact that they have the same footprint as standard Wild Mouse coasters and can be installed directly onto their existing slab foundations.
“We have learned over the years that foundation and permitting costs can get expensive and we wanted to make sure Wild Moose installations didn’t have any unexpected or budget-breaking costs,” explained Bruce. “Allowing parks the option to install this coaster on their existing slab foundations gives us an even better handle on total price, expedites installation time and allows us to pass those savings on to the buyer.”
Initially developed as an RMC version of the time-tested Wild Mouse roller coaster, the company quickly discovered a multitude of ways it could be redefined with new elements, beginning with the rolling stock. Instead of operating with single ride vehicles, Wild Moose roller coasters will operate with specially designed trains intended to allow riders to experience something drifting out from under the well-known Wild Mouse umbrella.
Unlike traditional Wild Mouse roller coasters, Wild Moose installations will feature trains instead of single ride vehicles.
View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
“The product we are bringing to market is a smidge larger, much more exciting and is introducing a unique new visual for park midways,” said Bruce. “This led to us calling the ride the Wild Moose as a fun up-cycle of the familiar name with a larger and more bombastic local animal.”
However, Wild Moose is not entirely about breaking well-established rules. Solidifying the concept’s appeal to amusement park operators, RMC explored all options but ultimately opted to design the Wild Moose with minimal moving parts to eliminate complexity and maximize reliability.
“We can and will be producing more launched roller coasters, and we considered this propulsion system for the Wild Moose Coaster,” said Bruce. “We decided that we wanted to keep the ride in a space straddling the line between something entirely new and something familiar, and this led us to refine a drive-tire lift system, which not only provides a cost-effective way to get the train up the lift, but it also simplifies the mechanical components on the underside of the train.”
Wild Moose coasters are expected to blend RMC’s track innovations with simple, proven technology to appeal to amusement park operators.
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With this sharp focus on appealing to as many potential riders as possible as well as the sensibilities of amusement park operators, RMC is expecting success as it has found with its I-Box and single-rail concepts. While no Wild Moose roller coasters have been announced as of this date of publication, it's difficult imagining a moose or two won’t be making appearances at amusement parks in the near future.
— Rob Ascough, ACE News Editor
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