originally posted on 9/15/2023
All Photos: Amber Lightbody. View full-sized image.
In May 2018, ACE Rocky Mountain enthusiasts got a huge surprise at Lakeside Amusement Park (Denver, Colorado) — they saw a coaster sitting just behind the parking lot. It did not open that summer, or the next, as those years were not kind to any parks. During the summer of 2023, Lakeside began teasing fans with a fenced-off area where this coaster sat. Refurbished rides that had not been seen in years were being set up and fresh paths were being paved. No official word came regarding if or when this area would open.
Over the period of a few seasons, classic Lakeside Amusement Park rides like the Ferris Wheel were rebuilt in areas with new pavers, as well as a new (to the park) roller coaster in the form of a Pinfari Zyklon.
View full-sized image.
On Labor Day weekend, rumors of this still-unnamed coaster running were showing up on social media. If one has never been to Lakeside, it should be noted that operations are different from those in many other parks. Opening is not a rope drop, but a slow process of watching and waiting for rides to open. Signs of life stirred by the coaster. Staff proclaimed it would be opening soon and confirmed that it still had no name. They were simply calling it the Pinfari Coaster — a nod to the coaster’s manufacturer.
The thrill of a new credit is fun for enthusiasts. Although the coaster isn’t new, it was relocated from Fun Plex in Nebraska and therefore is new to the park. After cycling empty cars, the operators finally began admitting riders. Once guests were properly restrained, the first occupied car made its way up the lift hill, which provided views of the old racetrack adjacent to the park. At the top, the car made its way around the curve, highlighting Lake Rhoda and the mountains in the distance. Following the initial plunge, the coaster’s compact layout is filled with twists, turns and drops, with a few surprising stops by the brakes before the return to the loading platform.
Lakeside’s Pinfari Coaster, now operational, will be a welcome addition to Denver’s beloved traditional park by offering guests another rare amusement ride to enjoy.
A relocated Pinfari may not be the most exciting experience for many enthusiasts but for fans of Lakeside and coaster history, it was a monumental achievement. New investments in the park support preservation efforts and will hopefully lead to Lakeside providing fun for the Denver area for years to come. The line that grew as guests noticed the coaster operating highlighted the enthusiasm for this new development. Though the 2023 season comes to an end this weekend, the Pinfari Coaster is a sign of good things to come at Lakeside.
— Amber Lightbody, ACE Rocky Mountain Regional Representative
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