Colorado Park Opening 120 Foot Underground Freefall This Summer

This sounds really cool.  Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, located in Glenwood Caverns, Colorado, is adding the Haunted Mine Drop this summer, which will plunge riders down a 120 foot mine shaft underground.

The ride is being designed by Stan Checketts, formerly of S&S Worldwide, who is knows for his wild ride concepts.  The Haunted Mine Drop will include a complete theme, including ghostly figures and an elaborate backstory.

© Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

This concept art shows the structure that will greet visitors when they arrive at the attraction.  The park is creating a full ghost story for the attraction, where riders come to work at the mine but get their orientation from ghosts.  That should set the tone for the whole experience, which eventually includes a dark plunge down 120 feet underground.  According to this news story, park is working with Creative Visions on the theming for the attraction including the ghostly apparitions.  The above-linked story also has photos of the hole that the park is digging for the drop, and other progress photos.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park already features a roller coaster, swing rides over the edge of the mountain, an alpine coaster and zip line.  The new Haunted Mine Drop ride is the park's first attempt at theming - one I sure hope will be a huge success!