The Gold Rush, the new roller coaster in town, is the highest family coaster in the world for its class.
The amusement ride, which began operation on Friday, June 27 at Fun City, climbs to 7,550 feet above sea level, as the individual cars spin on the figure eight track and “the fast parts push you back in your seat,” said 8-year-old Lucas from Boulder, who summed it all up as “Great.”
Eleven-year-old Brody from Salina, Kansas, enthusiastically blurted out, “It’s a 10 out of 10” to his grandfather as soon as he stepped down from the ride. His rating was “because the car was spinning, and I thought I was going to spin off into the parking lot.”
Six-year-old Willa from Boulder said it was “the best” and begged her father for another ride. This reporter, 68 years old, enjoyed the speed and some scary moments when the spinning car took quick turns on the track.
The new ride was supposed to be shipped from Italy in April and be fully operational for Memorial Day weekend, but several factors caused the holdup.
Which of these three events do you think contributed to the delay?
A.The passing of Pope Francis in April 2025
B. New tariffs on Italian imports
C. Waiting on inspections after installation
If you guessed the death of the pope you’re right. According to Fun City owner Greg Davis, the pope’s death “practically shut down Italy” and delayed the shipping process. New tariffs affected the price of the coaster but did not contribute to the delay, and inspections of the ride were conducted in a timely manner.
The coaster arrived in two crates on Friday, June 20, and was ready for inspection on Tuesday, June 24. The inspection was a success, and the ride opened three days later after staff had been trained on operating procedures.
Other attractions at the park include the iconic giant rainbow slide, bumper boats, go-karts, the gel blaster, a bungee trampoline, gemstone panning, water walking balls, and mini golf.
The amusement park has had a facelift for this season. New sunshades have been added for guests to stay cool. New outdoor carpeting, a revamped Fun City logo, and updated fencing, siding, cemented areas, and lighting make the park look fresh and attractive. Riders can see gorgeous views of the snowy Continental Divide from Fun City and on the new coaster.
Lights on rollercoasters have been described as a “neon rainbow light show” by one observer. Those lights will be on constantly during summer operating hours: Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mini golfers cannot begin after 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays or after 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.