HELEN — The City of Helen has received a proposal for a new form of entertainment — an Alpine Coaster ride.
Terry Sims, who operates Cool River Tubing, has applied to the city to place the Black Mountain Alpine Coaster attraction on land adjacent to Helen City Hall on South Main Street.
City Manager Jerry Elkins discussed Sims' application during Tuesday afternoon's city commission meeting.
The attraction would not require clear cutting of the property, nor would it require removal of the existing house. Rather, two small buildings would be added and only select trees on the property would be removed to make way for the immediate track and any required utilities.
"That's the fun of this ride is you literally ride your way down through the woods," said Building and Zoning Administrator Larry Krul.
The property would have to be zoned to C3 Commercial with a conditional use for amusement, Elkins said.
"We're probably going to have for a called meeting, probably the 15th of July, for the meeting to have the public hearing for the rezoning," Krul said.
The concept plan calls for 40 parking spaces, with the coaster takeoff area in front of the existing white house on the property and is based on equipment from Wiegand Sports LLC.
Wiegand Sports LLC— has more than 180 Alpine Coaster installations to its credit, including some in the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., area. Rides can be built between two feet and 30 feet above the ground.
Unlike thrill coasters at amusement parks like Six Flags Over Georgia and Carowinds, an Alpine Coaster utilizes single cars with individual braking systems and is suitable for all ages.
"These are actually individual cars," Elkins stressed.
