Massanutten Opens 'Mountain Mayhem,' Virginia's First Alpine Coaster

Massanutten Resort has officially opened Mountain Mayhem, a new alpine coaster at its Family Adventure Park — and according to resort leadership, it's the first alpine coaster in Virginia.

The coaster follows the natural contours of the mountain, sending two-rider cars down the slope at speeds of up to 25 mph. Riders control their own pace with a hand brake built into each car, so you can white-knuckle the descent or ease off through the turns.

A year-round ride for the Valley

Unlike the tubing hill or ski runs, Mountain Mayhem is designed to operate year-round, weather permitting. That gives locals and visitors another reason to head up the mountain in the shoulder seasons — spring wildflowers, summer weekends, fall color, and even winter afternoons between ski runs.

"We have many attractions that sell out during peak season. We thought this would be a fun thing that could operate year-round, kind of for everybody." — Michael Hammes, general manager and VP, Massanutten Resort

The coaster slots in alongside Massanutten's existing lineup at the Family Adventure Park, including the Mega Zipline and the tubing hill — making the park an even easier day-trip pitch for families across Rockingham, Augusta, and Shenandoah counties.

What it's like

Staff describe the ride as a "middle ground" — thrilling enough for roller-coaster fans, but approachable for kids and first-timers.

"It's fast enough to keep people who really like roller coasters excited, but not too fast where it scares people that don't like roller coasters." — Adam Mahaffey, manager, Family Adventure Park

Early riders seem to agree. James Harrison, visiting from Tilghman Island, Maryland, rode with his 8-year-old son Hudson on opening week.

"It was awesome. It's fast; we had a lot of fun. There are some good turns. We thought we were going to go off the edge at first. We would definitely do it again."

Years in the making

Getting Mountain Mayhem off the drawing board took years of design, permitting, and construction — including working with a French coaster manufacturer to build the track that hugs Massanutten's terrain.

Why it matters for the Valley

Massanutten already draws thousands of timeshare owners and drive-through visitors each year, and a first-in-state attraction is exactly the kind of anchor that keeps the Shenandoah Valley on regional trip lists. Expect the coaster to become a fixture on family itineraries alongside Luray Caverns, Skyline Drive, and the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest.

If you go: the coaster runs out of the Family Adventure Park at Massanutten Resort, just east of Harrisonburg. Check the resort's coaster page for hours, ticket pricing, and any weather-related closures before you head up.