Brush Creek Holl’r, near Princeton, offers a new way to appreciate the hills we call our home.
In a first for West Virginia, Brush Creek Holl’r is opening a mountain coaster this summer for guests to enjoy. While mountain coasters have been gaining in popularity worldwide, time spent in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, was the spark that led to the creation of this one. “Watching all those mountain coasters in action and seeing how much fun people were having, we thought, ‘Why not bring that kind of excitement to the Mountain State?’” says Jeremiah McKendree, the general manager over Brush Creek Holl’r. “West Virginia has the perfect landscape for it.”
Like your typical coaster, you strap into a cart for your ride, which begins with a climb to the top of the mountain. But unlike conventional roller coasters, mountain coasters are powered by gravity, and the unique design puts riders in charge, letting them control the speed of the coaster’s descent by hand using a manual braking system—so both thrill-seekers and those who’d prefer more time to appreciate the scenery can get the most bang for their buck.
Nature’s bounty and beauty are on glorious display from beginning to end. “Honestly, the whole ride is pretty incredible,” says McKendree, “but if I had to pick a favorite spot, it’s the giant 360-degree turn that swings out above the coaster building. As you whip around, you’re hit with this breathtaking overlook of the mountains and the people below. It’s the perfect blend of natural beauty and adrenaline, a real ‘wow’ moment.”
With a top speed of 30 miles per hour, the ride can last from five to eight minutes, determined by the rider or riders. Your trip down the mountain can be a solo adventure, or two people may share the cart. A mountain coaster ride can be a pleasurable way to spend date night, or it can be a fun experience for a parent and a child aged 3 or above to share. To ride alone, children must be 9 years old.
When the coaster is open in early summer 2025, single-ride tickets will cost $8 to $22 depending on age range. While walk-ins will be welcome, tickets can also be purchased and time slots reserved online—and if you’re hoping to ride the mountain coaster on a weekend, during the summer, or around holidays, reservations are particularly encouraged. The mountain coaster will operate year-round, with canopies that can be added to the carts during colder and wetter weather to provide some protection from the elements.
McKendree is particularly proud of the team behind the coaster, praising them for pouring “so much heart and effort” into bringing it from a vision of “a mountain coaster in the Mountain State” to a reality. “Folks will be able to ride a West Virginia mountain, and we can’t wait to share that experience with everyone!”
116 Fuller Lane, Princeton, brushcreekhollr.com
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2025 ISSUE
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