As a local, it’s not unusual to hear visitors say they had no idea our area had so much to do. To be honest, a lot of the people who live here are the same way, and if they know about everything – they probably haven’t experienced it all. Even after living here for a majority of my life, I have to admit I haven’t experienced it all. There is so much to do from outdoor activities, site-seeing, shops, restaurants and attractions. One that I am sad to say it took me this long to experience is Rush Mountain Adventure Park. Talk about a place filled with thrilling adventures. It took us a whole day to try everything out, and some of it was so fun we had to do it more than once.
We got to Rush Mountain Adventure Park a little before 10 a.m. and had planned to head out around 1 p.m. If you know about all the activities this place offers, you’re probably laughing at that. In reality we left closer to 4 p.m., which even cut us short. Our day started out at the Soaring Eagle Zipline. While it’s not your typical zipline, it offers just as much fun because you’re strapped in next your friend or family member. Together you soar down the zipline and at the bottom you’re launched backwards to relive it all in reverse. So really you get to experience the fun twice.
Next we headed down the hill to what quickly became my favorite ride at Rush Mountain, the Mountain Coaster. I personally love roller coasters so I could have spent my whole day right here. If you’re a thrill seeker like myself – one time won’t be enough on this ride. You control the speed using the carts levers. My recommendation is to go full throttle down the first time and don’t pull them back until the end. It takes guts to truly experience the speed of this coaster! SO FUN! The second time down, honestly, I would do the same thing. However, at some point you’ve got to make sure you appreciate the surroundings of this ride. The views are breathtaking perched up on the side of the mountain. Don’t forget to pose for the strategically placed cameras on the track so you have a great souvenir to take home with you.
Our next stop was the popular Gunslinger 7-D Ride. Each person I spoke to before visiting Rush Mountain raved about this ride, so my expectations were high. It wasn’t long after buckling in and sliding on my 3D glasses that I became obsessed. Our plan was to play one and move on to the next activity. Three rides later I exited the theater still wanting more. At the time of our visit they offered three rides: Robot Riot, Carnival, and Los Banditos. Each offers a totally different experience. If you’re into the spooky side of things go with Carnival, if you’re a sci-fi and action lover then Robots Riot, and if you want a wild ride with a taste of the wild west stand in line for Los Banditos. If you have a wrist band though and time to spare – do all the options they have available.
On hot days when you need to escape the sun for a while, Rush Mountain offers the perfect way to cool off – Rushmore Cave. This hour-long tour takes you underground where the temperature is always at cool 58 degrees. The cave showcases great features from stalactites to stalagmites along with historical stories about the Post Office room and the Big Room. Fun fact: you can get married in the cave for the cost of a tour ticket – talk about an affordable and unique wedding ceremony!
While we ran out of time to try out the Wingwalker Course, but it looked like a great time. This above ground obstacle course allows you to test out your balance, flexibility and of course agility as you maneuver through the course. For those like me who have what I like to call a “competitive spirit” it’s a great way to challenge those in your group to see who can come out with the best time. Next time I go back this will be my first stop.
They weren’t kidding when they called this place an adventure park. On top of all the rides and tours I mentioned you can also participate in Gemstone Mining or browse for a great keepsake in the gift shop. Also, if you’re like me and always thinking about food, they have that too. Sparky’s is on-site and they offer pizza-by-the-slice, freshly made sandwiches and wraps, snacks, drinks, and most importantly ice cream. If you’re looking for a day full of fun and thrilling activities, you’ll find it at Rush Mountain Adventure Park. They are located around five miles outside of Keystone and are a stop you don’t want to miss out on! Check out the video below to see how much fun you could be having during your visit!