Most funiculars have the primary purpose of getting users from point A to point B, but who’s to say the journey can’t be fun? Many of the hillside lift systems we create offer stunning views from a bird’s eye view. It’s easy for riders to sit back and enjoy the scenery from the comfort of their seat as they descend at a safe speed.
More Than a Scenic Ride
A ride on a funicular offers more than just a scenic view. There simply aren’t many of these machines available to the public, especially in the U.S. That is why riding a funicular is a novelty for many passengers. The Hillbilly Golf miniature golf course in Gatlinburg, Tennessee used a hillside lift system to add luster to their already unique experience.
Branded as the “world’s most unusual miniature golf course,” Hillbilly Golf lives up to its claim with tons of strange items spread throughout the holes,. However, its funicular really distinguishes it from other mini golf courses. Before a golfer can embark on their putting adventure, they must use a lift to ride up a 300 foot mountainside.
Hillbilly golf isn’t the only course to use a funicular on its grounds. The Clifton Highlands Golf Club in Prescott Wisconsin features a 230 foot track Hill Hiker® lift system we built a few years back.
Wisconsin Golf Course Commercial Project
Funicular Roller Coasters
There are a few lift systems that go the extra distance to provide their passengers with a thrill. For starters, there’s the Gelmberbahn funicular in Switzerland. The twelve minute ride may not race up and down slopes as fast as a roller coaster, but it does descend from some steep heights.
As exciting as a ride on the Gelmberbahn may be, it doesn’t beat a cruise on the Green Dragon, the world’s only funicular roller coaster. The track may only be 918 feet, but it offers a ride unlike any other. The entire system uses almost no electricity. It uses kinetic energy to complete most of its functions.
Although our rides move at a slow, safe pace unlike roller coasters, riding a lift is still an enjoyable experience. A lift allows you to easily traverse rough slopes while you sit back and enjoy the scenery. Interested in getting a lift to solve access issues, help you enjoy the scenery or for the thrill of the ride? Give us a call today.
