They Built a Backyard Coaster for Under $50

For less than the cost of a theme park ticket, a group of Idaho teenagers built their own 50-foot roller coaster.

For only $49.27, to be exact.

Photo © Austin Twede

Austin Twede, 19, a mechanical engineering student at Utah State University, Ken Nukaya, 21, a Brigham Young University student, Jarrett Lancaster and Porter Harding, both 19, built the wooden coaster in August before they returned to school.

Harding’s mom is partially responsible for the creation. She bet the group that they couldn’t build a roller coaster for less than $50. They accepted her challenge, found some materials and bought what they didn’t have.

After only 27 hours of work, the roller coaster was operating, standing 10 feet tall and 50 feet long.

Watch a video of the homemade roller coaster in action below:

Sadly, the coaster has since been dismantled, but the group hopes to construct another coaster next summer.

Do you think that you could build a roller coaster in your backyard for under $50? Discuss in the comments section below.