WATCH: Dad builds backyard roller coaster during shelter in place
Nov 10, 2020, 7:10 AM | Updated: 9:34 am
NAPA, Calif. — It sounds like something straight out of a Phineas and Ferb episode, but instead of giving a monkey a shower or climbing the Eiffel Tower, a California dad brought his favorite Disneyland roller coaster to his own backyard.
Building a backyard roller coaster
During California’s shelter in place, theme parks weren’t allowed to open, so Sean LaRochelle got creative.
“I always wanted to build a ride and Disney rides are always special to me because they’re themed; they tell a unique story,” he told ABC 7 Eyewitness News.
He says he started building the two-story Matterhorn-inspired ride in March before finishing it up four months later with the help of his brother and a few socially distanced friends.
“COVID changed everything and you know, you want to bring a little bit of normalcy back into your life and for me growing up, Disney was a huge part of that, and so I definitely wanted to bring that to my family,” LaRochelle said.
Attention to detail
LaRochelle touts his Matterhorn-Alpine Escape as “The most elaborate and detailed backyard roller coaster ever built!”
The ride comes complete with little Swiss flags, lights, waterfalls and even an Abominable Snowman.
