Elitch Gardens’ iconic roller coaster reopens after two years
Jun 30, 2025, 3:53 PM | Updated: Jul 1, 2025, 4:01 pm
Whether you’ve been to Elitch Gardens in their current location, or even at their old spot, you’ve likely seen the big green roller coaster they call the “Sidewinder.” Sadly, you couldn’t ride it the last couple of years, but it’s back!
The ride closed in 2023 to get an electrical system upgrade that required a replacement drive motor and control system, which required hard-to-find parts from a manufacturer that no longer exists.
The Sidewinder is one of only three rides of its type left operating in the world. Elitch Gardens bought the ride and installed it in 1990 at the park’s previous location. It was reconstructed at its current home in 1995.
Maybe now that they’re done working on the Sidewinder, they can focus on the popular wooden coaster “Twister lll: Storm Chaser,” which remains closed, and was last open during the 2024 season.
