Since Canada’s Wonderland opened in 1981, the park’s centerpiece has been Wonder Mountain. Greeting guests from beyond the reflecting pool as they enter the park’s wide front gate, the mountainous structure has been a photo op for more than four decades. Over time, various attractions have interacted with the mountain, as have cliff divers in show performances. In 2025, the biggest, boldest fusion of attractions with Wonder Mountain has erupted: AlpenFury.
“AlpenFury delivers an epic, record-breaking thrill,” said Heather Hill, park manager and vice president of operations. “With the combination of the two launches, that straight vertical climb and nine wild inversions, it will provide an action-packed, unforgettable experience.”
“AlpenFury’s impact on the skyline was intentional,” said Grace Peacock, public relations director. “It stretches from the back of Wonder Mountain, out its summit and twists along the perimeter of our busy International Street, to the front gate and back. It’s not only an exceptional ride experience, but it’s a sight to behold from the many areas of the park. These immersive builds, where track interacts with midway, lend to the awe and excitement of the amusement park environment for any guest – whether they ride or not.”
The wintery blue coaster was supplied by Premier Rides.
“Wonder Mountain is Canada’s Wonderland’s iconic, massive centerpiece that represents the legacy spirit of the park. The idea of launching into the depths of the mountain and shooting out the top with an impressive fireball was audacious to say the least, considering all the ride structures and the complex structure of Wonder Mountain itself, said Sara Seay, vice president, Premier Rides. “The only way to create a technical path forward was to undertake the most complex, millimeter accuracy, internal and external mapping effort using multiple cutting-edge technologies including laser and drone equipment. The terabytes of data collected were used to create an amazing model of the site, which allowed the ride engineers to develop the dynamic path of the ride which provided appropriate clearances but at the same time allowed for close interaction with both the mountain structure and the other rides. There was a very significant engineering effort to accommodate AlpenFury in and on Wonder Mountain that included impressive structural solutions. The Canada’s Wonderland technical team was amazing to work with on these challenges, and set the bar very high for their capabilities to achieve what some would have said is unachievable.”
AlpenFury is not the first roller coaster to interact with Wonder Mountain. In fact, it is the park’s fourth.
“Incorporating the ride into Wonder Mountain was a chance to deliver an experience that is truly one-of-a-kind,” Peacock told Amusement Today. “We wanted to make an impact, not only for the guests riding but also from a visual perspective. The team had much work to do in navigating the mountain’s infrastructure but was able to use state-of-the-art 3D imaging cameras and build the coaster in such a way that it bears no load on the mountain itself.”
The train sports a sled motif, suitable for the alpine-themed coaster. Once aboard, 18 riders per train are dispatched into the first launch, sending riders diving into a long tunnel within the mountain. Through that cavernous passage, the second launch – reaching speeds of 71 mph / 115 km/h – sends riders bursting into the sky out of the top of the mountain.
“It’s my favorite moment,” said Peacock. “It’s those few seconds between the second powerful launch inside the darkness of Wonder Mountain to the vertical climb out its summit into the bright sky where you float for a moment over that inverted top hat. Once you’ve been on AlpenFury a few times you come to know that moment is your last chance to take a breath before all the action of the inversions to come.”
And speaking of those inversions, there are nine, the most on any launched coaster.
“Canada’s Wonderland had a strong vision for the ride. They already had an envious lineup of coasters but anted a statement attraction that would have the thrill ride community taking notice,” Seay said. “When you already have an impressive offering of coasters, it means you have a large selection of elements and ride inversions. Premier’s engineers had been coming up with a number of inversions that were being saved for that right time, which was AlpenFury. Each element has a unique background story, and they are laid out in a manner that creates the highest thrill while making the experience smooth. The design clearly has been a success as Six Flags has described the ride as a ‘standout success story’ with a 20% increase in attendance.”
Canada’s wonderland has one of the largest collections of roller coaster on the planet.
“Diversity is everything when you’re positioning a park as a thrill destination,” said Peacock. “All of our coasters offer something different, but AlpenFury’s experience is something you can’t find anywhere else. With two launches – one into the depths of Wonder Mountain, and the second, a powerful blast straight-up vertical out the summit – and then nine stomach-flipping inversions back-to-back-to-back… the action is relentless. Guests describe it as ‘intense’ and it’s quickly becoming a favorite for both first-time park goers and seasoned thrill seekers.”
“The front plaza effort was one of the most important creative/engineering tasks with a goal of enhancing what was already an entry to a day of fun and adventure,” added Seay. “By creating the impressive span over the front plaza and specifically over the iconic Grand World Expo Globe, Canada’s Wonderland established a new iconic element of the park where guests arriving at the front Plaza are immediately reminded that their day ahead is going to be full of fun and adventure as they watch the AlpenFury trains roar by overhead.”
Enthusiasts have given it high marks for its original layout, smooth inversions and comfortable ride.
The station is situated in a newly themed area, Alpenfest. The thematic touches and décor accent the alpine architecture.
“We went back to our historic roots with this attraction,” explained Peacock. “Alpenfest is the newly designated area around Wonder Mountain and AlpenFury, but its inspiration originates with the park’s opening in 1981. Then, the area was called International Festival, and this particular section was themed to the Swiss-German Alps. Over the years, the theming was diluted, but we’re excited to bring it new life with this signature ride. In Alpenfest, guests will find chalet-style architecture, whimsical elements like a glockenspiel clock, mountain goats, sleds and skis – all designed to evoke that festive alpine spirit. It’s a nostalgic nod with a modern twist.”
The refreshed area is alive with energy.
“There is no question that when I took the first ride, I was blown away by AlpenFury’s smoothness and amazing pace of non-stop dynamic elements. It was wow but definitely in caps – WOW!” Jim Seay, president of Premier Rides told AT. “But what really blew me away was the passion of the guests who became a visit part of the overall ride experience. Premier has been fortunate to build a lot of epic rides, but the level of enthusiasm and camaraderie that can be seen every single day the ride is open is unprecedented. Canada’s Wonderland’s AlpenFury has truly become a rite of passage for the coaster community, and it’s a humbling experience to see all the euphoria.”
For those guests enjoying the area, there are revenue opportunities for Canada’s Wonderland.
“We’ve expanded both retail and food offering alongside AlpenFury,” said Peacock. “There’s a dedicated AlpenFury merchandise shop where guests can grab exclusive souvenirs. We’ve also added two themed alcoholic beverages to enjoy – an AlpenFury pilsner, created by Cowbell Brewery and a “Fire & Ice” vodka soda. For those guests craving a sweet treat, the new Fire and Ice funnel cake is now available.”
