The Rising Uncertainty of Rocky Mountain Construction

ThemeParkMedia
ThemeParkMedia
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Published 2024-02-14
The story of Rocky Mountain Construction is a success story. How a man flipped the Roller Coaster industry upside-down, bringing his little company from Garage to Greatest. But RMCs success didn’t come from rave reviews or the bottomless pit of Golden Ticket Awards, it came because they were a problem solving company.
Fred Grubb began the company in 2001 as a rides builder and wooden coaster repairman. By operating as a wood coaster renovation company, he saw a side of the business most are unaware of. Parks would return to the same coaster year after year to replace sections of wood to keep the coaster running smooth.
He offered the alternative steel rail solution, requiring less attending too and better equipped to handle higher forces. Talking about handling higher forces, the track can be bent in ways wood track could not, paired with the advances in Computer Design handled by coaster design veteran, Alan Schilke… you have the winning formula.
And win they did!
Every next installment had more and more anticipation, until around 2018 when that excitement reached its peak, and it seems every ride after that has been in is it the world's greatest coaster debate.
If you want to get out of the business, it’s better to sell while the company is at its height, and that’s exactly what Fred did. Fred sold the company and both he and Alan retired.
So, after a decade in the widely considered Number One spot reaching an all time peak with their hyper hybrids, followed by lack of successful innovation in the more recent years, with a change of leadership, the world running low on coasters to remodel, and intense hybrids ben its own niche with a select clientele… What about RMCs future is certain?

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All Comments (21)
  • @CarlileCoasters
    “And energylandia collects coasters like infinity stones” This is the best joke I’ve heard all day and that has seriously turned my otherwise bad day into a good one
  • @benjacobs574
    RMC need a standard steel coaster option that can be used for multiple types of rides, and that is what the T-rex is. With the T-rex track they could compete with Intamin/Mack/Vekoma style launch and mega coasters. What they need to do is sell just one of them of a good size and suddenly they are able to compete in a larger part of the market - and importantly they should make it clear they don’t need to be completely insane and intense, that they could make a more standard hyper coaster for example.
  • @peterhelmer6252
    I think they should design a new thrilling log ride. Seems like a lot of parks could use one.
  • @milesandvoyage4145
    Walibi Holland is getting two new Raptors in 2025, one thrill, one family! With Untamed Walibi will be the only park with three RMC‘s 🎉 Good thing I can just drive there. I wish we would see more ground up build hyper hybrids like Zadra!!! That thing is brilliant and just pretty to look at! 😍
  • @zanzabar4ky7
    The Magic Mountain Wounder Woman trains are way more comfy than the OG raptor. That train is one of my favorites. It makes you feel safe so the GP likes it, the shoulder straps do not lock, and you sit high enough for kids and tall people to both fit. If you are 6' you are not fitting in the OG raptor trains without leg pain.
  • @DieselDucy
    Great video. Kept my attention the whole time. RMC has some great products but they need to branch out. Also gave you a sub. You deserve alot more. This was a very in depth video and I learned some stuff about RMC
  • @HYDRAdude
    RMC will survive by continuing to expand to foreign markets.
  • @gregg5958
    There’s plenty of untapped market share left. In the U.S. there are plenty of parks that don’t even have any type of RMC yet, much less two types. Then there is the international market. So I think they have a long ways to go. Frankly these days I question B&M’s market more. Most parks that want an inverted have one, or a flying coaster, or a dive coaster, they tend to be too expensive for the smaller parks or for family rides, and they have built only one surf coaster so far and I am not even sure how many parks want one. So, I am wondering where they go from here too. 🤔
  • @Cadillacvserieshybridfan
    i think rmc still has a bright future ahead with enthusiasts alot of the time saying this woodie needs i box and that one too and rmc is still a young company by which i think they will stay for a long time
  • @sairosekk
    A wild moose is welcome Michigan's Adventure. I'm already subscribed
  • @anthonygalvan3750
    Absolutely loved this video. While RMC is a beloved coaster manufacturer by roller coaster enthusiasts, I do believe this much to be true. Many people asked why I didn't LOVE RMC and this explains why. They need to diversify the catalogue. What they did what the conversions was definitely great for its time and I still enjoy all of their rides. But I am just waiting for something new! I think the critical part is also understanding the direction parks are going in and what they are buying. Thank you for such a great video!
  • @moiraatkinson
    Interesting video which I enjoyed, so I’ve added a subscription towards your target.
  • @Aerolandaircraft
    Incredible video. Gave this video a well deserved like. I believe that RMC should diversify, by trying their hand again at a launch coaster, but their best bet is going to China. The Gravity Group and GCI are having incredible success in this market, and RMC is probably waiting like a vulture for one of the Chinese woodies to get rough, then they will pounce. I think the reason they haven't sold any of their new models, however, is because companies may be weary of buying a new prototype from RMC, after what happened with Lightning Rod. But if one park gets an RMC, they will go flying off the shelves
  • @JewishSingers
    the wild moose is a problem solving coaster. It repairs Wild Mouses & uses the supports of the old coaster while offering a compact thrilling family RMC. I think Wild Moose will be as successful as the hybrids
  • @_xxjasterxx_
    RMC raptor restraints are the most comfortable restraints I’ve ever sat in (minus the new intamin ones) and that’s saying a lot on the other hand those hybrids train/restraints need some tweaking especially for bigger guests!