TYROL | Alpine Coaster Imst

Frustrated by the Dinner Train debacle in May 2024, Sam, Danny and I looked for an alternative activity. As Sam is water baby, we and we don’t object to swimming pools, whirlpools and wellness facilities either, we booked three nights and two days in August 2024 at Aqua Dome – Tirol Therme Längenfeld. This ‘Signature Spa of the Alps‘ is located in Oberlängenfeld, in Längenfeld, in the Ötztal or Ötz Valley in Tyrol, in Austria.

On our second full day at Aqua Dome – Tirol Therme Längenfeld we decided to drive a bit further, to Imst, where there is a Rodelbahn or coaster (track).

Imst

Imst is a town situated in the Imst district of Tyrol. Located in the Oberinntal valley where the Gurglbach river meets the Inn, Imst is divided into Oberstadt and Unterstadt. The town also encompasses the areas of Brennbichl, Gunglgrün, Sonnberg, Weinberg, Hoch-Imst, and Teilweisen.

Imst has a rich history dating back to the Bronze Age. It gained significance as a traffic hub during Roman times, lying on the Via Claudia Augusta. Today, the town remains well-connected to the rest of Tyrol, with easy access to the Fernpass, Flexenpass, Arlbergpass, and Hahntenjochpass. Imst is also served by the Inntal Autobahn (A12) and the Arlberg railway line.

Historically, Imst’s economy was driven by mining in the 15th and 16th centuries and the textile industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. Bird trading was another significant activity in the past, as evidenced by the operetta ‘Imst’ by Carl Zeller.

Nowadays, the town’s economy primarily revolves around trade, industry, and tourism, with agriculture playing a lesser role. Imst is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as rafting and canoeing during the summer months.

A notable event in Imst’s history was the devastating fire of 1822, which destroyed a large portion of the town. Despite this setback, Imst continued to develop and was officially granted city rights in 1898. In 1949, the renowned youth welfare worker Hermann Gmeiner founded the SOS Children’s Villages Foundation in Imst, a pioneering initiative aimed at providing care for orphaned and homeless children. Today, the SOS Children’s Villages organisation has expanded globally, offering support to countless children in need.

Alpine Coaster Imst

Alpine Coaster Imst is a summer toboggan run located in in Hoch-Imst or High Imst. The ride stretches over 3.5 kilometers, making it the world’s longest Alpine roller coaster of its kind.

As you glide down the mountain, you’ll experience speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour, navigating twists, turns, and jumps that will keep you on the edge of your seat. While enjoying the thrilling ride, you’ll also be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Alpine landscape.

Suitable for both adults and children, Alpine Coaster Imst is a fantastic way to spend a day with family and friends. Open during the summer months, it’s a must-visit attraction for anyone seeking a fun and exciting outdoor adventure in the Austrian Alps.

“It’s open in winter and in summer, and you can opt to travel alone or with a friend”, Tirol.com says.

“Your fun begins with a scenic chairlift ride with dramatic views as you will watch riders zooming down the hillside. Looking down, your palms will sweat, and your pulse will race as you prepare yourself for what lies ahead. The adventure begins right at the top, at Untermarkter Alm at an altitude of 1,500m. After buckling into the cart (which is covered in winter or in rain), you push forward to release the brakes. Ahead of you lies a steep drop from where you descend 500 vertical metres over 3.5 kilometres of high-speed rail, twisting and turning across ski runs, meadows and through the forest all the way down.”

“The thrilling journey includes banks, turns, dips, twists, waves and a spectacular 450-degree circle, reaching speeds of up to 40kph. The unique cart design allows you to ride individually or tandem with small children; kids must be at least 3 years old. To ride alone, children must be 8 years of age or older, and 1,25 metres or taller. It’s a ride you won’t soon forget—the sort of ride you want to do again, and again, and again, and again, and again…”

The ride

Obviously you’re not allowed to pull out your phone and take a photo while on the ride, so I don’t have images. And out of excitement and worry to get out of the coaster in time I forgot to take photos at the end.

But how does it work? You take the UAlm-Bahn to the top of the coaster and you queue.

I got coaster number 46, which is MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi‘s race number. You get in, you buckle up. Operating the coaster is straightforward. As with an airport cart, you need to do something to ease off the brake. Here, you must push downwards. To break, you pull up. Braking is the default position.

The rules are simple: no photos or videos during the descent, keep 25 metres between you and the person in front of you.

I was right behind Sam, expecting him to go for it and almost never break. So I started. Trying to being brave, I only braked when it was indicated to do so or when I estimated the bumps were too uhm bumpy.

But then I encountered Sam at a standstill. He complained the person in front was too slow so he wanted to create a gap. By which he created a traffic jam. Th at happened a couple of times.

But I really enjoyed the ride. I could have done a second one, hoping to go faster.