California man builds mini version of Disneyland’s Matterhorn roller coaster in his backyard

A man from California brought the magic of Disneyland home by building a mini version of the Matterhorn roller coaster in his own backyard.

Sean LaRochelle created a replica of his favorite ride – featuring everything from the alpine scenery to the iconic yeti – outside his home in Napa after theme parks across the country were closed due to the pandemic.

LaRochelle said he started building the roller coaster at the end of March and completed it in July.

“ COVID changed everything and you know you want to bring some normalcy back into your life and for me growing up, Disney was a big part of that and I really wanted to bring that to my family, ” he said. he told ABC. seven.

California man brought the magic of Disneyland home by building a mini version of the Matterhorn roller coaster in his own backyard (pictured)

Sean LaRochelle has created a replica of his favorite ride, featuring everything from the alpine scenery to the iconic yeti

He built the ride outside his home in Napa after theme parks closed due to the pandemic

LaRochelle said he had always wanted to build a roller coaster but, before the lockdown, would never have had the time.

“I never really had the know-how or the time. They talk about all the downsides of COVID, but one of the advantages of COVID is that you have all that time and you realize you know, what can I do with all that time? he said.

While LaRochelle’s ongoing architectural studies proved to be helpful, he said his brother was the “ mechanical genius ” behind this unique lockdown project.

About thirty of his friends also helped make his dream come true.

LaRochelle added that Disney rides are “ special, ” so it was obvious to look to “ the happiest place in the world ” for inspiration.

“ I’ve always wanted to build a ride and Disney rides are always special to me because they have a theme, they tell a unique story, ” he said.

An aerial view of the merry-go-round that LaRochelle began building in late March and completed in July

LaRochelle said he had always wanted to build a roller coaster but, before the lockdown, would never have had the time

LaRochelle told ABC 7 that Disney rides are ‘special’ so it was obvious to look to ‘the happiest place in the world’ for inspiration

The iconic Matterhorn Ride was built in 1959 at Disneyland in Annaheim, California, and is considered one of the park’s most eye-catching sites to date.

The ride is modeled after the Matterhorn mountain in Zermatt, Switzerland, and takes thrill seekers in bobsleigh-style cars up the mountain in pursuit of a yeti.

But the amusement ride sat empty for eight months as theme parks closed in March when coronavirus cases exploded across the country.

Disney was able to reopen its Florida parks in July with security measures in place, but had to keep its California sites, including Disneyland, closed, as reopening requirements are subject to local and state rules.

The original Matterhorn tour at Disneyland (above) takes thrill seekers in bobsleigh-style cars up the mountain in pursuit of a yeti