Grover’s Alpine Express is a gentle family roller coaster tucked inside Sesame Street Forest of Fun at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia. Built by German manufacturer Zierer, it opened on April 3, 2009, as the centerpiece coaster of the park’s then-new kids’ area, giving younger guests their first taste of a real roller coaster layout.
The ride was the debut installation of Zierer’s Force 190 model anywhere in the world, a distinction that made the modest-sized coaster notable among enthusiasts despite its kid-friendly scale. A nearly identical sister ride, Air Grover, later opened at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, sharing the same trains and track layout under a different theme.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Manufacturer: Zierer (Force 190 model)
- Opened: April 3, 2009
- Height: About 24 feet
- Top speed: About 25 mph
- Length: About 600-630 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
A friction-wheel booster lift hoists the eight-car train up to the ride’s 24-foot peak, where a sled-shaped lead car carries Grover at the front. From there the train dips into a quick first drop before winding through a pair of helixes, crossing over a guest pathway along the way, all within about a minute of ride time.
With no inversions and a top speed near 25 mph, Grover’s Alpine Express is designed as an entry-level coaster. Riders must be at least 38 inches tall with a supervising companion, or 41 inches to ride solo, making it a common first coaster for kids visiting Sesame Street Forest of Fun.
A Themed Introduction to Thrills
The coaster’s alpine mountain scenery and Grover-themed trains tie directly into the surrounding Sesame Street Forest of Fun area, which Busch Gardens Williamsburg built around beloved Sesame Street characters. The gentle pacing and short duration make it approachable for families, while the twin helixes give the layout a bit more character than a typical kiddie coaster.
Because it shares its Force 190 design with Air Grover at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Grover’s Alpine Express also holds a small place in coaster history as the model’s launch installation, bridging a fun family ride with a genuine manufacturing milestone.
Explore more: Explore more roller coasters.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
Keeps your phone strapped to you, not in a loose-article bin. Zip it before the lift hill and walk straight off the exit ramp.
Grover’s Alpine Express FAQs
How tall do you have to be to ride Grover’s Alpine Express?
Riders must be at least 38 inches tall to ride with a supervising companion age 14 or older, or at least 41 inches tall to ride unaccompanied.
Who manufactured Grover’s Alpine Express?
German manufacturer Zierer built the coaster using its Force 190 model, and this installation at Busch Gardens Williamsburg was the model’s first in the world.
When did Grover’s Alpine Express open?
It opened on April 3, 2009, as part of the new Sesame Street Forest of Fun area at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
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Photo: Cjh1452000 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.