Synopsis
The Path to RailBlazer is the story behind the west-coast’s first single-rail roller coaster, which opened in June 2018 at California’s Great America in Santa Clara, California. Built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) of Hayden, Idaho, RailBlazer’s innovative monorail-style track allows for unique in-line seating and extremely tight maneuvers, giving rides a unique “off-roading” sensation that ties into the ride’s theme of adventuring in the great outdoors.
This project was produced in close collaboration with California’s Great America, and began even before the coaster was publicly announced, commencing at the Santa Clara City Council meeting where the park was seeking approval for the attraction. This partnership allowed for unprecedented access into the design and construction of this unique attraction, with the film featuring interviews with all key stakeholders involved that brought RailBlazer to life.
Prior to the coaster being revealed, I attended a Santa Clara City Council meeting held in January 2017 where California’s Great America was seeking approval of a masterplan that would allow for projects like RailBlazer to happen more efficiently. I spoke in support of this plan in front of the city council that night, a plan that Santa Clara ultimately approved, opening the doors for the park to proceed.
Project Highlights
- Roles: Producer, Director, Editor, Camera
- More than 2.5 hours of footage shot for the film
- Produced by a nimble 3-person crew over an 18-month period
