Will Pemble, a California father, built a 180-foot backyard roller coaster for his son Lyle after the boy expressed interest during a family trip to an amusement park. The project took six weeks and cost about $3,500; it involved extensive planning and construction using PVC pipes and lumber. For Pemble, the project served as both a fun adventure for his son and a practical way to teach mathematical and physical concepts through hands-on experience.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A 10-year-old boy from Orinda, California named Lyle asked his father, Will Pemble, if they could build a roller coaster in their backyard. After considering it for a while, Pemble agreed and spent six weeks turning the idea into reality. The 180-foot track winds through trees on their quarter-acre property and uses gravity to propel the cart along its length. Construction cost approximately $3,500 and required around 300 hours of work. Lyle’s interest in roller coasters began during a family trip to an amusement park where he started researching how they functioned. Pemble built the coaster with his son, who helped design the layout and construct it using materials like PVC pipes and lumber. The finished ride is painted red and serves as a unique backyard attraction for the family.
Written for “Backyard Roller Coaster Build” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
A 10-year-old California boy asked his father if they could have a roller coaster in their backyard.
uncertain
they → ask → backyard
His father said yes, then spent six weeks turning the idea into a working ride.
asserted
father → say → ride
Will Pemble, an e-commerce consultant in Orinda, California, built a 180-foot roller coaster through the trees on his family's quarter-acre property for his son, Lyle.
asserted
Pemble → build → son
The project cost about $3,500 and involved roughly 300 hours of work.
asserted
project → cost → work
“I started building the coaster because, Lyle, my son asked me if we could, and I couldn’t think of a good reason to say no,” Pemble told KPIX-TV.
uncertain
Pemble → start → TV
The idea took shape after a family trip to an amusement park, where Lyle became interested in roller coasters and started researching how they worked.
asserted
they → take → coasters
From amusement park ride to backyard project
Lyle's interest grew after riding a roller coaster during a family trip.
asserted
interest → grow → trip
He began looking into other rides and learning about their designs.
asserted
He → begin → designs
The research eventually turned into a much bigger idea: building one at home.
asserted
research → turn → home
Pemble agreed to take on the project with his son.
asserted
Pemble → agree → son
The pair planned the layout, bought PVC pipes and lumber and started constructing the track in their backyard.
asserted
pair → plan → backyard
The finished ride, painted red, winds through the trees and uses gravity to carry a cart along its 180-foot track.
A little assistance from Pemble helps get the cart moving before gravity takes over.
asserted
gravity → paint → Pemble
The construction took about six weeks and cost around $3,500.
asserted
construction → take → 3,500
A roller coaster becomes a classroom
asserted
coaster → become → ?
For Pemble, the project was not only about giving his son a ride in the backyard.
asserted
project → give → backyard
It also became a practical way to show how mathematics, physics and engineering work outside a classroom.
asserted
mathematics → become → classroom
Measurements, track length, forces and the movement of the cart all became part of the project.
asserted
Measurements → become → project
Pemble said the work gave his son a reason to engage with difficult school subjects.
asserted
work → say → subjects
A mathematical problem became easier to understand when there was a real project waiting on the other side of the calculation.
asserted
problem → become → calculation
The construction also gave father and son a shared project to work on together.
asserted
construction → give → project
Pemble documented the build through a blog and YouTube videos, sharing details about the engineering and construction process.
asserted
Pemble → document → process
The project attracted attention as more people followed the progress of the homemade ride.
asserted
people → attract → ride
Neighbours watch the coaster take shape
The unusual construction quickly became a neighbourhood talking point.
asserted
construction → watch → shape
“All of the neighbors have said 'what the hell are you doing back there?'
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you → say → hell
None of them have complained,” Pemble said.
asserted
Pemble → complain → them
Once completed, the coaster gave Lyle his own version of an amusement-park ride at home.
asserted
coaster → complete → home
He rated it 9.5 out of 10.
asserted
He → rat → 10
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