A US couple who built a backyard rollercoaster for their children have told MSN NZ the ambitious DIY project will be dismantled as they prepare to move house.
Ohio couple Natasha Cain, 23, and her 28-year-old husband Don Cain got the idea after visiting the home of their pastor who had a 90cm high rollercoaster set up for his children and their guests.
"There was this little tyke rollercoaster and the kids were having a blast on it," Ms Cain told MSN NZ.
"Then while me and my husband were driving home we said 'Why don't we make one?'"
Ms Cain said the idea became an "urge" and she felt she "had to do it"
Despite not having any engineering expertise she and her husband began planning the project in 2009 and completed the building phase over three weekends.
"My husband is very talented at anything he puts his mind to," Ms Cain said.
People from the around the world have echoed Ms Cain's sentiments after she uploaded a video of her son riding the rollercoaster a few weeks ago with the help of her husband.
The video has been picked up by major media outlets, which have praised the parents and lauded Mr Cain as the 'World's best dad'.
To comply with zoning laws the Cains consulted local authorities before starting the project, who told them there were no rules regulating backyard rollercoasters.
When the time came for the ride's inaugural test-run the couple's fearless three-year-old Olyvia stepped up to the challenge.
"She had no fear, she was just excited to ride it," Ms Cain said.
The test run proved a success and ushered in a period of theme park thrills for Olyvia and later on her younger brother, who was initially apprehensive of the rollercoaster.
The unusual backyard centrepiece soon attracted the attention of children throughout the neighbourhood as well as their parents.
"All the kids and parents would walk by and look," Ms Cain said.
"They were all fascinated by it."
But they had to admire the rollercoaster from afar as the Cains forbade local children from riding it, fearing for they would be held responsible if anything happened to them.
However, there have not been any accidents on the ride since it was built in 2009.
The fun will come to an end soon with the couple's children having almost outgrown the ride.
The family plan to dismantle it when they sell the home and move in the near future but Ms Cain said they will have the memories forever.
"It will be something my kids will always remember," she said.
"Even though they're only little now they will always remember the fun times they had at this house."
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