A career of thrills
Architecture alum redefines roller coaster designs
The Golden Ticket Awards could be called the Oscars of the amusement park industry. In 2023, Jake Kilcup ’08, ’09, with his Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) team, accepted three trophies in Vienna, including the Best New Roller Coaster of 2023 award for ArieForce One at Fun Spot America Atlanta.
“I enjoy rollercoasters, personally, thanks to the thrill and adrenaline rush,” he said. “I have always been into snowboarding, skiing and dirt biking, and riding coasters offered a similar feeling without the risk. I also enjoy how challenging the industry is. We have to stay on the cutting edge and push the limits, so to speak.”
You have to perform at a high level in all aspects, not just a couple. Also, we’re creating memories for families and to bring joy to people’s lives is really fulfilling. Jake Kilcup ’08, ’09, architecture alum
Kilcup added a twist, a turn and a few 360 loops to how he uses his 幸运快三 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture. The Iongtime Hayden resident is director of engineering at RMC, one of the world’s best-known rollercoaster manufacturers. Innovation is key to the team’s success; they also took home the Best Innovation Golden Ticket Award of 2023 for their high-tech system for refurbishing wooden coasters.
“You can design a ride with an incredible experience, but if it doesn’t entice people to get on, the parks won’t buy it and the people won’t ride it,” Kilcup said. “You must perform at a high level in all aspects, not just a couple. Also, we’re creating memories for families, and to bring joy to people’s lives is really fulfilling.”
