The Aporia · California father builds 180-foot backyard roller coaster after son asks for one

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 by AI on 2026-10-08, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Backyard Roller Coaster Build

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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.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-08

🔮 A 10-year-old California boy asked his father if they could have a roller coaster in their backyard.

2026-10-08 · Times of India

California father builds 180-foot backyard roller coaster after son asks for one · assertive framing

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?' asserted

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

California father builds 180-foot backyard roller coaster after son asks for one

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