The video: Jon and Natasha Cain of Lancaster, Ohio, are vying for the title of Best Parents in America, thanks to a little something they built in their backyard for daughter Olyvia and son Samual: A roller coaster. Spending three weeks and almost $700 on PVC pipe, concrete, and wood, the crafty Cains put together a 12-second thriller featuring an initial 12-foot drop. They built the roller coaster in 2009, but their video of Samual taking a ride this year just recently went viral. (Watch below.) Neither Jon nor Natasha has an engineering background — they run a car dealership — but they aren't afraid of the DIY ethos: Their next project is a new log-cabin-style home. "We did talk about doing a Ferris wheel at the new house," says Natasha, "not like a ginormous one, just one that you could manually do."
The reaction: "Every kid dreams of having a roller coaster in the backyard," so kudos to the Cains for making at least one dream come true, says Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle. "Would it pass a security inspection? Probably not," but it sure looks fun — and scary. "Put your hands in the air! Wheee!" I can only describe this contraption as "horrifyingly awesome," says Carolyn Castiglia at Babble. "The overly cautious, neurotic urban-dweller in me" wants to call child-protective services, but the kid in me, who rode in the back of pickups growing up, is cheering. Besides, the Cain coaster doesn't look any less safe than Coney Island's Cyclone. Would you ride this roller coaster?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
