ARIZONA NEWS

McDowell Mountain Park gets massive snake slide

Jan 22, 2014, 3:10 PM | Updated: 3:10 pm

PHOENIX — A Valley playground has a new slide of the reptilian variety.

According to GrittyPress.com, McDowell Mountain Park in Fountain Hills, Ariz. is now home to a 15,000-pound rattlesnake slide designed to look like the Western Diamondback rattlesnake, which is native to Arizona.

The massive slide includes a rattle tail spinner and a surrounding play area equipped with numerous places to climb, including fake cacti and boulders connected by a spider web climbing net.

Rand Hubbell, Park Supervisor of McDowell Mountain Regional Park, gave Team Gritty the lowdown. “This project came about because the playgrounds in the ten regional parks that the county manages are about 10 years old,” said Rand. “And at that point, you have to have a major refurbishing of the playgrounds, or replace them. We opted to replace them with some new, really unique sculptures that we think are different than you’d find in most of your neighborhood parks.”

The snake was built in Fort Payne, Ala. and was shipped across the country to Fountain Hills. Only one other exists in Las Vegas.

The park sees between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors per year.

15,000 Pounds of Rattlesnake! from Team Gritty on Vimeo.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

A proposal to replace an empty parking garage with luxury apartments in the Biltmore area is expect...

Angela Gonzales/Phoenix Business Journal

Biltmore luxury apartments move ahead after city scrutiny

A proposed luxury apartment community just east of Biltmore Fashion Park that has met steep opposition is a step closer to being built.

19 minutes ago

EPA fuel waiver will keep Arizona gas prices down, Hobbs says...

Serena O'Sullivan

EPA gives Arizona 2 extra weeks to start summer blend to avoid gas shortage

Gov. Katie Hobbs said on Friday a new EPA fuel waiver will help to keep gas prices down ahead of the summer gas formula change.

1 hour ago

Pro-Palestine activists set up tents police tore down at ASU campus...

KTAR.com

Pro-Palestine protestors set up tents, clash with police at ASU rally in Tempe

Pro-Palestine activists set up several encampments on Arizona State University's Tempe campus to protest the war in Gaza on Friday morning.

3 hours ago

An image of attorney John Eastman is displayed during a House select committee hearing investigatin...

Kevin Stone

5 allies of Donald Trump officially named as co-conspirators in Arizona fake elector case

Five allies of Donald Trump were officially named Friday as co-conspirators in the Arizona fake elector case.

4 hours ago

Arizonans can dispose of their unused prescriptions at various locations across the Valley on Satur...

KTAR.com

Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, with 73 collection sites across Arizona

Arizonans can dispose of their unused prescriptions at various locations across the Valley on Saturday as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. 

4 hours ago

Split panel image showing a mugshot of Michael Trevlyn Kaser, who was sentenced to more than 27 yea...

Kevin Stone

Man sentenced to 27 years for killing stepfather in Gilbert after Christmas dinner

A man was sentenced to over 27 years in prison for killing his stepfather in a 2022 Christmas Day shooting in Gilbert.

5 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

COLLINS COMFORT MASTERS

Here are 5 things Arizona residents need to know about their HVAC system

It's warming back up in the Valley, which means it's time to think about your air conditioning system's preparedness for summer.

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Here’s 1 way to ensure your family is drinking safe water

Water is maybe one of the most important resources in our lives, and especially if you have kids, you want them to have access to safe water.

...

Fiesta Bowl Foundation

The 51st annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade is excitingly upon us

The 51st annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe is upon us! The attraction honors Arizona and the history of the game.

McDowell Mountain Park gets massive snake slide