Martin Coleman, president of Ascent Products Inc., which sells an interactive climbing wall, reports that the Bozeman, Mont., company has been getting dozens of inquiries a month from people who want it for their backyards. The entire contraption, ordered from GameTime, Fort Payne, Ala., sprawls across 40 feet. Steven Petersen, owner of a steel-fabricating company in Ogden, Utah, started creating a virtual sports complex in his backyard four years ago. Still, Mr. Petersen is looking to expand. And, if he can talk his wife into letting him set it up, this summer he'll also offer rides on his new five-car kiddie roller coaster.
People spend that on a car.
Mr. Savino, whose children are grown, often jumps on his backyard rides himself, entertaining neighborhood visitors. Her children love going to his house, and recounting tales of the rides to their friends. Of course, all this stuff comes with the risk of broken bones and lawsuits. Mr. Savino says he talked to his attorney before allowing neighbors on the rides, and was assured that his homeowners' insurance policy would cover any accidents, provided he didn't use the rides for commercial purposes. We put a hose at the top of the wavy slide and zoom down it like 100 miles an hour.