The Runaway Mountain Coaster, at Branson Mountain Adventure Park off Highway 165, was Branson's first mountain coaster — a gravity ride down a wooded hillside where the rider, not the operator, sets the speed. (It is not 'The Branson Coaster' on West 76 — a different venue with a similar name; every film on this page is the Runaway.)

Runaway Mountain Coaster | Branson, Missouri

Branson Fam

The Branson Fam enlists their nephews — and brave five-year-old Charlie — for a full ride-through of the Runaway Mountain Coaster at Branson Mountain Adventure Park. Safety comes first in the film: waiver and safety review on tablets by the ticket booth (or in advance online), then the user-controlled descent where riders run their own brakes, plus a look at the park's gem mine and other activities.

Key takeaways
  • Riders control their own speed with hand brakes on the descent
  • Waivers and safety review are done on tablets at the booth or online ahead of time
  • The coaster anchors Branson Mountain Adventure Park, which also offers a gem mine and other activities

Runaway Mountain Coaster on Branson Talk

All Things Branson

A Branson Talk segment built around the Runaway: the host admits he was scared to try a mountain coaster, then rode it for two hours straight filming 360 and perspective shots. The conversation explains why the ride converts skeptics — you operate your own brake, and an electronic system manages spacing, so a slow rider ahead is never a collision risk.

Key takeaways
  • Each cart has rider-operated brakes — you set your own pace
  • An electronic control system keeps carts safely spaced
  • The segment grew out of a kids'-connection feature filmed at the coaster

Runaway Branson Mountain Coaster with 4 Year Old Tour Guides

All Things Branson

All Things Branson rides the Runaway with two four-year-old 'tour guides' in 2016 — a family-eye view of the coaster's first season, from the lift hill to the gravity run down the Branson hillside.

The ride, with kids

Branson Fam's full ride-through leads: waivers and safety review on tablets at the ticket booth (or online in advance), then the descent with five-year-old Charlie aboard — riders run their own brakes the whole way down. The film also looks at the park around it, gem mine included. A Branson Talk segment explains why the ride converts skeptics: your own brake, plus an electronic system managing cart spacing, so a slow rider ahead is never a collision risk.

Opening season and 360

All Things Branson filmed the Runaway from its first weeks in November 2016 — the lift and the full descent in its opening season, a ride with two four-year-old 'tour guides,' and two 360-degree VR rides you can drag around mid-run. An Explore Branson Postcard film gives the visitor bureau's swooping take.

Sources: the 7 videos on this page.

The Runaway Mountain Coaster in Branson, MO

All Things Branson

One of the earliest films of the Runaway Mountain Coaster, from its November 2016 opening weeks — the ride up the lift and the full gravity descent through the Ozark woods, shot for All Things Branson.

360 VR Ride: Runaway Mountain Coaster in Branson Missouri

All Things Branson

A 360-degree VR ride on the Runaway Mountain Coaster — drag the view around as the cart climbs the lift and dives through the hillside curves above Branson.

360 Ride On Runaway Branson Mountain Coaster in Branson, Missouri

All Things Branson

A second 360-degree ride film from the coaster's opening season in 2016, capturing the full circuit — lift, curves and the fast run back to the station — in immersive video.

Watch: Runaway Mountain Coaster, guided

1 videos · summaries from the actual guides

Postcard from Runaway Mountain Coaster

Explore Branson

A Postcard from Branson short film of the Runaway Mountain Coaster — Explore Branson's postcard series take on the hillside ride, all swooping descent and Ozark scenery.

More Branson essentials

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