A Middlesex County high school student is taking his passion for rollercoasters to new heights without having to leave home.

“Shadow Stalker” was built by 17-year-old Sammy Trechak and his friends. They have been working on the coaster for about a year in their East Brunswick backyard.

“It did take a long time to make. Obviously, the easiest part was the structure. The station was up in under a week,” Trechak says.

The teen says that he had a lot of help with the design process from his friends.

“It was a lot about the technology which is where [my friend] Jack came in. Jack designed the whole car. He basically designed the whole turn for me – designed the whole turn by hand,” Trechak says.

This was not the first rollercoaster that Trechak has created.

“I actually did my first one when I was in fifth grade. And then in eighth grade, my dad was like, ‘Alright, it’s time to build a new one, Sammy,” Trechak says.

“Shadow Stalker” is the third rollercoaster – and the most complex.

“I think my favorite part is just watching how exciting it makes him to make it all come together,” says friend Colin Petrignani.

Trechak says that the rollercoaster is not complete. The team is working on a lift system that can bring the car back up to the top. It currently must be done manually.