MEDIA ADVISORY

March 24, 2009
CONTACT:  Kara Bussabarger
kara.bussabarger@louisvilleky.gov

502-238-5331 (502-744-5639 Media Cell)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

High adventure at the Zoo

New challenge course offers visitors exciting fun high above the ground 

The Louisville Zoo is a place made for adventure—you can travel from Africa to the Arctic in a day. Now, you can travel high above the ground with the Zoo’s new Sky Trail High Adventure course. See the Zoo from a whole new perspective.

This two-story high challenge course is a fun, safe, family activity where participants navigate horizontally across activities while safely secured and tethered to an overhead tracking system with a full-body harness and lanyard.

Scheduled to be open March 24 through September 15, the course is a special ticket price of $7 per ticket ($6 per ticket if you purchase four or more tickets or $5 per ticket if you purchase 20 or more tickets). Tickets are good for one climb and can be used anytime during the season purchased. Tickets can be purchased at the front gate or the Sky Trail course. It is open daily from 10:30 a.m. until 30 minutes before the Zoo closes. It is located between the HerpAquarium and MetaZoo by the Islands Café and Zoo Lake.

“The Sky Trail will provide for a very exciting experience for the whole family,” Louisville Zoo Assistant Director Mark Zoeller said. “I think families will enjoy the challenge it provides and will share a sense of accomplishment after conquering the course. I look forward to sharing it with my two sons.”

The course has the capacity to accommodate groups up to 25 people at one time and can handle up to 100 people an hour. It takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete the course and is individual and self-driven. Each participant makes his own choices to create his own unique experience as he navigates through the 22 challenging elements including footlines, balance beams, rope ladders plus the Rickety Bridge, Tremor Bridge and Quarter Cargo Net.

The Sky Trail High Adventure course was built by Ropes Course Inc., which has been constructing and installing challenge courses since 1989. They have built 50 over the last few years, many at family entertainment centers. The Louisville Zoo is just the second zoo to have a Sky Trail High Adventure course (the other is at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan).

Companies and organizations can arrange for and reserve special, private team building sessions before and after the courses’ regular public hours. For more information on pricing and scheduling, visit www.louisvillezoo.org/skytrail or call 502-459-2181.

 

SKY TRAIL HIGH ADVENTURE COURSE RULES

  • Must be in good healthy, physical condition. Not recommended for anyone with back or joint injuries.

  • Must be 48 inches tall to participate or be accompanied by a responsible helper.

  • Must safely fit in the harness.

  • Must have closed-toe shoes.

  • Must have empty pockets—no loose objects such as cell phones or cameras.

  • No food, candy or gum while on the course.

 

For more information on Ropes Course Inc., visit www.ropescoursesinc.com

For more information on the Louisville Zoo, visit www.louisvillezoo.org.

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The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). For more information, visit www.louisvillezoo.org.

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LOUISVILLE ZOO  *  1100 TREVILIAN WAY, LOUISVILLE KY  40213

BETTERING THE BOND BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE PLANET