|
MEDIA
RELEASE
September 8, 2010 (Updated
Sept. 17)
502-744-5639 Media Cell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Zip, Zip, Zippity doo at the Zoo
Flying isn’t just for the birds anymore;
Louisville Zoo opens Zip Line
((Note: Members of the media are welcome to try the Zip Line
experience as part of their coverage. Please call ahead to make
arrangements.))
Have you ever wanted to fly like an eagle?
The Louisville Zoo’s newest adventure will get
the wind beneath your “wings.”
The Zoo’s
state-of-the-art Zip Line is now open to the public (Fri. – Sun. in
September and weekends only in October; from 10 a.m. until 30 minutes
before the Zoo closes.)
Secured safely in a harness that is tethered to an overhead cable
using a patented twin safety pulley system, riders leave
a 50-foot high launch (as high as a 5-story building) and zip
over the Zoo’s Lake to another tower 350 feet away
(about the length of a football field) then zip back again.
The Zip Line has the
capacity to do up to 60 rides per hour. The speed of the ride is
determined by gravity (one’s weight) and wind resistance.
It’s an experience
that will give you a new look at nature.
As Louisville Zoo
Director John Walczak describes, “Zipping through the treetops is no
longer just for the birds. The Zoo is all about family fun and we think
having the opportunity to “fly” through the air on the Zip Line will be
an amazing experience. Plus the views of the Zoo are spectacular all
along the way.”
The Zoo’s Zip Line is
being built by Ropes Course Inc., which has been constructing and
installing adventure ropes courses, zip lines and climbing walls for 21
years. They have installed hundreds at camps, conference centers,
schools, universities, state parks, amusement parks and zoos. They also
constructed the Louisville Zoo’s Sky Trail® High Adventure Course last
spring.
This latest
attraction has been installed as part of a revenue-sharing partnership
with Sky Trail at Louisville Zoo Inc. The arrangement is similar to
other new attraction partnerships at the Zoo like the Sky Trail® High
Adventure Course, the 4-D Ride Theater and Dinosaurs! exhibit and allows
the Zoo to provide guests with extraordinary experiences without a large
up-front cost for the structures or equipment.
Rides on the Zip Line
are $12 per person in addition to regular Zoo admission
with 10% off for Louisville Zoo members and groups of 10 or more.
The
Zip Line is available for rental before or after regular Zoo hours or by
special arrangement. For more information on renting the course for your
group event, please call 502-292-9545 or email
skytraillz@gmail.com at least 72 hours in advance.
ZIP LINE RIDE RULES
-
Riders must be in
good health. Not recommended for anyone with back or joint injuries.
-
Riders must be
able to walk up 50 feet of stairs to the launching platform.
-
Riders must be at
least 48” tall and be able to fit securely in the harness.
-
Solo rides
only—no tandem rides.
-
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.
The Zip Line operates weather permitting and
may close due to unsuitable wind conditions.
***
For more information on Ropes Course Inc.,
visit
www.ropescoursesinc.com.
For more information on the Louisville Zoo,
visit
www.louisvillezoo.org.
***
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). Follow us on
Facebook and
Twitter.
### |
