New Zip Line Adventure Could Open Next Weekend At North Park
McCANDLESS (KDKA) -- Get ready to get in touch with your adventurous side.
The Go Ape Zip Line Course at North Park is almost finished.
When you look at the first stop on the trail, it hardly looks intimidating. A little walk across a wire and a slide down a short little zip line, but that's just getting started.
Before you know it, you're climbing a rope ladder and into stands that hug the pines between the North Park boathouse and the tennis courts.
Each step a different challenge and every zip line a little higher and a little longer.
"My husband and I can get away for the afternoon and come over and check it out," said Lisa Stugart, of Gibsonia. "We do tons of adventurous activities together."
To say Allegheny County is anxious to get swinging is an understatement.
"We think that people will come from outside the county and it might provide a bit of tourism," said Allegheny County Parks Director Andy Baechel.
The adventurous will be playing 40 to 50 feet up in the trees, attached by harnesses of course at all times. There are swings, bridges and every imaginable type of crossing between trees.
The longest zip line is 440 feet.
"I would love to do that. It sounds like it's going to be expensive though, and that might be my prohibiting factor, but it sounds like a lot of fun," said Sharon Smith, of McCandless.
Over 18, it will cost you $55; and from 10- to 17-years-old, it's $35.
"It's about three hours from what I understand, and part of that is training before they let you lose in the trees," said Baechel.
There's no county money involved.
"They are building it, they are maintaining it and they are insuring it," he adds. "They have a contract with us and they will pay us rent."
It's $20,000 the first year and it goes up after that; and the more successful, the more the county will get.
The company has received its state approval and plans to dot the Is and cross the Ts Monday for a grand opening next Saturday.
RELATED LINKS:
Fly Through The Trees On Proposed North Park Zip Line (1/22/13)
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