Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
More Ziplines From Around The World…
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on December 28, 2015
Every now and then, we bring you news of other interesting zipline attractions located around the U.S. and around the world. And since our Pigeon Forge zip line course is going to be on winter break for the next couple of months, we thought this would be a good time to share some info about how other attractions are putting their own unique spin on one of the fastest growing outdoor family-adventure activities.
Even if you decide not to check these places out for yourself, they at least make for interesting reading. And of course, Smoky Mountain Ziplines will be open again in the spring, close to home and ready to help you have the time of your life right here in the Smokies.
One of the possible attractions that caught our eye was a proposed zipline in Lead, South Dakota, which, if it comes to fruition, would be one of the tallest ziplines in the world. Stretching more than a half-mile across the massive Homestake Open Cut gold mine in the state's renowned Black Hills, the line would stretch some 1,200 feet off the ground at its highest point, which is about as high as the Empire State Building.
Riders would launch from the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center on Rhyolite Peak and travel about 3,000 feet, experiencing a net vertical drop of 260 feet before reaching the landing zone near Manual Brothers Park. It would be, if not the tallest zipline in the world, certainly the tallest in North America.
Right now, this attraction is still in the planning phase, as the developers are trying to work out all the details with local governments to get permission to start work on the project. Stay tuned to this blog for future updates.
Meanwhile, in Costa Rica's Rincon de la Vieja rainforest, ziplining is already well established and is considered to be some of the best in the world – certainly among one of the most popular adventure experiences in Costa Rica. These tours give visitors a chance to view lush rainforests and all their diverse tropical vegetation and wildlife from a truly unique – and exhilarating – perspective.
One popular stop in Rincon de la Vieja is Blue River Resort & Hot Springs, home to nine ziplines that take guests over parklands, across waterfalls and through the jungle. They total four kilometers in length, with the longest being 600 meters. The adventure also allows guests to swing down from the trees like Tarzan, explore a nearby volcano national park and take horseback eco tours.
The ziplining's also pretty spectacular in the Caribbean, where three attractions in particular have been getting a lot of attention for their uniqueness. Collectively, they offer multiple locations with lush jungles and rainforests similar to those in Central and South America, offering just the right conditions for canopy tours of varying levels of intensity and scenery.
At Toro Verde Adventure Park in Puerto Rico, you'll find The Monster, one of the longest and highest ziplines in the world. Riders spray green smoke from cannisters as they shoot down the line at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, soaring through the air for one and a half miles.
At Rainforest Adventures in St. Lucia, you'll find the Adrena-Line canopy tour, which begins with a nature walk and features 18 ziplines with a Tarzan swing. On the Adrena-Luna adventure, you can experience the canopy tour in the dark.
Jamaica Zipline Adventure Tours in Montego Bay, Jamaica, boasts the 1,600-foot-long Big Timba line, which soars over farmland and the Great River. Each tour also includes off-roading in military-style vehicles and the Flavors of Jamaica eco tour.
