Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Zipline Etiquette
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on June 26, 2018
Pretty much everybody that spends any time at all with us at Smoky Mountain Ziplines has a great experience. But to ensure that our guests stay safe and also enjoy themselves, we have certain rules and guidelines into place. For example, there are weight and age restrictions, and we expect our guests to dress appropriately before arriving.
But beyond the hard-and-fast rules, there are certain things that are useful to know before visiting our Pigeon Forge attraction. You might categorize these recommendations more as etiquette – guidelines that aren't required but are certainly helpful in guaranteeing that you and your fellow tour guests can enjoy the ziplining experience as much as possible. Here's a list of a few things NOT to do when ziplining.
• When your guides are getting you geared up for your adventure, and they hand you your protective gloves, DO NOT say, “If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit.” You'll be immediately labeled as a troublemaker.
• When you and your group are being shuttled to the top of the canopy tour in our military transport vehicle, DO NOT jump out of the passenger seating area while hanging onto the back tailgate and then let yourself be dragged behind the truck like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is looked down upon.
• When your guide clips your harness tether to the safety cable on the launch platform, DO NOT start humming “Taps” as loudly as possible. You may think it's hilarious, but chances are at least one other guest will burst into tears.
• When it's your family member's or friend's turn to ride a zipline, DO NOT walk up behind that person and attempt to yank their pants down at the last second. For one thing, with that harness they're wearing, those pants aren't going anywhere. Second, you'll just look stupid, and all the other guests might start plotting ways to pants YOU when the tour is over.
• We have restrooms at our outpost and on the course. Heeding nature's call while in the middle of your zipline ride is FROWNED UPON.
• When approaching a landing platform on our zipline course, DO NOT pose yourself like a martial arts master performing a flying mid-air kick. This poses a danger for the guide, and it generally makes you look like an idiot.
OK, if you haven't figured it out by now, all of these etiquette tips are tongue-in-cheek. Of course, it's always a good idea to be courteous and polite to everyone you encounter when you're ziplining, including your fellow guests. And you really want to be nice to your guides, because your safety is in their hands. They have an important job to do, and they don't need folks dragging the experience down with a bad attitude.
So in all seriousness, here are some DOs you can observe while you're out on our zipline course.
• DO say hello to the folks riding up with you in the transport truck. You're going to be hanging out with them pretty closely for a couple of hours, so you might as well get to know them and maybe make a new friend.
• DO listen to your guides. Everything they say and do is to help you stay safe and have the time of your life while you're in the Smokies. Their instructions are important.
• DO smile and laugh. This is a FUN experience, so make the most of it. If you're a little nervous, it's OK. Most people do get a little nervous, especially if it's their first time. But you can at least look like you're having a good time on the outside. The best part is that our guides are a lot of fun and have great senses of humor. Chances are, they'll have you feeling at ease before long.
