Photo Credit: Courtesy of Eri and the Adventure Guild
Zip-line canopy tours are popping up everywhere, and aerial treks are quickly gaining in popularity. From resort regions like Orlando, Fla., to smaller venues such as Hocking Hills, Ohio, zip lines are providing recreational facilities and destinations with an attraction for visitors to enjoy. Aerial treks--popular in the United Kingdom--are appearing in the United States, with the latest addition in Dunlap, Tenn., near Chattanooga.
Location, Location, Location
When deciding if your place is viable for the installation and operation of a zip line, zip-line canopy tour or aerial adventure, look beyond the theory of “If you build it, they will come” because this isn’t necessarily the case. Consider the location. Are you near a national park, major metro area or a tourist attraction that will bring in a constant stream of clientele?
“You need to take into consideration whether or not you are off a main thoroughfare that is going to get traffic,” says Don Stock, president and co-owner of The Adventure Guild, which specializes in designing, building and training for zip-line canopy tours and aerial adventures.