They’re getting set for the second season at Holiday Valley’s Sky High Aerial Adventure Park. Resort officials say initial season proved to be a good one. And they’ve added more zip lines to make the park more attractive to visitors this year. There’s a new zip line course called “Grand Rapids,” which is a green-level course. Two side-by-side courses will allow you to race with your friends.
Actually, the Aerial Adventure Park is already open, ushering in the season for warm weather fun. Soon, our recent encounter with late winter weather will recede into memory, allowing park patrons to once again hit the trees, platforms, and zip lines in full springtime splendor. The park is located in the Tannenbaum area of the Holiday Valley resort.
Holiday Valley Marketing Director Jane Eshbaugh is pleased to announce the addition of the new Grand Rapids course at Sky High, bringing the total number of courses to nine. Visitors explore the outdoor courses by navigating platforms and bridges, climbing ladders, and soaring on zip lines.
The newest course is composed of a series of zip lines that lead you to the bottom of the hill. Eshbaugh explains that you start your descent inside the existing Aerial Park. The route takes you across the Tannenbaum lift line, across Crystal trail, then back and forth across Independence trail, before heading through the woods and all the way to the slope side entrance of Tannanbaum Lodge. That last zip line runs about 350 feet.
Eshbaugh said the new Grand Rapids course provides the user with a new way to get to the base off the hill, rather than walking a path. “It’s a fun way to get down to the base of the mountain. Or, you could just do the zip lines the whole time, if you wanted.” This Friday marks the first time visitors to the Aerial Adventure Park will be able to ride the new zip lines, when they open to the public.
Tickets to use the park last for three hours, and are available on site. The Aerial Adventure Park will be open weekends only, Fridays through Sundays, from now until June 10th. Starting June 15th, the park will be open daily.
Eshbaugh said the Sky High Aerial Adventure Park’s first year proved to be popular with individuals, families, and corporate groups doing team-building exercises. “Couples enjoy the park, as do different types of sports teams.” She notes that in its first year of operation, 2011, the park adds another unique summertime activity for families who visit Ellicottville.
Holiday Valley’s Mountain Coaster, also new last year, is not open just yet. The Mountain Coaster will open on May 11th.
