Ziplining started several hundred years ago and became popularized several decades ago. In the past twenty years there has been a huge surge in the popularity of this thrill-filled, adrenaline-packed aerial adventure in the sky, bringing the number of zipline tours in the United States from 10 in 2001 to at least 200 in 2016. Check out some interesting facts on zip lining that have helped grow this adventure into a global phenomenon…

  1.  Nestled in the cliffs along the Salween River, one of the last undammed rivers in Asia is a Chinese community that eats, drinks, and breathes ziplining. Community folk undertake their normal commute of hopping from one side of the river to the other via zip-line to run errands, take the kids to school, and go to work. In 1970, the government helped the towns upgrade their bamboo-made cables to sturdy steel cables like that of Colorado Zipline.
  2. In the 1970s, wildlife biologists used zip lines to study densely forested areas so as not encroach upon precious ecosystems. Unbeknownst to these scientists, this helped popularize ziplining in tropical areas such as Costa Rica, where there is now a booming ziplining industry.
  3. Ziplining is a fantastic bonding experience. When everyone in your group – from the adrenaline junkie to the person terrified of heights – successfully zooms through the air to join the rest of the group on the other platform, there isn’t a person who can’t help but feel elated and proud of themselves. High-fives and whoops all around are not an unusual occurrence.
  4. There are ziplines that will bring you to speeds over 100 MPH. Are you an adrenaline junkie? Then the Velocity zip line by Zipworld in Europe should be on your bucket list. Slide into a flying suit, strap on the helmet and goggles and zip down with all attempts to beat the record!
  5. Colorado Zipline uses the same wires on our courses as the ones used to stop F16’s on aircraft carriers. In order for 20,000 ton F16’s to stop on an aircraft carrier before diving into the vast ocean below, four 35 mm thick arresting wires are placed 50 feet apart along the aircraft carrier and are used to catch onto the foot long tailhook on the F16.  Once one of the wires has been snagged it pulls on the arresting gear beneath the deck which brings the F16 to a complete stop in two seconds.

 

Now that you’re all learned up, come experience the thrill. Bring your friends and family and treat yourself to an exciting morning or afternoon in the air at our Mountaintop and Cliffside Zipline!