Multiple Zip Line Ride To Open At Dollywood This Summer

Pigeon Forge, TN -- Dollywood guests will fly over the 150-acre theme park and experience the majesty of the Great Smokey Mountains with the opening of SkyZip. The first multiple station zip-line experience to open at a US theme park will debut at Dollywood in May 2009.

"SkyZip is the first of a series of premium experiences Dollywood plans to launch in the coming year. These high level family experiences are 'ready-to-go' meaning our guests just show up for the thrills, no previous experience or expensive gear needed," said Ken Bell, president of Dollywood.

SkyZip will be an up-charge premium attraction at Dollywood.

"These deeper, personalized experiences will challenge our guests and often, fulfill lifelong dreams," added Bell.

The hour-long program will include up to five zip-line treks ranging in length from 100 to nearly 1,000 feet. There will also be a 100-foot long swinging bridge perched above the trees.

Each zip-line is an elevated and inclined wire from which a pulley and a seating apparatus are suspended allowing the guest to move between two points via gravity.

Fliers will launch from a perch above the park's region called Wilderness Pass and soar to Dollywood's famed triple spiral-looping roller coaster, Tennessee Tornado, and beyond. One trail takes adventurers breathtakingly close to Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. After a brief hike, the adventurers will zip above Craftsman's Valley, home to Dollywood's talented artisans, and back to the same point where their adventure began.

Each SkyZip tour offers a distinctive adventure with a theme.

As part of Dollywood's celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the tour will also provide an environmental and historical tour of undeveloped and unspoiled property surrounding Dollywood hosted by specially trained adventure guides.

The new SkyZip is powered by Hawaii-based Skyline Eco-Adventures. In addition to park admission, an additional fee is required to experience SkyZip.

For more information on Dollywood, visit dollywood.com.