This park is unsafe except for people who already have prior ziplining experience! I tried the Beast the other day as my FIRST ziplining experience ever, and let me tell you, it was awful! First of all, nobody explained to me that I would be flying 850 feet above the canopy; the tour guide at my hotel made it sound like the ziplining would be through the trees, not over them.
But, what made the experience particularly harrowing is that I GOT STUCK in the MIDDLE of the BEAST zipline! The zipline is about one mile long. I literally got stuck half way through. I was suspended 850 feet above the canopy and was completely powerless. I was staring straight down at the tops of the trees thinking my life was about to end.
About 5 minutes later, a park worker ziplined from the front of me down to where I was and told me to grab his feet. But, I had been told when the ride began that I should use my hands to grip cords at my sides. I was scared that by removing my hands from my sides, I would plummet. I asked him if I should grab his feet with both hands, but since none of the workers there speak much English, I was not sure he understood me when he said "yes." I took a chance, but mind you, at the time, I knew that if he did not understand, I would fall to my death. He pulled me to safety.
I did two more ziplines after that, but in both cases, the break at the end smashed into my helmet, almost giving me a concushion. So, I told them I wanted off the mountain. They sent someone with an ATV to get me. There were no doors or seatbelts, and that man drove super fast down the steepest slopes I have ever seen. I thought I was going to die in the ATV.
Bottom line--if you have never ziplined before, do not have this be your first experience. And, I do not think this park would ever have gotten the go-ahead to open in the continental US. It is extremely unsafe.
Yes, I know some readers out there will no doubt write and tell me that it is safe and that I should have known I would be rescued. But to you, I say, YOU WEREN'T THERE! YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE FEAR I SUFFERED! I have had no one give me any sympathy since this experience, and I am sick of it! All you adrenaline junkies out there are entitled to have your fun; but I was not expecting anything like what I endured. The tour guide at my hotel did not properly explain what would be entailed--probably because she did not speak sufficient English. So, if you are just going to write and criticize me, save your breath. This post is just meant for others like myself who are not into extreme sports but who just might otherwise think that ziplining at this park does not require extreme skill and coordination--let me tell you, it does! If you hold the ropes at the wrong place, for example, you lose your fingers! And yes, the workers there will tell you that! So, be warned.
This is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart. If you have a fear of heights, definitely do not go here. This is a great park for adrenaline junkies but not for anyone who is not ready to die yet. read more