Wild Animal Park zip line not for the faint of heart
I’m not so much afraid of heights as I am afraid of death.
So I was relieved to discover the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park was sending only test dummies down its new $3-million zip line attraction during my recent visit. Flightline officially debuts May 1, but park visitors are already taking to the skies during the ride’s “soft opening.”
During my pre-opening tour, I asked all the requisite questions — saving my worst fears until the very end. Can I fall out of the safety harness? What if I get stuck in the middle of the line? Or if the cable breaks? If I don’t die from the fall, will the animals eat me?
I was assured by Michael Ahlering, the Wild Animal Park’s director of operations, that my fears were unwarranted.
“It’s a nice experience, almost comfortable,” Ahlering said, trying to reassure me. “There’s no falling off.”
Yeah, right. That’s why they have every rider sign a waiver releasing the Wild Animal Park from any liability in the event of “personal injury” or “wrongful death.”
And what’s with the vultures circling overhead?
“We’ve learned time and again that the best way to get people to appreciate wildlife is for them to experience wildlife up close,” Ahlering said. “Or to do what wildlife does.”
As far as I know, the vulture does only one thing — pick clean the bones of my decaying body. That’s if there’s anything left after the Indian rhino is done with me.
Standing atop the Flightline launch platform high above the San Pasqual Valley, I imagined myself zipping down the two-thirds-of-a-mile-long line at 56 mph, the ground and my certain death 13 stories below.
Ahlering assured me that each safety harness is tested before every ride and that the staff practices rescue procedures on a regular basis should I get stuck in the middle of the line.
“Can I just try the practice run?” I asked, inquiring about the 450-foot-long “fledgling” line designed to separate the willing from the unable.
No such luck.
“Can I ride up to the top and just watch?”
Nope.
Then that settles it. I’ll stick to roller coasters. No rushing rhinos. No circling vultures. No death waivers.
The 90-minute Flightline experience — which includes a brief orientation session, a 20-second training run, a safari ride to the summit and an 80-second zip-line run — costs $70 in addition to park admission. Riders must be at least 10 years old and weigh between 75 and 250 pounds.
Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland. Follow Funland on Twitter.
— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Photo: San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park
7 Comments on “Wild Animal Park zip line not for the faint of heart”
Leave a Comment
If you are under 13 years of age you may read this blog, but you may not participate. Here's the full legal spiel.
Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this blog until the author has approved them.
All fields are required
Advertisement
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG
Click the logo below to subscribe to news from this blog:
Or add this feed to your favorite RSS reader:
more
Or add this feed to your favorite RSS reader:
more
Advertisement
June 10th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Are you kidding? I was planning to come and bring my two teenage grandsons and do the zip line with them. After reading the price and the amount of time spent on the zip line itself I was shocked. It is to bad you have made it so expensive that I can’t afford to bring them. Linda Ware
July 16th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I was doing a search on the internet about this and you are pretty lame writing this trying to make it appear that an operation like the SD Zoo would be needlessly putting people’s lives at risk. You would rather stick to a roller coaster because you don’t have to sign a waiver? Did you know that buying a ticket and entering a roller coaster park is declaring you know of the possible danger of roller coasters? I’d rather ride this zipline that drive on the freeway most days while people use their cell phones. If you are flat out scared of heights - just say so and cover another topic.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
How about skipping these expensive gimmicks and bring back the timeless monorail ride? The short tram ride that replaced it sucks, the tram would be fine if it followed the same path as the old monorail but it doesn’t, thereby missing most the park. This isn’t an amusement park it is a zoo! An extension of the SD Zoo.
September 19th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Are you kidding me!? 70.00!!! Way to go wild animal park!! What a rip-off!!!!
After a stunt like this I think I’ll be questioning my next visit too!!!
Ridiculous!
October 12th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
It’s sad that it is so expensive. However, compared to other zip lines, it is longer and costs much less. There is one outside of Las Vegas that last about 1 minute and costs $139 (and that’s with discounted fall prices.)
October 18th, 2009 at 9:23 am
THIS LOOKS AWESOME! Thanks for the funny piece about how terrifying it is - now I want to go more than ever.
And it’s probably about $70 because it’s so new, it costs them a lot to get it going, and to keep it safe. Prices are probably lower already. No such thing as a free lunch!
October 31st, 2009 at 7:13 pm
The park starts ripping you off with the un-published $9 parking atop your $35 per person. Then a soda cost $4.50 with tax and a hotdog $7.50. Every 10 feet is someone selling you something, it’s like a carnie. $20-$70 for extra rides. 45 minutes into the park and I had only seen ducks in a pond. Save your money go direct to the zoo, you get to actually see animals.