The Saluda Skyride is expected to open Friday, August 29.
The Saluda Skyride is scheduled to open Friday, August 29.
Riverbanks Zoo officials provided an update on the new attraction Wednesday, August 13.
“It’s definitely a different product than we’ve ever put in the zoo,” Riverbanks Zoo president and CEO Tommy Stringfellow said of the Saluda Skyride. “We’ve added animals, exhibits, and had small attractions, but this is a big undertaking. It’s one I knew we could handle and our team could pull together. What I’m excited about is the fact the team embraced it. When all the pieces and parts came together and we set up the ride, it made it a little easier for us to see how it comes together.”
The Saluda Skyride is part of the Bridge to the Wild project, a multimillion dollar project for Riverbanks Zoo that also includes new animal exhibits and a restaurant on the Botanical Gardens side of the campus.
Stringfellow said the decision to go with a skyride was multilayered. First it offers a chance to transport more people from one side of the campus to the other quicker than the current tram. It also reduces the carbon foot print. Stringfellow adds the ride is extremely safe.
Up to eight passengers can fit into one of the skyride cars. One trip from the zoo to the botanical gardens is expected to take two-and-a-half minutes.
The tram will still be available, especially for nighttime events and when the weather is too severe to run the skyride. Stringfellow said patrons are also welcome to walk.
The skyride has 19 cars that hold eight people each and is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
“Our goal was to get this up and running first,” Stringfellow said. “It allows us to do a lot of construction in the areas the tram used to run. The acres we do have over there to build the animal exhibits require a lot of construction going up and down that road. This is critical in safely moving our guests back and forth across the river.”
Stringfellow said he has enjoyed overseeing the entire Bridge to the Wild project. Updates for the other parts of the project will be announced at a VIP event for the skyride on Thursday, August 28.
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