Zip Line Mania Sevier County Tennessee
A zip line here, a zip line there, here a zip line, there a zip line, everywhere a zip zip. As paintball has faded, investors and property owners throughout Sevier County have found a new way to turn their properties into money making propositions.
It slowly started with one company as a means to draw visitors to its rental properties, soon Smoky Mountain Paintball was setting up their zip line course, Dollywood contracted another company to set their zip line up, which it seems Dollywood is now running it on their own. In Gatlinburg another business started a zip line course. This once popular past time for country folk is now reborn as an attraction filled with high-tech equipment, tons of legalities and the need for hefty insurance. This does not discourage profiteers from trying to add their uniqueness and out do or out market their competitor.
A local property owner has requested a zip line course somewhere off Middle Creek. Another company, just off Branam Hollow Road, has sought approval for their zip line course which includes sky bridges and later down the road a lodge for meeting and catered events.
Zip lines are popular today, they may not bring people to the area but they give a select few adventure seekers a great opportunity under the canopy of the Tennessee Smoky Mountains.
Looks like the bungee jump reborn, those empty jump towers blocking views of the Smoky Mountains dotting the Pigeon Forge Parkway towards Gatlinburg. We now have towering structures going up all over our mountains. When their short life is no longer profitable, like paintball and bungee jumping, what regulations are in place to insure the abandoned structures will be removed? While they are in operation, has the city the staffing for safety inspections all over the county?
