Whitefish, MT – Whitefish Mountain Resort has announced the opening of its new Aerial Adventure Park, the first in the state of Montana. The park is located at the base of the ski area in the trees just above the Base Lodge, between the Chipmunk and Huckleberry Patch ski runs, and will open to the public tomorrow.
The park includes 61 platforms and 12 to 13 horizontal and vertical “elements” on each course, including suspended bridges, cable walk ways, nets, ladders, trapezes, tube traverses, zip lines, balance beams and more set 10 to 50 feet above the ground. Participants will wear a full-body harness and be double secured into a cable system. Saturday’s grand opening will be accompanied by a barbeque on the Base Lodge patio from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., featuring tri-tip steak and chicken.
Dan Graves, President, Whitefish Mountain Resort spoke of how the park enhances the list of existing activities on the mountain.
“The Aerial Park is completely different as it is not a guided activity but rather guests will go through the park at their own pace,” Graves said. “Families, friends and individuals will traverse the courses building strength, endurance, confidence and having heck of a lot of fun to boot.”
After being fitted for a harness and attending a brief training session, guests will challenge themselves by maneuvering from platform to platform in the trees via horizontal and vertical elements. The new park will feature five courses with varying levels of difficulty, each one requiring more balance and agility. Guests will have two hours in the park after 15 to 20 minutes of training.
Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Aerial Adventure Park was designed and constructed from May through July 2012 by a crew of seven from Outdoor Ventures of Connecticut. Additionally, the resort worked with local arborist, Expert Tree Care of Kalispell, to pull out dead and dying trees and to select the trees best suited for the park. The healthiest trees remain and since less competition for space exists, their growth will be enhanced. Expert Tree Care will continue to work with Whitefish Mountain Resort staff to make sure trees are healthy and not stressed.
“This park will allow guests to connect with the forest in a very unique way,” added Graves. “It will provide an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of our local forest.”
Open to adults and children 7 and over, the Aerial Adventure Park will operate from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. daily through Labor Day, and weekends through September 30, 2012. Tickets can be purchased at the Base Lodge and cost $39 for adults 13 and over and $24 for juniors ages 7-12. The maximum weight for participants is 265 pounds (120 kilograms).