On a wire

ZipLine Adventures bring one of country’s newest sports to East Texas

By Cristin Ross Jacksonville Daily Progress

NEW YORK COMMUNITY — Yeeeeeee-haaaaaaaawwwwww!

That’s exactly what it’s like when you take a ride down the last leg of the zip line course at ZipLine Adventures park in New York, a community 15 miles east of Athens, near Poynor.

“I’ve been zip lining before and this course is one of the better ones I’ve been to,” former Athens resident John Irving said.

Irving and friend Ryan Sanders of Henderson were the second half of the foursome who went zip lining the afternoon of June 21.

“It was great, especially that last one,” Sanders said. “I’ve got to get my fiancee out here before we move.”

Dubbed “America’s newest adventure sport,” by park owners Charles and Connie Shultz, ZipLine Adventures offers the chance to swing, literally, from tree top to tree top over — and through in some spots — some of the lushest East Texas piney woods in three counties.

“We’ve got a 30-mile view up here,” Connie said. “It’s just breath-taking.”

The Athens couple and their son Carson have installed the course that features more than 2,200 feet of cable that forms six separate lines of varying lengths — the longest, said to be the longest and fastest in the South, spans more than 900 feet and towers 100 feet up.

“This beats a cup of coffee in the morning any day,” Charles joked. Connie and Carson agreed.

“There’s nothing like it right before a test,” Carson declared.

Charles dreamed up building his own course after he saw a segment on zip lining on the Discovery Channel, he said.

“I was stimulated to do some research on the sport as a whole,” Charles remembered. “When I saw the void in East Texas, I thought ‘why not?’ The terrain here is right for it.”

What Charles learned was, including his park, there are only 10 zip line courses in the U.S. and three of them, again including his own, are located in Texas.

“This kind of thing seemed to be limited to something you’d do on an exotic vacation,” Charles said. “I wanted to bring some of that island entertainment to East Texas.”

ZipLine Adventures has been open since April, and business is zipping along — pun intended.

“The best part is seeing and hearing all the reactions from people coming off the course,” Connie said. “Most people seem to be really impressed with what we’ve done here.”

Carson, one of the park’s zip line guides, said the best part — other than riding the zip lines all day — is meeting the people.

“It’s interesting to see all the different people who are into this,” he said. “People from all walks of life, all ages, all races, both genders — it’s just cool.”

Connie said even octogenarians have participated in the adventure.

“We had a man here recently who was two weeks shy of his 80th birthday,” she said. “He loved it.”

Charles said zip lining seems to especially attract adrenaline junkies of the Baby Boomer era.

“It’s turning out to be the extreme adventure of choice for Baby Boomers,” he said with a laugh. “But really, it’s something everyone can enjoy.”

The adventure

Once you arrive at Shultz Mountain for your zip line adventure, tour guides Carson Shultz and Taylor Mann help you suit up in the harness, helmet and leather gloves (all provided). The harness is buckled around each leg and the waist and forms a cradle for its wearer once attached to the zip line.

The harness also features two safety lines that are hooked to the line and the pulley mechanism that, once attached to the line, will roll the adventurer over the line — up to 30 miles an hour in some places.

Once you’re in proper attire, the guides direct you to the ground course for a short lesson in braking and self-rescue. Zippers use their right hands to brake as they come in for a landing on each line. The leather gloves protect a zipper’s hands as they brake.

“Since we don’t use gravity brakes on our course, people are going to get a little more speed out of their ride,” Shultz explained. “And I think it adds to the experience, too. People come away with more because it’s a little more hands-on.”

The self-rescue portion of the course makes sure you can haul yourself back in on the off-chance you get stuck in the middle of a line. Self-rescue is simple — lean back, grip the zip line behind you and pull yourself, hand over hand, back to the starting platform.

“It’s pretty rare for that to happen, but it does,” Mann said. “Everyone out there has to be physically able to pull themselves back again. That’s the easiest way.”

Once you’ve aced ground school, you and your group move to the two-story platform that starts the nearly two-hour zip line adventure.

The course takes you through the trees to platforms built in the tops of stout pine trees and the lines are a comfortable distance from dangling branches.

“There’s one spot that’s cleared out pretty well,” Shultz admitted. “I was zip lining one day and just as I got to that tree, the wind blew its branches right across the line.

“I had leaves and sticks all in my face and harness, but there’s a nice Carson-shaped hole for other people to go through now.”

After the first four lines, you’ll hit the ground again and take a short hike — uphill, naturally — to a rest area for a breather and refreshment, before heading up for the next two legs of the course.

Both of which are decidedly longer than the first four. The trek to the final lap of the course also includes a short walk uphill. After the final zip, there’s another short, but steep, walk back to the starting point.

Because of the walking, all guests must wear closed toed shoes during their tour and comfortable clothing is recommended.

This course is not designed for anyone that cannot climb stairs, pregnant women, anyone with heart problems or any other illness that may hinder your zip line adventure.

Weight limit is restricted to a minimum of 70 pounds to a maximum weight of 230 pounds for women and 275 pounds for men. Tours are available Thursday-Sunday, to anyone at least 12 years old.

Each tour is $60 per person, and includes everything needed for the adventure. A $30 deposit is required at the time of booking with the balance due upon arrival. The deposit is non-refundable due to missed appointments.

All guests must sign a waiver upon arrival and anyone less than 18 years old must be with a parent or guardian.

To make reservations, call 903-681-3791 or go to www.GoZipTexas.com.

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