Put away your tour books.
You no longer have to take an exotic trip to Hawaii or South America for a zipline tour. One is coming to us.
The YMCA's Camp Kern has announced plans to add a zipline adventure to its site in Warren County.
During these times that families are watching every dollar, the adventure is expected to draw thousands.
Construction will begin in two weeks on what will be called Ozone Zipline Adventures.
The two-mile zipline course will include zips up to 2,000 feet long and 170 feet above ground.
It will include some of the longest and highest zips in the country, going over ravines and across the Little Miami River.
Lori Schaeffer is the project manager for Experiential Resources, the company that's building the zipline.
She said, "Those big lines are going to be the big attraction. Everybody's going to say, 'Where's the big ones? Where are the big ones?'"
The course will follow the YMCA's goal of education because as you zip, you'll learn about the area's geology and history.
Nine zips will take you around the camp grounds and to nearby Fort Ancient State Memorial which is operated by the Ohio Historical Society.
Visitors will park near the camp's historic tavern building to check in and will be escorted on campgrounds.
The camp's executive director said the zipline will go through parts of the property that are currently unused.
"It's normally something you do in Hawaii or Costa Rica or some tourist destination and now we have this a high adventure tourist attraction right here," said Camp Kern executive director Jeff Merhige.
The two-and-a-half hour adventure will cost $75 per person.
YMCA leaders plan to use the profit to bring more middle school students to camp.
"Times have been tough, and for 35 years, schools have been coming here for one, two and three-day experiences. We're going to plan on using the revenue from this to help us freeze the rates, or eventually lower the rates," said Merhige.
The Ozone Zipline Adventure is expected to open Memorial Day. You can start making reservations online beginning in April.
You must be at least 70 pounds to do it.
It will cost about $500,000 to build the Zipline.
Fifteen to 20 people will be hired to operate it and work as tour guides.
Currently the closest "zipline adventures" are in Rising Sun, Indiana and Hocking Hills, Ohio (see "Related Links" above).
