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Zipline tours comes to the High Country |
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
 Special to The Appalachian
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by MEGAN NAYLOR
Intern News Reporter
Although the High Country already offers hiking, white water rafting, caving, climbing and snowboarding options, outdoor enthusiasts will be happy to hear a new adventure is coming to the area.
Scream Time Ziplines opened this month, and although the name may scare the faint-hearted, it is a thrill seekers dream.
The experience begins when customers are shuttled from the pick-up spot located off U.S. 421 North
to the ziplines, located only a few minutes ride down the road, said Monie McCoury, owner of Scream
Time.
Upon arrival, safety procedures are thoroughly reviewed, and release forms are signed before suiting
up, McCoury said.
Trained staff help the customers into the proper gear for zip lining, which consists of a harness similar
to those used in rock climbing. The customers are then driven up the hillside to the beginning of the
zipline course.
The vehicles used to transport customers are called Pinzgauers and were originally used in the Swiss
Army, McCoury said.
They are very tough army vehicles that can climb close to any gradient, and can hold up to 14
passengers, McCoury said.
Once everyone reaches the top of the hill where the first zipline is located they are sent on their way
flying across the valley.
“I looked at the land and purely envisioned it,” McCoury said when asked how he came up with the
idea.
He had no prior experience with ziplines but being a businessman and risk taker, he decided to take his
vision and turn it into a business reality.
“The project was under development for close to seven years, but only took a few months to build once
we got started on the actual construction,” McCoury said.
 Special to The Appalachian
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McCoury plans to expand the zipline course in the future and may introduce a water slide or a repel
tower in coming years.
The regular tour is approximately two and a half hours long and consists of six different ziplines. The
shortest zipline on the regular tour is 450 feet and the longest is 800 feet.
The cost is $89 per person.
For those that still want more, Scream Time’s super ziplines, which measure 2000 feet, are available
for $29 if you are also planning on doing the regular tour or $47 by themselves, according to Scream
Time’s Web site.
A 25 percent discount is offered to Appalachian students.
When asked how his prices compared to those of competitors, McCoury said, “There is no competition
in the high country [to compare with] as far as zipline tours go, but compared to the prices of
competitors worldwide we are definitely cheaper.”
He also commented on the safety of the course. He said, “all the cables are aviation grade and
everything has been engineered by professional zipline architects, as well as being wet stamped by the
state of North Carolina.”
The only restrictions of the zipline tours involve weight. Individuals must weight at least
Seventy pounds to zip and cannot exceed 240 pounds for safety reasons.
It is also suggested that women who are pregnant, and people with heart problems not participate.
Until April, Scream Time will only be open on the weekends. For more information on the tours and
making reservations, visit www.screamtimeziplines.com.
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