Royal Gorge rises from the ashes with ‘soft’ reopening this weekend
By Wayne Heilman, The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
DOWN THE ROAD
Future phases of the
- A second phase scheduled to open in early November includes a gondola system that can carry 48 passengers per trip, two zip lines and 188-seat theater. They will replace a 32-passenger tram, zip lines and theater that were destroyed in the fire.
- A children's play area is scheduled to open in March or April with a 20-foot climbing structure, carousel, maze, water feature and climbing mounds.
- A 5,000-seat outdoor amphitheater is planned to open in June.
-
down the road
Future phases of the
- A second phase scheduled to open in early November includes a gondola system that can carry 48 passengers per trip, two zip lines and 188-seat theater. They will replace a 32-passenger tram, zip lines and theater that were destroyed in the fire.
- A children's play area is scheduled to open in March or April with a 20-foot climbing structure, carousel, maze, water feature and climbing mounds.
- A 5,000-seat outdoor amphitheater is planned to open in June.
-
The 85-year-old bridge was only slightly damaged in the
The visitors center remains "a question mark" for Saturday's opening, he said, but it could be ready if its fire suppression system gets the OK from local officials by Friday.
The reopened park employs about 70 but will expand to 90 in November, when another phase opens, and to 130 during the peak of the summer tourism season, Bandera said.
The park reopened in March, but just for weekends and holidays for guided tours across the bridge and rides on the Royal Rush Skycoaster, a popular attraction that wasn't damaged during the fire. The Skycoaster allows up to three people to swing on a cable 1,300 feet over the gorge.
"We're very pleased that the
She said the park "is a tremendous draw, and also helps generate traffic for other offerings in the
The new visitors center includes an observation deck, a 4,000-square-foot gift shop, and a 215-seat cafe.
The park's
Other phases of the rebuilding project are scheduled for completion over the next two years, but Bandera said there are no plans to rebuild the
Bandera is calling Saturday's reopening a "soft" opening; a formal opening is planned in May.
The park will be open daily with hours subject to seasonal changes. Go to www.royalgorgebridge.com for detailed information.
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