New Attraction at the Grand Canyon

bruce massey · November-18th-2005, 03:01 PM

At first I thought this was bullshit but it is not. I lived at the Canyon back in '76 and will always love it. This new attraction is fairly close to Las Vegas. Might be 3 hours by car and a puddle jump by air.

Waddya think?

http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/skywalk.html

The image above is an artist's rendering of a glass-bottomed skywalk being constructed over the south rim of the Grand Canyon in the Hualapai Indian Reservation by the tribal-owned Grand Canyon Resort Corporation. The walkway will jut 70 feet out from the rim, offering paying visitors the opportunity to safely peer 4,000 feet down to the bottom of the Canyon. It is part of a larger attraction to be called Grand Canyon West, which will also feature an Indian village and "western-themed town."

Enforcer · November-18th-2005, 03:03 PM

Curious about the support system there, Bruce. I'm not architect, but I would guess that the walk would project pretty far into the rim in order to keep that thing from turning into Demon Drop. I'd feel better about it if I could see support rails, but that's just me.

Jazzzoline · November-18th-2005, 03:04 PM

Let's nature be natural.
... Disneyland

Chris D · November-18th-2005, 03:09 PM

My stomach dropped just looking at the illustration.

Jazzzoline · November-18th-2005, 03:15 PM

Sissy!

John L · November-18th-2005, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzzoline

Let's nature be natural.
... Disneyland

That's probably just the first installment of construction on the Grand Canyon Drop Zone: the ultimate Drop Zone.

Monte Smith · November-18th-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

My stomach dropped just looking at the illustration.

Yeah, I actually vomited. I'd only go on that thing if I was wearing a bat-wing rocket-powered flying suit from Acme.

Scott Dolan · November-18th-2005, 03:22 PM

I saw this on the Snopes website some time back.

Looks very cool, but I'm scared of heights so I don't know if I'd have the stomach to try it.

Enforcer · November-18th-2005, 03:24 PM

Yeah, I'm way too scared of heights to f**k around with something like that. There are too many fun things to do standing on the ground to be bothering with that.

Jazzzoline · November-18th-2005, 03:27 PM

must be my indian blood

Ron Thorne · November-18th-2005, 03:56 PM

Sorry, but I don't like this concept any more than casinos on reservations. Sure wish there were some more constructive ways for Native Americans to get a leg up.

I love the Grand Canyon . . . far too much to see this kind of enterprise become part of the "experience". At least Disneyland wasn't created on or over one of the most magnificent natural creations ever.

I'm frankly surprised that the Hualapai Tribe doesn't consider this despoiling Mother Earth in a big way.

Remove the drilling rig, and here's what the area looked like before they began this project, which now also (apparently) includes some new "old-looking" Indian adobe buildings. You know, for the proper "effect". YUK!

jesus marion joseph · November-18th-2005, 03:59 PM

My wife would hav an anxiety attack just looking at that picture. While it would be an aesthetic abomination, I would gladly pay money to take a walk on that puppy.

Some of you may recall my trip to Arizona in July of '04, when my college pal Steve delivered us to the Grand Canyon. Problem was, we were supposed to be going to Meteor Crater. (You may also recall that Steve ripped the front fascia off of our rental car by going full speed in reverse through a large mud puddle, then whittled wooden pegs to hold it in place until we could get to the GMC dealer in Flagstaff.) Anyhow, it's nearly impossible to see the Colorado River from much of the south rim, so this could be a cool way to do so without having to hike down there and back up, or rent a helicoptor or airplane.

Enforcer · November-18th-2005, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

it would be an aesthetic abomination

It is just one of these we're talking about, right? Because as much as I hate the commercialization of natural resources and what not, it's not like that hasn't already happened. With the tours, rim buses and hiking adventures they sell there, would this really make a difference? I mean, the Canyon is pretty, um, big. It's not like it would ruin the whole thing forever. Unless they're talking about putting them all over the thing or something.

Regardless, I'd be fine with never seeing it built. Like I said, I couldn't care less about something like this. I'd never go on it.

sonic1 · November-18th-2005, 04:04 PM

I say, make them lazy fucks hike the thing for real. See the thing for real. Having this thing is just a way to see it from an unnatural perspective. A photograph of such would do, or a film.

Hike the damn thing if you really want to see it.

Enforcer · November-18th-2005, 04:07 PM

My ex-wife hiked it when she was in high school. It made a huge impression on her and she talked about it all the time. Her friend drank untreated water against good advice and wound up extremely ill. She was throwing up and dehydrated the whole time and needed to be carried by her classmates for much of the hike.

Sounds almost as bad as our marriage.

BA-DUM CRASH!!

Kidding! I kid.

Unable to resist,
Larry

sonic1 · November-18th-2005, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

My ex-wife hiked it when she was in high school. It made a huge impression on her and she talked about it all the time. Her friend drank untreated water against good advice and wound up extremely ill. She was throwing up and dehydrated the whole time and needed to be carried by her classmates for much of the hike.

Sounds almost as bad as our marriage.

BA-DUM CRASH!!

Kidding! I kid.

Unable to resist,
Larry

And I say, let natural selection run its course! (in both cases??)

rollhead · November-18th-2005, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

My stomach dropped just looking at the illustration.

My palms are sweating.

Monte Smith · November-18th-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic1

Hike the damn thing if you really want to see it.

That's all nice in theory, but I don't recall it working out so good for the Brady Bunch.

blawless · November-18th-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

That's all nice in theory, but I don't recall it working out so good for the Brady Bunch.

The one where Peter and Bobby met the cute Indian boy, who followed them back to Camp Brady and, at nightfall, murdered them all in their sleep? I have fond memories of that episode, but I always felt that it was a bit racist.

Monte Smith · November-18th-2005, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blawless

I have fond memories of that episode, but I always felt that it was a bit racist.

My God, how?

I mean "how?" as in "what could you possibly mean," not "how!" as in "greetings, paleface. I welcome you to the land of my people."

blawless · November-18th-2005, 05:42 PM

I went back and checked online, and it was Bobby and Cindy, not Peter, who led that plucky l'il redskin savage to the scene of his later Bradycide. Apologies for the error.

Surfer · November-18th-2005, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce massey

.

Waddya think?

One word: Sandstone.

Another word: Shale.

Scott Dolan · November-18th-2005, 06:18 PM

That's it, count me out!

bruce massey · November-19th-2005, 02:27 AM

The Hualapai reservation is in the far western portion of the Canyon. This is no where near the facilities that everyone knows as the South Rim of Grand Canyon Natl. Park.

Also, the Hualapai are engaging in this venture because they are opposed to casinos.

To the comments...you should hike it if you want.....

Many people are too old to do so. Park service has severely curtailed canyon flights. The Canyon kills people and so for those who seek a thrilling experience I am totally in favor of anything that will enhance their visit. I do believe that this thing is a paradox. An horrifying attraction for those who can't bring themselves to take part in the thrill.

It is constucted in "solid" sandstone. Having engaged in extensive, stupid climbing in this shit I know it is horrible "rock".

If I could figure out how to post photos I could show you my young self doing some of the dumbest things you can imagine.

God I loved it!

John L · November-19th-2005, 10:27 AM

Well, if you were on it and something did happen, it would be one hell of a way to go!

moneyp · November-19th-2005, 11:02 AM

Nature, shmature... I think it's pretty fuckin' cool.

clinthopson · November-21st-2005, 01:21 PM

WIth my tendency for vertigo - I don't think so.

My knees are still knocking from the Sky Needle.

Jazzzoline · November-21st-2005, 01:43 PM

Any of yous ever tried the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point?

tippy · November-23rd-2005, 07:58 AM

That's not a bridge. A bridge connects two sides. I'd not walk on that thing.

stonemonkts · November-23rd-2005, 08:12 AM

Looking at that thing made my heart pound. I'm very afraid of heights.

fear of heights sidebar: I am still haunted by seeing the PBS documentary of the tightrope walker who walked between the WTC Towers way back when. I almost threw up when I saw that (I must be a masochist for viewing it all the way to the end). Problem is, ever since seeing it, I have mini panic attacks when lying in bed just before falling to sleep. Jesus what a frigging putz. I imagine walking a few feet on that cable and then whoosh! Typing this post just fucked me up for the morning.

I do love the Grand Canyon, fwiw. I hiked it back in '82. I shouldn't have stoked that doobie halfway down, but it was still one of the most thrilling (and exhausting) hikes of my life.