New Ziplines Make Hocking Hills "Canopy Tour Capital of the Midwest"

    LOGAN, OH, July 04, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- This July, Valley Zip Lines opens to the public, while existing operator Hocking Hills Canopy Tours launches its new Dragonfly zipline adventure for kids. Combined, the additions make Ohio's Hocking Hills the undisputed Canopy Tour Capital of the Midwest. The new lines elevate the total number of zips in the region to more than 50, as the new Valley Zip Lines joins Hocking Hills Canopy Tours and Hocking Peaks Adventure Park to bring visitors some of the best zipline canopy tour experiences in the U.S.

New kid on the block Valley Zip Lines opens July 6. Offering the longest zipline runs in Ohio, Valley's new course features 11 ziplines, three of which are more than 1,000 feet long. The tour transverses a gorgeous natural valley and visitors soar more than 80 feet in the air across a two-acre lake and over a kids Mini Zip. Dual racing zips allow guests to battle to see who reaches the finish line first. The course wraps up as riders rappel down from a 48-foot tower. In addition, guests can ride a giant swing where they're hoisted 48 feet in the air, then released to swing in a giant arc.

The Valley Zip Line Mini Zip features pint-sized kid zips, letting kids as young as age 3 get in on the action. Four zips, each six feet off the ground give junior zippers a chance to experience zipping. The full zipline is $89.99 per person. Monday-Wednesday, special pricing lets one youth age 10-16 zip for half price with each paying adult. The Mini Zip is $15 for unlimited rides and the Giant Swing is $15 per ride. Valley Zip Lines opens at 8 a.m., with the last tour taking place at 6 p.m. and the tour is open through October, with a possible extension later into the fall, weather permitting. More details are available at www.valleyziplinetours.com.

The Midwest's first canopy tour, Hocking Hills Canopy Tours, is adding a new feature to its stellar zip line up. Dragonfly, a zipline adventure for kids, opens in late July, letting kids age 5-12 years experience a canopy tour. With eight zips, three sky bridges and a tunnel, the new Dragonfly whizes kids 10-25 feet off the ground on zips as long as 139 feet. With each zip cleverly named after a different bug, Dragonfly is the first U.S. zipline ever to use the brand new Swiss-designed continuous roller belay system technology. The new kid zip joins Hocking Hills Canopy Tours' existing 10-line full-size tour, plus the exhilarating double line Super Zip. Tours are open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. through November 1. Introductory price for the one-hour Dragonfly canopy tour is $39 and the full-size tour is $89, with the Super Zip offered for $20 more. Mid-week discounts for kids, as well as military and area resident discounts, are available. Hocking Hills Canopy Tours details and reservations are available at www.hockinghillscanopytours.com.

A third Hocking Hills canopy tour operator, Hocking Peaks Adventure Park, is more than a destination for ziplines. Visitors can take on the 30 aerial challenges intermixed with a 16-line zip course. While Hocking Peaks is known for its canopy tours, guests can also enjoy disc golf, paintball and the OGO Ball: a giant plastic ball in which riders roll down a steep hill. With its four OGO Ball courses, Hocking Peaks boasts the longest OGO course in the U.S. Information and reservations are available at www.hockingpeaks.com.

Located 40 miles southeast of Columbus, Ohio, Hocking Hills offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences and plenty of Admission: FREE activities that make every day feel like Saturday. The region boasts a wide variety of affordable lodging, from camping, cabins and cottages to hotels and inns. In addition to hiking trails, parks and forests, the Hocking Hills is the zipline capital of the Midwest, with more than 50 ziplines being offered via three distinct guide services. Unique gift and antique shops, canoeing, horseback riding, golf, spas and more add to the allure of the Hocking Hills as the perfect place to unplug. Complete traveler information is available www.1800Hocking.com or 1-800-Hocking (800-462-5464).

Comp or press rate trips and outstanding photos and video available. Contact Amy Weirick, Office: (614) 848-8380, Mobile (614) 296-8513 or [email protected].

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