New zipline in Pigeon Forge becomes asset to East Tennessee tourism
The attraction is a new addition to WildSide Adventure Park, which opened its doors six months ago.
'Places like WildSide are going to be important because it's another new experience that's really like nothing else they can get in their home state or even close by,' said Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development Mark Ezell.
Ezell was one of a few people who got to ride the zipline on Thursday. He called it an asset to the tourism industry.
'It's an incredible thing to have a state that has great tourism assets,' he said. 'We're a sales tax state in Tennessee, we love that we don't have a personal income tax as a resident. What it means is that more visitors come and they spend their money, and that sales tax revenue, it benefits the whole residents of all of Tennessee.'
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WildSide co-founders Bob and Bryce Bentz, who are also behind Anakeesta, said they wanted to bring something Pigeon Forge didn't already have.
'That's really what drove the concept of the MegaZip,' said Bryce Bentz. 'Longest zip line in the United States, it's hard to find topography that allows for something like that, and that really inspired us to say, 'Hey, what's the fastest way to get from the very top of the mountain to the very bottom?' And a two and a half minute ride down a mile is the fastest way to do so.'
They also have a number of mountain biking trails and UTV tours. While they told 6 News they don't expect to bring in millions of people like they do at Anakeesta, they hope to draw people with a thrill for the outdoors.
'I think when you look at the Great Smoky Mountains area, you know, we have different sides to the park,' said Bob Bentz. 'We have the North Carolina side, we have the Tennessee side, Townsend as the peaceful side, I think we're now the wild side.'
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Since WildSide's opening, Bob and Bryce Bentz said they have created 50 jobs, doubled their biking trails and plan to add more UTV tours in the future. They added, while it is still in the works, they also plan to add more attractions like the MegaZip.
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