For anniversary, couple go for some zip at new forest attraction

The new zipline course that the Cook County Forest Preserve District opened Saturday at Bemis Woods in Western Springs is not for the faint of heart, according to Melvin Hall and Lydia Diaz of Rogers Park, who celebrated their third wedding anniversary by giving it a two-hour test run.

“It was a little nerve-wracking because I’m terrified of heights,” said Diaz, 28. “I actually teared up at the Tarzan jump. But I did it.”

Hall agreed: “You get up there, and you realize: I have to either make the jump, or I sit up here for hours. There’s no going back.”

The new zipline course hangs above a six-acre tract adjacent to what had been a toboggan run, offering the brave among us a squirrel’s-eye view of the towering oaks, which have been threaded with steel cables and mounted with wooden platforms. Daring souls can scale rope ladders, swing like Tarzan from ropes that dangle a dozen feet above the forest floor and zipline along a cable long enough to stretch two football fields.

The course at Bemis Wood, 1100 Ogden Ave., was built and is operated by GoApe, a Maryland adventure activity company that also operates attractions elsewhere at 15 locations around the United States.

The company had been in talks with forest preserves administrators for about two years, said Chris Swallow, GoApe’s director, who said the company spent about $500,000 on the 50 obstacles and is guaranteeing to pay the district $20,000 in rent, plus a share of the ticket revenues

Tickets aren’t cheap: $57 for adults and $37 for kids 10 to 15. Swallow said discounts tickets will be available for school and youth groups, as well as police and firefighters.

The park will be open seven days a week through November, and tickets can be purchased and times booked online at GoApe.com.