Ramblewild Aerial Adventure Park Eyes May Opening
 Michael Duffy and Tim Gallagher are heading the project locally. |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The new aerial adventure park is set to open this spring.
Tree-Mendous has had workers building the 150 elements over the winter and management has set a Memorial Day weekend grand opening for their newest company, Ramblewild.
The park, on Brodie Mountain Road, features eight courses of varying difficulty.
The courses are nearly completed — a suspension bridge has yet to be built — and the company is awaiting the completion of a lodge for ticketing and souvenirs.
"The park is 96 percent complete," said Michael Duffy, who has been hired to be the Ramblewild's general manager. "They didn't take a single day off."
The group hopes to open in early May on a limited basis and is already taking reservations, particularly from school groups. The facility will be open up for full-time operations starting in late May. They are now in the process of hiring up to 25 workers — mostly seasonal — and will have staff training throughout April.
"We're looking for people who are active and enjoy working outdoors," Duffy said. "In total, we'll be hiring in the range of 20 to 25, depending on availability."
As laid out, patrons will park in the 150-spot lot at the base of the eight-acre parcel and purchase their tickets at the lodge currently under construction. Then they will hike up to a deck area, where they'll receive harnesses and training.
From there, the adventurous customers will go to the "hub," where they can choose which level course they would like to try. Duffy compares the adventure park to a ski resort, with patrons self-guiding themselves through the courses they are skilled enough to do. The elements are physically challenging, he said.
"The ravine is such a key feature for us," Duffy said, when showing off the nearly completed park.
Ziplines with kayaks or other vehicles will transport participants over a large ravine separating some 40 percent of the elements from the main section. A 170-foot suspension bridge is set to be built as well.
Throughout the course, employees will be both on the ground and on various platforms helping.
"We can hold about 350 people at a time on the course," said CEO Tim Gallagher.
Meanwhile, an array of hiking trails are being cut to give family members who do not want to try the challenges a way to watch.
"A big focus on this is the setting and immersing yourself in the woods," Duffy said of the course's design.
According to Gallagher, the course needs to be approved by the Association for Challenge Course Technology, which will inspect all aspects of it, before opening.
The lodge being built right now with local contractors Country Log Homes and Moresi & Associates of North Adams, Gallagher said.
The park will be open through the summer daily from 9 a.m. until dusk. It will open at night by reservation for customers to use the course wearing head lamps. The hours will be reduce to weekends in the fall and will be open in the winter only by reservation.
Another aspect eyed for the property is already beginning. The company has built a sugar shack for maple syrup production and has already made one batch.
Tags: adventure park, outdoor adventure,
