Napa Valley Ziplines to provide thrill-seeking visitors a new way to experience the vineyards

July 30, 2010 - PRLog -- Yountville, Calif. – Napa Valley Bike Tours’ president, Brad Dropping, in conjunction with the Veterans’ Home of California are creating perhaps, the most exciting adventure in Napa Valley’s history.  Napa Valley Ziplines, Napa’s newest high-flying adventure tour, is currently under construction in the western foothills of Yountville and on schedule to open to the public on September 15. The seven zip line course is being constructed on 200 acres behind the Veterans’ Home of California.  A portion Napa Valley Ziplines of proceeds will be donated to the Veterans’ Home of California to benefit their mission of “Improving the lives of America’s Veterans.”

“This will be a completely unique and widely accessible outdoor adventure,” says Napa Valley Ziplines Owner Brad Dropping. “Zip line tours have become one of the most popular attractions in major tourist destinations because these tours combine an unforgettable adventure with a scenic outdoor setting, and just about anyone can do it!”

The Napa Valley Ziplines course was designed specifically for first-timers. The first two zip lines will be the shortest and slowest of the course, designed to ease participants into the adventure. Three of the next five zip lines will be over 1,200 feet, with the longest reaching nearly 2,000 feet! After Zip 4, tour guests will arrive at an observation deck perched 600 feet above the Napa Valley. Guided tour groups will pause here to enjoy the panoramic view of the vineyards spanning two miles across the valley floor all the way to the magnificent Stags Leap Palisades, which crown the eastern edge of the valley.

The zip lines will be linked by a series of platforms and short footpaths. Zip Guides will stop at several points along the way to point out interesting landmarks on the valley floor and discuss some of Napa Valley's history. On Zips 1-6, participants will ride solo down double zip line cables (each zip line cable has two 1/2" galvanized steel aircraft cables with a breaking strength of over 26,000 lbs). Zip 7, the final zip line of the course, is a side-by-side zip line. Participants will be able to start out holding hands just 7 feet apart on the platform and then let go as they drift slightly apart and parallel to the finish.

All zip line tours will include roundtrip transport from the meeting/parking location at the Veterans’ Home via an all-terrain Swiss Army Pinzgauer, an adventure all in itself.
Two different tour experiences will be offered when Napa Valley Ziplines begins operations on September 15:

The Zip ‘N Sip Tour ($179, adults only) will begin with the 2.5-hour zip line adventure tour and afterwards, participants will be chauffeured to two boutique wineries for tastings and a catered picnic lunch served overlooking the vineyards. The single daily Departure will be at 10 a.m., finishing back in Yountville by 4 p.m. (Wine tasting fees are not included.)

The Zip ‘N Go Tour ($125, adults; $99 children under 18) will consist solely of the 2.5-hour zip line adventure tour, making it a great option for families with children or people who already have other activities scheduled in the morning or afternoon. The 10 a.m. Departure will finish back in Yountville by 12:30 p.m. The 2 p.m. Departure will finish in Yountville by 4:30 p.m.

Each departure will be limited to just 12 guests, which means only 24 tour people will be able to experience this unique adventure each day. Similar zip line adventure tours in comparable tourist destinations sell out weeks in advance; thus, reservations are highly recommended.  Reservations are being accepted now for tours beginning September 15 at http://www.napavalleyziplines.com.

CONTACT:
Brad Dropping
brad@napavalleyziplines.com  
1.888.ZIP.N.SIP (1.888.947.6747)

SPECIAL MEDIA PRE-OPENING “SNEAK PEEK” SEPT 10-14
RSVP required – Limited space available!
10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Departures will be available Sept. 10-14 for members of the press.
Allow 2.5 hours for the complete zip line tour experience.
Each tour departure can accommodates 12 people, hosted by two Zip Guides
No age restriction, but participants must weigh between 70 and 275 pounds.
Wear casual clothing appropriate for outdoor activity (skirts/dresses are not recommended).
Closed-toe shoes are required (closed-toe sandals fine as long as they are securely strapped on your feet).
Long hair must be tied back.
No loose, dangly jewelry.
Cameras must be secured to your body.

To RSVP: Send an email with your desired date (Sept. 10-14) and Departure Time (10 a.m. or 2 p.m.) to brad@napavalleyziplines.com.

Napa Valley Ziplines Quick Facts:
•   7 zip line course nestled in the western hills above Yountville (behind the Veterans’ Home of California)
•   Over 1 mile of “air time”
•   3 zip lines over 1200’
•   Longest zip line (Zip 3) is 1951' long
•   3 zip lines cross over Lake Hinman for a thrilling ride over a body of water
•   Zip 7 is a side-by-side zip (parallel cables starting 7 feet apart, drifting to 8 feet apart)
•   Approximately 2.5 hours zip line tour experience
•   Each tour departure accommodates 12 people, hosted by two Zip Guides
•   Napa Valley Ziplines has been built to exceed the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) standards.

General Zip Lining Info & History
A zip line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on a slight decline. They are designed to enable a participant to glide from the top to the bottom while safely secured in a harness.  The zip line tour industry was first developed in Costa Rica in the early 1990s.  There are zip line tours currently offered throughout the Caribbean, Central America, Africa, Australia, Canada, Japan, Europe, and the United States.  Tours in the United States originated in Hawaii and Alaska, and are emerging in nearly every state in the country.  Most states have more than one zip line tour at this time. These tours continue to grow in popularity, particularly in tourist destinations where people are looking for a unique experience. Zip line tours appeal to a wide variety of audiences:  from thrill-seekers to those looking to have an outdoor bonding experience with their families.  Even multi-generational families are enjoying zip line tours together.  Once people try zip lining, they often seek zip line tours in other markets.

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About Napa Valley Ziplines (Ownership):
Napa Valley Ziplines was created by Brad Dropping, a business owner who is at the forefront of outdoor adventure tours catered to Wine Country visitors. Brad has been the owner of Yountville-based Napa Valley Bike Tours since 2005 (Napa Valley Bike Tours has operated continually since 1987 under different ownership). Brad also opened Sonoma Valley Bike Tours in 2009 with a storefront located just off Sonoma Plaza.