This summer in Coney Island may be remembered as the year people harnessed up and took flight over the upturned heads of astonished visitors. Scream Zone’s 110-foot-tall SkyCoaster, which debuted in May as “Boardwalk Flight,” has riders soaring out over the Boardwalk. Next month, Patrick Ingram of Category 5 Ziplines plans to install a 60-foot-high, 400-foot-long zip line in Coney Island that will let riders glide in the sky over Stillwell Avenue.
“I’m a skydiver who has taught people how to skydive without jumping out of airplanes,” says Ingram, owner of Michigan-based Category 5 Productions. “I started with wind tunnels twelve years ago. It evolved into zip lines over the past three years.” Coney Island Zip Line is expected to open July 21st with four stationary zip lines.
Ingram tells ATZ that the starting point will be just beyond the new MegaWhirl ride in Cha Cha’s Steeplechase Park on the east side of Stillwell. The zip line will traverse Stillwell Avenue, with its ending point being on the other side of the BK Festival’s vendors behind Nathan’s Famous! “It’s a little longer than your typical zip line, which is 200 to 300 feet,” he says. The ride itself is about 25 seconds but the entire experience from the time the rider gets into the harness is 15 to 20 minutes.
Ingram says that he has installed and operated zip lines at college events as well as last year’s Oshkosh Air Show. In addition to Coney Island, Category 5 Ziplines are planned for Miami and Alabama’s Gulf Shore this year. An ad on New York’s Craigslist is seeking a crew of eight to ten to help operate the Coney Island Zip Line. Says Ingram, “We expect to be there in the next couple of weeks, putting the rigging together and getting the staff trained.”
Originally planned to open on July 1, the zip line’s debut has been rescheduled for July 21 due to paperwork delays. “It’s taken a bit longer than we thought to get the engineering drawings required for this project,” says Ingram, who adds that everyone he’s working with in New York City is excited about the zip line.
An introductory special on Pinchit offering 50 per cent off regular prices expires today, but he plans to offer similar deals via Living Social and Groupon. The regular price will be $20 on weekdays and $25 on weekends, with a $100 All-Day Zip Pass including an express line. Customers must weigh between 85 and 230 pounds, wear closed toe shoes and sign a waiver.
UPDATE September 14, 2012
The abandoned zipline was finally dismantled and trucked away in May of 2013! Exclusive: Coney Island Zip Line to Be Dismantled Today (ATZ, April 30, 2013)
UPDATE September 14, 2012
Long-Delayed Coney Island Zipline Is Officially Open!
PS: Please read this post and news updates in comments before coming out to ride!
UPDATE August 5, 2012
Coney Island Zip Line Still Under Construction, ATZ, August 5, 2012.
UPDATE July 31, 2012
The zip line is currently being assembled by a crew of about 17 or 18 people! It is being set up behind Nathan’s and runs from the Bowery and Stillwell Avenue to West 15th Street.
UPDATE July 22, 2012
BK Festival spokesman William McCarthy responded to an email query that we sent today: “Working on permits – I will give you positive update as soon as we get through process.”
UPDATE July 21, 2012
The zip line was nowhere to be found today. It wasn’t set up in Coney Island. Rumor on the street is it won’t be opening, but we can’t confirm it. The person who was set to be the on-site manager of the operation did not return calls for comment.
UPDATE July 15, 2012
On Saturday in Coney Island flyers along Stillwell Avenue advertised interviews for jobs working the zip line. Mark Zientek, operations manager at Cha Cha’s Steeplechase Park, told ATZ that the zip line is expected to arrive in Coney Island on Wednesday. He said the zip line will be located on the west side of Stillwell Avenue in the BK Festival lot behind Nathan’s. It will not traverse Stillwell Avenue as originally planned by the operator.
Related posts on ATZ…
August 19, 2012: BK Festival Vendors Back in Business, Coney Zipline Isn’t
June 15, 2012: Amusing the Zillion’s Guide to Free Summer Events in Coney Island
February 24, 2012: Summer Jobs: From Coney Island to the Carnival Midway
April 22, 2011: Coney Island Has 64 Rides and 30 Weekends of Summer!
I’m hoping their next project is a zip line from the Parachute Jump to the Empire State Building so I don’t have to take the subway to work.
Well with people being able to fly over the Boardwalk and Stillwell Avenue, who knows what’s next!
I would really like the opportunity to become apart of your team I am very interested and would even love to try the lip lines lol my name is Lorenzo Alston I’m 23 and also a Brooklyn native for most of my life if there is an opining in your crew please respond to me I am a deficated hard worker with good advocation skills
You’ll need to apply to the zip line company via the email address in the Cragslist ad. Amusing the Zillion is a blog reporting the news. Good luck!
is there an air show over Coney Island for 4th of July 2012????
No, sorry, there are no air shows scheduled for Coney Island. There will however be fireworks on the 4th of July in Coney for the first time in many years. The show is after the Brooklyn Cyclones game
Is this safe? I want to try it out but Coney Island is a little bit sketchy.
“Is this safe?”
—- Any ride in Coney Island or the rest of NYC, whether permanent or traveling, must pass a rigorous inspection by the City’s ride inspector, have proper insurance etc. before it will be allowed to open to the public. The City is very conscientious about this, as they should be.
— As for riding a zip line or other aerial “thrill ride,” one has to be a bit of a daredevil! I would never advise anyone whether to ride a ride. Maybe come and watch and decide if this type of experience is for you?
What are the age, weight requirements for riding the zipline?
The operator requires customers weigh between 85 and 230 pounds
and sign a waiver. Customers 18 or younger must have a parent/guardian sign waiver
I just bought the living social deal and it says it’s ready for use today… But this site says it’s not open… When is the OFFICIAL opening date?
In my post I mentioned that the operator said he planned to open on July 21. that’s Saturday. If there are any updates, I’ll post ’em
Is there any updates about Zip line? They even canceled their website – cat5zip.com… please tell me if you know anything.
Waiting on a CB from the manager. btw they didn’t cancel the website, it looks like it’s currently unavailable because of too much traffic. they exceeded their bandwidth
I see it starts in July but when is it over? I’d love to come by and give it a try.
Can’t close till it opens! they’ve been delayed by permitting process. BK Festival spokesman says they’re working on it. See updates above
is this open yet ? a gruop of us bought a voucher and want to know for sure its open before we make the trip to coney island..thank you
It was not open yet this past weekend as I posted yesterday: https://amusingthezillion.com/2012/08/19/bk-festival-vendors-back-in-business-coney-zipline-isnt/
Waiting to see if it opens this weekend. Will post status update via twitter
Whoah – so is it still not open? I wanted to go ziplining with my LIvingSocial Deal this Sunday (Aug 26th)
No, not yet There’s a possibility it could open next weekend: https://amusingthezillion.com/2012/08/19/bk-festival-vendors-back-in-business-coney-zipline-isnt/
Will post status update via twitter if any news