Posted on 05/11/2006 1:09:46 PM PDT by george76
It's 10-feet wide and extends 70-feet from where it's anchored to the rock. It has a deck made of tempered glass.
That's a description of a new $30 million structure being built in the Grand Canyon that's expected to draw thousands...
The Hualapai Indian Tribe's "Glass Walkway," a structure that will be suspended over the edge of the canyon some 4,000 feet above the Colorado River.
It will be higher than any of the world's tallest free-standing skyscrapers.
The walk way is horseshoe shaped, and its glass bottom will allow you to look straight down between to the canyon floor.
Nothing like it has ever been attempted before.
The man-made structure will be attached to a rock face. It will take tourists to a place that so far only the birds have been able to go.
Many of the hundreds of people who come to the Grand Canyon every day, never even look over the edge.
"4,000 feet down is something that even the people who come here to see, don't get to see because it is a little intimidating and scary to look down," ...
The new Skywalk will provide a perspective previously not possible. But it too is not for the faint of heart.
The horseshoe shaped structure will extend out more than half the length of a football field. The floor of the walkway will be made of thick, high strength glass.
The Hualapai expect the Skywalk to bring in thousands of new tourists.
Las Vegas is only about two-and-a-half hours away, and all those potentially new tourists could bring in potentially millions of new dollars for the tribe.
It could be a new economic engine for one of the oldest societies in America.
(Excerpt) Read more at 9news.com ...
No freaking way.
I want to bid on the Windex concession.
Zowie! Gadzooks! Sounds kinda cool actually
Yikes! No thanks! I hate heights! I wouldn't trust that it wouldn't break or something!
Talk about your "Extreme walkways."!
Or suicidal maniacs (not there's anything wrong with that.)
My sentiments exactly.
How dare those injuns despoil the cliffs!
Sure, but you have to clean the bottom, too.
There's a canopy walk in Savai'i, Samoa that is absolutely cool... though nothing like 4,000 feet over absolutely nothing but air.
I certainly hope they're not going with just any "lowest bidder"....
How long before there's a few slot machines and a black jack table out there?
The Savage Noblisse can do no wrong.
Can you imagine standing out there during a breezy day with that thing gently rocking beneath your feet!
I want the barfbag concession, it'll be a cool view but figure half the people will quez out.
Will there be slot machines and a bingo parlor on it? :)
I'll second that. Thanks....but no thanks, I'd need a change of underwear for sure.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.