I was looking to get out and have some fun with a large group of my friends this past weekend to celebrate our first year in business, and one place immediately sprung to mind. I had heard the buzz about it since it opened a few months ago, so I just knew we had to all go and check it out for ourselves.
There are tons of options when it comes to thrill rides in Las Vegas, but there is only one that puts you up on a zipline 450 feet in the air! Voodoo Zipline has already established itself as one of the top attractions in the city and we were going to see if they deserved all the attention.
Surrounded by 12 of my friends, including 2012 Olympic boxer Michael Hunter and BMX champion Ricardo Laguna, we made our way to the Rio Hotel and Casino to try it out. We were greeted by some friendly staff who answered our questions and had us sign a waiver before we made our way up.
Taking the elevator to the 51st floor, a few of us started to have our doubts immediately. That is a long way up! But we agreed to see it through. We got off the elevator and made our way through the Voodoo Lounge and out onto the deck at the top of the hotel. The views from up here are breath taking!
We enjoyed the view for a few minutes, taking the opportunity to snap a few photos of our group with the beautiful Las Vegas skyline in the background. The weather was perfect and I really could have just stayed up there all day.
But sitting around enjoying the view wasn’t what our mission was on this day. So it was time to tackle the zipline, which for those of you who have not seen it, stretches from the taller tower at the Rio to the shorter one at a speed of 33 mph. Looking at it from on top of the tower, it looked absolutely insane! And that is the entire point since this is, after all, a thrill ride!
Once you get to the front of the line, they make you store everything on your person inside some lockers next to the platform. It’s a minor, but understandable inconvenience since you can imagine what would happen if people were allowed to take loose items on the ride with them.
After you do that, it is time to let the fun begin! You step out onto the platform and get buckled up. It is at this point that you really start to wonder if you have made a huge mistake. But it’s too late to turn back now! The lift moves over the ledge and you now realize you are hanging by a cable 450 feet above the ground.
Before you know it you bolt forward at a high rate of speed and your heart jumps into your throat. You feel secure, but at the same time there is enough doubt to make you wonder if things will be ok. Finally, just as you think you are getting the hang of it, you come to the end of the first part of your trip. But they couldn’t stop your ride without throwing a little more terror your way! You speed up just as you come in, making you wonder if the ride has somehow had a malfunction and will send you crashing into the stop zone. Fortunately, it is all just a part of the fun.
With no time to catch your breath, you start your trip back to the taller tower. This time you have the added fun of going backwards. Without seeing where you are headed, you have no choice but check out the scenery, included the ground, which you hope you will be able to see again from a much safer distance.
Fortunately, all went well and we all made it without any incidents. That’s what makes this ride so great. Even though it is completely safe, it manages to scare you to death at the same time it gives you a total thrill. Your body is confused, and by the time is over, you aren’t really sure what happened, but you know you had an awesome time!
After the ride was over, they have a booth that has photos of your ride that were taken at two different points along the way. Seeing the photos we all laughed hysterically as we could see the terror in each others faces. There was no way to hide what we were going through with the evidence right in front of us! These are available for purchase, and considering how funny they were, there was no way to resist taking home such a great memory of the trip.
After the last of us had finished, we stood around for a few minutes talking about what we all had been through. Not a single one of us regretted it, including those who were a bit nervous beforehand. We took a few more group photos before heading back down the elevator with a great memory to last a lifetime.
With so many things to do in Las Vegas, it’s easy for something to get overlooked. Fortunately for Voodoo Zipline, that shouldn’t be a problem! It offers such a unique and thrilling experience, that it truly is a must-do for anyone visiting or already living in the city. It’s great for groups, dates, or family fun. All you need is to be 48 inches tall and you are good to go!
I would like to extend a very big thank you to all the management and staff over at Voodoo Zipline. I wanted to have a memorable experience with a large group of friends, and they totally delivered. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend time with them. I will definitely be heading back soon, I just need to decide who want to terrorize next time!
Do yourself a favor and be sure to check them out and have as much fun as we did. You won’t be disappointed, and that’s a big deal in Las Vegas since so many places are eager to take your money, while failing to give you a good return on your investment. You can check out their site HERE to learn more about them.
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