Rocky Mountain high brings on new meaning for the Royal Gorge Region as the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Canon City, Colo., home to one of the world's highest suspension bridges, and hosting over 25 million visitors since 1929,   opens its newest thrill seeker attraction, the Soaring Eagle Zip Line racing 1,400 feet over granite walls a thousand feet high. 

Sitting on the North side of the Royal Gorge Bridge, The Soaring Eagle Zip Line is perched on a 1,000 foot granite wall.   Two zip lines carrying two riders each zip 700 feet over canyon walls from 1,000 to 800 feet above the Arkansas River, and then zip back at approximately 35 miles per hour.  Unlike a typical canopy type zip line tour, riders are secured into a “chair” that gives guests freedom of movement for the arms and legs.     

"It's sister attraction, the Royal Rush Skycoaster, has had tremendous success at the park and has not only been a good business decision, but an extremely popular venue with our guests, and the Soaring Eagle will be just a thrilling and popular,” said Bandera.    The Royal Rush has proven to be an internationally acclaimed thrill ride.   Guests swing out from a 100 foot tower, and over the Royal Gorge, about 1,200 feet below.  The Royal Rush and The Soaring Eagle are both extra pay features in the park.        

Stan Checketts,   Soaring Eagle attraction designer, Logan, Utah, has created many rides for the attractions industry safely thrilling over 1 billion patrons worldwide.  He said, “the beauty of this ride is the fact that it's a 1,000 feet up in the air, that in itself gives you a different perspective.”  Checketts, creator of the Big Shot on top of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas, said “it's the same principle as that ride, it’s a great ride on the ground, but you put it a thousand feet in the air, and you’ve got a whole new dimension.

“The beautiful thing about the Soaring Eagle is you can ride with your date, or your grandchild side by side,” he said.  Checketts has installed several Soaring Eagles, and this will be the ninth in the world.  “There is no doubt in my mind that this is the world’s highest Soaring Eagle!”

The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is a natural attraction, with the Royal Gorge Bridge, The Incline Railway,  one of the world’s steepest, and the Aerial Tram, one of the world’s longest single-span, open year round.   The park adds a dozen more rides, shows, and attractions for the tourist season beginning April 28, 2012.   For more information visit www.royalgorgebridge.com, or call 888-333-5597.