Growthspotter

Jun 07, 2021 at 4:02 PM

Sunset Walk Orlando, home to Margaritaville Resort, is set to debut the Skysurfer ride Orlando next year, offering visitors a bird’s-eye view of the entertainment district. Unlike traditional ziplines, the Skysurfer uses a mechanized trolley, allowing riders to go uphill while experiencing the thrill of flying.

Encore Capital Management, the master developer, filed a Site Development Plan in Osceola County to install the ride on the last available retail pad at the Promenade, near the entrance and just off U.S. 192. Peter Brown, Central Florida asset manager for Encore, confirmed this will be the only Skysurfer ride in the U.S. The first-ever Skysurfer debuted in Branson, Missouri, but it has since closed.

Brown explained that the Encore team visited Branson last year to study the ride, which suspends surfboards from mechanized trolleys on a looped cable and tower system. Riders wear safety harnesses but feel as if they are surfing through the air. “It’ll go through Sunset Walk from the north end to the south end, loop around to the east, and provide views into the water park,” said Brown. “It’ll start and end right by 192, next to BurgerFi.”

Skyline Ziplines Brings the Skysurfer to Orlando

The ride is owned and developed by Skyline Ziplines, which has been in the resort zipline attraction business since 2005. Skyline’s owner, Kevin Smith, purchased the intellectual property rights for the Skysurfer from the inventor. Over the past several years, the company conducted research and development to refine the ride and bring it up to ASTM amusement park standards.

“The Branson course wouldn’t have met ASTM standards, so we didn’t renew the lease,” Smith said. “However, it was an excellent R&D location for testing prototypes. We’re now on model four of the Skysurfer, which represents the most refined version of the ride.”

Unique Features of the Skysurfer Ride Orlando

The Skysurfer ride Orlando will feature a three-story launch tower visible from U.S. 192. Each surfboard includes color-changing LED lights on the underside, creating a spectacular night-time visual experience for visitors below. The lever-driven mechanism seamlessly transfers the trolley between the zipline cable and a machined aluminum rail system. Up to three riders can fly simultaneously.

Brown noted that Orlando provides a better year-round climate and tourist demographic than Branson. “Branson only has warm weather for about four months each year, whereas Orlando can operate all year,” he said.

Investment and Expansion

Skyline Ziplines will invest up to $3 million to build the course, launch tower, and retail store. The three-story tower includes a retail point-of-sale and photo area on the bottom level, harnessing and non-harnessing areas in the middle, and the launch deck at the top.

Additionally, Sunset Walk Orlando hosts over 20 merchants for dining, shopping, and entertainment. The Promenade features recurring events, including monthly car and truck shows, live music, and artisan markets. The Skysurfer ride Orlando complements other thrill rides, including the Slingshot and Vomotron, which opened earlier.

A One-of-a-Kind Experience

When it opens next spring, the Skysurfer ride Orlando will be the only ride of its kind in the world. Skyline Ziplines’ innovative design, combined with Orlando’s ideal climate and tourist-friendly location, ensures an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.