Fremont Street zip line may expand, become permanent

By Delen Goldberg

Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011 | 2 a.m.

Fremont Street Flightlinez, the zip-line ride that soars over the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas, has been so successful in its first year of operation that officials are looking to expand it.

Jeff Victor, president of the Fremont Street Experience, said the board has approved an engineering study to determine the feasibility of making the attraction permanent and expanding it to include two landing pads rather than one.

The ride currently launches from a 67-foot-tall metal scaffolding tower connected to four zip lines that run halfway down the Fremont Street Experience, about 800 feet. A permanent line would have a taller takeoff tower and run close to 1,600 feet, the length of the tourist promenade, with a second landing pad near the Plaza Hotel. Riders could choose whether they want to whip down the entire length, half of it, or both.

“Right now, expanding is a fun idea,” Victor said. “There’s a goal in mind, and we’ll see if we can get there. We don’t have a gun to our heads, but we’d like to have at least a portion of it up and running by spring.”

Riders could be testing out the new equipment as early as February, Victor said.

The city of Las Vegas recently approved a temporary permit for Flightlinez that allows it to operate for another year, but it would need new approval if it were made permanent.

Bootleg Canyon Flightlines operates the ride. Victor said that could change if the attraction grows. The company operates zip lines in Boulder City and has built rides around the world. Staff said this week they had no knowledge of Victor’s plans.

“We’re exploring all our options going forward,” Victor said. “It could be BC Flightlines, it could be a different company, it could be us.”

No matter who is in charge, officials want to keep prices low, Victor said. Rides cost $15 before 6 p.m. and $20 after 6 p.m. An expansion would carry a multimillion-dollar price tag.

The zip line has been wildly popular since it opened in October. Adults, children, City Council members and even Elvis impersonators have lined up to fly under the Fremont Street digital canopy.

“It has been a real crowd pleaser,” Victor said. “It’s a really unique environment and an experience not very many people have done. We’re very confident this is a good fit.”