Plans are in the works for developing a new attraction in the valley that combines the incredible terrain and a little bit of adventure.
Zeke Wolf is championing his vision of a zipline course that cuts through the air high above the valley. He is looking at land owned by the Town of Drumheller, nestled in a valley that surrounds the former ski hill. His vision is to have the attraction support the wider community.
“I want it to continue to support area groups and attractions,” said Wolf.
He has been working with Steve Kostamo of Kostam Designs Inc., a company that specializes in zipline and suspension bridges. Kostamo has built like courses at Canada Olympic Park, Grouse Mountain and Whistler. Kostamo has been out to survey the site and was impressed.
The proposed course will start at the top of the former ski hill and will run west, making it virtually invisible from the base of the hill. The first 350-yard zip flies across picturesque prairie scape and will allow the user to get the feel for using a zipline. The next fly gives the user a bird’s eye view of the Badlands, crossing a dramatic chasm.
The next stretch is a full 800 yard zip that carries the rider down through a valley to a final plateau, where the final 350 yard flight will bring riders back to the base of the hill.
Wolf says he is in negotiations with the Canadian Badland's Passion Play for access to the Town of Drumheller-owned land. If successful, he hopes to make a deal with the town to use the site.
While it is a private venture, Wolf has a vision where some of the profits will be distributed to a number of area groups and attractions to build the capacity of the industry. This could include anything from the Golf Course to the East Coulee School Museum and the Canadian Badland's Passion Play. He wishes to get the venture up and running and then turn it over to the Passion Play to operate.
Wolf is excited by the venture and says if he is successful with the needed approvals, he feels the facility could open to start the next tourism season.