Getting up close and personal with the different species at the Alligator Farm Zoological Park is an adventure in and of itself. At any given time walking through the park, you’re mere feet away from dangerous creatures and slithering reptiles. Add in treetop heights and speeding zip lines and an adrenaline rush is pretty much a guarantee.
The zip line course, Crocodile Crossing, is a fairly new addition to the Alligator Farm park, but clearly a genius use of the space above and the nature already integrated into the park. The two courses span seven acres and boast more than fifty different obstacles and up to sixteen ziplines.
“Hey, Molly,” says Heather post-instructional session as we begin our ascent to the first part of the course. “I forgot to ask if you’re afraid of heights.” It’s a decent question and one which I can’t really, fully answer until we’re walking over our first alligator exhibit. I’d say most people are when you have crocodiles below you.
The initial heaviness in the pit of your stomach, however, is not long kept. It’s an incredible view there in the trees and everything below you is fascinating. With their new harness system, you’re constantly strapped in, so the danger of falling is never in the forefront of your mind.
But don’t get me wrong. That doesn’t make it easy nor does it take away the excitement. It’s an easy fact to forget when you’re about to jump off a platform and speed down a zip line whose end you can’t even see or you’re stepping from board to swinging board with nothing to hold onto. Your pounding heart won’t care about the safety harness.
If you’re hesitant though and think it might be out of your league, you should know that we were joined on our zip line journey by an 85-year-old woman and her grandson. It’s an adventure for anyone willing to strap up and take the plunge.
You can visit the Alligator Farm Zoological Park online at www.alligatorfarm.com. Photography by Brian Miller.
