Zipline adventure park project could revitalize Mud Island, investors say – FOX13 News Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Zip lines, obstacle course and other fun could be coming to Mud Island River Park.

A Chicago-based group and its partners presented an amusement plan for the park to the Memphis City Council on Tuesday.

PHOTOS: A zipline adventure park project could revitalize Mud Island

An adventure park on Mud Island could be a reality in less than a year if the city of Memphis can agree terms with outdoor activity company The Forge Adventure Parks.

Zooming in on the Memphis skyline 50 miles per hour above Wolf River Harbor could be the sight Memphis and tourists get from rides on two ziplines.

“What we’ve come up with will be the first, largest and most exciting zipline system in the region,” said Jeremie Bacon, Founder of Forge Adventure Parks.

Imagine a zipline system that takes you a quarter mile at speeds you can only really achieve by car, over the harbor to the middle part of Mud Island.

Mud Island Aerial Adventure (The Forge Memphis)

La Forge Memphis is a proposed $10 million private investment in Mud Island.

It would also include an aerial challenge course, rock climbing walls, event space for festivals, and educational aspects, including school trips, summer camps, and conservation efforts.

“I think it’s the most well thought out plan I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Councilor Patrice Robinson said.

The plan was generally well received by the city council’s parks committee on Tuesday morning.

A few concerns were raised, including questions about parking and the park’s compatibility with other plans for Mud Island.

“I guess what we need is a recommendation from River Parks saying they’re okay with this as they move forward with their plan,” adviser Jeff Warren said. .

Mud Island Aerial Adventure (The Forge Memphis)

If approved, the park is expected to attract 100,000 people and generate $500,000 for the city each year.

“We see Memphis as an ideal partner to provide activities and to excite and entertain people of all ages and abilities,” Bacon said.

Bacon said Memphis has a lot to offer, including a growing population.

“We have a civic-minded, conservation-minded city, and that’s what our brand and our business stand for,” he said.

Tuesday’s meeting in front of city council members was the third time the project has been discussed.

So how long will we be able to see people ziplining over Mud Island?

There are still several steps to go, including River Parks approval, City Council approval and a licensing deal, but The Forge believes that ultimately this could happen within 10 months.

“We have our memorandum of understanding and license agreement, which are ready to be executed,” Bacon said. “That’s the next step here is to get the final license agreement in place. We have already aligned all our construction partners, we are ready to innovate.