Normally you would go to Costa Rica or other Latin America countries if you want to zip-line through the jungle. However did you know you can go to the Pike and zip around?
It’s called Rablewild, the premier tree to tree adventure park located in Lanesborough.
The park was built in a sustainable fashion, according Feronia Forests, who’s forests span across the state line and into the Berkshires. They created a 900-acre park with eight different tree to tree trails. Each trail varies in difficulty and has about over 15 elements.
“We took the time to source the right building of the park and do it sustainably. Our mission is to reconnect people to the forest, and have a great time doing it. Very few trees were actually touched in the construction of Ramblewild. And you don’t have to be up in the trees; you can go on a meditative walk as well. People can be in the forest on different levels. It’s a physical and spiritual adventure being outside with nature.”
The park has no electricity and no cover, which is intentionally. There’s nothing over you except the tree canopy and nothing under you except forest.
“When you’re in our park, you experience what we call a ‘forest immersion experience,’” says CEO Tim Gallagher.
“The forest is all around you and you are a part of it. This helps people disconnect with media and the rush of the day-to-day tasks and enjoy the quiet calm of being a part of the forest. Families find time to reconnect in a natural environment while enjoying watching and challenging each other in a healthy, outdoor activity. At no cost, family members can walk the trails beneath the park and watch their family members experience the thrill of moving through the trees.”
Aerial parks are a new outdoor activity in and amongst the trees that offer excitement, challenge, and personal growth for families and adventurists of all kinds.
There are several interesting features: a suspended kayak about 90 feet in the air when you zip across the ravine; a saddle that swings you to the west side of the park; a snowboard and skateboard experience; and spider web features. “We have [more than] 135 unique ways of getting from one tree to another. We have a custom built 200-foot-long suspension bridge that is over our 90-foot ravine,” Gallagher says. “The bridge is designed for pedestrian traffic and allows participants and non-participants the freedom to travel to both sides of the park. The installation was something that the crew has never seen anywhere and is unique to our park. When guests see the bridge, they are overwhelmed with how something like this can be installed in such a remote location. It’s beautiful.”
At Rablewild, the focal point is a central wooden platform about ten feet above ground from which eight aerial obstacle courses originate, meandering from tree to tree at various heights through the forest. Each course consists of 15-17 elements (high wires, zip lines, balancing logs, rope ladders, cargo nets, suspended bridges, etc.) that meander through a pristine hemlock forest. The tree-to-tree challenge courses are designed to have a profound impact on visitors’ self-confidence and happiness.