News & Events at Tree Frog Canopy Tours, Ohio's Newest Canopy Tour Attraction

Zip Line Tour Coming Soon

June 19, 2010 - By JAMI KINTON - Mansfield News Journal

LOUDONVILLE -- Tree Frog Canopy Tours will offer a bird's-eye view of the Mohican wilderness later this summer -- literally.

Suspended from a dual cable zip line, adventure-seekers will soon have the opportunity to observe nature from a whole new angle. Beginning in August, the 4,025-foot zip line canopy tour will take 2 1/2-hours to trek from start to finish.

Owner Bruce Baker, a former Snow Trails Ski Resort manager, said the Loudonville operation will employ about 40 people.

"There are some risks involved," Baker said. "We can't eliminate all risks without changing the nature of the tour, but at no time are people not strapped in. Bumps and bruises are not uncommon, but I've never heard of someone falling."

The operation has been under construction since the middle of May. Bonsai Design has been working nearly 12 hours a day to have the project ready in time. Last winter, more than 600 trees were given a health assessment after Baker leased 50 acres from the Mohican Wilderness campground.

Rain or shine, each day will begin at the bottom of Big Hill Road. After a harness, glove and helmet fitting at the retail shop, an 11-passenger, all-terrain vehicle will take groups to the top of the hill for a safety lesson.
"This is not an amusement park ride," Baker said. "We're going to be stopping at platforms and guides will give short nature lessons."

Bonsai project manager Brandon Skupski said guests will travel three-eighths-inch galvanized, coated aircraft cables.

"There is a short hike involved, but the whole thing is pretty low impact," Skupski said.

The zips generally move 25 to 30 mph through the tours' 11 elements, which include sky bridges and a 50-foot rappel.

"Some canopy tours have more elements, but we wanted ours longer and higher," Baker said. "The longest zip is 1,100 feet."

Each tour, which departs every half hour, will include eight guests and two nationally certified guides.

"The first time I ever did this was eight or nine years ago in Mexico," Baker said. "I thought it was one of the best tours I'd ever done. It was very exciting and I want more people to experience that. It's an adrenaline rush."