Mark Megahan
Since we seem to be stuck with gravity, why not have fun with it? The whole family can stop, drop, and roll at this extreme fun park experience in the foothills of the picturesque smoky mountains. The thrills might not be cheap but they are certainly exciting. Make sure you bring your towel. Not only because all the hoopy froods hang out there, they toss a few gallons of water into the hamster ball with you.
Outdoor Gravity Park
The Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee offers an outdoor adventure experience which could soon catch on elsewhere in the nation. If you’re looking for a human hamster ball adventure, this is the place. It’s called “Zorbing” and it started in New Zealand. One thing practitioners of the sport learned early is that you need to pick a reliable set of operators.
These folks have gone out of their way to ensure your safety. Unlike those fly-by-night operators in Russia, who let a guest roll right off the mountain by mistake. That won’t happen here.
Since they opened in April of 2015, the park notes, “we have been focusing on creating the ultimate experience for all of our guests, thriving on innovation and fun. We truly care about our each of our customer’s experiences.”
They offer four different tracks for a variety of gravity challenges suited to your taste and ability. You most certainly want to book your reservations in advance and expect to pay $20 per roll. Once you do it, you’ll be guaranteed to want to try it again.
Recently, Robin O’Neal Smith and her husband both gave it a try. It was so much fun she couldn’t wait to write it up to share with the world.
“I knew I wanted to try it. I tell people I like a touch of luxury and adventure in every place I visit. I have to admit, zorbing is more than a touch of adventure; some may call it extreme adventure. But it was great fun, and at 63 and 76, my husband and I had a blast, and I wanted to share the experience with you.” The gravity wasn’t as terrifying as she feared.
Adrenaline-pumping adventure
You basically climb inside “a transparent thermoplastic polyurethane ball that can withstand high pressure and impact.” They add water so you can stretch out and let gravity hold you safely along the bottom without tumbling. Unless you want to. That’s what the Orange track is for.
Inside the outer ball is “a smaller ball suspended by thousands of nylon strings. This inner ball moves independently, cushioning the participant as they tumble down the hill, protecting them from bumps and bruises.”
There is space in them for up to three people to ride at a time, which still uses three tickets. Once they tip you onto the slope, thanks to gravity “the zorb ball picks up speed as it bounces and rolls down the hill, providing an unparalleled and unforgettable experience.”
They fill the ball with cold water in the summer and warm water in the winter for a year round adventure experience.
All you need to bring are a bathing suit and towel. The Outdoor Gravity Park provides the rest. While currently they’re the only facility of their kind here in America, “Pigeon Forge has a full zorbing park with four zorbing lanes offering different speeds and bounces.”
As the blogger pointed out, “Imagine the thrill of racing down a hill inside a giant bubble. It is similar to experiencing a heart-pumping roller coaster ride like no other. It is great fun, but I will be honest, it is not for the faint of heart.”
https://youtu.be/Y-v7_Ja3ExU
