Clockwise: A ZipRider from the top of Inspiration Tower draws about 100,000 riders a year; Looking calm on the Vig- ilante Extreme; The Little Tykes ropes course caters to those 48” and under.
commanding structure on the site of the original tower, was built, and in 2010, says Johnson, a ZipRider extending 400 vertical feet from the top of the tow- er and more than 150 feet above the ground became a featured activity at the resort. It would be a precursor to the adventure park activities that Johnson and Faria would introduce in 2018.
STRONG FUNDAMENTALS
Favorable demographics. Finally, John - son and Faria could count on favorable visitor demographics. A 2021 survey commissioned by the Branson Conven- tion and Visitors Bureau showed that roughly 85 percent of guests spend at least one night in the area, often several more. With a healthy amount of time on their hands, visitors could fit a considerable number of activities into their schedule, even if there was a giant menu to choose from. In addition, 82 percent were return visitors, suggesting that in follow-up visits, they would likely be seeking new activities to try. Overlay those numbers atop the total annual visitation numbers, and a new adventure park had a good chance of success.
about 100,000 people a year currently take a ride on it. And in 2017, when they began to look for adventure park activ- ities to add, they adopted a fun-for-all- ages approach, prioritizing activities in which almost anyone in the family could participate. Something for everyone. An eight-zip line canopy tour, with segments ranging from 80 to 1,250 feet, was conceived for a wide audience—anyone three years old and up (children ride on their own or tandem with guides). In addition to the zip tour, a Sky Trek Challenge ropes course, suspended on its own frame- work next to Inspiration Tower, was added, offering both a regular course ($16) and a Little Tykes Course for any - one under 48 inches tall ($10). In 2021, a more substantial invest - ment—the 3,350-foot-long Copperhead Mountain Coaster that spirals downward from the high point next to Inspiration
That Shepherd of the Hills already had a strong track record as an entertain- ment success was important not only in attracting potential adventure park customers but also in attracting support from banks, who came on board with little prodding, Johnson says, to provide loans to finance the new adventure park. A natural setting. In addition to brand strength, Johnson believed that Shep - herd of the Hills was blessed with a par- ticularly advantageous location at a high point overlooking the Branson area. “It’s the highest elevation around,” he says, “and the scenery is everywhere.” While Johnson, who spent 20 years as a banker before the purchase, admits “I didn’t even know what an adventure park was” (the idea was mainly Faria’s), he appreciated the basic premise— ad- venture in a natural setting.
FEATURES
The partners could see how popular the original ZipRider from Inspiration Tower (called the “Vigilante Extreme ZipRider”) was—Johnson estimates that
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