World's longest timber-towered suspension bridge opens to the public on Michigan mountain
www.dailymail.co.uk
By Alex Hammer For Dailymail.Com 15:35 GMT 24 Oct 2022 , updated 20:57 GMT 24 Oct 2022
Nestled in a postcard-perfect Boyne Valley in the wooded splendor of northern Michigan, Sky-Bridge Michigan was unveiled in all its 1,200-foot glory last week, after six months of construction.
Thousands of sightseers subsequently descended on Boyne Mountain over the past week to see the finished product, which spans the length of four football fields and connects two of the region's utmost peaks.
The more intrepid traversed the lofty attraction - which in all is 118 feet high in the air and 1,203 feet long.
Those daring daytrippers' were subsequently graced with views of the rolling countryside below - as well as the uncertainty that comes with a swaying foothold held by three-inch cables 100 feet in the air.
With that said, the walkable portion of the pedestrian-only bridge is only five feet wide - but that did not stop thousands from making the walk between the peaks of McLouth to Disciples Ridge Saturday and Sunday.
It costs $25 for adults to have all-day access to the impressive landmark and is open 10am to dusk.
Nestled in a postcard-perfect Boyne Valley in the wooded splendor of northern Michigan, Sky-Bridge Michigan was unveiled in all its 1,200-foot glory last week, after months of construction.
Thousands of sightseers subsequently descended on Boyne Mountain over the past week to see the finished product, which spans the length of four football fields and connects two of the region's utmost peaks
The more intrepid travelers were pictured traversed the lofty attraction - which in all is 118 feet high in the air and 1,203 feet long, and can carry 3,000 people at a time, according to its creators
They were graced with views of the rolling countryside below - as well as the uncertainty that comes with a swaying foothold held by three-inch cables more than 100 feet in the air
The walkable portion of the pedestrian-only bridge is only five feet wide, and sways along with the wind
Those wishing to catch a glimpse of the views of the valley at night will also be in luck because, in November, the bridge's weekend hours extend to 8.30pm.
The bridge can only be accessed by chairlift and is open year-round, and is made from steel, fiberglass, and three-inch cables.
Thanks to this construction, bridge structural engineer Troy Garland asserts the bridge can hold up to 3,000 people at once.
'You can feel safe on it because it's been designed to hold a whole lot of load,' said Garland of the structure's capabilities - with the bridge's head designer adding that the swaying brought on by winds whipping at the mountain's peaks is 'part of the fun.'
'People should expect some movement because it's a cable bridge. So it's going to move around and give you a little bit of a thrill,' Mandy Stewart, CEO of designer Experimental Resources, said earlier this month ahead of the attraction's unveiling on October 15.
'It's going to move. It's a suspension bridge. And that's part of the fun.'
'It's going to move,' head designer Mandy Stewart said of the bridge's wavering with the wind. 'It's a suspension bridge. And that's part of the fun'
The bridge can only be accessed by chairlift and is open year-round, and is made from steel, fiberglass, and three-inch cables
Those wishing to catch a glimpse of the views of the valley at night will also be in luck; in November, when the bridge's weekend hours extend to 8.30pm
The record-breaking suspension bridge was designed and over the course of several months by Experiential Resources before opening on October 15
Since opening on October 15, the bridge is open only to pedestrians - but will be regularly shut down to avoid incidents relating to winds and low visibility
Both said the bridge meets both state and federal structural guidelines and is 100 percent safe.
The debut of the highly anticipated attraction comes as a big win for the historic Boyne Mountain Resort, which is continuing to expand and diversify the activities offered aside from its trademark skiing and other lodge activities.
The bridge's timber design also serves as a nod to the once-rife logging history of the region, and the lumber is locally sourced from Matelski Lumber in nearby Boyne Falls.
The bridge was designed over the course of several months by Experiential Resources, the company that designed the 700-foot-long Gatlinburg SkyBridge in Tennessee, which served as the inspiration for this more mammoth undertaking.
The bridge costs $25 for adults to have all-day access to the impressive landmark, and is open 10am to dusk until the end of October
Due to its size and weight capacity, the bridge is only open to foot traffic, its creators said, and offers locals and travelers alike a new perspective on the area, with a fresh vantage with each coming season.
'With four-season appeal, SkyBridge Michigan is a major attraction for Boyne Mountain Resort, as well as the entire northern Michigan region,' said Erin Ernst, Boyne Mountain Resort's director of communications.
'The bridge brings an offering that's extremely unique for our area. It's an exciting must-do when planning a trip to northern Michigan, whether for families, couples, or friends.'
While the bridge is open year-round, operators said, there are restrictions for when the 1,203-foot behemoth will be shut down for safety - with it already closing numerous in the week that it has been open due to concerns over winds and visibility.
According to the SkyBridge Michigan team, the bridge will close to the public when gusts reach more than 35 mph. The org adds on its website that they are constantly monitoring the weather for strong winds during the bridge's hours of operation.
Lighting brought by nearby or even distant thunderstorms also poses a threat, the team said, adding that such a weather event within 15 miles of the site will also force a shutdown.
Precipitation will not necessarily force the bridge’s closure, the team said, as long as walking surfaces remain clear and visibility is not obscured.
In November, the bridge will be open only on weekends - Friday from 4 pm to 8.30pm ET, Saturday from 10am and 8.30pm and Sunday from 10am to 5pm
www.dailymail.co.uk
By Alex Hammer For Dailymail.Com 15:35 GMT 24 Oct 2022 , updated 20:57 GMT 24 Oct 2022
- Nestled in the postcard-perfect Boyne Valley in the wooded splendor of northern Michigan, Sky-Bridge Michigan was unveiled in all its 1,200-foot glory last week, after months of construction
- Thousands of sightseers subsequently descended on Boyne Mountain over the past week to see the finished product, which spans the length of four football fields and connects two of the region's utmost peaks
- The more intrepid traversed the lofty attraction - which in all is 118 feet high in the air and 1,203 feet long
- Those daring daytrippers' bravery was rewarded with views of the rolling countryside below - as well as the uncertainty that comes with a swaying foothold held by three-inch cables 100 feet in the air
- It costs $25 for adults to have all-day access to the impressive landmark and is open 10am to dusk
Nestled in a postcard-perfect Boyne Valley in the wooded splendor of northern Michigan, Sky-Bridge Michigan was unveiled in all its 1,200-foot glory last week, after six months of construction.
Thousands of sightseers subsequently descended on Boyne Mountain over the past week to see the finished product, which spans the length of four football fields and connects two of the region's utmost peaks.
The more intrepid traversed the lofty attraction - which in all is 118 feet high in the air and 1,203 feet long.
Those daring daytrippers' were subsequently graced with views of the rolling countryside below - as well as the uncertainty that comes with a swaying foothold held by three-inch cables 100 feet in the air.
With that said, the walkable portion of the pedestrian-only bridge is only five feet wide - but that did not stop thousands from making the walk between the peaks of McLouth to Disciples Ridge Saturday and Sunday.
It costs $25 for adults to have all-day access to the impressive landmark and is open 10am to dusk.
Those wishing to catch a glimpse of the views of the valley at night will also be in luck because, in November, the bridge's weekend hours extend to 8.30pm.
The bridge can only be accessed by chairlift and is open year-round, and is made from steel, fiberglass, and three-inch cables.
Thanks to this construction, bridge structural engineer Troy Garland asserts the bridge can hold up to 3,000 people at once.
'You can feel safe on it because it's been designed to hold a whole lot of load,' said Garland of the structure's capabilities - with the bridge's head designer adding that the swaying brought on by winds whipping at the mountain's peaks is 'part of the fun.'
'People should expect some movement because it's a cable bridge. So it's going to move around and give you a little bit of a thrill,' Mandy Stewart, CEO of designer Experimental Resources, said earlier this month ahead of the attraction's unveiling on October 15.
'It's going to move. It's a suspension bridge. And that's part of the fun.'
Both said the bridge meets both state and federal structural guidelines and is 100 percent safe.
The debut of the highly anticipated attraction comes as a big win for the historic Boyne Mountain Resort, which is continuing to expand and diversify the activities offered aside from its trademark skiing and other lodge activities.
The bridge's timber design also serves as a nod to the once-rife logging history of the region, and the lumber is locally sourced from Matelski Lumber in nearby Boyne Falls.
The bridge was designed over the course of several months by Experiential Resources, the company that designed the 700-foot-long Gatlinburg SkyBridge in Tennessee, which served as the inspiration for this more mammoth undertaking.
Due to its size and weight capacity, the bridge is only open to foot traffic, its creators said, and offers locals and travelers alike a new perspective on the area, with a fresh vantage with each coming season.
'With four-season appeal, SkyBridge Michigan is a major attraction for Boyne Mountain Resort, as well as the entire northern Michigan region,' said Erin Ernst, Boyne Mountain Resort's director of communications.
'The bridge brings an offering that's extremely unique for our area. It's an exciting must-do when planning a trip to northern Michigan, whether for families, couples, or friends.'
While the bridge is open year-round, operators said, there are restrictions for when the 1,203-foot behemoth will be shut down for safety - with it already closing numerous in the week that it has been open due to concerns over winds and visibility.
According to the SkyBridge Michigan team, the bridge will close to the public when gusts reach more than 35 mph. The org adds on its website that they are constantly monitoring the weather for strong winds during the bridge's hours of operation.
Lighting brought by nearby or even distant thunderstorms also poses a threat, the team said, adding that such a weather event within 15 miles of the site will also force a shutdown.
Precipitation will not necessarily force the bridge’s closure, the team said, as long as walking surfaces remain clear and visibility is not obscured.
In November, the bridge will be open only on weekends - Friday from 4pm to 8.30pm ET, Saturday from 10am and 8.30pm, and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
