Eagle Island State Park Now Has a Zip Line!
By Jennifer Orklund
Eagle Island State Park just may be the Treasure Valley’s best kept secret. Minutes from Eagle, Star and Meridian, the park boasts an array of fun, family-friendly recreation opportunities. The list includes swimming, hiking, bird watching, disc golf, picnicking, volleyball, equestrian trails, a waterslide and paddle board rentals, to name only a few. The park seems to offer it all. But now there is a new, exciting adventure-based opportunity at Eagle Island State Park.
As the park completed a new entrance and access road from Highway 44, it also partnered with Experience Based Learning, Inc. (EBL) out of Rockford, Illinois, to install a zip line experience open now to thrill-seekers in Eagle and beyond.
The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) believe the new entrance and zip line are going to be amazing assets to the park’s already lengthy list of great features.
Here’s more information about both projects at a glance:
Access from Highway 44 (State Street) – The new entrance will be easier access into the park at the Fischer Park and Eagle Island Parkway intersection. Turn lanes at the light and de-acceleration lanes will make the entrance safer too. Construction began July 1, 2015 and is slated to conclude this fall. Post- construction, the current Hatchery Road entrance (off of Linder) will only be used for special events and emergencies.
Taking flight at Eagle Island State Park – Installation of the zip line course began in August and includes over a half mile of aerial fun that provides visitors with a way to view the park like never before. The course encompasses approximately two acres and is suitable for providing zip tours for participants with a wide range of experiences and physical abilities. The course, engineered for safety, is slotted to include six zip lines upwards of a quarter mile long, include EBL patent dual side-by-side racing zip lines, and a Quick Jump for the adrenaline seekers who wish to have the sensation of a free fall experience.
“We’re excited to continue building on Eagle Island State Park’s potential,” said David Langhorst, IDPR Director. “The park really is central to the Treasure Valley and has so much to offer in the way of outdoor recreation.”
The experiences within will not disappoint.
EBL is one of the nation’s leading installers of zip line tours with over 39 projects since 2002 and currently is affiliated with and operates ten locations across the United States. With projects installed from Hawaii to Alaska, Idaho to California, and Wisconsin to Florida, EBL makes for a great, experienced partner for Eagle Island State Park. When it comes to safety, EBL literally wrote the safety standard on zip lines, which became adopted as the ANSI American National Standard in 2014. EBL is currently a Licensed Outfitter and Guide for the Zip Tamarack operation in Donnelly, Idaho.
Guided zip line tours start at around $79 per person and last roughly two hours, with shorter and longer tours and package discounts available. Only minutes from most Boise and Eagle locations, this tour is ideal for individuals, family outings, birthday parties, corporate functions, school groups, sports teams, and those checking off their bucket list items. Call 815-637-2969 or visit ZipBoise.com for details and updates. You may also research more on EBL at EBLziplines.com
As always, Eagle Island State Park entrance is free with your Idaho State Parks Passport or $5 per vehicle, per day assessed at the gate.
Visit www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov for more information on Idaho’s State Parks and Recreation Programs.
