Ropes Courses Incorporated has announced that it is designing and installing a 49ft tall Sky Trail aerial attraction at Lucy “LuLu” Buffett’s North Myrtle Beach restaurant at Barefoot Landing.
Lucy Buffett is the owner of three popular LuLu’s restaurants in Destin, Florida; Gulf Shores, Alabama; and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the Sky Trail will be the second if its kind to feature at the venues.
“LuLu’s has always been about family,” explained Buffett. “When we added our first Sky Trail at the Gulf Shores location, it was wildly successful and complemented our mission to create a coastal dining and recreational experience for families. The kids get to play in a safe environment while the grown-ups get to have a drink, enjoy delicious fun food and listen to live music,” she added.
Planning and customised design work has been underway for months, and RCI began installation of the multi-level attraction in December 2018. The Sky Trail will include 26 elements to challenge children and adults, such as the themed lily pad stepping stones and a tippy version of “Walk the Plank.” This six-inch wide beam showcases a colour-wheel at its end that draws participants further along the beam for a chance to pull the hanging cable and set the wheel in motion. Thrill-seekers who reach the top of the course have the option of taking the QuickJump free-fall exit; a three-story descent with a gentle landing that delivers a breath-taking grand finale. Every participant is outfitted in a harness equipped with a single redundant slingline that keeps them secure while they work their way among the obstacles using RCI’s U.S patented overhead tracking system.
“We named our Sky Trail LuLu’s Mountain of Youth, and it has now become a central ingredient to the LuLu’s experience,” Buffett continued. That’s why it was important for us to include that element in North Myrtle Beach and we were delighted to partner with FACE Amusement company to make that happen,” Buffett added.
This Sky Trail with its splashy color scheme of hot pink, turquoise, and yellow will be eye-catching and inviting to diners as it blends with LuLu’s tropical theme, menu, and gifts.
“The Sky Trail provides guests with a fun and engaging experience that sets this restaurant complex apart from any in the greater Myrtle Beach community. Guests of virtually every age can climb and have fun soaring above the ground, thanks to the creative design by RCI,” explained Bucky Mabe, CEO of FACE Amusement, managing company for the Sky Trail at LuLu’s North Myrtle Beach. This is the place to be in Myrtle Beach where, after an exhilarating climb, you can enjoy fresh Gulf seafood in a fun and truly stunning restaurant, with a vibe only LuLu’s can provide,” he added.
RCI has built Sky Trail aerial attractions in 30 different countries and in a variety of different venues including amusement parks, zoos, community centres, hotels, resorts, cruise ships, shopping centres, adventure facilities, and natural or historic tourist attractions. The size, colours, elements, and designs are customised to each location to complement each setting.
“The LuLu’s restaurants and their bustling gift shops have been exceptionally fun for installing two of our Sky Trails along with a Sky Tykes,” explained Jim Liggett, president and founder of RCI. “The whole energetic vibe of LuLu’s restaurants and shops is about fun, food, and music which is the perfect fit for us and our attractions.”
LuLu’s waterfront location along the Intracoastal Waterway is known for its fun coastal menu and its beach and vacation-spirited merchandise available in its adjacent shop.