Business and recreation is on the upswing for the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico followed Hurricane Maria in September 2017. An innovative attraction in the centre of the newly renovated Outlet 66 mall in Canovańas, about 30 minutes east of San Juan, is a perfect example.
The popular mall, like so many other homes and structures on the island, suffered damage during the hurricane. But, instead of repairing and re-opening the 18-year old facility as quickly as possible, the management team stepped back and re-envisioned Outlet 66 to be a more exciting and appealing destination for both locals and visitors.
The results of their fresh approach have exceeded expectations. During the last week of September, one year after Hurricane Maria tore through the island, Sky Trail opened in Outlet 66’s very own entertainment zone, Sector Sixty6, and complemented more than 70 new and refurbished stores. Designed and constructed by Ropes Courses Incorporated (RCI), the Sky Trail replaced a carousel that had previously served as the mall’s centrepiece. The soaring Sky Trail structure now offers a contemporary, sleek, and engaging new focal point for the mall while offering a fun and innovative activity for shoppers and their families.
“Structurally, the mall had suffered some damage, but after Justin Tirri, owner of Outlet 66, met with the RCI designers last November, Tirri decided to invest in remodelling the interior to create a combination retail and family entertainment centre,” explained Yamel Ramos, RCI’s regional distributor for Latin American sales. “A lot of people didn’t understand the value of financing a large attraction in a shopping mall, but Justin had analysed market trends and after a soft opening in July that went much better than expected, he was proven correct. The combination has been a perfect balance and Outlet 66 has become a mall for all ages,” Ramos added.
The new Sky Trail complete with Sky Rail and Sky Tykes elements drew its design inspiration and colours from the houses of Old San Juan, but with an updated and industrial look to fit the setting. The curved Sky Rail in particular captures visitor’s attention as it sends participants soaring around the structure.
The Outlet 66 is the second Sky Trail to open in Puerto Rico in the past year. The first one debuted last May at the Albergue Olimpico, an Olympic Training Centre for elite and amateur athletes in San Juan. The facility offers a variety of entertainment activities that promote physical activity for athletes of all ability levels to enjoy with their families on a year-round basis.
The Albergue Olimpico Sky Trail stands three-stories high, has 27 different elements, and includes a QUICKjump free-fall exit from the top of the course. It also includes a Sky Tykes attraction with scaled-down features to provide fun and challenge for children less than 1.2 meters tall.
“Both of these installations have been particularly meaningful for our company as we wanted to be a part of Puerto Rico getting back to business for both their local population and tourism industry,” explained Jim Liggett, president and founder of RCI. “The people of Puerto Rico have been through an incredibly tough period and to see their resilience and determination to re-build and move forward has been impressive. We’re glad that we offer the kind of attractions that are popular with both local families and destination visitors to help the growth and vibrancy of this great island continue.”
