The territory’s first zipline attraction is about to open on St. Thomas’s northside after years of controversy regarding ziplines in residential zoning. There have been proposals for ziplines leading down towards Magens Bay in the past, but this venture has managed to keep a relatively low profile. 
The zipline park is situated on just over 8 acres of land above St. Peter Mountain Road. The office/reception building is across the road from the entrance to St. Peter Greathouse.
“We’re five weeks away from opening up now, and everyone’s busy,” manager Andrew Bower said last week to explain why no one was available to talk about the project. The Source has made numerous fruitless requests for an interview over the past five months through Bower, who says he is not authorized to speak on the behalf of the company. Attempts to reach company officials directly have been unsuccessful.
The company is Tree Limin Extreme, LLC, which was registered to do business in the territory in September 2011. It is owned by Marc Bryan and Julie Eaton-Bryan, and was apparently created for the zipline project.
Tree Limin got its permit for the project a month after registering in October 2011, and some area residents have privately questioned how a commercial venture could be allowed in an R-1 (residential, low density) zoning, but say they were told it falls under the category of “Parks and Recreation” which is among the allowable uses for R-1. Attempts to verify that reasoning with Planning before press time were unsuccessful.
What is clear is that the project would have received considerably more attention if it had required a zoning change and the attendant public hearings.
The permit, issued October 24, 2011, allows for the construction of an office/reception building, cutting a road through to the top of the property, somewhere below the Mountain Top shops, and construction of several platform towers with guy wires leading from one to the next over which thrill-seekers are to ride down the mountain side. From the road, most of the work appears to have been completed.
The land in question is owned by GHP, LLC, owners of St. Peter Greathouse. The Bryans have a three-year lease-option-to-buy that indicates the clock starts running “as soon as construction permits are approved for proposed zip line park.” The letter of intent for the lease makes it clear that GHP has no problem with the zipline, even pledging the “seller” to allow Tree Limin to use the Greathouse premises as a taxi drop off point if necessary initially.
GHP purchased the land in 2007 from prominent V.I. businessman Randy Knight for $1 million. If the Bryans follow through with the purchase, the price will be that plus approximately another $278,000 to cover taxes and other expenses that GHP has incurred. If they fail to purchase the property, the lease terms call for them to forfeit any improvements they have made on the property.
The project – or at least the concept – appears to have the blessing of the deJongh administration. It was featured last fall on the Tourism website as an upcoming new tourist attraction, and in several recent public forums, Gov. John deJongh has referenced a zipline as a positive addition to the territory’s tourism product. Despite such references, many residents in the area expressed surprise to learn the project was so far along and was going in so close to their homes.
