- Proposed layout for Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours on 8-Mile Hill
The Fremont County Commissioners Tuesday approved a recreational zip line operation on eight mile hill west of Cañon City that had been tabled for two weeks to allow time to consider additional conditions for the operation. Ty and Anna Seufer and Jim Whiteside plan to operate the Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours on a 127 acre site along the south side of Highway 50. The property is across the highway from Seufer’s existing Whitewater Bar and Grill business. Seufer and his engineer told the commissioners they were particularly concerned about new language requiring the zip line construction be approved and annually inspected by a Colorado registered engineer. Matt Koch said there are no engineering standards for zip lines only accredited standards set by the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). The Commissioners amended the conditions to require certification of the construction by ACCT as well as the annual inspections.
Other conditions added and approved under the Special Review Use Permit by the commissioners require Seufer to pay a use tax on all construction materials prior to operation; prohibit ATV recreational use on the property except for maintenance, transport of customers, or for emergencies; prohibit smoking or campfires on the property due to the threat of wildfires; and allow no more than 11 zip lines and three training lines as part of the course. Commission Chairman Ed Norden said the board also expects the applicant to follow through on commitments outlined in a letter in which they intend to erect no trespassing signs along property boundaries where there is no fence and to prohibit all alcohol use on the zip line course.
Seufer wants to get the zip line tours in operation for this summer. At peak operation Seufer hopes to accommodate groups of 8 to 10 people on the course launching every 30 minutes for a 2 ½ hour zip line experience.
Beth Lenz, coordinator of the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments’ Recycling Program, reported to the commissioners Tuesday that a plastic recycling program as been resurrected in Fremont County. Lenz said the program will operate through the simple use of a single large bag in which all #1 through #7 plastics can be deposited. Plastics will not be accepted unless they are in the special recycling bag which will cost $3 and be available at the COG offices along Justice Center Road, at Cañon City City Hall, and at Classic Furniture on Main Street in Cañon City. Lenz said the bags full of plastic will be accepted at the Loaves and Fishes building on Justice Center Road every Wednesday from 9 to 3 starting on February 9th.
Lenz said of the $3 charge for each bag, $1 will go to COG for the cost of the program, $1 will go to Loaves and Fishes for handling collections, and $1 will go to handle the plastic recycling in Colorado Springs.
The commissioners on Tuesday also accepted a check from the Fremont County 4-H Foundation in the amount of $10,000 and from the Fremont County 4-H Council youth in the amount of $5,000. The two checks represent pledges the two groups made two years ago towards the cost of installing bleachers, lighting, and restroom facilities at the county owned arena at Pathfinder Regional Park west of Florence. The money was used as a community match to help secure a $200,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant to build the facilities.
In other business Tuesday the commissioners:
- Approved a land lease at the Fremont County Airport to allow James Woolforth to build a new 50’ by 56’ hangar at the airport;
- Approved a license agreement between the county and the City of Cañon City turning over maintenance and enforcement of parking on all areas surrounding the Fremont County Administration Building;
- Approved a liquor license renewal for the Penrose VFW;
- Resumed and closed a public hearing on commercial wind farms without any public comment. The commissioners noted that they have not had time to immerse themselves into the research on regulations needed for large wind farms. Chairman Norden indicated the board may not be ready to propose a set of regulations for another public hearing until this summer.