New zip line expected to bring life to downtown MB

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) Businesses in the Five Points area of downtown Myrtle Beach hope they'll benefit from the hype surrounding Myrtle Beach's newest attraction, the zip line at the old Pavilion site.

The people who run the zip line are part of a company called Adrenaline Adventures and they say the attraction will be open by Tuesday. Now all crews have left is some additional testing and sprucing up to do.

"It's mainly just cosmetics right now, a little bit of landscaping. We're fully operational, just prettying things up," said Marc Sanger, the zip line's site manager.

It'll cost $25 per person and customers will be able to choose from the zip line or a 60-foot free fall. There's a discount for riders who do both.

The zip line will send riders hurling 600 feet toward the boardwalk and ocean while they're suspended 45 feet in the air.

Locals and visitors alike can't miss the test rides and wonder what it's like to ride the zip line.

"The kids definitely pointed out the new attraction here as soon as we got out of the car, so running over to it and giving it a try is one of the things we would have done," said Roger Andrews, who's visiting from Michigan.

Nearby businesses are already anxious for the ride to open. Since riders will take off from the far end of the Pavilion site, business owners in the Five Points area hope it'll bring more customers their way. Shops and restaurants in that area have traditionally struggled getting foot traffic.

"They're talking about thousands of people a day coming through there. If we can tap into ten percent of that we can potentially do really well," said AJ Hunt, owner at Gem City Pizza.

Copyright 2012 WMBF News. All rights reserved.