TWO ZIP LINES for a zip experience quite different from the desert plunges of Bootleg Canyon. Adding to the Vegas vibe of it all is the occasional appearance of Penn and Teller, who perform at the Rio. In fact, according to Puckett, Penn Gillette is an ordained minister who has presided over matrimony at the zip line. Puckett notes that VooDoo sees a lot of newlyweds so freshly minted as couples that the zip line crews will often see them ride in wedding gowns and tuxedos. Puckett says the location and its unparalleled visibility translates to a lot of walk-up sales, thus helping keep marketing costs down. He will purchase billboard space, and use VooDoo’s shuttle bus for picking up guests along The Strip; the shuttle thus serves as a moving billboard as well. And because a big day (and night) can bring in more than 1,000 people, VooDoo’s website allows people to schedule
their riding experience to avoid long lines. Rio has a convention and conference center on site, meaning big groups can dominate the facility for hours at a time, so the website scheduling for available slots has been well received, he says. Unlike Bootleg, which is seeing some dispersion of summer business to the fall and spring due to the heat, summer is the busiest season for VooDoo. The day and night hours have Puckett managing 30 employees to cover two shifts daily seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (and ‘til midnight on weekends). Big days keep them hustling, since there’s only one tandem seat and a round trip can be as tight as two minutes. It’s good, then, that closures are rare, usually caused by wind or lightning. A lightning detector warns operators of an encroaching storm. Tickets are $28, and peak pricing on Saturdays and Sundays is $29. Riders must be over 21 after 7:30 p.m. Guests can zip a second time on the same day for a discounted rate of $17.50. Promotions include a Rewards Program for dis-
counts, free VooDoo Lounge admission, and priority scheduling. The unique setting helps create a rich variety of add-on sales. Videos of riders’ experiences, and uploads of pictures and video on social media, serve as both referrals and endorsement. Other revenue streams include an array of retail, shirts, shot glasses, hats, and other accessories. Holidays, Puckett says, boost business ever further. The Lounge’s Halloween Party is a perfect fit for VooDoo riding and photos. New Year’s is always a big deal in Vegas, and the Fourth of July drives strong business as well. The holidays seem to further accentuate the differences between VooDoo and Bootleg. The setting, the views, and the scene all combine to exemplify the excess that is Vegas, and, from 400 feet high, one can witness an entirely different type of wildlife than that found at Bootleg Canyon. The contrast between these two highly successful businesses highlights the many paths to success in the world of aerial adventure.
The Award-Winning Continuous Belay
Trusted Worldwide since 2009
The Bornack
30 [www.adventureparkinsider.com]
SAFE LINK SSB®
• Rugged • Dependable • Durable • Used by the world’s most successful parks RPE_API_ssb_ad.indd 8
RopesParkEquipment.com 11/7/17 2:26 PM