Soaring like an eagle, racing like a panther, climbing like a bear and battling with an alligator are all feats not many humans get to experience in a lifetime.
But with the Zip! at Haile Quarry zip line officially opening July 16 at 3975 NW County Rd. 235th in Newberry, zip liners can do each one and more in one day, riding seven lines named in honor of Florida’s nature.
Between the Panther (1,189 feet), the Double Dragon (1,303 feet), Jordan’s Jamboree (494 feet), Eagle (840 feet), Mountain (1,150 feet), Gator (677 feet) and Black Bear (905 feet) lines, zip liners can spend a few hours, or the entire day, climbing and launching off towers to zip across the quarry waters.
After five years in the making, the project executed by Spain Development LLC now boasts the longest zip line and dedicated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) disability-accessible zip line in Florida.
“Just come, have a good time,” said owner Karl Spain. “Zip, see all the crazy [and] the good things. I believe Newberry needs this.”
Before Spain built the zip line, the turquoise waters of Haile Quarry nestled in the outskirts of the Newberry flora and fauna sat as an abandoned scar of 50 years of limestone mining.
According to Spain, a Finnish family of axemen, known as the Salmis, first came to the 180-acre property in 1906 to clear it of trees after the government gave the land away as part of a Civil War grant.
The Salmis contracted the land out for mining its stone for road, concrete and cement materials from 1925 until 1975.
The excavation tapped into the Alachua Formation—a geologic rock layer comprised of claystone, sandstone, phosphorite, as well as the aquifer sitting around 50 feet below the surface, filling the quarry with 250 million gallons of water still there today.
Scientists have since found various shark, bird and mammal fossils such as giant sloths etched in the 40-foot limestone cliffs.
Spain, who also built High Springs’ Pink Flamingo Diner and an RV park in Gilchrist County, said the Salmis approached him over five years ago looking for ideas on how to use their quarry land.
The vision for a zip line came to his then-fiancée, now wife, Casey, who thought of her son when looking out across the quarry.
“His name was Jordan, he had cerebral palsy [and] died when he was four,” Spain said. “When she saw this with me, she explained to me how [since] he was locked in, he loved flight. Anything going fast would excite him, so she thought a zip line would be perfect here. And she asked me the question, ‘could you build a zip line accessible for people with disabilities?’ I just said yes.”
Spain traded stock to use 80 acres of the Salmi’s property for the zip line and started building the structures using wood from the land. He said the permitting was the most challenging part since Land Development Regulations (LDR) for zip lines didn’t exist in the city of Newberry or Alachua County.
Because of the complexity of ensuring safety on a zip line and preserving the aquifer drinking supply and habitat, Spain said the site has been built “to a T” with involvement from the Suwannee River Water Management District, Army Corps of Engineers and Alachua County Department of Natural Resources.
The environmental study alone took 18 months to complete, and the Fair Rides Inspection Bureau inspected the buildings and floating docks. The floating docks are used to keep zip liners from landing in the water and contaminating the aquifer and disturbing wildlife, like the 6-foot alligator who swims near the Gator Line.
“[Fair Rides Bureau] loved everything,” said Zip! manager Anna Carter. “We have Skyline, the number one designer of zip line parts…going to train us and all of our employees. They helped us design the course, and generally we just consult with them because they’re professionals.”
Carter also said Zip! hopes to invite food trucks to serve customers on site.
Spain said even though the project came with costly and timely setbacks from the government, he believes the zip line proves land can be recycled into mutually-beneficial developments for the city and developers.
“I believe you can marry your environmental concerns with your business concerns,” he said. “The government, in particular, should be encouraging people to reuse these brownfields in old mine sites, not discouraging their use.”
Beginning July 16, Zip! is booking half-day and full-day reservations between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday for a maximum of 145 people a day.
A $65 half-day adventure lasts around three hours and grants customers access to three of the zip lines, with a scenic boat ride across the quarry and a guide to ensure safety.
Customers can ride all six zip lines, including the Double Dragon—Florida’s longest line—enjoy the boat ride, and a guided tour through the quarry’s trails during the full six-hour adventure for $115.
Jordan’s Jamboree is Florida’s only ADA-compliant zip line and costs $35 to ride. All zipliners go through an orientation at the welcome center before heading out on the lines equipped with helmets and harnesses.
Anyone interested in booking a zip line reservation can visit Zip’s website for more information.
