HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 Apr 30 - Cape Cod Times Article: "Cape Cod Inflatable Park adds high-flying features"; NotesPage 1 of 2
Cod Inflatable Park adds high -flying features
The water features at Cape Cod Inflatable Park in West Yarmouth will be joined this summer by a
separate challenge park featuring such high -flying adventures as a tightrope and free -fall jump.
Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times File
New activities, including zip line and trapeze, not intended to compete with planned aerial adventure
course in Sandwich, owner says. By Cynthia McCormick
cmccormick@capecodonline.com
MA Hyannis_CapeCodTimes
WEST YARMOUTH — Falling from a trapeze or tightrope might seem like a scary prospect, but it
will all be part of the fun at a new attraction this summer at Cape Cod Inflatable Park on Route 28.
Park owner Joe Marrama is installing a series of high -flying challenges that will rely on specially
designed air bags instead of safety harnesses to protect participants who slip or tumble.
The seven challenges include a tightrope, climbing wall, mini zip line, trapeze, monkey swing and
rope ladder, and will be installed on the site of the now -demolished Dunkin' Donuts next to the
inflatable park.
The Cape Cod Inflatable Challenge Park also will include a free -fall attraction that allows participants
to jump off a platform at 10 or 20 feet onto a giant inflated pillow, Marrama said.
"We're trying to keep it with the inflatable theme," he said. Marrama said a team from a California
company, Inflatable 2000, is expected to arrive in early June to install the "Zero Shock" equipment
and train employees on how to use it.
Unlike the regular inflatable park, which is open admission, the challenge park will offer participants
two hours to tackle the course in groups of seven to 15 people attended to by a personal trainer,
Marrama said.
The goal is to open the new challenge park by June 27, Marrama said. The dry features of the regular
inflatable park are open on weekends through June 7, although the entire park will be closed May 9
and 10 as construction crews do prep work for the new challenge park, he said. Extended summer
hours begin June 13, according to the park's website, and will include the water features. Summer
admission for the dry and water features at the regular park is $2'9 per person; the challenge park entry
will be $25, according to the website.
Jake Vick of Inflatable 2000 said Marrama is the first customer in the U.S. to purchase the trapeze and
tightrope amusements as part of the Zero Shock system.
Zero Shock uses a custom-designed stunt bag to cushion falls, Vick said. "It was actually invented by
a trapeze artist in New Zealand. If the participants fall off, they land safely into the Zero Shock bag."
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"You're always looking for a way to make our town a destination for visitors," Yarmouth Chamber of
Commerce Executive Director Linda Jean said. "Adding on to to the inflatable park is certainly going
to benefit the town," she said.
The inflatable challenge park is not in competition with a new treetop aerial course expected to open
next month at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, Jean said. Tourists look for things to do in
the areas where they are vacationing, and Yarmouth and Sandwich are miles apart, she said.
The planned challenge course is very different from what's being offered by Heritage, said Marrama,
who also owns Cape Cod Family Resort Hotel. "It's so different."
The Cape Cod Inflatable Challenge Park attractions "are not that far off the ground," he said.
Marrama got permission from the Yarmouth Zoning Board of Appeals to add land to his business this
winter, said Karen Greene, director of community development for the town of Yarmouth. The
property where Dunkin' Donuts stood until recently is a half -acre, she said.
The inflatable park has been a good addition to attractions along Route 28, and town officials also
expect the new challenge park to do well, Greene said. "It's new. It's exciting. It's fun."
Follow Cynthia McCormick on Twitter: @Cmccormickcct.
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