One Scary Glass Bottomed View Point!

 

Sheri Yellowhawk, Hualapai tribal executive, said they had the area blessed. Tribal elders, some of whom were concerned about any construction on pristine native lands, felt they had to consider their children and build something economically feasible for their future.

Representatives of the Hualapai Tribe stated that the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation would be constructing a glass, U-shaped walkway called the Grand Canyon Skywalk?EUR??,,????'??+and it is definitely not for the timid or those with a fear of heights. The four-inch thick glass bottom of the Grand Canyon Skywalk will be supported by more than a million pounds of steel beams and includes dampeners to minimize the structure?EUR??,,????'???s vibrations. The skywalk, scheduled to open January 1, 2006, is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation and extends 70 feet over the edge of the Grand Canyon with a suspension of 4000 feet over the Colorado River. Although it can accommodate 120 people at a time comfortably, according the reports, one wonders how ?EUR??,,????'??comfortable?EUR??,,????'?? it would really be?EUR??,,????'??+even behind a Plexiglass wall. Slated to be able to hold up to 72 million pounds, it can withstand 100 mph winds coming from eight different directions and survive earthquakes up to 8.0 magnitude 50 miles away. The Hualapai hope to have this $30 million attraction open to the public in early 2006, but as of this writing, they have yet to find an insurer for the project.

For more information, as well as a very lively group of comments, go to: www.thegreenhead.com.