Southlands zip-line proposal submitted for approval
Ambitious plans to install a zip-line attraction at a national park have been submitted to the Department of Planning.
The planning application by EDI Bermuda proposed installing a series of zip lines at Southlands in Warwick with the hope of welcoming the first guests as early as next spring.
Documents included in the application said the goal was to create a family-friendly experience certified by the international Association for Challenge Course Technology.
It aims to deliver a variety of tour options without disrupting walking paths already in place at the park.
The documents said: “We will be offering four separate zip lines to accommodate everyone.
“Each course route contains varying degrees of difficulty and is focused to match the age range.
“Every adventure will be either accompanied by or supervised by a member of our ACCT-certified trained and accredited guide staff. Each staff member must go through a 240-hour accreditation to become certified as a Level 1 Guide.
“Our courses will include a canopy tour, a challenge course for confidence-building for all age levels, and an adrenalin-pumping dual super zip line for those adventure seekers.”
The documents said that canopy tours allow participants to make their way through the treetops at their own pace, exploring nature, while the super zip line was described as a “big run for those seeking a thrill”.
“As this all-age inclusive project benefits Bermuda by providing a new family adventure outlet fostering outdoor fun, adventure and confidence-building, we can support our local schools, youth groups, corporations and provide something new and widely sought after to bolster the island’s tourism with great outdoor experiences,” the application stated.
The planning documents detailed several courses including “Tree Frogs Adventure”, a beginners course intended for those aged 4 and up, and the “Escape from Devil’s Isle” guided tour through the treetops,
“It is designed to allow those ranging in age from 10 and up the opportunity to explore the upper reaches of the canopy, learn about the island’s and local area’s history and explore the natural environment around them while having fun along the way,” the documents said.
The “Bermuda Triangle Challenge” will offer a challenge course designed for those over the age of 13 intended to “physically and mentally challenge the individual” and provide an opportunity for team-building.
From private estate to national park, Southlands has served many uses over the years.
A house was erected on the Warwick property in 1745 and inhabited by the ministers of Christ Church in Warwick.
Later that century, it was extensively quarried, with stone used to build the City of Hamilton, which became the island's capital in 1815.
James Morgan, a Glaswegian, bought the land in 1911 and extended it to more than 80 acres by purchasing adjoining properties.
As one of the owners of a lucrative Canadian department store, the businessman developed the estate into a wonderland of quarry gardens, exotic plant life, ponds, aviaries and stables.
Mr Morgan died in 1932 and was buried in the same mausoleum as his wife on the Southlands estate.
The next owner of Southlands was Brigadier Dunbar Maconochie, who made the beachfront a training ground for US soldiers, dubbed the Southlands Anti-Aircraft School.
In 1977, the Willowbank Foundation bought the property and proposed a retirement complex and more than 100 residential units amid the natural beauty of the grounds.
Its trustees sold the estate to Southlands Ltd in 2005, with plans put forward to create a major luxury resort on the land.
However, after a public outcry about the plans, the Bermuda Government obtained the property in a 2010 land-swap agreement and it officially became a national park seven years later.
The woodland site, which includes the South Shore beach across the main road, comes with a network of trails that have made the property popular for walking and hiking.
The dual super zip line, branded “Longtail’s Flight”, will give participants a chance to travel 600 yards across Southlands at up to 35mph and enjoy expansive views of the parklands and the waters of South Shore.
“In all, once built, there will be a total of 3.5 miles of actual zip lines located throughout Southlands, much of which will not be visible to the general public,” the application said.
“Simply put, of all the many types of zip lines, we are ensuring we offer experiences that provide enjoyable adventures for all ages and abilities.”
The zip-line courses would be created using a series of utility poles and platforms built among the trees, which the developer said were non-permanent and non-invasive.
“We are going from point to point to provide the greatest experiences and, in doing so, only trimming and pruning tree limbs as necessary to provide safety for all users,” the documents said.
“Each tower/pole is placed in the same manner as a common utility pole by using an auger, and we will be working with Belco to ensure these are properly placed.
“Each cable/traverse is run from location to location through the air to provide for maximum clearance and to ensure we are as minimally invasive as possible.
“Once each platform and connection is completed, we move on to the next transition area.”
The towers would be constructed with timber telephone poles, with the zip lines running between towers and support platforms near existing mature trees.
“Only minor branches would be trimmed as per the submitted Conservation Management Plan,” the documents said. “Pole locations have been already established on site and surveyed by a registered surveyor as per the enclosed drawings.
“The object is to run in and among the existing trees rather than cutting them down.”
The project would also involve the renovation of a disused building on the property to serve as the main base of operations, with equipment storage, a ticket office and a gift shop, along with a staff office, staff lounge, lockers and washrooms.
The planning application said that if the project is approved and relevant permits are received, EDI Bermuda hoped to start work at the parkland in October, with the goal of officially opening Escape from Devil’s Isle in March 2026.
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