A Monroe County-based company is interested in establishing an aerial tree ropes course on about 10 acres of what it described as a primarily wooded 46-acre property in East Rockhill.
Tree Course Adventures, LLC of Shawnee recently notified local officials that it intends to apply for a zoning variance that would clear the way for it to develop the “adventure center” at the property located at 2503 Old Bethlehem Pike.
Tree Course Adventures is the equitable owner of the property. It intends to set up the recreational destination where securely tethered customers would be able to venture through the trees on a course that could be connected by ropes, platforms and bridges.
The property, which documents indicate is home to a single-family residence, lies in a resource protection zoning district. To operate there, Tree Course Adventures would need a variance from that zoning to allow for an “outdoor entertainment” use – the closet applicable zoning designation for what the ropes course would be, the company said in a letter to the township.
“The adventure course use is an emerging industry that is not specifically provided for in zoning ordinance use provisions,” Kellie A. McGowan, the Doylestown-based attorney representing Tree Course Adventures, said in the letter.
The letter says the tree ropes course is a low-impact, ideal fit for the intention of the resource protection zoning. While there will be “specifically targeted tree removal,” Tree Course Adventures intends to largely maintain the natural features of the property.
“The woodland contains mature trees that are well-suited for the purpose of the proposed (tree ropes course) and will be maintained and preserved through this use,” McGowan said.
A gravel parking lot would accommodate patrons. A setback of at least 75 feet from other property lines will be observed, McGowan said. No subdivision or residential development is proposed.
As of this writing, a hearing on the variance request was not yet scheduled, according to Township Manager Marianne Morano.
According to its website (treecourseadventures.com), Tree Course Adventures specializes in aerial ropes adventure course site development, course construction, operating and managing aerial ropes adventure parks, zip lines, ropes park consultation, and more.
The company says it has experience owning and operating Pocono TreeVentures, Pocono Zip Racer, Pocono Zip Quest, Pocono Kid Ventures, and Gorilla Grove Aerial Adventure Park at Kalahari Resorts.
