Grand Canyon Skywalk

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Coordinates: 36°0′44″N, 113°48′40″W The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a tourist attraction along the Colorado River on the edge of the Grand Canyon (Grand Canyon West) in the U.S. state of Arizona. Commissioned by the Hualapai Indian tribe, it was unveiled March 20, 2007, and opened to the general public on March 28, 2007. The attraction is open to visitors for a fee of $US25 per person to enter the Skywalk, in addition to $US50 for Grand Canyon West entry fees.^[1]^[2]

The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway is suspended 1,200 meters above the floor of the canyon, a height that eclipses the world's largest skyscrapers.^[3]

1 Technical achievement
2 Restrictions
3 Cornerstone of a larger plan
4 Controversy
- 4.1 Hualapai
- 4.2 Environmentalists and others
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Technical achievement

Skywalk protrudes 20 meters (65 feet) beyond the edge of the canyon. The walls and floor are built from glass 10.2 cm (4 inches) thick. The Skywalk is capable of holding 70 tons of weight (the equivalent of 800 people weighing 80 kg ( 175 lbs.) each), however the permitted capacity is limited to 120 persons. Visitors are provided with shoe covers to protect them from slipping and to prevent the glass floor from being scratched.

Construction began in March 2004. It was rolled onto the edge of the canyon on March 7, 2007 after passing several days of testing to replicate weather, strength and endurance conditions of its final destination. The structure was built to withstand up to 100 mph winds and a magnitude 8 earthquake. Tuned mass dampers were used to minimize vibration from wind and pedestrians.

[edit] Restrictions

Currently, cameras are not allowed on the platform for fear of visitors dropping them and cracking the glass floor.^[4]

The restrictions on cameras and cell phones has more to do with "preserving the sanctity of the Hualapai grounds" than fear of cracking the glass floor. Knowing that people are coming for the desire to take pictures, it would be nice if this was mentioned on their website.

[edit] Cornerstone of a larger plan

According to Hualapai officials, the cost of the Skywalk alone will exceed $40 million.^[5] Future plans for the Grand Canyon Skywalk complex include a museum, movie theater, VIP lounge, gift shop, and several restaurants including a high-end restaurant called The Skywalk Café where visitors will be able to dine outdoors at the canyon's rim. The Skywalk is the cornerstone of a larger plan by the Hualapai tribe, which it hopes will be the catalyst for a 9,000-acre development to be called Grand Canyon West: it would open up a long-inaccessible 100-mile stretch of countryside along the canyon's South Rim and include hotels, restaurants, a golf course and a cable car to ferry visitors from the canyon rim to the Colorado River.^[5]

The tribe partnered with Las Vegas-based businessman David Jin to raise the money for the project.^[6]

[edit] Controversy

The planning and construction of the Skywalk has caused controversy within the Hualapai tribe as well as between the tribe and outside groups.

[edit] Hualapai

Opponents within the tribe view the project as disturbing sacred ground. ^[6] Supporters within the tribe counter that it is an opportunity to generate much-needed cash to combat serious problems that plague the small 2,000-resident reservation, including a 50% unemployment rate, widespread alcoholism and poverty.^[5] Other tribal members are happy with the Skywalk, but have expressed concern over future over-development and the potential lack of sustainability (the water used in both the development and the neighboring Grand Canyon National Park are not taken from the Colorado River but piped or trucked in from elsewhere.^[5])

[edit] Environmentalists and others

People outside of the tribe, including Arizona environmental groups and former National Park officials, have expressed complaint about the project's obtrusiveness in the natural environment, considering it a defacement of a national treasure. Some have suggested it is ironic that the Hualapai had argued they were the best caregivers and stewards of the Grand Canyon, and yet decided to exploit it in this way.^[5] Tribal leaders counter that the 4.5 million people a year who visit the National Park portion are already overburdening an area and, further, that the tribe needs financial support. The tribe's million-acre reservation attracts approximately 200,000 visitors a year and charges for rim-side weddings and stunt jumps (including one by Robbie Knievel). The tribe made an unsuccessful foray into opening a casino which has not been able to generate sufficient income.^[5]