GULF SHORES, Ala. – Before spring motorists passing the Gulf State Park Lake store and picnic area are likely to see people flying through the air via a new zip line.

The line should be up and running by then with seven zips flying from tower to tower eventually ending up on a pier in Lake Shelby.

“An adventure outfitter company has contracted with the park to install a zip line eco tour within the Lake Shelby Picnic area and will be called the Gulf State Park Adventure Center,” District Superintendent of Gulf State Park Lisa Laraway said. “Construction begins mid-October on what they will call ‘The Hummingbird.’ We’ll close down the picnic area for construction for approximately three months. The course should be completed and open March 1.”

 Laraway said the new attraction will begin at the lake store and cover the picnic area. A company from Ocoee, Tenn., has signed a four-year contract to build and operate the zip line.

“They’re moving into the picnic area on Oct. 18 and they are planning on being open by the middle of February,” she said. “It’s a huge project.”

The company will be putting up eight towers and there will be seven zips.

“They’re going to come in really fast and put the towers in, put the zips in and take over the lake store,” Laraway said. “The last tower will end up basically over the water. The last tower goes right across from our lake store and they will take a pier walk from there. The last zip is 1,200 feet long.

“It’s going to be really cool.”

In fact, several of the zips will cross over water at some point.

“The Zip line will begin at the lake store with a small instructional class and then you will go through a series of seven zips that will end up about 100 yards from the shore in Lake Shelby and you will take a pier walk back to land,” she said. “This is going to be a very exciting course with four of the zips going over water and the last one at 1,155 feet in length.”

By as early as mid-February customers could be zipping around on the apparatus.

“It’s about a two-and-a-half to three-hour commitment when you get there,” Laraway said. “You go through a little school, you’ve got to be shown how to do it. It’s not like a 10-minute ride. It’s an experience.

“This will be a great addition to the Gulf Coast and is becoming a popular attraction across the United States with many zip lines being installed every year.”

Laraway said that 80 percent of the riders are adults and in the future other attractions may be added for younger folks.

“They’re trying to figure if they want to put more things for kids to do there that don’t go on the zip with their family,” she said. “The outfitter wants to put more activities in the area once we get a feel for the public response to the concept.”

Laraway says folks can keep up with the construction by checking the parks Facebook by searching for Gulf State Park~Alabama.

Once the construction is complete the picnic, swimming and boating areas will reopen, Laraway said.