Courtesy The Linq
The Fly Linq zipline opens on November 9.
Monday, Nov. 5, 2018 | 2 a.m.
A vibrant alleyway stacked with entertainment experiences, bars and restaurants between two Las Vegas Boulevard casino-resorts, the Linq Promenade was created to entice Strip pedestrians to stroll through the fun on their way to ride the High Roller Observation Wheel. On November 9, Vegas visitors (and locals, too) will be able to make that journey in a matter of seconds.
Fly Linq is the Strip’s first zipline and it makes its debut this week. Riders will buy tickets inside the Linq hotel and casino (or at any Caesars Entertainment box office or online) before taking a pair of elevator rides to the top of a new, 12-story structure at the mouth of the promenade, getting harnessed and prepped for a seated or “superhero-style” flight, then soaring 1,080 feet above the Strip all the way over the promenade to the High Roller.
With Fly Linq joining the High Roller and other experiential venues along the promenade like VR Adventures and Brooklyn Bowl, Caesars Entertainment officials believe they have further diversified a small area of the Strip that’s all about quick, easy-access fun that can attract all different types of visitors.
“The promenade offers multiple things to do that are quick and that really hits the spot right now in Las Vegas, especially for millennials,” says Shaun Swanger, senior vice president of attractions, retail and leasing. “The beauty of Fly Linq is that the flight time is about 30 seconds and the whole experience can be done in 30 minutes or under. You can do the High Roller and Fly Linq and have lunch in under two hours and that’s really what the Linq is all about, the ability to stay all day and hang out if you want or have these quick experiences in a safe, nice environment.”
The Linq Promenade opened in 2014 and Fly Linq was not part of the project’s original plans. Working around the existing buildings made the construction of the zipline a challenging endeavor.
“As we became 100 percent leased on the ground, taking up space in mid-air became an efficient use of space to create a new experience, but being wedged between the Flamingo and Linq hotels and starting it virtually right on the Strip created a complicated process,” Swanger says. “We worked closely with Clark County authorities throughout to work out the most efficient way to build and operate it. We also had to build [the tower] to complement the buildings around it and it was critical that the view of the High Roller [from the Strip] wasn’t blocked.”
There are two more big pieces coming to the Linq Promenade in 2019: A new location of I Love Sugar that Swanger says will be the biggest candy store in the world, and Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, set to open in the spring. These experiences should continue to build the promenade’s reputation as a tourist-driven destination that also appeals to locals.
“I think we’ve really found a sweet spot for that market of locals who like to come when they have visitors in town,” Swanger says. “The High Roller, of course, is the best place in Vegas to see all of Vegas, and Brooklyn Bowl has strong local appeal as well. It’s been great to see that locals have a place on the Strip they have a passion for.”
Fly Linq will be open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, call 702-777-2782.
