To Commemorate The Public Opening, Skywalk Buy One Get One Free Vouchers Will Be Given To Those Who Book Reservations In Advance For March 28
GRAND CANYON WEST, AZ (March 19, 2008) Last year on March 28, 2007 thousands of people lined up to be some of the first to experience the Grand Canyon Skywalk, 4000 feet above the Canyon?s floor as Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut, did during the ?First Walk? ceremony eight days earlier. In celebration of this historic event Grand Canyon West will offer this one time only buy one get one free Skywalk admission voucher for visitors that book though the reservations department for visits on March 28, 2008. Reservations can be made at www.destinationgrandcanyon.com or by calling 1-877-716-WEST(9378).
Since the opening of the Skywalk, the daily number of visitors to Grand Canyon West has quadrupled, rising from 500 per day to more than 2000 per day. The Skywalk?s popularity has helped Grand Canyon West grow tremendously resulting in hundreds of new job opportunities for the Hualapai people and countless improvements to the destination that enhance the visitor experience.
?The Hualapai Nation has been plagued by poverty and unemployment for decades,? said Wilfred Whatoname, Guest Relations at GCW and member of the Hualapai Tribe. ?The Skywalk is proving to be a success and is paving the road to an independent future.?
?The Skywalk has not only succeeded in bringing people to Grand Canyon West, it has renewed interest in the Grand Canyon as a whole,? said Allison Raskansky, Marketing Director for Grand Canyon Skywalk. ?It?s been a great year and there is more to come for Grand Canyon West including the completion of the Skywalk visitors? center later this year.?
During the public opening ceremony one year ago the Skywalk was blessed by members of the Hualapai tribe and the thousands of visitors stepped out onto the glass walkway 120 at a time. The first people to walk on the structure were a couple from Baltimore, Maryland who were originally just on a business trip to Las Vegas.
?If you were anywhere near this area, it would be a big mistake not to come here [Skywalk],? said Benson Rice, the first person of the general public to walk on the Skywalk on the day of the opening. ?It was definitely worth the trip.?
The Skywalk was envisioned by entrepreneur David Jin and is located at Grand Canyon West which is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe. It was designed by MRJ Architects with structurally engineering by Lochsa Engineering, LLC.
