The Skywalk at Grand Canyon West Wins Popular Science 2006 ?Best of What?s New? Award
LAS VEGAS ? November 15, 2006 ? The Skywalk at Grand Canyon West has been chosen to receive a 2006 ?Best of What?s New? award from Popular Science magazine in the Engineering category.
?The Hualapai Tribe, owner of Grand Canyon West, is honored to be a recipient of such a competitive and prestigious award from Popular Science,? said Sheri Yellowhawk, CEO of Grand Canyon Resort Corporation. ?Recognition of The Skywalk as being ‘Best of What’s New’ in engineering fills our hearts with pride and gives us new hope for our future. The award brings us motivation after many years of hard work and tremendous obstacles that surround the development of The Skywalk,? she continued.
About the 2006 ?Best of What’s New? Awards
Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners ? the ?Best of What’s New? ? are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of the award in 1987. The ?Best of What?s New? awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 10 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, General Innovation, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health and Recreation.
Easily the most audacious tourist attraction of the year, the Skywalk U-shaped footbridge extends 65 feet beyond the lip of the Grand Canyon, with zero support from below. Set for completion next month, the $30 million balcony consists of two curved, parallel steel beams joined together by a 2.5-inch-thick glass floor, offering a view of the ground nearly three quarters of a mile below. To secure the bridge, 96 steel rods bore 50 feet into the canyon wall just beneath the visitors? center, and a set of 1.6-ton steel dampers brace the structure against gusts up to 90mph.
About Popular Science
Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world?s largest science and technology magazine; with a circulation of 1.45 million and 6.5 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science reports on the intersection of science and everyday life, with an eye toward what?s new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by Time4 Media, a subsidiary of Time Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.
About Grand Canyon West
Located approximately 120 miles east of Las Vegas, Nev., and 72 miles northwest of Kingman, Ariz. Attractions available at Grand Canyon West include The Indian Village with authentic dwellings, The Hualapai Market, and The Hualapai Ranch, a western town with horseback and wagon rides. Grand Canyon West is the only location throughout the entire Grand Canyon where visitors can access the river and water recreation activities at the bottom of the canyon via helicopter tours. In addition to boat tours on the river, Hummer tours are available along the rim of the canyon and through private areas that are otherwise inaccessible to the public. There are more than 30 tour and transportation companies that service Grand Canyon West from Las Vegas, Phoenix and Sedona by airplane, helicopter, coach, SUV, and Hummer. In addition, Park & Ride services are available from Dolan Springs, Ariz., a one-hour drive from Las Vegas. To book reservations, view a complete list of activities or receive maps and directions, visitors may log on to www.destinationgrandcanyon.com or call 1(877) 716-WEST (9378). The Hualapai Tribe, consisting of approximately 2,000 Hualapai members, owns nearly one million acres of land throughout the Grand Canyon?s western rim. The capitol of the Hualapai Reservation is Peach Springs, Ariz.
You know…it looks really cool in theory, but I have my doubts about whether or not I’d be able to get up the nerve to actually walk out on it. I’m not afraid of heights, but that has to be disconcerting!
Do you think they would mind if I scooted along on my stomach?