Dr. Buzz Aldrin to Lead Ceremony for Historic First Walk

Apollo 11 Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin, known for making historic first steps on the moon, will lead the ?First Walk? on the Grand Canyon Skywalk on Tuesday, March 20.

During the private ceremony, Aldrin will make history again by taking the first steps onto the U-shaped glass walkway suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Members of the Hualapai tribe lead by Chairman Vaughn and Native American Astronaut John Herrington will walk simultaneously from the opposite side of The Skywalk and join Aldrin in the center for a momentous event as the Hualapai nation unveils the vision of their future. Immediately following the ?First Walk? Aldrin will give a speech and participate in a press conference featuring Hualapai representatives and The Skywalk design team. The official public opening of The Grand Canyon Skywalk will be on Wednesday, March 28. A select number of tickets will be available on eBay to walk before the tickets go on sale to the public.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk will be the first ever cantilever-shaped glass walkway to suspend more than 4,000 feet above the canyon?s floor and extend 70 feet from the canyon?s rim. Located at Grand Canyon West?s Eagle Point, guests will enter and exit The Skywalk via temporary buildings while the adjacent visitor?s center is being completed. Open from dawn to dusk, admission for The Skywalk will be $25 per person in addition to a purchased Grand Canyon West entrance package ($75 total). To maximize the experience a limit of 120 people will be permitted on the bridge at any one time. Grand Canyon West plans to issue shoe covers to avoid scratches and slipping, which will be numbered and given to each visitor as a reminder of their experience on The Skywalk.

The visitor?s center that will open later in the year will include a museum, movie theater, VIP lounge, and gift shop as well as private indoor and outdoor facilities for meetings, special events and weddings. Several restaurants and bars will be available, including The Skywalk Caf?, a high-end restaurant with outdoor patio and rooftop dining on the edge of the canyon. The second floor of the visitor?s center will provide access to The Skywalk glass walkway.