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OFFICIAL BLOG OF NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM |
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TIGHT ROPE WALKERS AND THE FALLS
By GEORGE BAILEY
2011-07-18 12:32:14
|  | 6 comments Latest by What a joy to find such clear thinking. Thanks for 08/21/11 10:17:39 EDT |
At one time walking across the Niagara River on a tightrope was all the rage.
It began when Jean Francois Gravelet (he gave himself the stage name of Blondin) after stringing a rope across the Niagara River one mile below the falls (about midway between today’s Rainbow Bridge and Whirlpool Rapids Bridge) and walked on June 30th,1859 from the American side to the Canadian side. He was successful and over the preceding years duplicated the feet without so much as a stubbed toe.
Between 1859 and 1897 nine different walkers used a tightrope to successfully cross the gorge. Today it is illegal to cross the Niagara River on a tightrope.
However, in 2005 and 2007 Jay Cochrane, a world famous walker, set up an 1800 foot long tightrope between the Skylon Tower and the Fallsview Casino and successfully made numerous walks between the two points during the summer months. Check out You Tube-Jay Cochrane-Niagara 2007.
Recently approval has been given by the U.S. State Senate to allow professional tightrope walker, Nik Wallenda, to cross over the Niagara River near the falls on a tightrope. However, permission has yet to be granted by The Niagara Parks Commission on the Canadian side of the border. Commission Chair Fay Booker is doubtful that permission will be given for the walk because of safety concerns.
Comments
Chris Hoermann
Hey George, That's an interesting article. Do they need to get approval from the U.S. and Canada? Could you let me know how I can contact the responsible person for such special permits on the Canadian side of the falls? Thanks a lot - and I hope they will get to go! Chris
George Bailey
Chris,Approval from both commissions on both sides of the border have to be given for any type of stunting. Contact The Niagara Parks Commission in Niagara Falls, Ontario and The New York State Parke Reservation in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
thelma
havent been to niagara falls since i was a teen(now in my late 40s).am considering a trip there in may with my husband and our 2 daughters(ages 19 and 25).any suggestions what we must see????casinos?shopping?amusement parks? or nice affordable places to stay?
George Bailey
Thelma, The answers to your question can be found on this web site. Go to www.niagarafallstourism.com.
No question this is the place to get this info, th
No question this is the place to get this info, thkans y'all.
What a joy to find such clear thinking. Thanks for
What a joy to find such clear thinking. Thanks for potsing!
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