SACO — Monkey Trunks ropes park is seeking to add a zipline course that would span over the city-owned Cascade Falls.

Monkey Trunks, which has two parks in New Hampshire, opened in Saco in 2011 on Waterfall Drive off Cascade Road. General Manager Kris Gagnon said business has been good, and the company would like to expand the Saco location. He said the company is creating a course for younger children that will be open for the 2013 season and would like to build a zipline course in the woods for the 2014 season.

According to city records, the Monkey Trunks property is about 15 acres. Gagnon said the company has been utilizing only a small piece of its property, and would like to expand to give park-goers the options of a second course that runs in the woods with “a different feel out in the trees.”

Gagnon said the proposed zipline would be 200 to 300 feet long, spanning from the current obstacle site to an abutting city park, over Cascade Falls and back to the Monkey Trunks property. Instead of poles, the course would use trees and would have different challenges and obstacles mixed in. 

The construction of the proposed zipline would be very unobtrusive, said Gagnon, with platforms clamped to trees instead of bolted down. Trees would be examined to determine their health, he said.

Gagnon said in exchange for use of city property, the park is offering free use of its facility for participants of the city’s summer recreation programs.

The city acquired the waterfall and 17 surrounding acres through a contract zone agreement with developer Elliot Chamberlain in 2008.

The city has been working in conjunction with local nonprofit Saco Bay Trails to develop a trail system, with the first trail, a quarter-mile loop, completed in 2011.

Cascade Falls has a long history. In the 1800s, it was mined for slate for a few years. In 1921, it served as the backdrop for the silent film “The Girl From Porcupine.” The former Cascade Inn was built nearby on Route 1 in 1928, and about that time, the area was developed into a park. A parking area was located off Cascade Road, and nearby was a gas station and food stand. Near the falls today is the remains of a bear cage, which once held a live bear and was a tourist attraction.

In a letter to the city council, Saco Bay Trails President Elaine Vadeboncoeur said some members feel the area near the falls should not be disturbed, while others feel the proposal would bring more foot traffic to the falls.

Vadeboncoeur said the group feels if the plan goes forward, there should be a lease agreement with money going to the Cascade Falls master plan.

Saco Parks and Recreation Director Joe Hirsch said the proposed zipline would introduce people who might not be aware of Cascade Falls to the area.

The city council will discuss the proposal Monday night.

Saco Mayor Mark Johnston said the city land was set aside for “passive recreation,” and he does not believe that the Monkey Trunks proposal would bring passive recreation to the city’s park. He said he is concerned about the impact the proposal would have on the falls area. In order to consider letting Monkey Trunks use the land, there would have to be a lease agreement in which the city was given “a significant contribution” to maintain the trail system and falls area, he said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.