The Forge: Lemont Quarries Plans July Opening

LEMONT, IL — The Forge: Lemont Quarries was supposed to open Memorial Day weekend, but the opening was delayed due to the coronavirus. Now, the outdoor adventure park is planning to open in July.

The park said it continues to evaluate the most current information and guidelines to "ensure the safety and well-being of fellow adventurers."

Reservations will be required for all activities, walk-ups will not be accepted. The park said all attractions will have specific start times with no greater than 10 guests allowed to congregate in the same location at the same time.

Currently, the northeast region, of which Lemont is a part of, is in phase 2 of the Restore Illinois and is expected to move to phase 3 by the end of May. It is possible that the region could move into phase 4 by the end of June, which would allow for gatherings up to 50.

The park is also going to use virtual queuing to manage any wait times and queues will also be demarcated so that each guest adheres to the recommended six feet apart physical distancing measures.

"By implementing a required reservation system and only allowing specific start times on attractions, The Forge is able to control the number of people who are in the park at any given time, as well as the total number of people who pass through the park per day," the park told Patch.

When the park opens, there will be several options for guests, including the Eight Towers Adventure. The adventure includes climbing towers, ziplines, high ropes courses and rappelling stations. The park will allow 10-person groups starting every 10 minutes, which will create physical distancing while on the course.

There will also be mountain biking, paddle sports (kayaks, canoes, pedal boats), and digital activities like tactical laser tag and augmented reality outdoor escape games. Maximum number of guests will be restricted for these activities, and physical distancing will be in place.

In addition, the Two Towers Kids Adventure and the Bouldering Zone will be available with limited numbers.

In a letter from park owners Jeremie Bacon, Chris Gladwin and Bart Loethen, the park said it is committed to physical distancing guidelines, using personal protective equipment at all times, practicing proper hygiene and sanitation, and disinfecting common and high-traffic areas.

"We know that these are extraordinary times. Our mission has always been to exhilarate, educate and entertain adventurers of every age and ability, and we remain committed to doing so while keeping our community safe and comfortable as we navigate this new normal together," the letter states.