Hood Construction completes Saluda Skyride at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
October 8, 2025
On August 28th, Hood Construction joined Riverbanks Zoo & Garden staff and community officials to celebrate the grand opening of the highly anticipated Saluda Skyride. As part of Riverbanks’ multi-year expansion, Phase II of Bridge to the Wild includes an all-new aerial transportation system that connects the Zoo and Botanical Garden campuses.
Located at the heart of the Riverbanks Zoo, the Saluda Skyride spans over 1,700 feet and soars approximately 90 feet above the Saluda River, offering visitors an efficient and scenic way to travel between Riverbanks’ two campuses. The system, designed with accessibility in mind, features 19 cabins, each accommodating up to eight passengers, and is wheelchair and stroller friendly. The skyride includes two new loading terminals, each enhanced with plazas and integrated irrigation systems that blend seamlessly into the existing landscape.
The project was a collaborative effort between Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, LCK, CLR Design, Leitner-Poma, and Hood Construction. Notably, Leitner-Poma contributed international expertise as their specialized team traveled from Switzerland to install the aerial system. Throughout construction, all teams worked closely to ensure that there were no disruptions to operations or the guest experience at Riverbanks, which remained open during construction.
“The specialized nature of this project, combined with an aggressive timeline and unexpected challenges, made it the most significant and rewarding opportunity of my career,” said Chris Sinclair, Project Manager at Hood Construction. “I honestly can’t think of a better example of a total team effort and collaboration across the entire project team to deliver this project on time, within budget, and with a high-quality finished product. As a longtime Riverbanks Zoo member and a father who spends a lot of quality time there with my daughters, this was a dream come true for me.”
“The Saluda Skyride represents an exciting milestone in our Bridge to the Wild expansion, and we are grateful to our incredible partners who helped bring this vision to life,” said Tommy Stringfellow, President and CEO of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “Their expertise and collaboration were instrumental in building a safe, innovative, and accessible experience that connects our Zoo and Botanical Garden while enhancing our mission to inspire actions that have a lasting impact on wildlife and wild places.”
“At LCK, we take pride in turning ideas into reality. The Saluda Skyride is a testament to what’s possible when a team comes together with a shared vision and purpose,” said Dale Stigamier, President of LCK. “We’re proud to support such a vital economic and cultural asset for the Midlands region. We look forward to bringing our unique perspective to the next chapter in Riverbanks Zoo’s growth.”
Hood Construction has begun site preparation for Riverbanks’ next exciting development: Jane B. Friedman Conservation Learning Center. Located adjacent to the skyride, the new learning center will expand Riverbanks’ educational programs by providing more indoor and outdoor classroom spaces for visitors, camps, and school field trips.
About Hood Construction
Hood Construction Company was founded in 1986 as a full-service Construction Management firm, currently licensed in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Now in its 39th year, Hood specializes in CM-R and Design-Assist Delivery, Pre-construction Consulting, Site Analysis, Project Management, and General Contracting for a broad spectrum of commercial and industrial clients. For more information, please visit us online at www.hoodconstruction.com.
About Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 3,000 magnificent and fascinating animals and one of America’s best public gardens. The Zoo opened on April 25, 1974, and for over five decades, has connected individuals, families and school children with the natural world. Riverbanks is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is recognized as a global leader in animal care and welfare, education, recreation, science and wildlife conservation. It is the mission of the Zoo and Garden to create meaningful connections and inspire actions that will have a lasting impact on wildlife and wild places. For more information, visit riverbanks.org.
About LCK
LCK is a privately held woman-owned business (WOB) jointly owned by majority partner, Mickey Layden, and Colliers | South Carolina. Since 1995, LCK has delivered a project management alternative for development of new facilities and for renovations. LCK’s experience in office, retail, industrial, government, nonprofit, healthcare, educational and religious projects has proven to be a preferred solution for many owners. Project planning, cost control, schedule compliance and quality management routinely generate cost savings for each of LCK’s clients. For more information, visit https://www.lckcs.com/
