How Mike Kelling is building a second business alongside Goslar’s tourist railway
With Zipline Adventure, Mike Kelling from Goslar has created an additional attraction at Erlebnisbocksberg in Hahnenklee. Since May 2022, visitors have been able to enjoy this adventurous leisure attraction, featuring zip lines and a high ropes course. Kelling is well known in Goslar: he has run the Goslarer Bimmelbahn tourist railway for more than 20 years, a business originally founded by his father. However, because constantly changing approval procedures make long-term planning security for the railway’s operation uncertain, he created a second business with an investment of around half a million euros. WiReGo successfully supported the project as part of the grant-awarding process.
Mike Kelling is a keen fan of outdoor activities himself. He has tackled many climbing routes in the Alps and is familiar with numerous high ropes courses as well as the megazipline at the Rappbode Dam. It was a natural step to turn his passion into a new business model. Kelling’s original idea was a zip line from the dam at the Oker Dam across the Oker Valley, but approval was not possible. Heiko Rataj, a true all-rounder, heard about the project and promptly offered Kelling the chance to build it on the Bocksberg. It was a win-win for both sides: the summit gained another attraction to encourage visitors to stay longer, while ZAB benefits from the Erlebnisbocksberg’s name recognition and marketing activities.
The project, initially budgeted at a quarter of a million euros, grew to about twice that size during planning with Balance Erlebnis Lernen GmbH from Hildesheim. “Unfortunately, we applied for the funding with WiReGo too early,” says Kelling with a wink, referring to the increased investment amount. Further expansions and changes are not out of the question.
The facility is already unique of its kind in the Harz region and surrounding area. Twelve zip lines with a total length of 640 metres deliver genuine adrenaline rushes at heights of up to eight metres. Even Mike Kelling, who is quite tough, initially felt weak in the knees on his own course. “It doesn’t look that spectacular from below,” he says. “But when you’re supposed to jump onto a rope eight metres up, your legs can give way.” If that happens, there is no cause for concern: the team consists of certified high ropes course instructors who ensure that all guests make it through the adventure safely. Seven different climbing elements and a fast zip line complete the experience.
