67-Year-Old Delilah Wallenda To Take Final High-Wire Walk
April 4, 2020 | News | No Comments
TAMPA, FL — Nik Wallenda will be treated to a bird’s-eye view of the just-completed 15-story hotel tower at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
The seventh-generation member of the Great Wallendas world-famous tightrope-walking family will navigate a half-inch-wide wire strung between the new and existing hotel towers on Thursday as part of the celebration marking the completion of the hotel and casino’s $700 million expansion.
Wallenda, whose high-wire feats have received worldwide television coverage, won’t be alone: He’ll perform the high-wire walk 150 feet in the air with his 67-year-old mother, Delilah Wallenda of Sarasota.
This will be an especially memorable walk for Delilah Wallenda, who plans to retire after this final feat.
The last time the mother and son performed together was on June 7, 2011, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when they re-created the high-wire walk between the two towers of the Condado Plaza Hotel that claimed the life of Nik Wallenda’s great-grandfather on March 22, 1978. At age 73, Karl Wallenda lost his balance, teetered on the wire for 30 heart-stopping seconds and then plummeted 10 stories to his death.
“The reality is it’s very dangerous,” Nik Wallenda said of his chosen profession.
He admitted to being a bit nervous for his mother because she recently had hip replacement and back surgery. But she has her doctor’s OK to perform the walk and is determined to do it, he said.
“I’m proud to walk with her one last time,” he said. “This is something very, very special. We love what we do. This is our passion.”
Nik Wallenda holds 10 world records. Among his feats, he was the first person to walk a wire directly over Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. In June, he and his sister, Lijana, walked a wire 230 feet (25 stories) above Times Square in New York City (see video). He said his sister plans to be on hand Thursday to watch their mother’s last walk.
The walk will take place at 12:10 p.m. after 10 a.m. ceremonies during Seminole Hard Rock Tampa’s Grand Celebration Weekend, which runs Thursday to Sunday. The event will commemorate the completion of an expansion that includes the new hotel tower, pool and spa, retail and dining outlets.
In June, Nik Wallenda and his sister, Lijana, walked a wire 230 feet (25 stories) above Times Square in New York City. (High Wire Live/Nik Wallenda)
The Thursday event schedule will also include a performance by Light Balance, a hi-tech neon and LED show that contains elements of acrobatic and dance choreography. The group earned the Golden Buzzer Award during its audition for Season 12 of “America’s Got Talent” and finished third overall in the competition.
A Nightlife Party in the new Hard Rock Event Center at 8 p.m. Thursday will feature performances by DJ Jazzy Jeff and Big Boi, a member of the hip hop duo Outkast.
At 9 p.m. Friday, country artist and “American Idol” judge Keith Urban will perform in the Hard Rock Event Center.
The Grand Celebration Weekend will conclude with a pool party at noon Sunday hosted by celebrity DJ Brody Jenner.
See related stories:
Seminole Hard Rock Casino Plans $700 Million Expansion In Tampa
Elvis’ 24-Karat Gold Piano A Key Feature Of Hard Rock Hotel
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