Courtesy of facebook.com/Route66Zipline

The Route 66 Zipline in Williams, Ariz.

The little town of Williams is big with tourists, thanks to being on Route 66 and close to the Grand Canyon. But one of its newest tourist attractions isn’t sitting well with all its residents.

The Route 66 Zipline opened last year in the downtown area, but it’s having trouble this season. The City Council denied its lease. The Historic Preservation Commission voted against it, too, though the planning and zoning department gave it the green light.

Local business owner John Holst said that, at more than 100 feet tall, the zip line doesn’t fit with the town’s historic look.

"It’s definitely an eye sore," he said. "There’s no doubt about it. The only public parking lot, really, that we’ve got in downtown area is now their gathering area."

But others in Williams disagree. Letters to the city in support of the ride have vastly outnumbered letters against.

Sean Casey owns the nearby drive-through wildlife park Bearizona. He said the zip line is a nice addition to the family-friendly kitsch that made Route 66 famous. And he believes Williams needs new attractions like it to keep it going.

The city council will reconsider the zip line’s lease Thursday night.