Take A Long Walk Off A Short Roof at the Intercontinental Today, For A Good Cause

Photos by Patrick Michels

Dave Dunlap becomes one of the first to take the plunge Tuesday afternoon, helped along by Brian with Over the Edge USA.

Dallas Police officers don't often find themselves coaxing people off a rooftop ledge, but Tuesday afternoon at the InterContinental Hotel, a few of the lucky VIPs needed a little pep talk before taking the plunge.

They were well strapped in and harnessed, of course, and it was all part of DPD's volunteer partnership with Special Olympics Texas for an "Over the Edge" fundraiser event beginning in earnest this morning. For the sneak preview day, a handful of folks from Subaru -- a major sponsor of the event -- got to rappel off the 15-story rooftop before Dallas SWAT officers got in a few hours of training walking down the hotel wall. Today, though, if you're interested in walking back off the roof -- and you've got $1,000 to spare -- there were still about 15 spots left as of Tuesday. Rappelling hours run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and donations benefit Special Olympics Texas and the Law Enforcement Torch Run; you'll find more information on the Special Olympics site.

Special Olympics senior development director Joan Jarrett said she had to call around for a while before anyone sounded interested in letting them walk people off their hotel rooftops, until InterContinental jumped at it. They're moving on to the hotel in Houston on Saturday, and Austin on November 2. Appropriate, Jarrett mused, because it's Election Day.

Anyway, jump for more photos from the long walk down. ​​​

The Intercontinental's rooftop also afforded a great perch to watch the evening wrecks pile up, like this one at the North Dallas Tollway and Arapaho Road. Click for a better look.

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