An amusement ride apparatus includes a suspended cable and a carriage that supports a user. The carriage is supported on and movable along the suspended cable. Additionally, the apparatus includes a load/unload mechanism that includes a tethering portion and a retractor. The tethering portion is removably coupleable to at least one of the suspended cable and carriage. The retractor is selectively operable in a first mode to retract the tethering portion when removably coupled to the at least one of the suspended cable and carriage to lower the carriage relative to the platform from a raised position to a lowered position and in a second mode to extend the tethering portion when removably coupled to the at least one of the suspended cable and carriage to raise the carriage relative to the platform from the lowered position to the raised position.