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Dropzone Database: North America: United States: Georgia : The Jumping Place : Reviews

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has contributed 13 reviews

Review Summary: Average Rating: Total Reviews: 13 Write a Review Show: All Ratings 5 Star Rated 4 Star Rated 3 Star Rated 2 Star Rated 1 Star Rated Sort by: Newest First Highest Rating First Most Useful First Display: 10 25 50 100

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(Review ID:4378)

10 of 21 people found the following review helpful: Small relaxed dz Rated by: blackfox on 2008-03-02 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: Easy going, relaxed and friendly DZ Cons: Cessna

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

This was a realy cool place to hang out at, everyone was friendly and eager to help, the ride to altitude has some great views of the ocean, its also in a great little city with restaurants only a minute away, the landing was easy to land, they sell standard acessories and had have used gear to sell also, the family staff is awesome, good place to chill

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(Review ID:4252)

7 of 20 people found the following review helpful: Be treated like family at this full service dropzone Rated by: briangilbertson on 2007-11-27 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: Best View! Awesome Staff! Fun Jumpers Welcomed! Cons: None

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We came upon this dropzone based upon an invitation from the dzo's daughter. This family had an excellent crew of packers and riggers at the Puerto Rico Freefall Festival this last year. We drove from Minnesota to Z-hills on our 3 week trip and decided that we'd go out of our way to see what this smaller dz was like before heading home. Within the month we've also stopped at Chicagoland, Atlanta Skydiving Center, Skydive The Farm, and Skydive Atlanta.

I'm so glad we decided to make this last trip, only a short distance from the beaches of Jacksonville. Today is a Tuesday..I woke up in Titusville to find out that fun-jumpers are not welcomed at Skydive Space Center Mon-Fri., I called Skydive Jacksonville to see if they'd take up fun jumpers and he told me to call Palatka. So instead I called up Packing Cathy at the Jumping Place to see if she was open to fun jumpers. I was pleasantly suprised to hear excitement on the other end of the phone and was told to hurry on over.
As I pulled up Cathy stood at her doorway and welcomed us with a wave. Inside her instructor was going over the jump plan with a student. As soon as I was done with my paperwork I was shown the aerial photo and brought outside to be given a complete debriefing of the dropzone. With absolutely no waiting we were up in the air for 2 hop'n pops.

This dropzone sits on a municipal airport free of large hangars and traffic....one huge grassy area with a paved runway. The airport had a dozen planes, at most.
The aerial view here is unmatched....ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! Other than jumping in Puerto Rico for beach jumps this has got to be my favorite view thus far.
I've never met a dzo so excited about doing what she does.....you can tell how passionate she is about this place. After the afternoon of jumping we went out for dinner with her family and were given a tour of the cutest town of St. Marys.
If you want to take a vacation from the large dropzones full of turbines and lots of people then this is a great atmosphere for a change of pace. The town is full of B&B's and worth visiting despite the fact that it has a great dropzone.
My hat goes off to Cathy and her family for making this great new dropzone!

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(Review ID:4186)

2 of 13 people found the following review helpful: A small dropzone with a good people for a great time! Rated by: jjareal on 2007-10-11 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: Friendly to new jumpers, profesional, and good family environment Cons: Small plane

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

I travel quite a bit and I look for a place to jump in every state I visit. Although this is a small dropzone, the people there make it a great place to jump and spend a day with the family. This is definelty a place I want to come back to. Unlike many jumpers, I spend most of my time at dropzones being the "new guy" and the staff and jumpers at The Jumping Place, made me and my family feel welcome from the time we arrived.

Blue Skies

The Real Family

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(Review ID:4161)

2 of 13 people found the following review helpful: Quiet and friendly Rated by: Schreck on 2007-09-28 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: Great people Cons: Not fully developed yet

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Contrary to what is posted about this DZ, you are required to jump with an AAD, no exceptions. AADs are for sale at very reasonable cost, we all need one some time and rentals are available. E.M.S. and F.D. are right next door. Best 182 I have seen. Did I mention the great people?

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(Review ID:4082)

2 of 13 people found the following review helpful: Great Safe and Friendly Dropzone. Rated by: sanes7 on 2007-08-15 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: Great instruction from some of the best in the business. Cons: Small aircraft (for now)

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

Skydiving at The Jumping Place is always loads of fun. You will not find anyone anymore safety minded than Larry Urlich and Cathy Kloess. They run the dropzone, fly the plane, and do lots of rigging and instruction. Our other instructors include:

Tim Caudill--Tandem instructor (also a U.S. Marine Halo jumper)
Jim Graham- Former president of Skydive University.
Glen Bangs- USPA President (he also jumped twice with President George Bush).

There are various other guest instructors and coaches available for all disciplines.

It is amazing the amount of first jumpers that come out and jump with us, and I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to come and experience the fun and friendship at The Jumping Place in St. Mary's Ga.

Blue Skies!
Mike Sanes


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(Review ID:3957)

5 of 17 people found the following review helpful: TJP is how skydiving should be! Rated by: FLJB on 2007-06-27 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: Jumpers, Staff, Scenery, Overall vibe Cons: a small plane (for now)

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

The Jumping Place is a really cool DZ. Packing Cathy goes out of her way for the jumpers, and makes sure everyone gets to jump and have a good time. All the jumpers are very friendly and go out of their way to have good jumps with everyone who comes out for a day of jumping. Every weekend there are FJC students, lots of coaching available, and visiting jumpers who stop in to check the place out. I learn something (sometimes many somethings) every time I am out there and enjoy getting to jump with many different jumpers.

While the current plane is small, it is actually quite quick and many times loads turn ensuring lots of jumps for all. The DZ has a couple of Huge landing areas and the proximity to the beach makes for nice views on the ride to altitude. Also, with fewer jumpers in the air at one time, there are fewer people to worry about at landing time.

Overall this is a great DZ, if you are in the area, come on out and jump.

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(Review ID:3926)

3 of 15 people found the following review helpful: best place to jump Rated by: semerso on 2007-06-11 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: quality training, expert rigging, awesome staff Cons: not open every day of the week

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

I did my tandem jump with Tim in March. I was hooked. I started my AFF training with Jim, Cathy and Drew in April. It has been the most awesome experience of my life! Jim is an expert and his training is quality.Cathy and Drew's enthusiasm is contagious. I have researched other drop zones and instructors, and The Jumping Place is where I decided to go. The fun jumpers are great and a lot of fun. This is the place to be!

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(Review ID:3923)

8 of 18 people found the following review helpful: The friendliest and welcoming DZ Rated by: SkyChimp on 2007-06-09 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: Wonderful envirnment, Beautiful view of the Ocean, Friendly DZO Cons: Need a bigger plane but that all comes in time. ;-)

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

Packing Cathy is just a wonderful person. She has a great safety record and has a passion to do everthying in her power to make her fun jumpers happy. She also makes is a great experience for people doing their first tandem jump. They currently have a C-182 but will bring a larger plane in due time. Location wise is just great. You get to jump over the Georgia / Florida border and see from Amelia Island right across the Atlantic Ocean. They have two landing zones which have plenty of room for all types of experienced jumpers. The larger field just north of the hanger is for the beginers and the field closest to the hanger just to the south has plenty of room for more experienced people and the swoopers. They also have packers that can get your sport rig packed in about 5-10 minutes and do it safely. As fast as the packers are, I've never had a MAL from them yet. Over all I am dedicated to help Cathy grow and I hope this review encourages others to come visit and become regulars.

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(Review ID:3687)

8 of 21 people found the following review helpful: Wonderful place to get begin your new adventure. Rated by: RevEd on 2007-02-13 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: Atmosphere, Outstanding Instructors, Cons: Could use a bigger plane

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I did my first tandem with Glen Bangs (the continuing USPA President)and was sky hooked from then on.
Cathy and her crew are the best! they made me feel like one of the guys. With the top notch Instructors like Glen Bangs, Jim Graham, Tim koudill, and of course Cathy Kloess herself you couldn't ask for better training and first hand knowledge.
It is always safety first--fun in the sun second. From training on the ground through AFF training this DZ is the best! Cathy runs a top notch DZ and her energy and enthusiasm was contagious.
There was a time when I thought that this sport wasn't for me, but Jim and Cathy helped me through it and now I have no regrets. Thanks Cathy, Glen, Jim, Tim, and everyone at DZ St. Mary's.(Thanks for the hug Jared)

Blue Skies and Blessings,
Eddie M.


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(Review ID:3510)

20 of 34 people found the following review helpful: Packing Cathy's drop zone Rated by: TomSpoon on 2006-11-21 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: The Jumping Place   Pros: Training location vibes, Cons: No turbine yet

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Yes,It's true. Cathy Kloess aka Packing Cathy owner operator of The Packing Place is now a drop zone operator as well.
The Jumping Place http://www.JumpJax.com
is located in St Mary's GA just north of Jacksonville FL.
Anyone who has met Cathy knows her energy and enthusiasim are infectious and she spreads that energy and enthusiasim around her DZ.
Cathy is well connected in the sport and she has surrounded herself with a top notch staff. Like USPA director and former president George H W Bush's instructor Glen Bangs for example.
If you are a student looking for top notch instruction and a lot of attention you will find it here.
Air support is just cessna for now but their are rumors of a turbine coming soon.
It's easy to find just north of the Florida state line. From I 75 take route 40 about 7 mile east to St Mary's airport.



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