Restrictions


USPA membership Not Required
AADs Not Required
Hook turns Not Allowed

What it costs


AFF courses available at 1000 USD
Tandem jumps from 150 USD
Jump tickets at 25 USDto 13000ft
Video available at 50 USD

Great place to jump in the California Sun!  The Parachute Center is one of the largest and oldest drop zones in the United States, serving the sport since 1964. We are a family drop zone committed to sharing the skydiving experience. Open 7 days a week from 9:00 am till sunset year round. Everything from the beginning Tandem Skydive to the AFF Course and Static Line Course to plenty of Fun Jumping and Team Training. Please come out and join us! New Hanger big enough for everyone!

Aircraft


Super Otter, Beech 99, Cessna 182, DC-3

Facilities


Where we jump



LAT: 38.2024167
LNG: -121.2684167

Contact Us


23597 North Highway 99/P.O. Box 423, Acampo, California, 95220-0423, United States
209-369-1128
209-366-0235 (FAX)
Website
E-mail

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jephprospect

0 of 0 members found this review helpful 0 / 0 members
  • 5
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I just finished AFF there. The training was great, finished in 2 days and felt confident jumping on my own afterwards. They joked around and made me feel relaxed but also always made saftey #1 and was very good at helping me get passed the jumps. I recommend anyone and everyone in Northern California who is thinking about AFF to do it here.It's the cheapest, fastest, and best in the area.The more experienced jumpers will tease you about bad landings but it is all in good fun. The owner Bill is funny as well and has lots of techniques and things to help you jump. Over all it is a great vibe and tons of fun. The people there are great as well

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jbrinkman

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  • 4
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From the second I walked in, I was greeted by some friendly staff members, everything was going good. Not a whole lot of free flyers that particular Thurday morning but some of the employees did a fun jump when they had time which was cool. The ONLY thing that pissed me off was some douchebag tandem instructor (mainly one, the others were fine). I'm not familiar with the way the exit order is done at Lodi so I asked why 1 tandem was let out, and then fun-jumpers, then students, tandems etc. And I was told why...whatever floats Bill's boat I think. anyways... On my fourth jump, there is a tandem ahead of me and another to the side. the one to my side goes and since I was doing a 2 way I asked the TI if he wanted us to go before him. Get this, that douche bag replies with the most pissy response and attitude..."Why would you go ahead of me?!?" I'm like WTF. other than that, lodi is chill

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Demented05

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  • 5
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I went there on Easter Sunday (they are open EVERY day) in order to do my first tandem jump with a few friends. The staff there was great. All of the instructors we had were really friendly, and clearly showed that they knew what they were doing, and what they were talking about. The wait went fairly quickly, and the jump was amazing.

The price of a tandem jump is only $100 which is incredibly cheap, so if you are wanting to do a first jump, and are in the area definitely go here.

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jamiem

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  • 5
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I took the AFF course at the Parachute Center and have made all of my solo jumps there. The staff recognizes me, knows my name, and checks in with me after every jump to make sure I am comfortable and to answer any questions. Bill Dause the owner takes the time to talk to me about my jumps and is very involved. It gets very busy over the weekend with tandems but they put up two planes to keep the wait times down for solos. They have a good selection of rental gear and I can go on the weekend and completel 4 jumps in 4 hours with their rental gear. VERY FRIENDLY STAFF and lots to look at and do during the downtime in their hanger. I would highly recommend this to anyone starting out or anyone who is an expert because on the weekend there are always group jumps going you can get involved with.

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xmerc801x

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  • 4
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Got way more for my money than I could have ever expected. 500 dollars for a static line training course with everything on tape. Can't beat it! The facilities are not top notch but all the gear is brand new and top of the line. The instructors were all great and they made you feel right at home. The information was presented to you, you would complete it in the air, come back on the ground, learn some more and you were back in the air. Got 11jumps in two days and learned a ton. I would recommend the trip out there. It may not be USPA associated but you learn everything you need to know for the lowest prices in the country.

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sam_brasfield

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  • 5
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I was up in San Fran and decided to make a detour on the way home to visit Lodi. I had heard from a friend the DZ was outstanding but, I was looking to make my own opinion. Bill Dause and his staff have one of the best DZs I have visited in my short 3 & 1/2 years of jumping. The Parachute Center has the coveted qualities that most search for in a DZ. Courteous staff, great facilities, excelent prices, and beutiful blue skies. I would recomend this DZ to anyone. Thanks Bill

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377

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UPDATE SEPT 2006

Still a great DZ, great people, great planes and great prices. We all owe Bill Dause some thanks for keeping his prices low for YEARS (I used to jump for $5 at Pope Valley). As far as I know he has the lowest prices for tandems and up jumpers anywhere. Most places gouge tandems since most of them never come back, but not Bill. It sure isn't cheap running large turboprop aircraft and fuel prices have skyrocketed, yet Bill keeps jump prices very reasonable for all types of jumpers. I have always thought that he was motivated more by the joy of sharing the experience of skydiving than by money, and his consistently low prices prove it. I have sent many tandems his way just to support a DZ that has given such great prices to everyone for years. Bill is also to be credited for still offering the least expensive path to an A license: the old tried and true S/L (static line) training. It doesn't generate much revenue, but it gives a poor skydiver who cannot afford AFF a chance at entering the sport.

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Bill Dause is a seasoned DZO (used to run pope Valley)and probably has more jumps (24,000??) than any other DZO, so he knows the business from both ends. Last I heard his DZ was not USPA affiliated, but that doesnt bother me a bit. I don't care if anyone checks my reserve date. It is well run and has a very friendly atmosphere. Bill often offers to jump with novices and can tell you a lot about how to improve your freefall skills.

His wife Kathy runs manifest and she is as nice a person as you will ever find. Bill got lucky when he met her. The DZ is located near a busy highway, but the highway runs at right angles to the normal upwind approach and is easily avoided. The only thing I dont like is that Bill sometimes jumpmasters static line students with him flying the plane and doing the jumpmastering. Too few resources in my opinion. Very few students do S/L these days so it may be a moot point. Their Beech 99 (like a giant King Air) is a great jumpship and they have others if that gets too busy. Prices are always reasonable and you get the feeling that Bill runs the DZ cause he likes the life not because he wants to squeeze every penny out of the customers. In fact, I think he has the lowest tandem jump prices in the whole US. Give it a visit, you'll be back for sure. Don't do anything real stupid or unsafe as Bill has been known to tell some folks not to come back again.

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NoWorriesNIkky

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I recently made my first tandem jump at the Parachute Center July 2006 and proceeded to do a total of 6 tandem jumps in a 5 week period. The place pulls you in and you want to keep coming back. I will be going to get certified in September and can't wait to be back in the atmosphere and on my way into skydiving solo.

You will truly enjoy your experience here. The staff and the hanger full of miscolored catches adds to the experience.

If you get the chance, you must stop in and jump, whether it's your 1st jump or 3000 jump.

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illob

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  • 5
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These guys helped me to finish my AFF programm very fast, just amazing!
Thanks for all your support. it was such a great time for me. Even as Swiss in USA, with not the best english :-)

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CaptFrank2001

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I can't say enough nice things about this place. Nice staff, friendly (small) DZ & a great owner/operator.

Since I'm a relatively new jumper the owner Bill Dause immediately took me under his wing. He personally showed me around, helped me pick out rental gear and just made me feel right at home. Did my first 3 way & 4 way with him. Great guy, thanks Bill. Where else can you get to jump with one of the legends of Skydiving. Spent the day there & can't wait to get back next weekend. Met some great people & made a lot of new friends.

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linc_harris

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It's one great place to learn how to skydive and to have a good time. The staff puts safety before everything else, and the regulars make sure that you have a great time.
For experienced jumpers driving through... just stop by and you can get on the next load.

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seanstill

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  • 4
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No matter who you are or what your experience level is you feel right at home. The planes get up and down fast so even when it's busy there's almost never a long wait. Huge carpeted hanger so there's plenty of room to pack indoors or just hang out. Finding someone to jump with is never a problem. Very friendly, laid back place. Jump it and you'll love it.

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robertsa

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  • 5
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Went there past weekend (Memorial Day weekend) to visit my friend who works on this DZ.
The facility has everything you need to skydive and have a lot of fun! Nothing fancy, but grat for a skydiver!
CHEAPEST drop zone that I have ever been on! Jump-ticket to 13.500 ft is 15 bucks, and if you buy a 50 jump package, your jumps are 13 dollars!!! Tandems are 100 dollars... I really don't know how they manage to have this kind of pricing and still GRAT service!... but one is sure: ALL DZOs should learn from them!!!
I enjoyed the entire weekend of organized skydives!
This DZ is a MUST to visit if you are in Northern California!!!

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poirierma

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  • 5
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Bill and Kathy have made my introduction into the sport of skydiving a fantastic experience. I finished my S/L training at the end of July 04 and bought a complete rig a couple of weeks later. Kathy is awesome at manifesting and load planning, especially on the weekends when hundreds of people show up. Bill is really strict about how things are run, so don't go there with an attitude. Will DaSilva is the man. He was and will forever be my instructor. Will has superior knowledge and experience in the sport. Plus, he can pilot all the aircraft at the DZ. I can't say enough about Will. The aircraft are very nice. Beechcraft-99, Super Otter, and Cesna-182. The rental gear and rigging services are top notch.

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bigfritz

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  • 5
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The Parachute Center's atmosphere is very laid back. They've got a nice place to hang out, pack your chute, chat with friends, eat, whatever. There's even a couple dogs that run around playing with everyone. Everybody there made me feel right at home, encouraging me and giving me tips and pointers (I made my first jump a couple weeks ago). I'll be looking forward to spending a lot of time there. =] If you ever head over there, look for the short 16yr old. That'd be me! Haha

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kwmasterson

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Two friends and I decided to jump for our first time while on vacation. The parachute center offered us a great view into this sport and we are all now hooked.
You cannot beat the prices and they offered the AFF program to us for a price of $500 dollars. We will be back.

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orangesky

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I would have rated P.C. a 10 if I believed there was such a place. Perhaps 9.9. This is a state of the art facility. Kathy is a wonder, while keeping manifest smoothly running (sometimes while booking SEVERAL turbine aircraft at a time)she is everyones' closest friend. Every August the Japenese skydivers come, Kathy calls every load order without missing a single name ... and she's a native Texan! Planes, gear, facilities, it's all there. If you want to be treated like family, come see Kathy, the rest speaks for itself!

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ljwobker

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  • 4
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One of my adopted homes. As a North Carolina jumper, nothing beats heading out to California for the summer (too humid here!) or winter (too cold here!). Cheap lift prices and gear rentals keep the money-pain bearable, and the facilities are great. Lots of CRW if you're in to that, as well as the normal freefly and RW crowds. The CRW dogs make for good pictures even if you're not one of them. Super friendly people, Kathy rememers my name every time even though I'm only there about twice a year.

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jsaxton

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  • 5
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Jumped there for the first time this weekend. I came over because my home DZ was winded out. Super Otter on Sat and Beech 99 on Sun. Indoor bathrooms, Grass landing area, big hanger, Doughboy pool , Nice hanger for packing and lots of packers if ya use em. 50c sodas, free cookies, free rubber bands, pull up cords and closing loops. What I REALLY loved (being a low timer, is if you manifest as a solo the owner IMMEDIATLY orginized me into his load!!!

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screwbag

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  • 5
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great fun in the sun. a relaxed atmosphere from friendly people, great service, and killer prices. parachute center is definitely one of my favorites...

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