DJL 232 #1 July 7, 2004 It's easy for a big DZ to be fun but where are some of the small DZ's that can still pull it together? Give some reasons why you liked the DZ. Was it the up jumpers, the staff, facilities, quality aircraft? Let's try to keep it to C182 DZ's but a small DZ with a medium sized aircraft could qualify."I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #2 July 7, 2004 dunno if you consider Hollister small, but I had a great time there! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DShiznit 0 #3 July 7, 2004 Skydive Temple, hands down!!! One C182 and one C206. Everyone treats you like family regardless of your backgrounds/skillset/knowledge. It is a badass place to be PERIOD. The owner is like none other I have ever seen. His main focus is not turning a buck like every other DZO I hear about. He has done MANY things for me that others would charge out the ass for. Props to Skydive Temple in Texas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WILDBILLAQR 0 #4 July 7, 2004 DESERT SKYDIVE CENTER in Buckeye Az. 2 C-182's in the summer, Caravan in the winter, w/ the occasional Otter. Family atmosphere, most of the up jumpers know each other as well as most of the students. The DZO in the summer will bump tandums so the up jumpers can have the plane! One sat.AM this summer, only 1 C-182 was operational, on the 3rd load (6:30 AM) one cylander blew on take-off. By noon Gary had a Caravan there. Hell yes he lost his ass on the weekend, but, by 9:00am sunday there was 30 up jumpers there having a mini-boogie If you want low stress jumps, this is the place. As long as your safe and had fun thats all that really matters, although we will laugh about it ( sometimes for months) Lift tickets are $15.00 year round. Sat. nights there a $5.00 all you can eat BBQ, and the bunk house is free! If your ever in the Phoenix area come out and play!---------------------------------------------- "Thats not smoke, thats BUCKEYE!!" AQR#3,CWR#49 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superfletch 1 #5 July 8, 2004 The best small dz hands down would have to be the one I call home. Freefall Express Mt. Vernon, MO We have 2 Cessna 182's. The staff is very friendly and very knowledgeable. The owner is a gentleman by the name of Bryan Wolford. He tries to the best of his abilities to enhance the dropzone and the sport at every opportunity. When new people show up he goes out of his way to find someone for them to jump with or jumps with them himself if need be simply because he still remembers what it was like to go to a new dropzone and try and get involved. We have some of the best instructors in the midwest. The planes are all maintained to the highest standards. The landing zones are HUGE. What more can I say. It's a great place to be. There's always something fun going on ANYTIME of the year. Bryan has been bringing turbines in as much as he can. On fathers day weekend we had a CASA here and it will return sometime in September. Freefall Express is a GREAT little dropzone. If you are ever in the area stop by and see us. I'll jump with you! Gary "Superfletch" Fletcher USPA Coach, IAD Instructor, Videographer, Nylon Compression Specialist. 1-800-598-JUMP Open Thursday - Sunday Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepnjump 0 #6 July 8, 2004 QuoteSkydive Temple, hands down!!! One C182 and one C206. Everyone treats you like family regardless of your backgrounds/skillset/knowledge. It is a badass place to be PERIOD. The owner is like none other I have ever seen. His main focus is not turning a buck like every other DZO I hear about. He has done MANY things for me that others would charge out the ass for. Props to Skydive Temple in Texas. I loved that place when I was there. Skydive Temple is where I learned to skydive. The people there were always friendly, a real family atmosphere. If i'm ever back in that area I will definately stop in and make a few jumps. Howdy to everyone there! Tony, aka "fence" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
colossus 0 #7 July 8, 2004 Skydive South Sask, in Moose Jaw, SK, Canada. Why? because even though it is run by volunteers, they will jump at any time that there is enough interest. Just get 4 or 5 guys together, and come for a jump. Yah, there is only a 182... but just think about the dollar. Right now, the $1cdn = $.75usd. The only bad thing right now is the weather. Unfortunately the weather has been the shits this year. Ahh well. As for the staff (all volunteers) they make everyone feel welcome... including both students and regulars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orchid 0 #8 July 8, 2004 My home dz is Skydive Elsinore, it really is small dz but everyone is friendly and when I'm there....I'm part of the family...I love it! IT REALLY IS THE FRIENDLIEST DZ!!!!!!"Love is doing small things with great love." Lacrosse: Legally beating men with sticks since 1492 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #9 July 8, 2004 QuoteMy home dz is Skydive Elsinore, it really is small dz but everyone is friendly and when I'm there....I'm part of the family...I love it! IT REALLY IS THE FRIENDLIEST DZ!!!!!! I'm wondering if this is a type-o?? If you think Elsinore is small... .....well.... that's just funny. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 135 #10 July 8, 2004 my secondary DZ is Empuriabrava, it's small and friendly Ow, wait a second... my DZ is inGruyères (yes, like the cheese) we have a porter and many friendly people. It's also very safe cause we have many policemen jumping there . Even friendly ones.scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #11 July 8, 2004 Buckeye Arizona has my vote, as soon as I walked on I was invited on two separate jumps and had to decide which group to jump with, the people are awsome, the dzo is very cool They had skydive oregons caravan when I was there......kinda funny to go that far just to jump a local plane....... cant wait to go back! RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisL 2 #12 July 8, 2004 Above the Poconos Skydivers in Hazleton, PA C-182 and C-185. I also jump at Cross Keys but I always have MAJOR fun when I drive the extra hour to Hazleton and never regret that extra driving time.__ My mighty steed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daizey 0 #13 July 8, 2004 I have to agree with Above The Poconos Suh amazing people there...really make you feel comfortable and treat ya like family. I finished my student training there and couldnt have asked for a better place! I still dont mind driving the extra time to get down there. Its definitely a fun place *daizey* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calphoto 0 #14 July 8, 2004 Hartwood, Virginia definitely qualifies as small. In fact, it is so small that for the last year it didn't have a plane! But it didn't close. Before that it had a 182, and before that a Twin-Bonanza. Friendly, family, secluded, exciting, no attitude except fun! If you walked in Saturday morning with a twelve pack and a rig (twelve pack to the student fridge for apre jump, rig to manifest for tagging) you were taken in provisionally. Jump there for a couple of weekends and you became a full fledged family member. Helpful staff, snackbar, loft for those party weekends, and hot showers! Thanksgiving there is very special. They have a new owner, a new (for Hartwood) 206, and all the same fun. I am looking forward to going "home" and flying there again.Hartwood Paracenter - The closest DZ to DC! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #15 July 8, 2004 she's comparing it to Perris, which is really, really big. Elsinore feels small to me too, even though I know it really isn't. Hollister's the smallest DZ I've seen yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bkdice 0 #16 July 8, 2004 hey! we were a 182 dz this past weekend! i've only visited 7 dzs so far, Skydive Virginia being the smallest - and of course - the best (IMHO, but i guess i'm biased). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakflyer9999 1 #17 July 8, 2004 I'll second this. Skydive Temple is one of the friendliest small dropzones I've been to. On three different occasions I have visited Skydive Temple. I was by myself on two of those visits and I took a friend on one trip. Every time I've been there the DZO has made it a point to introduce me to other jumpers with similar skill levels to jump with. The first time I showed up, I had a brand new "A" license and no gear. He introduced me to another jumper with a spare rig and got me into the air. Great place to jump. QuoteSkydive Temple, hands down!!! One C182 and one C206. Everyone treats you like family regardless of your backgrounds/skillset/knowledge. It is a badass place to be PERIOD. The owner is like none other I have ever seen. His main focus is not turning a buck like every other DZO I hear about. He has done MANY things for me that others would charge out the ass for. Props to Skydive Temple in Texas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
melstarr 0 #18 July 8, 2004 Quoteminus the visiting drunk lesbian who's tent got shot at with bottle rockets by drunken misfits! but how often does that happen?OMG b*!!! is this a story you forgot to tell me? PM me ~ ~ meL* Pink Mafia / Tunnel Mafia Sister Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
usedtajump 1 #19 July 8, 2004 QuoteSkydive Temple, hands down!!! One C182 and one C206. Everyone treats you like family regardless of your backgrounds/skillset/knowledge. It is a badass place to be PERIOD. The owner is like none other I have ever seen. His main focus is not turning a buck like every other DZO I hear about. He has done MANY things for me that others would charge out the ass for. Props to Skydive Temple in Texas. Yep, Skydive Temple is one of the best. I ran about three tandem certification courses for Rich quite a while back and the folks at that DZ made me feel very welcome and went way out of their way to make everything happen without a hitch. Real good folks.The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,400 #20 July 8, 2004 Skydive Alaska. Most beautiful DZ I've ever jumped at. Great people, cool landing area (just one big grass field for runway _and_ landing area) Skydive Airtight in Oklahoma. Classic small DZ; nothing's more than 100 feet from anything else. Airplanes, peas, hangar, DZ dog, salvation army couches - has it all, and you don't have to walk anywhere! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #21 July 8, 2004 Quoteshe's comparing it to Perris, which is really, really big. Elsinore feels small to me too, even though I know it really isn't. Hollister's the smallest DZ I've seen yet. But it still has a king air and a cessna, which is typical of just about all of the larger Bay Area outfits. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevePhelps 0 #22 July 8, 2004 I'm biased because Skydive Airtight is my home DZ, but do a search on it and you will see what other who visited thought as well. If I can figure it out I'll put a link to the discussion about Skydive Airtight. Here it is> http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1124871;search_string=Airtight;#1124871 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 232 #23 July 8, 2004 Yeah, and I'd say that we'll continue to be a small DZ for a little while, unless....wait...I think I have a couple of King Air engines....lemme see, I walked in...did I leave them in my coat or... What's flying in this weekend?"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 135 #24 July 9, 2004 would be nice to mention types and quantity of planes for the so called small DZ... At mine we have a 10 skydivers Porterscissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lindsey 0 #25 July 9, 2004 Emerald Coast in Elberta, AL. That's big compared to my usual dz's, but still small and cozy. Skydive Skyranch in Siloam Spgs, AR. Great buncha' rednecks.....snicker....-- A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
