Which Skydiver Center is the Best?

When it comes to skydiving in the Midwest, you have a lot of choices. Skydivers and Drop Zone Owners (DZOs) all think their skydiving center or Drop Zone (DZ) is the best. They’re proud of their home DZ and they’ll all tell you theirs is better than the rest. The real answer to which is the best place to skydive can be subjective and often depends on what you’re looking to get out of the experience. Though there are some primary factors that are quite important when deciding where you want to jump. Choose a location with more to offer than convenience or the cheapest price. Searching “skydiving center near me” may find you the closest DZ, but not necessarily the best for your personal needs.

Safety

When it comes to the best place to skydive question, the factor at the front of everyone’s mind is SAFETY, and it should be. Safety is #1 at Skydive Midwest and we work hard to raise our standards BEYOND the requirements of the United States Parachute Association and the FAA. We’re proud to say we have a superior safety record when it comes to tandem skydiving. If safety is on your mind when it comes to skydiving, we recommend jumping at a USPA drop zone. If you’re not sure whether the skydiving center you’re going to is a USPA drop zone, you can verify at https://uspa.org/DZlocator

Location

Choose a location based on more than just proximity to you. Look for something with scenic views! You have the opportunity to see the world, suspended from 14,500ft- choose a location that offers a gorgeous backdrop for you (and for your video and photos)!

Also consider what you might want to do with your group AFTER you jump. Are there restaurants and activities nearby? Or is the DZ in the middle of a cornfield, in the middle of nowhere?

Check out our blog Skydiver's Travel Guide to Wisconsin

Operation Size and Experience

Believe it or not, new DZ’s open (and close) all the time. Make sure you choose a location with some history. A skydiving operation is complex. Inexperienced DZs can be disorganized and chaotic, making your experience longer and more frustrating than it should be. Skydive Midwest is a family run business and has been operating under its current ownership since 2008! That’s over a decade of experience and hundreds of thousands of skydives! We have worked hard at perfecting the flow of our operation so your experience runs smoothly and efficiently. 

The size of the operation is also a factor as it relates to the size of your group. Smaller operations fly smaller airplanes and can limit the ability of your group to jump together or get video and photos of your experience. Skydive Midwest’s primary aircraft is a Dehavilland Twin Otter- one of the largest jump planes in the industry. We can take up to 23 jumpers to altitude in under 15 minutes! We take a lot of pride in our beautiful bird and keep her in pristine condition.

The other drawback to smaller operations/airplanes is they often can’t fly above 10,000ft, meaning you’re missing out on some valuable freefall time. We want you to get the most for your money so our rocket ship to fun takes you to 14,500ft. 

Is Skydiving Safe? Maintained Aircrafts

Amenities

Because skydiving is weather dependent, you could end up spending some time on the ground at the DZ. It’s important to choose a location with some amenities to make your downtime more enjoyable. We have large outdoor spaces for your group to relax and enjoy the day. Plenty of picnic tables, a volleyball court, community grill and games for you to enjoy! For licensed skydivers we have a full-service rigging loft, TVs for debriefing videos, food and beer fridges, community areas, rig racks, lockers and more. 

Skydiving observation area.

We also have an 80ft raised observation deck that can be rented out for private groups or events. If the weather is particularly unpleasant, we also have a climate-controlled lobby where you can comfortably wait as well. Vending machines and the addition of a food truck vendor in 2021 will keep you and your friends well fed! 

Check out our facilities

Tandem Skydive Viewing Area

 We have a fully stocked gear store so you can take home some Skydive Midwest merchandise to commemorate your experience! For licensed jumpers, we are a dealer for all major manufacturers. You can purchase rigs, parachutes, jumpsuits, helmets and more though our store and you even get a fun jumper discount!

skydive midwest gear store

Staff

Being a skydiving instructor can be a demanding job. It’s not uncommon for DZ’s to overwork their instructors to the point of “burnout.” You wouldn’t think that could happen in an activity as fun as skydiving, but it can. The days are long, instructors often work 12-hour days or more, 7 days per week. We want our instructors to LOVE their jobs. We pay competitive wages, offer instructors time off each week and encourage them to do non-working skydives (at a staff rate or sometimes for free) whenever they can. We carefully select only instructors who are still passionate about skydiving to give you the best experience possible.

The Skydive Midwest staff standing in front of a twin otter airplane.

Price

“You get what you pay for.” It’s can be just as true in skydiving as it is anywhere else. The cheapest option isn’t always the best. If a price seems too good to be true, it often is. Look out for hidden fees, add-ons and restrictions. We pride ourselves on offering competitive rates with now shady scams or hidden upcharges. For more on getting a fair price, check out our blogs 10 insider tips and How much does skydiving cost?

Community Vibes

There’s something connecting about skydiving. If you look beyond the tandem skydiving experience, you’ll find that skydiving centers are so much more than a place where people jump out of airplanes. It’s a community, a family, a home. After long days of skydiving, the pros and licensed jumpers (fun jumpers) hang out together. They cook on the grill, build a bonfire, play games, bond and share stories. It’s a place where people feel like they belong, not matter what their background is. Not many businesses have a foundation built so solidly on community. So, if you’re looking for more than just an experience and you are in search of community, fun and friends, look no further. 

Skydive Midwest is family owned and operated. We are absolutely passionate about what we do. We love sharing the joy of skydiving with others and we especially LOVE the skydiving community. You won’t find any corporate vibes or mentality here. You’ll even find some of the best fun jumper rates in the industry. Make no mistake, this is not just a revenue stream to us, it’s how we find friends, belonging and fulfillment. 

So, do we think we’re the best place to skydive? Of course we do. But don’t take our word for it. Check out some of our google reviews from customers who have experienced our operation first hand. Feel free to follow us on Facebook and check out our facebook reviews too! 

Skydive Midwest Family Owned and Operated

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