By William Jackson
Places to Bungee Jump in Virginia
Bungee jumping involves hurling oneself off of a tall structure with one's ankles, mid-section or chest secured by long elastic cables. The point of the jump: a major adrenaline rush as the jumper free-falls towards the ground. When it comes to bungee jumping in Virginia, the truth is there isn't much in the way of options. Still, a couple of bungee opportunities do exist--and bungee enthusiasts may want to check these out.
King's Dominion
King's Dominion, a large amusement park in Doswell, Virginia, includes a bungee jump attraction called the Xtreme SkyFlyer. To "ride" the SkyFlyer, one must pay to enter King's Dominion (individual tickets typically cost around $32 per person), then pay around $20 extra for the SkyFlyer itself.
After being secured in a harness and girdle, the bungee experience begins by being slowly hoisted up over 200 feet into the air, whereupon the jumper hangs for a few moments before being dropped. Unlike traditional bungee jumps, after which the jumper bounces straight up and down, the SkyFlyer suspends the jumper between two towers, causing the jumper to swing back and forth--thus "flying"--after the initial jump.
King's Dominion
16000 Theme Park Way
Doswell, VA 23047
Tel.: (804) 876-5000
www.kingsdominion.com
XtremeFest of the Blue Ridge
In the town of Waynesboro, Virginia, local outfitters have teamed up with the city's Department of Parks and Recreations to organize a one-day, yearly event: the XtremeFest of the Blue Ridge. And yes, the event includes bungee jumping among other activities including rock climbing, hiking, paddling and biking.
Waynesboro Department of Parks and Recreation
413 Port Republic Rd.
Waynesboro, VA
Tel.: (540) 942-6735
www.waynesboro.va.us
Dates
The date of the XtremeFest of the Blue Ridge changes from year to year, as does its exact location--so to plan for the event, consider contacting the Waynesboro Department of Parks and Recreation directly.
King's Dominion operates between April and November. During June, July, and August the park is generally open every day. The other months typically offer weekend operation.
About the Author:
William Jackson has written, reported and edited professionally for more than 10 years. His work has been published in newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, high-level government reports, books and online. He holds a master's degree in humanities from Pennsylvania State University.
Photo Credits:
Cee Lee
