A new aerial adventure park, complete with zip lines and rope bridges, is set to open in Dade City in Pasco County this summer.
TreeHoppers will boast a wide variety of zip lines that cater to various skill levels, multiple rope bridges and dozens of aerial climbing elements on a 60-acre wooded park about 40 miles northwest of Tampa.
Indiana-based
White River Zip Lines purchased the land in spring 2015 and will develop the TreeHoppers adventure park on the property, which also features a five-acre lake and a canopy of live oak trees.
Jon Pianki, TreeHoppers director of marketing, says that Tampa Bay’s good weather and tourist-friendly attitude are the primary reasons the area was selected for the new Treehoppers location.
“We are hoping this combination will help us build an attraction that is both an asset to the surrounding community as well as a draw to outside guests and customers,” Pianki explains. “Tampa Bay is a vibrant, growing community that wants more options to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty nature has to offer.”
With eight different courses that cater to various skill levels and over 100 total features, there’s something for everyone, Pianki says. “Small children, experienced athletes, and everyone in-between will find a right course for their comfort level.”
Visitors will receive safety instruction from trained climbing monitors and be provided with safety climbing technology before embarking on any of the courses.
TreeHoppers will begin hiring for fulltime and part-time positions by mid-June, with jobs ranging from shop staff and customer service to guides and monitors. Visit
TreeHoppers website to learn more or apply.
The park is expected to open in August, but Pianki is already looking ahead to the Fall, when the park is planning a Halloween attraction “like no other in the area.”
Located at 27839 Saint Joe Road in Dade City, TreeHoppers will be open year-round, seven days a week.
“We are thrilled to offer this new experience to the Tampa Bay area,” TreeHoppers CEO Benjamin Nagengast says in a press release. “Our team carefully and thoughtfully selected Tampa Bay for our newest attraction and we can’t wait to introduce TreeHoppers to the community. There is nothing like it anywhere in Florida.”
The aerial zip line and adventure park joins several high-rise outdoor adventure courses in the Tampa Bay area:
TreeUmph, 21805 S.R. 70 E., Bradenton
TreeUmph, located in Bradenton near Lakewood Ranch,
opened in December 2012 and features a zip line that starts at 60 feet in elevation and rockets over a 600-foot-long course across the park.
TreeUmph is expanding to a second location
in Hernando County in fall 2016. The new park will offer around 80 obstacles on a 50-acre area.
Sky Trail Zip Line, MOSI, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa
In the university area’s
Innovation District, Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (
MOSI Tampa) boasts its own spin on the aerial adventure: the
Sky Trail Zip Line at MOSI, a 65-foot high course that is more than 700 feet long (longer than two football fields put together!).
Along with the zip line, MOSI offers a multilevel ropes course that is safe for kids and adults of all ages to explore.
Natures Boot Camp, 11914 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
Natures Boot Camp invites extreme athletes and adventure course enthusiasts to train at their outdoor obstacle course, centrally located in Tampa’s Carrollwood neighborhood.
Try out a sprint style obstacle course with over 14 obstacles, a Mud Run that culminates in a 15-foot jump, and more extreme activities.
New Tampa Nature Park, 17599 Dona Michelle Drive, Tampa
New Tampa Nature Park, which connects with Hillsborough County’s
Flatwoods Park, is a low-key place to enjoy nature from above. Find zip-lining courses for kids, a climbing area, shaded trails, and more.
The 122-acre park also offers an elevated boardwalk and marsh walk that allows visitors to experience a wetland habitat from above.