Skydiving is one of the most energizing and rewarding sports that you can enjoy under the right circumstances.
And with tourism booming in Lancaster, PA, a lot of tourists — not to mention a fair share of locals — are looking for the chance to skydive over Amish Country.
So where can you go skydiving in Lancaster, PA?
To start, let's talk about what you should know prior to skydiving. Then, let's look at the list of dropzones in Lancaster, PA.
What Should You Know about Skydiving?
Before we get to the dropzones, let's run through a quick list of what you should know before you go skydiving.
- You must be 18
- You must jump with a licensed instructor (unless you are also licensed to skydive)
- You must be under the weight limit stated by the dropzone
- You must go through training, even as a tandem jumper
- You will play an active role in your own safety during the jump
- Weather and temperature may cancel your jump
- Skydiving is safer than almost every other sport, including football
- You can request video and photos from your dropzone
- Dress comfortably
- Eat light prior to your jump
- Do not drink alcohol or any other self-altering substance prior to your jump
Why do all of these rules and regulations exist?
The answer is simple: Safety.
Issues like weight and choosing to skydive on your own may seem like they're out of place, but the reality is that this is how skydiving has become one of the safest sports in the United States.
In recent years, skydiving has experienced the fewest number of injuries and fatalities than in its entire history. The reason is that the equipment is getting better, the instructors are becoming more savvy, and tandem jumpers (also called "customers") are performing their part in their jump.
With this said, let's jump into the skydiving dropzones you can find in Lancaster, PA.
1. Skydive Lancaster
Address: 311 Airport Drive Smoketown, PA 17576
Google Rating: 5/5 stars (61 reviews)
Skydive Lancaster is headquartered at Smoketown Airport, a single-runway business that caters to smaller planes, student pilots, and — most recently — skydivers.
The skydiving portion of the airport's services recently became popular following the influx of tourists in the summer of 2021.
Overall, the people who have taken the plunge at Skydive Lancaster have enjoyed their time, felt safe, and landed safely.
These are the most important factors to consider in a dropzone because safety is the single greatest concern for skydiving companies.
From Skydive Lancaster's profile on Google, it's clear that the people who jump there have felt that safety and appreciated it.
As some of their past customers say:
"Super friendly knowledgeable staff, cheaper than expected prices."
Chris Moore
"From the Fun Jumpers to the Instructors, this place is full of good people!"
Peter Eckenrode
"Down to earth, no pressure, relaxed atmosphere."
Butch B
Because Skydive Lancaster shares the Lancaster Airport, there are a number of other businesses that operate out of this dropzone as well.
That includes helicopter rides, the actual airport itself, and more.
It's also conveniently located near the area of Lincoln Highway that's near hotels, the shopping outlets, and Amish-related tourist areas.
In other words, Skdyive Lancaster is uniquely situated to serve both tourists and locals in Lancaster, PA because of its prime location.
Plus, once you're in the air, you truly get to see the breathtaking beauty of the Lancaster farmland, suburbs, and city.
In other words, Skydive Lancaster is a natural choice for anyone seeking an adrenaline rush in Amish Country.
2. Maytown Sport Parachute Club
Address: 188 Airport Road Marietta, PA 17547
Google Rating: 4.9/5 stars (51 reviews)
Maytown Sport Parachute Club is headquartered at a small airport in Marietta, a town in northwest Lancaster County that borders the Susquehanna River.
It's also one of the oldest skydiving clubs in the United States, which is surprising if you don't expect to find adrenaline-pumping sports in Amish Country.
There's not a lot of information on their website, but the club itself is fairly well known in the area. It has a strong safety record, and they also have licensed skydivers on staff who act as videographers for your jump.
More importantly, the feedback from their customers is nothing short of stellar.
Unbelievable. Chuck and Bill were amazing and everyone else was friendly and just great people.
William May
A life-changing experience.
Edwin Figueroa
My first tandem jump was Saturday, with Chuck, our instructor... I will do it again, maybe for my 66th birthday next year!
Cindy Peters
Maytown Sport Parachute Club has a current price point around $230, and it's important to note that they're operating at a reduced capacity because of COVID.
(Even though cases in Lancaster have plummeted, you're still going to be in a very small plane with strangers for a while when you skydive, so it's better to be safe than sorry.)
In terms of view, Maytown Sport Parachute Club offers something that no other attraction can offer — a bird's eye view of the Susquehanna River when you're in total freefall.
This alone is a powerful enough draw to make locals and tourists both flock to this dropzone to enjoy a jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
Finally, it's important to note that Maytown Sport Parachute Club has been around for a while. In fact, it's been in business for 50 years.
That's a big deal for a skydiving dropzone. Not only does this mean that Maytown Sport Parachute Club can keep its customers safe (and returning), it also means that they probably have long-term staff that have stuck around to continue working there year after year.
That — in a nutshell — is what makes Maytown Sport Parachute Club such a good dropzone.
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