Adventure Center of Asheville: Building Outdoor Adventures for the Whole Family

Adventure Center of Asheville: Building Outdoor Adventures for the Whole Family

Some of our favorite projects aren't just about building something exciting. They're about helping great people turn their ideas into places where families can make memories together.

That's exactly what happened with the Adventure Center of Asheville in North Carolina.

Our longtime client and friend, Jeff, recently joined the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce's Rise Stronger Together podcast to talk about the Adventure Center, his family's history in outdoor recreation, and why adventure doesn't have to mean climbing Mount Everest.

We were especially happy to hear him talk about the zip lines and aerial adventure courses that Challenge Design Innovations (CDI) proudly built.

And hearing how those courses are being used today? That's the good stuff.

Adventure Doesn't Have to Be Extreme

One of Jeff's main points in the interview is that outdoor adventure should be something almost anyone can enjoy.

You don't have to be a hardcore athlete. You don't need years of climbing experience. Sometimes you just want to spend an afternoon outside, try something new, and have a little fun with your family or friends.

That philosophy is at the heart of Adventure Center of Asheville.

Jeff grew up in the outdoor recreation industry. His family started Wildwater whitewater rafting business back in 1971, and he carried that love of the outdoors into raising his own children.

Eventually, he and his wife wanted to create something closer to home in Asheville.

The result was an adventure destination where families could spend time together, put down their phones, and enjoy the outdoors.

It's a mission we were proud to help support through our course design and construction work and ongoing inspections and staff trainings.

KidZip: Big Adventure for Little Adventurers

One of the features Jeff highlights is KidZip, a zip line experience designed specifically for younger participants.

And we're not talking about teenagers. KidZip welcomes children as young as four years old.

The course features nine zip lines arranged in a circuit, so participants can complete the course and go right back around.

Unlike a traditional guided zip line tour, where guests typically ride each line once, KidZip lets families enjoy the course repeatedly during their two-hour session.

It's the kind of attraction that can turn a first zip line experience into a lifelong love of outdoor adventure.

Designed With Families in Mind

KidZip uses a continuous belay system that keeps participants connected to the system as they move through the course.

Parents and other family members can participate alongside younger children, helping them move through the elements.

Older children, starting at age seven according to Jeff, can navigate the course without a parent accompanying them.

And as Jeff explains, parents sometimes start out zipping alongside their children before deciding to sit back, take pictures, and cheer them on.

That's one of the things we love about designing courses for younger participants. You're not simply creating smaller versions of adult attractions. You're creating experiences that allow children to build confidence and enjoy a little independence.

An Aerial Adventure Park With More Than 70 Elements

Right next to KidZip is another CDI-built attraction, the aerial adventure park.

Jeff describes it as a giant obstacle course in the trees, and that's a pretty good way to put it.

The park features more than 70 elements, giving visitors plenty of ways to challenge themselves.

There's a mix of climbing obstacles, ladders, rope bridges, wooden bridges, and some especially creative features.

Jeff even mentions a rolling kayak and a snowboard element incorporated into the course.

Not exactly your everyday walk in the woods!

Ziplining With a View of Asheville

Of course, the Adventure Center isn't just about climbing through the trees.

Jeff also talks about the larger zip line experience and one feature that makes it particularly memorable: the view.

From the highest tower, guests can look out toward downtown Asheville with the surrounding mountains in the background.

It's a different perspective of a city already known for its mountain scenery.

And that's something we think about when designing zip line courses.

Speed and distance can be exciting, but a truly memorable zip line experience often comes from the setting itself.

Great views, interesting terrain, and thoughtful course layouts can turn a zip line ride into something guests will remember long after they've taken off their harnesses.

A Place That Keeps Finding New Ways to Bring People Outdoors

Another thing that stands out in Jeff's interview is how much the Adventure Center has grown.

Along with the zip lines and aerial adventure park, visitors can enjoy mountain biking, seasonal activities, and other outdoor experiences.

In October, the property features a family-oriented Haunted Trail and nighttime Glow Trail climbing experience.

The idea is simple: Give families different ways to enjoy being outside together.

And that's especially valuable for adventure businesses.

A well-designed facility can offer opportunities for different age groups, interests, and comfort levels, helping make the destination appealing to more families.

It's also a good reminder that adventure courses aren't necessarily finished evolving when construction ends. The right course design can be part of a much bigger vision for the property.

Proud of the Courses. Even Prouder of the Relationship.

We've been designing and building challenge courses, zip lines, and aerial adventure parks for more than 45 years.

During that time, we've worked with some wonderful people who have built their businesses around getting others outside.

Jeff is certainly one of them.

We're proud to have built the courses at Adventure Center of Asheville. But we're also grateful for the relationship that has grown alongside those projects.

Planning Your Own Challenge Course or Adventure Park?

Whether you're thinking about a family-friendly zip line course, an aerial adventure park, or expanding an existing attraction, CDI can help bring your ideas to life.

We work with camps, resorts, commercial adventure parks, schools, and other organizations to design and build courses that fit their goals, participants, and property.

And just like our relationship with Jeff, we hope that first project is only the beginning.

Contact us and tell us what you're thinking about building.