Go Ape USA

What Go Ape USA does

Go Ape USA is the US operating arm of the Go Ape adventure park brand, legally organized as Adventure Forest, LLC and headquartered in Frederick, Maryland. The company operates 14 forest-based aerial adventure parks across 10 states (DE, IL, IN, MD, MO, NC, OH, TN, TX, VA), each anchored by a high-ropes/zipline Treetop Adventure course and supported by an expanding portfolio of complementary activities including axe throwing, the Forest EscAPE outdoor escape room, Nights at Height after-dark experiences, and location-exclusive offerings (Treetop Nets in Chicago, Gorilla Golf in Memphis, Zip Trek over the Brazos River in Sugar Land). All courses are built and maintained to ACCT certification standards and installed on forest canopy infrastructure via revenue-sharing partnerships with state parks, county parks, and nature preserves.

Go Ape USA monetizes primarily through per-session ticket sales (one-time licenses) priced between $19.95 and $69.95, complemented by recurring revenue from digital gift cards and memberships, branded merchandise, and bundled birthday party packages offering up to 40% off activities with optional add-ons (food delivery, goodie bags, pavilion rental). A dedicated B2B motion operates through the Primal Dynamix sub-brand - leadership and team-building programs for corporate clients, military and government units, schools, and scout groups, with a strategic behavioral assessment partnership with Predictive Index. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via goape.com's integrated theflybook.com booking system, supplemented by walk-in availability and group sales through a dedicated inquiry form and 1-800 number. Marketing relies on website SEO, email/SMS capture with a 10% first-order incentive, social media presence across Instagram/Facebook/YouTube/Pinterest, an influencer collaborations program, and 4.7-4.9 star review positioning on Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Facebook.

Name

Go Ape USA

Legal name

Adventure Forest, LLC

Website

https://goape.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Go Ape USA operates 14 forest-based aerial adventure parks across 10 US states, delivering zipline, high-ropes, and experiential activities to families, groups, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Adventure Parks

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Amusement and Theme Parks (713110), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure & Aerial Parks (Ropes Courses, Zipline Parks, Climbing Parks) (THAJAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aerial Adventure Parks (Multi-Element Courses) (THAAACAC), Zipline Mega-Jumps & Giant Swing Experiences (Canyon Swing, Rope Swing) (THAAAMAD), Adventure Parks & Aerial Courses (Zipline, Ropes, Canopy) (THAAAAAC)

Keywords

• Outdoor adventure parks
• Zipline and ropes courses
• Team building experiences
• Aerial adventure courses
• Treetop adventure

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Activity Ticket Sales: Direct per-session ticket sales for aerial adventure courses (Treetop Adventure, Treetop Journey), with pricing varying by location, activity type, and participant age (adult vs youth/child). Tickets are purchased online in advance or at walk-in subject to availability.
2. Birthday Party Packages: Bundled party packages offering discounts on multiple activities plus add-ons including axe throwing, Forest EscAPE, goodie bags, merchandise, pizza delivery, and pavilion rental. Up to 40% discount on activities when booked as a package.
3. Group and Corporate Events: Customized group bookings for corporate team building, scout troops, school field trips, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and other organized groups. Pricing based on group size, activities selected, and custom program requirements.
4. Gift Cards and Memberships: Digital gift cards sold in various denominations and membership programs offering recurring benefits and discounts for frequent visitors.
5. Merchandise Sales: Go Ape branded merchandise including clothing, accessories, and memorabilia sold through the Swag Store (goapeswag.squarespace.com) and at park locations.
6. Primal Dynamix Programs: Premium leadership development and team-building programs offered through the Primal Dynamix brand. Includes team building experiences, leadership development, military/government training, school orientations, and custom programs. Revenue from custom program fees and behavioral assessment integrations (Predictive Index partnership).
7. Park Revenue Sharing: Revenue-sharing partnerships with public parks and nature preserves where a portion of ticket sales supports trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and visitor education at host parks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Go Ape USA operates forest-based aerial adventure parks featuring self-paced high-ropes courses, ziplines up to 700 feet, suspended obstacles, Tarzan swings, axe throwing, outdoor escape rooms, and mini golf experiences. Activities are delivered at 14-15 locations within public parks and nature preserves across the United States, with tickets sold per session online and on-site.

Product overview

Go Ape USA operates as a zipline and aerial adventure park provider offering a portfolio of outdoor recreational experiences. The core product is the Treetop Adventure, a 2-3 hour high-ropes course with ziplines, obstacles, and Tarzan swings. This is complemented by introductory options (Treetop Journey, Treetop Discovery), exclusive experiences (Treetop Nets in Chicago, Gorilla Golf in Memphis, Zip Trek in Houston), and nighttime programming (Nights at Height). Ground-based activities include Axe Throwing, Forest EscAPE outdoor escape rooms, and mini golf. The company also offers event-focused sub-brands including Birthday Party Packages, Group Outings, and Primal Dynamix team building programs. All experiences are set in forest locations at public parks and nature preserves across 14 U.S. locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Primal Dynamix: Team building and leadership development programs powered by Go Ape, designed to deliver transformative leadership experiences and team-building activities.
• Treetop Nets
• Gorilla Golf
• Zip Express

Products and services

• Treetop Adventure The flagship aerial adventure experience featuring ziplines up to 700 feet, high-ropes crossings, suspended obstacles, and Tarzan swings through forest canopy. A self-paced 2-3 hour journey designed for thrill-seekers ages 10+.
• Treetop Journey An introductory high-ropes course experience lasting approximately 1 hour, featuring 20+ obstacles and two ziplines. Designed for beginners and families with younger children, with no minimum age requirement and a minimum height of 3 ft 3 in.
• Axe Throwing Outdoor axe throwing experience using lightweight hatchets under 2 lbs, with professional instruction and tips provided. Participants compete in lanes during 1-hour sessions. Minimum age varies by location (10 or 16 years).
• Forest EscAPE An immersive outdoor escape room experience set in nature where teams solve puzzles and complete challenges within a 60-minute timeframe. Private sessions accommodate 2-10 players. Available at multiple locations with themed missions unique to each park.
• Gorilla Golf An 18-hole outdoor forest-themed mini golf course. Available as a standalone activity or bundled with other Go Ape experiences. Exclusive to Go Ape Memphis location, suitable for ages 2+.
• Treetop Nets A jungle gym experience in the trees featuring 1,800 sq ft of bouncy nets and giant slides, located 25 feet in the air. Exclusive to Go Ape Chicago location, with no minimum age requirement.
• Birthday Party Packages Customizable outdoor birthday party bundles offering up to 40% discount on activities and merch, including treetop activities, on-site party host, printable invitations, and optional add-ons like axe throwing, Forest EscAPE, goodie bags, pizza delivery, and pavilion rental.
• Group Outings Group event packages for corporate outings, scout troops, bachelor/bachelorette parties, school field trips, and family reunions. Includes group discounts for 5+ participants and customizable experiences.
• Primal Dynamix Team building and leadership development programs powered by Go Ape, offering immersive leadership challenges, expert-facilitated team development, and custom programs. Includes Primal Progression which combines behavioral assessments with outdoor adventure experiences through Predictive Index integration.

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Public Parks and Nature PreservescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGo Ape operates within public parks and nature preserves through revenue-sharing partnerships. A portion of ticket sales supports trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and visitor education at host parks. Partners include state parks (Lums Pond State Park), county parks (Rock Creek Regional Park, Bemis Woods Forest Preserves, Eagle Creek Park), and nature preserves across the US.
• Sun Outdoors Frontier TowncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Sun Outdoors Frontier Town resort in Maryland near Ocean City. Go Ape operates within the Frontier Town Adventure Park offering Zip Express and Treetop Journey activities. Frontier Town provides camping, water park, Western-themed experience, and mini golf as complementary attractions.
• Hot Box Pizza (Indianapolis)minorOthersLocal pizza partner at Go Ape Indianapolis location offering scheduled pizza delivery as an add-on for birthday parties and group events.
• Olde Towne Pizza (Williamsburg)minorOthersLocal pizza partner at Go Ape Williamsburg location offering scheduled pizza delivery as an add-on for birthday parties and group events.
• Predictive IndexstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral assessment partnership for Primal Dynamix 'Primal Progression' program. Combines scientifically-validated behavioral assessments with outdoor adventure team building experiences. Uses Predictive Index results in real-time to understand how participants' natural drives impact leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving under pressure.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TreeTop Quest: Multi-site US aerial adventure and zipline park operator with self-paced treetop courses and family-focused experiences. Directly competes with Go Ape's Treetop Adventure and Treetop Journey offerings in the Southeast.
• The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring: Aerial adventure park in Sandy Spring, Maryland offering ziplines, ropes courses, and climbing features across multiple difficulty levels. Closest geographic direct competitor within Go Ape's Mid-Atlantic footprint.
• Boundless Adventures: Aerial adventure park operator with zipline and ropes-course experiences in the DC/Mid-Atlantic region. Competes directly for family, group, and corporate team-building bookings in Go Ape's core Springfield, Virginia territory.
• WildPlay Element Parks: Multi-location aerial adventure and zipline park operator (primarily Canada) offering ropes courses, ziplines, and climbing features for families and groups. Highly comparable product mix and operational model to Go Ape USA.
• High Trek Adventures: Aerial adventure park in Washington State offering ziplines, ropes courses, axe throwing, and climbing features. Comparable multi-experience product portfolio and similar D2C booking model.
• Kersey Valley Zipline: Adventure park in North Carolina offering ziplines, ropes courses, and group activities. Directly competes with Go Ape's Raleigh-Durham location for regional family and corporate group bookings.
• Navitat Canopy Adventures: Zipline and tree-based canopy adventure operator offering guided and self-guided experiences. Comparable adventure-focused product targeting thrill-seekers and family groups.

Broad incumbents

• Go Ape (UK parent): Original UK-founded operator of forest-based zipline and aerial adventure parks, of which Go Ape USA is the US franchise/operation. Closest conceptual and brand equivalent; serves as both parent and broader incumbent in the global aerial adventure category.
• Zip World: Large UK-based zipline and adventure park operator with multiple sites and headline zipline experiences. Comparable scale and category position to Go Ape's parent, though UK-focused; useful benchmark for unit economics and brand extension.

Regional players

• Adventure Park USA: Maryland-based amusement and adventure park featuring go-karts, mini golf, batting cages, and aerial attractions. Broader amusement focus than Go Ape but overlaps in family group entertainment within the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GoApeUSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/goapeusa
• Instagraminstagram.com/goapeusa
• Pinterestpinterest.com/goapeusa
• Xx.com/goapeusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/go-ape-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Go Ape USA