What Skydive City does

Skydive City (operating under the brand names Skydive City, Z-Hills, The World Famous Z-Hills, and the Zephyrhills Parachute Center) is a privately held, direct-to-consumer recreational skydiving center headquartered at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport in Zephyrhills, Florida. The company operates a single drop zone that has hosted skydiving activities for over 60 years and currently performs more than 70,000 jumps annually, drawing first-time tandem customers, aspiring solo skydivers, and USPA-licensed sport jumpers from all 50 US states, all Canadian provinces, and more than 80 countries. Core services include tandem skydiving from 13,500 feet (priced at $249 standard, with $199 Tuesday and Pasco County resident promotions), AFF (Accelerated Freefall) certification training, sport skydiving load organizing, event hosting (USPA Nationals, Flockfest, Flamingo Fest, Flamingo Challenge), media/videography packages, party and group event packages, gift certificates, and night jumps. The business is supported by a wholly-owned pro shop subsidiary (Sunshine Factory), on-site rigging services, AFF training operations (Skydive Ratings), a Sunset Bar, lodging, and a Twin Otter aircraft fleet, with revenue generated through unit-priced pay-as-you-go bookings via the Burblesoft online platform, phone reservations (1-800-888-JUMP), and walk-in traffic. The technology stack is operational rather than proprietary — no AI/ML, API, or software product is documented — and go-to-market is omnichannel across website content, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, email newsletters, hosted events, and a Florida's Sports Coast tourism partnership. Ownership is independent and operator-led, with founder Susan Stark and co-founder/operator Joannie Murphy as key stakeholders alongside a deeply tenured instructor and pilot staff holding USPA examiner and master rigger credentials.

Name

Skydive City

Legal name

Skydive City, Inc

Website

https://skydivecity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Skydive City is a privately held skydiving center at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport in Florida, offering tandem skydiving, AFF training, sport jumping, events, and on-site retail/hospitality to consumers worldwide, performing 70,000+ jumps annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Skydiving Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other (48799), Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Skydiving Centers & Drop Zones (Tandem, AFF Training) (THAAAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Paragliding, Skydiving & Airborne Adventure Sports (THAJABAJ)

Keywords

• Tandem skydiving
• Skydiving training
• Skydiving school
• Adventure recreation
• Skydiving center

Headquarters

HQ city

Zephyrhills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tandem Skydiving: Revenue from first-time skydivers who jump attached to an instructor. Standard tandem jumps from 13,500 feet. Includes Tuesday specials and local resident discounts.
2. AFF (Accelerated Freefall) Training: Revenue from learn-to-skydive programs for individuals pursuing independent skydiving certification.
3. Experienced Skydiver Services: Sport skydiving, load organizing, and skill development programs for licensed skydivers.
4. Media/Videography Packages: Photo and video capture services for tandem and AFF students, sold as add-on packages.
5. Event Hosting: Hosting of skydiving competitions, festivals, boogies, and group events with associated registration fees and hospitality services.
6. Pro Shop / Merchandise: On-site gear sales through Sunshine Factory pro shop and collectibles.
7. Hospitality Services: On-site lodging, bar services (Sunset Bar), and catering for visiting skydivers.
8. Party/Event Packages: Celebration packages turning tandem jumps into events for birthdays, groups, and special occasions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Skydive City is a recreational skydiving center operating at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport in Florida. The company provides tandem skydiving experiences for first-time jumpers from 13,500 feet, Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training programs for aspiring solo skydivers, sport skydiving and load organizing services for licensed jumpers, plus event hosting, media packages, and on-site hospitality including lodging, a bar, and a pro shop.

Product overview

Skydive City operates as a skydiving services business offering a unified portfolio centered on skydiving experiences. The core offerings include tandem skydiving for first-time customers, AFF (Accelerated Freefall) training programs for those learning to skydive independently, and sport/formation skydiving for experienced divers. Add-on services include professional media packages (photo/video), party/event packages, gift certificates, and event venue hosting. The business also operates aircraft (Twin Otter) for jump operations and maintains on-site hospitality amenities including the Birdhouse bar, pro shop, and spectator facilities. All offerings are coordinated through the company's booking platform and manifest system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sunshine Factory: Full service pro shop and gear retailer owned by Joannie Murphy, a core part of Skydive City's ecosystem.

Products and services

• Tandem Skydiving
• AFF (Accelerated Freefall) Skydiving Course
• Sport Skydiving
• Party Packages
• Gift Certificates
• Event Hosting
• Aircraft Operations
• Hospitality & Amenities
• Media Package (Photo/Video)

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United States Parachute Association (USPA)coreOthersSkydive City is a member of the USPA, the governing body for sport parachuting in the United States. This membership ensures compliance with safety standards and provides access to USPA-rated instructor certifications and event sanctioning.
• Florida's Sports Coast (Pasco County)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSkydive City has partnered with the Pasco County Office of Tourism Development to promote skydiving as part of Florida's Sports Coast, raising awareness among locals and tourists about sports activities in the region.
• Sunshine Factory (Pro Shop)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSunshine Factory is an on-site gear and pro shop operated by Joannie Murphy, DZO. It provides full-service retail of skydiving equipment, making Skydive City a comprehensive skydiving destination with on-site equipment access.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Skydive Perris: One of the largest and most famous skydiving centers in the world, operating large aircraft and hosting major events in California. Directly comparable as a destination drop zone serving first-time and experienced jumpers with a similar full-ecosystem model.
• Skydive Elsinore: Long-established Southern California drop zone offering tandem, AFF, sport jumping, and events with a dedicated aircraft fleet. Comparable size, customer base, and operational model to Skydive City.
• Start Skydiving: Large Midwest US drop zone offering tandem, AFF, and sport jumping with similar aircraft operations and event hosting. Directly comparable drop zone serving the broader North American customer base.
• Jumptown (Sky's the Limit): Historic East Coast drop zone with deep skydiving heritage, offering tandem and AFF instruction. Comparable as a heritage destination drop zone competing for the experienced-jumper community.
• Skydive Chicago (Chicagoland Skydiving Center): Major Illinois drop zone with Twin Otter operations, AFF training, and large-scale events. Comparable scale, geography (Midwest destination), and full-service offering.
• Skydive Carolinas: Regional drop zone in the Carolinas offering tandem, AFF, and sport skydiving. Comparable service mix, customer base, and operational model at smaller regional scale.
• SkyDance SkyDiving (Skydive Lodi): Northern California destination drop zone with FAA Part 105/141 certification, full AFF program, and event hosting. Comparable training-oriented drop zone with strong regional tourism draw.
• GoJump Oceanside: Southern California coastal drop zone specializing in tandem first-time jumps with strong tourist orientation. Comparable as a tourism-driven tandem-skydiving operator serving leisure visitors.

Emerging players

• Paraclete XP Skyventure: Indoor skydiving facility offering wind tunnel training and experiences. Adjacent competitor primarily for first-timer and AFF ground-school segments where indoor wind tunnels serve as a substitute/complement to outdoor jump training.

Broad incumbents

• iFLY Indoor Skydiving: National franchise operator of indoor skydiving tunnels at multiple US locations, targeting first-time flyers and family entertainment. Comparable as a first-time skydiving/thrill experience provider, though indoor-only.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/skydivecity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAiJYjGVBYvBWQ9t8k-J4hw
• Facebookfacebook.com/skydivecity
• Instagraminstagram.com/skydivecity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skydive-city-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Skydive City