DZ Feature: Skydive Chicago

There are few dropzones out there quite like Skydive Chicago. Built from the outset to impress, Skydive Chicago has nearly every convenience you could wish for. Founded by skydivers for skydivers, Skydive Chicago has everything a jumper needs – whether that individual be a first-time tandem student, a fledgling freefall rookie, a weekend warrior fun jumper, or even … a world champion!

Skydive Chicago was designed to positively present skydiving to the public eye, and though it’s one of the largest dropzones in the United States, Skydive Chicago neither skimps on customer service nor fails to maintain the highest safety standards across every aspect of the operation. 

Simply put, from neoflyer to ninja, this dropzone is a dream come true.

Let’s check it out, shall we?

Like Summer Camp But Better … Wayyyyy Better.

For licensed skydivers, Skydive Chicago is the ultimate summer skydiving destination. A trip to Skydive Chicago during the peak of the season is like heading off to camp, except better … wayyyy better!

There’s a swimming pond complete with zipline, a tiki bar, evening activities during the skydiving season, like outdoor movies and kickball, and, of course, a ton of skydiving. Not to mention, there are plenty of aircraft, talented load organizers, and a strong fun jumper community ready to make the most of every skydiving season.

So Many Amenities!

From complimentary wifi in the campground and hangar, to hot showers and laundry services, so much of what sets Skydive Chicago apart are the amenities which cater to every touchpoint of the dropzone experience. 

Here’s a glance at what they offer:

Eat Up!

Eat Up! is an onsite deli serving handheld delights, delicious bites, sandwiches, smoothies, and more to the Skydive Chicago community. Once the jumping day is done, depending on the season, the Eat Up! food truck can be found just outside of the Tiki Hut providing an amazing dinner service ranging from classic American fare to dishes with a twist from the creative mind of Eat Up! owner and head chef Allen Prodehl.

Tiki Hut

When the weather is warm, there’s nothing better than a cold libation and good conversation after a fantastic summer day of jumping. The Skydive Chicago campus features a Tiki Hut conveniently located next to the swimming pond which boasts a full bar, lots of seating, and a giant Jenga set.

Swimming Pond

Beat the heat with a dip in the Skydive Chicago swimming pond! The pond features three decks, a sandy beach, a waterfall, and a zip line! If you’d prefer to cast a line, that’s fine too. The swimming pond is loaded with fish. Please note the swimming pond is for skydivers and waivered guests only.

Sky Lounge

Located on the second floor of the hangar and outfitted with a pool table, projector, conference table, and plush couches, the Sky Lounge is the perfect place to relax, catch up on emails during work-day jumping, or get together for fall and spring after-hours shenanigans!

Auditorium

Skydive Chicago is home to a 9,000 square foot auditorium which seats up to 350 people. Ideal for many events, the auditorium has surround sound, a large screen projector, and balcony theater seating.

Gym

There’s no need to skip your workouts if you’re a seasonal resident at Skydive Chicago. The gym has free weights, an elliptical, a stairmaster, treadmill, mats and more.

Lodging: Cougar Campground

For those looking to stick around for a while, look no further than Skydive Chicago’s Cougar Campground. The campground has more than 150 full-service campsites for tent camping and RVs. In addition to these slots, there are also nine cabins overlooking the historic Fox River which are available for rent. Camping is restricted to individuals participating in skydiving.

Rigging Loft and Gear Store: Gold State Gear

Recently, Skydive Chicago has paired with Gold State Gear, which also operates the gear stores at Skydive Perris and Skydive Elsinore. In addition to gear sales, the Senior and Master riggers of Gold State Gear offer on-site rigging.

Skydiver Wonderland

Plenty of Air Power

Skydive Chicago is proud to have the largest fleet of aircraft in the Midwest consisting of:

• 3 Super Twin Otters
• 2 Caravans
• 2 Skyvans
• 1 Cessna

Not only does Skydive Chicago rock some of the most enviable aircraft in the skydiving industry, the pilots who fly them are second to none!

Massive Hangar

There’s no need to pack your precious gear in the grass at Skydive Chicago. They’ve got a 30,000 square foot hangar with ample room for indoor packing.

Luscious Landing Area

Plenty of air power and space to pack doesn’t mean much if there’s nowhere for you to land your open parachute. That’s no issue at Skydive Chicago as they have 60 acres of expertly maintained grass landing areas.

Event Headquarters

Skydive Chicago is one of the skydiving world’s event headquarters. From being the very first in the US to host the largest global skydiving competition, Mondial, to hosting USPA National Championships, Vertical World Records, and Big Way skydiving events, Skydive Chicago is at the epicenter of the action. 

Oh, and don’t forget about one of the best boogies around: the fabled Summerfest! It’s eight days of non-stop stellar skydives, nightly entertainment, and raucous revelry you simply don’t want to miss!

Can’t Beat the Culture

There are few places where you’ll see neophytes and experts rubbing elbows – but it happens all the time at Skydive Chicago. 

Skydive Chicago is the home dropzone of the three-time World Champions in Vertical Formation Skydiving, SDC Core, as well as the former National Champions in Formation Skydiving SDC Rhythm XP. 

Now, as if that wasn’t cool enough, the truly remarkable thing is these impressive skydivers don’t just rest on their laurels. Rather, you’ll catch them organizing events and camps multiple times throughout the season. In addition to these incredible opportunities for skill improvement, Skydive Chicago also has programs, like 8N2 Club, aimed specifically at involving and welcoming newer skydivers to the community.

Some places take maintaining a positive culture seriously. Skydive Chicago is one of those places.

As their mission statement attests, Skydive Chicago’s team is dedicated to excellence in customer service, facilities, and safety. Setting the standard through an evolving culture where goals become achievements, moments become memories, and friendships last forever.

Skydive Chicago isn’t just a dropzone. Come see for yourself why so many jumpers call this spot home!