Three words: GO FOR IT! A bunch of us went this morning for my birthday and I am so sad that it's over! I want to go back ASAP!!!! Highly recommend going with these guys!! They take great care of you and make sure you feel safe and that you trust them. This was part of my bucket list and it was SO WORTH IT. I had Eric N. and he was the best. I was a bit nervous but he made me feel at ease. They're so chill and fun to be around! These guys know what they're doing so I would definitely recommend that you go here if you want to go tandem skydiving for the first time. :) read more

Skydive the Ranch - Skydiving Near Me - Gardiner, New York

This tandem skydive was a birthday gift for my husband on 7th of July. When I started to search skydiving places around New York I was a little frustrated! Many of them tried to push me to buy a deals right on the phone in my first 5 min! It's crazy! I don't like any kind of pressure! Then, I called to Skydive the Ranch, really nice reception lady answer all of my questions, she talk like a friend idk! No pressure at all!!!!!!!! Very polite!!!!! I immediately fall in love with those service and made a reservation for two!))))) When we came there, everything was perfectly fine! The weather is a btch! I guess u heard about that!) so it started a rain shower, we waited a little... It was ok! The stuff is also very friendly and professional! My instructor was Jerry! I felt really safe with him, and not nervous! My husband's instructor Eric (Im not sure :-/) also did a great job! Thank u Jerry and Eric! Also thank u Greg, who's watch our 5 month old babygirl while a crazy young parents was skydiving, it was really helpful!))) and thank u for our amazing video Igor'!!! I'm so glad we record everything! Including a birthday cake on the ground!!! Our experience was awesome! I was satisfied with everything! Highly recommended! read more

Skydive the Ranch - Cute Airplanes I'm about to skydive 07/07/2015 - Skydiving Near Me - Gardiner, New York

I must admit I had my reservations when my son declared he wanted to try skydiving. Although I was just an observer, I could not have been more delighted with the entire Skydive the Ranch experience. They put both my son and I at ease (well ok, put me at ease, he was already good with the whole thing), and gave clear, answered all of our questions, great instructions to my son on what to do (and as importantly, what not to do). The instructor was absolutely top notch in every regard. My son's tandem jump was apparently the experience of a lifetime, and he's even got me interested in going along on his next jump. As a former pilot, I'd never jump out of a perfectly good airplane, but these guys have me re-thinking that. Thank you for a wonderful experience, both in the air and on the ground by a nervous father. read more

It was my first time skydiving. My instructor JM was amazing and patient with me. He eased all of my worries. He was very professional and made my first skydiving memorable. Skydiving is the best experience that I have ever had. This is definitely a place to visit if you're looking for some adventure. read more

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My daughter booked her first skydive for her 22nd birthday with her best friend. Everyone of the staff was so nice and welcoming. They felt at ease from the moment they walked in. I (as the mother) also felt comfortable that these people knew what they were doing. It was really exciting to watch them take off in the plane and watch them come down from the sky. I highly recommend you let The Ranch be your first time Skydiving. The only one thing I felt bad about was that I didn't bring any tips for the tandem and the videographer. These young girls only brought what they had and I covered what they didn't have. So next time they want to skydive I'll be sure to bring extra to tip the amazing staff. They surely do deserve it. The video was awesome too. A must have. read more

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I've been jumping here for 11 seasons now and even after 1600 jumps, it's still my favorite drop zone... my home drop zone! If you're interested in making your first jump, not only will you be taken care of by some of the best tandem instructors in the industry and have an absolute blast, but you'll be properly introduced to skydiving culture, the way only The Ranch can. read more

My boyfriend surprised me for our 6 month anniversary to go skydiving and I have got to say it was AMAZING! You are emailed wavers to notify you of the obvious risks of skydiving prior to your dive date. After getting there, it is somewhat organized. One guy, I think his name was Joe told us it would be about 30 min until our jump and in the mean time we could enjoy watching the other jumpers from some picnic tables on the side. After about 10 minutes, he called me over and introduced me to my instructor MJ. MJ was great! He went over everything I needed to know (where we'll be strapped in together, how to get off the plane, how to pull the parachute, and how to land). He went over that a couple times on the ground, right before we got on the plane, and walked me through all the steps while we were flying to our drop point. My boyfriend and I got the video package for both of us. My boyfriend's photographer/videographer (Igor) was definitely top notch and slightly better than mine (I sadly don't remember my guy's name). If it is your first time, drop the money b/c you'll never get this first time experience back. As for the experience: it was indescribable. Definitely something everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. read more

I have done this 2 other time and this one is by far the best one! my man Igor (hope i spelled it right) he is very professional and super cautious. love the fact that he is very confident and let me pull the parachute and control it as well (unique experience) JAIMIE ! Videographer! just WOW ! great picks ! great vid ! great edit ! you are just amazing! and super cool and motivated! definitely doing this again with yall ! loved it. read more

A BIG THANK YOU to the staff at Skydive the Ranch for making my first Tandem Skydive so AWESOME! From beginning to end this was a GREAT experience. The people are welcoming & my instructor Eric along with my photographer Commander Baboom were exceptional. read more

AMAZING! Just did my FIRST ever jump... definitely not my last!! Professional and friendly staff... John was INCREDIBLE as my tandem instructor!! Dennis did an awesome job with photos and video! Thank you all for making it so memorable read more

My sister decided to go skydiving, and decided that as her big brother, she wanted me to do it with her. We did some research, and came across the United States Parachute Association at uspa.org. It showed very few places around Albany, and The Ranch was the only place that had multiple instructors for simultaneous jumps, and was the quickest to pick up the phone, with some of the lowest prices. It cost $219 per person, and another $20 per person for the landing photo. The video was $124 per person and we declined. We called, made a reservation, and paid $40 per person over the phone. Within a few minutes, we received a disclaimer and a video. The video informs you that it's a risk, but according to the statistics that I had looked at, the chance of us dying in a car accident on the way there was higher. The standard disclaimer had us check, initial, or sign every paragraph. When we arrived we were greeted, filled out a clipboard, and then went to the register to pay. Within a few minutes, we were assigned our instructors, harnessed in, provided the instructions for the four stages of flight, then taken to the airplane. A dozen people got onto the flight. The first group jumped at a different altitude than us. Then it was our turn. We scooted on our butts towards the open door and fell out. It took about ten seconds to remember how to breathe. It was cold and windy. We went from facing forward to down. Then it became very interesting, visibility for fifty miles or so, beautiful Catskills, with the Hudson snaking though them. We could see New Paltz and Kingston. Roughly thirty seconds of that, then I got the signal to pull on the chute. A mild discomfort as we decelerated, but after the harness was adjusted, it was peaceful and beautiful. A few turns with the parachute interrupted that tranquility, that was more of a rollercoaster sensation, but it was necessary to get us to the landing zone. Everyone was extremely friendly and professional, and now as I comfortably sit in airplanes, I know what it's like outside, at 13,000 feet. read more

Skydive the Ranch - Coming in for the landing. - Skydiving Near Me - Gardiner, New York

LOVE LOVE LOVE Can't say enough good things about my experience at the Ranch. It was my first time skydiving and the days leading up to it, I was quite nervous. On the drive there I was nervous. Once I got there, I more so just couldn't believe that it was really going to happen. I paid extra for video/photos which I highly recommend, especially for your first time. John was my tandem instructor and Big Jim was my camera/video guy. They were both awesome. I thought I'd be really nervous on the plane as I've never been on a small airplane like that before. Luckily, the ride was really smooth! I talked to John a lot of the time and asked him questions, which kept me distracted and also made me feel comfortable. Seeing other people jump out of the plane before me was just crazy. It just looks crazy and it was hard to believe I was about to do the same! Anyway, It's crazy, it doesn't feel like you're falling, it feels like you're just laying in the middle of the sky with a lot of wind coming at you, it was a bit chilly but I didn't notice that for long. Once the parachute opened it was so quiet. It was beautiful and peaceful and when it came time to land, I was sad that it was already over. I've been thinking about it non stop since going. I want to do it again for sure!! I highly recommend this place. Everyone who works there is awesome, I felt safe, and the experience is just something I think everyone should experience at least once! read more

Believe the hype. I jumped today. Every employee here was polite and fun. The atmosphere of the ranch was laid back and cozy. Adam T was my videographer and photographer. Steve "Utah" Webb was my amazing instructor. Immediately, he made me feel confident and I didn't worry most of the time. Tips for first timers: 1) Make a reservation. Especially on weekends, this place is so popular and busy that they turn business away. 2) Print and fill out the 7 page contract before you arrive to save time. 3) Breathe, relax and listen to instructions. The butterflies stirred once I got on the plane but they went away once I jumped off. These instructors have a lot of experience (Steve had 9000+ jumps) and want to live for another day. 4) Pay the extra $99 for the video and photos. After my jump, I watched my video (there is a dvd player there) and laughed the entire time. There is a small cafe for food, snacks and drinks. I needed to rehydrate quickly too. The experience is difficult to explain but it is an intense and incredible ride. From beginning to end I couldn't find anything bad with this place. Yes skydiving is expensive ($199 for a tandem jump) and Gardiner is out of the way (about 1.5 hour drive from NYC) but it was worth it. I don't want a discount when it involves my life. I highly recommend this business. I'm a believer. IFHTP 1 read more

My first time ever skydiving: $219 Obligatory video and still shots: $100 Watching obligatory video/viewing still shots and realizing that I can't show them to anyone because I look like I'm choking on dead ants, while my instructor looks like he's doing air yoga: $Priceless All I know is, I made it out alive, and the indescribably amazing 60 second freefall from 14,000 feet means I am already planning my next dive. Get on it! 5 solidly solid stars. read more

Finally decided to give this a try, hey I'm not getting any younger! Went with a group of girls, a girls only virgin tandem sky divers. We made a reservation back in August but got rained out and rescheduled for this weekend in September. It was a perfect beautiful day with great conditions for jumping out of a plane. We just made it in time for our reservation but had to wait another hour because we wanted to go together on the same plane. Our professional camera men/women were so nice, all introducing themselves to us and getting group pics of us girls. Then we met our tandem professional jumpers who were all very cool. They kept joking and telling us it was their first times tandem jumping, and making jokes about the faulty parachutes. My instructor was Chris who was awesome, he was very kind and professional. He explained the jump thoroughly, let me pull the chord, steer the parachute, and etc. I felt comfortable and safe at all times and that he was following the rules of tandem skydiving. The 3 rules of tandem jumping are: #1 Have fun! #2 Hold onto your straps when exiting the plane #3 Look up when jumping out and arch your back I really thought the landing part of this was going to get me, but we came in pretty slow to the ground and landed ever so gently on our tushies. There's a food truck at this place, called Elia's food. I didn't get to try it but my friends got a wrap to fill up while we waited our turn to jump. They also provide jumpsuits if you want to wear them so you don't dirty your clothes (free of charge). All the equipment was in order and restrooms were being renovated and clean. We all gave a big hug to our professional tandem jumpers after we removed our equipment, and received our Official certificate for making our first jump! After all they made sure we all landed safe and well! read more

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Jumped with my dad as his Retirement / Father's Day present. We both had a great experience. The staff on the ground as well as the instructors that jumped with us were professional and seemed to be well experienced. The vibe was relaxing as a majority of the jumpers (including my dad and I) were new to skydiving. It was a bit of a ride, but well worth it. Oh, if you are going to jump, make reservations in advance and print out the paperwork (the release of any and all legal liability to the ranch) and watch the required videos on the website. It will dramatically speed up the jumping process. read more

It was our first time skydiving and we chose the Ranch. They took good care of us because they knew we were scared out of our minds. "Training" was very short because we didn't really want to check the altimeter or pull the chord. We just wanted to jump. We asked our instructors to do everything for us. I watch the DVD from time to time and I still get goosebumps. read more

I've done two tandem jumps at the ranch. The staff was was always thorough and professional. The second jump took place at the end of the season. We actually had to return three weeks in a row; the first two weeks, conditions were too windy to jump safely. Of course we were disappointed not to jump, but it was reassuring that the staff wouldn't just take our money at the risk of our safety. The third week, when we finally got to jump (10/31/04), I had paid to have it documented on DVD. I just came across that DVD, and watching brought it all back. Now I can't wait until spring to head back up to Gardiner. read more

Went skydiving for the first time!! Let me tell you that it was an amazing experience right off the bat. Everyone that worked there were super cool and knowledgeable. Some of the guys I had conversations with had 17+ years on the job with over 5000+ jumps! And they haven't gotten bored yet! That's insane to me. Now, this was a trip of a lifetime. We went with a group of 15 jumpers and all the staff had gotten us all prepped and harnessed in a very orderly manner!! Sergei helped our batch of 5 jumpers get all situated, got us harnessed up, and walked us through the whole jump! Then I met my tandem John, who I had to trust my life with. He made my entire jump seamless and very easy! Thanks a bunch!! I will be coming back because I think this could be a yearly habit!! read more

Just went yesterday with my friend and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We both had amazing instructors, Batman and Denes (pronounced "Danish"), who treated us like we were the first and only jumpers they've ever taken to the sky. Ask for them! The "ranch" itself is very laid back and a great place to chill before and after the jump with friendly staff that are all psyched to give you the best experience possible. I'm totally going to be coming back soon. Once you become a member of their "skydive family," you're invited to their Saturday night camping parties which is a cool way to get out of the city if you live in New York and hang with some really interesting people. Skydiving is not as frightening as I thought it would be, just a huge adrenaline rush! read more

I went on my second skydive here (my first was at Skydive Sussex, which I highly recommend). This place is great fun - you can camp there (and if you're close to the pond, you can hear skydivers swoosh by your tent in the morning as they land). When we were there some of the most experienced jumpers were having a competition of sorts, where they would see how precise they could be at putting their toe in the water of the pond as they landed, keeping it there, splitting the waters until the end of the pond, after which then they'd land as close to the pond edge as possible. It's better than TV kids. And then there's the big bonfire pit where everyone hangs out after a day of jumping. It's definitely a scene. There are the first-timers, the gurus and the groupies. It all makes for good story fodder at the very least. p.s. The vast majority of skydiving related deaths occur when experienced skydivers get too comfortable, i.e. sloppy. It's very similar to skiing that way. read more

Highly recommended!!!! These guys definitely know what they're doing. Your safety is their #1 concern. I had the pleasure to do a tandem with Steve "Utah" who was totally awesome. He made feel completely safe and secure the entire time. For those who wear contacts, make sure your goggles are worn tightly. I'm already looking forward to my next skydiving experience at this place. read more

I had the most exhilarating time of my life last year at the ranch. The entire staff was awesome and "down to earth". My tandem instructor luckily was way taller than I was so when we landed I was on my feet whilst all my friends had grass ass. I was calm and cool until I stepped onto the ledge of the aircraft. "1, 2, 3 ... go" AAAHHHHHHHH ... I screamed the entire way down. I bet I annoyed the crap out of my strap on buddy. HAHA. It's something you must do before you turn 30, or at least once in your life. Next up, bungee jumping in New Zealand! read more

The Ranch is a great operation -- reasonable rates, lovely location, easy enough to get to from the city, very cool staff. My friends and I jumped over Labor Day weekend (two first-timers, three second-timers, though only one friend had jumped at The Ranch before) and everyone had a blast. They are a busy joint (at least on holidays!) so make sure you are on time, and fill out your paperwork beforehand if you can. My advice (and the reason I reserved that last star) is that if you want to be hands-on, you should probably make that very clear to your instructor. My friends got to do more turning, pull the parachute themselves, etc, and I really wanted to do more of that (since it was my second dive), but I barely met my instructor before we jumped. He was a nice guy for sure, but he didn't seem AS concerned with my personal experience as my friends' instructors were. Still, no complaints -- jumping out of the plane was fun as hell! Lastly, if you want to camp on-site, bring a tent. We stayed over and it was a blast. read more

What a fabulous experience! Thanks to the entire staff at Skydive the Ranch. This is the place to go if you want to Skydive and have the time of your life. It was my first time skydiving. I jumped with Eric and he was excellent. He was informative and fun and I instantly felt like I could trust him. I recommend getting the video and pictures, for you will want to relive your jump and have it as a memory. Thank you Eric and everyone at Skydive the Ranch team. read more

AMAZING EXPERIENCE! Will def be back for more. Everything is done pretty fast which is great because it wasnt something that took all day to do. Tandem dove with John who made it very easy and enjoyable. Egor delivered beautiful pictures and video! Staff is great, no complaints at all. Thank you guys for a wonderful first dive! read more

Skydive the Ranch - Skydiving Near Me - Gardiner, New York

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simply amazing!! Today went for my first tandem jump. loved every second of my experience there! cool and chill atmosphere. everyone was nice and helpful. and I didn't feel scared at all! 100% recommend it read more

This was my first time skydiving and I flew with "Utah" and from start to finish my confidence in the program that is skydive the ranch grew. Y'all made stepping out of a perfectly good airplane a fairly routine experience from the beginning he said this is some of the best skydiving in the word " welcome to the big leagues". Utah let me know this is an experience and I'm a passenger along for the ride of my life. read more

What a blast, Utah Steve & Big Jim were amazing. The whole crew was awesome. From the first phone call with questions to the last hand shake everything was just so easy and convenient. read more

With the justifiable nerves I had showing up here I wanted to make sure the place seemed legit. I wasn't going to put my life in the hands of a few smelly hippies that all worked for some dingy little skydiving business. It wasn't like that at all. Were they smelly hippies? Yes, but they were incredibly pleasant and made you feel very comfortable. The ranch itself is very nice and you can tell they put a lot of pride in it. If I ever go skydiving again I WILL be going back there and no where else!! read more

Skydive the Ranch - Skydiving Near Me - Gardiner, New York

For my 30th birthday I wanted to cross skydiving off the bucket list and picked The Ranch because of all the positive reviews. It was an amazing experience and the staff at The Ranch only added to it. Steven was my tandem partner and within minutes of meeting him, any fear I had was put to rest. The entire staff was friendly, professional and safe and you can really tell they absolutely love their jobs. I didn't feel unsafe at any point and cannot recommend sky diving at The Ranch enough. I'll definitely be back for more. And if its your first jump, pop for the DVD package. It's worth it. read more

If you've never been skydiving, I definitely recommend it. Everyone has to go at least once in their lifetime. It's an experience you will never forget. It's beyond anything you've ever experienced - it's the next level. I'm not going to talk much about skydiving itself because you can find full details of it anywhere on the internet. Safe to say, I absolutely loved it, and I absolutely want to go again. That said, I want to say that the staff and tandem instructors at this venue are amazing. They are very experienced and they care about your safety 100%. First you will have the opportunity to watch other solo and tandem skydivers land. This is crucial so you know what to expect. After some time, you will have someone who rounds up the group for your payload and give you basic skydiving instructions (after loosely being fitted with the harness). Then you will head to the runway to prepare for boarding where your harness will be tightened. Each person receives full individual attention with utmost care. From there, you will meet your tandem instructor. This person is responsible for your life, so you must trust them. You will be connected to him for the entire experience as soon as you sit inside the plane, so carefully listen to his instructions. He will once again check your harness and make any adjustments necessary. One thing to note: forget about personal space and privacy at this point. You are jumping out of an airplane at ~13,000ft. There is no such thing as personal space in skydiving. The harness might be slightly uncomfortable, but this is necessary. After some pep talk, you will board the plane and given more instructions therein for the jump. The rest is history. Thank you Paul, Ronnie, and my tandem instructor Eric for doing a marvelous job. Despite it being unexpectedly cloudy/rainy the day I jumped (which caused some unavoidable pain - tip: don't jump in cloudy weather), I still completely enjoyed it, and would go back here on a sunny day! read more

These guys were SO incredible. I was scared on my drive up to the ranch but as soon as I got there I felt totally safe and excited to jump. All the instructors were accommodating, funny, and excited to give us the best experience possible. I would definitely return! A check off the Bucket List :) read more

Skydive the Ranch - Unreal! - Skydiving Near Me - Gardiner, New York

I was 6 when I asked my dad to go skydiving and he agreed thinking it was some silly thing his kid said. As each year passed and I got closer and closer to 18 without forgetting his promise, his hands got clammier and clammier. I was finally able to do what I have dreamed of for 12 years this morning, and there is NO PLACE that could have made my first jump better than The Ranch. Steve (Utah) made me feel so comfortable and I had no doubt that everything would go smoothly, which it did. This was hands down the most incredible experience of my life and I am so glad that I had the opportunity. DO THIS!!!! GO SKYDIVING!!!! You will NOT regret it read more

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Really unhelpful staff, will keep your deposit if you cancel no matter the circumstances

Made my first skydive with them and I couldn't have had a better time. The people that work there are amazing and friendly. They have completely experienced jumpers to make sure you get the most from your jump. My instructor was JM and I felt completely at ease and comfortable with him. I hate heights and really expected to have an issue once I got to the door prior to jumping, but I was completely surprised that I had no problem at all! I had no fear! The instructions were simple and there was no feeling of falling. Once the chute opened it was beautiful trip down to the ground and we had a nice and easy landing. The only way to describe it is just plain AMAZING! So if you're looking to take a dive then I highly recommend you go there. read more

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My friend invited me to go and the second time he asked me I said sure why not. The crew over there is so cool and know how to make it fun especially if you've never skydived before. Trust me, you will get hooked, and its soooooooo worth it. I jumped with Adam there and he did a great job helping me enjoy the jump. read more

Skydive the Ranch - Skydive 8/10/14 Wish I had pics from my 9/14/14 skydive, it was a blast - Skydiving Near Me - Gardiner, New York

These guys are the absolute best. You feel so safe and so comfortable and confident with the instructors. I had John and he could not have been any better. It was an unreal experience and I will definitely be coming back read more

Skydive the Ranch - John is the man - Skydiving Near Me - Gardiner, New York

I did a tandem jump with Igor as my instructor and Tristan as my photographer/videographer and it was amazing! Everyone is so friendly and made the experience 10x better. The photos and video came out great! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! read more

The Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest experience ever!! Went there on May 17, 2014. and if you guys are reading this dont waste your time and go!!! Always wanted to do it and finally got some courage and did it!!! FUN FUN FUN!! did I mentioned FUN?? I had my tandem jump with Adam. He is easy going, assertive and his experience makes you feel safe. He makes sure you to brake it down to lame terms so normal people like me understands what to do and dont freak out int the middle of the jump. Once you are up in the air relax and let the fun begin!!! Trust me you will come down with the biggest smile ever!! I got the video package, It could be a lil expense but its your jump! highly recommend it you get it. I'm already planing to go back with my family!!! and eventually get my license :) read more