This place is the best. From the moment you park and walk up to the check on you are welcomed by friendly staff who make sure you have a great day. The facilities are top notch and the course is more fun than you can imagine. Do yourself a favor and take the challenge. You will not be sorry. read more

I was really excited to go to Sandy River Adventure Park, but I don't think I'll go back. I have done zip line courses before and I thought this would be a cool mix of zip lining and some fun challenges. I was having a great time until I encountered an obstacle where you ride a skate board across 2 wires. I was a little nervous because the owner and another guy were still "working on" this new obstacle. My friend went across before me and there were already 3 people on the platform. Despite their own rule that no more than 3 people should be on the platform at a time, the owner told me to ride the board over. When I reached the other side I was expected to jump off a moving skateboard onto a platform with little room to step on. Needless to say, I fell and the board banged up my knee pretty bad. As I am bleeding and concerned about the deep bruises already pooping up on my leg, the other guy on the platform points out to me that it's clear to him that I've never done something like this before. All I could think was "Did this guy just blame this on me? Maybe you shouldn't have your customers test out something you haven't perfected yet. And maybe you should anticipate that your customers may not have done something like this before." As I am bleeding, I finish the course and finally find someone to get a first aid kit. I'm told that they can't administer first aid so I need to clean my wounds myself. What are they going to do if someone really gets hurt? As I am cleaning up, the manager comes over to take a report and tells me that she too has concerns about this particular obstacle and that they have been "working on it" all day. Again, why are you having customers go across an obstacle that you are still "working on"? I decide that I'm going to wrap up my day early even though I still have over an hour left that I've paid for and I run into the owner again. He apologizes and then he reminds me AGAIN that it's clear I haven't done something like this before. Um, are you blaming this on me again? He doesn't offer me a voucher to come back even though I didn't get to experience the park for the full time that I paid for so clearly he doesn't want my business. Despite the whole thing, I laughed it off and never said anything bad about them or to them until now. Looking back I feel like the owner made several huge mistakes including not knowing that he could have prevented this review if he had offered for me to come back and have a good experience. read more

We had a great morning climbing and ziplining at The Adventure Park. The staff were excellent - very fun and attentive. The courses are all very fun, and challenging. The training was perfect and the equipment definitely made us feel safe (and I don't like heights!). There were a couple of climbs I was not sure I could do but, with a little coaching, I managed them all. A very fun outing. read more

I was given the adventure course as a gift. When we read through the website while making plans, we realized there were also cabins for rent and we decided to make a weekend of the trip. We had done a zip line course before and I mistakenly assumed (we know what happens when one assumes, right?!) that this was all zip lining. And while I was slightly disappointed, I was excited by the new challenge of this course (and I may not have done it had I known). I'm GLAD it wasn't just ziplining...it pushed me to do something I hadn't done before. I don't have a lot of upper body strength and some of the challenges I struggled with, but made it through! Our guides were great and offered very helpful information while on the course (and of course during the orientation training). As for the cabin stay...we couldn't have asked for more! We stayed in the one bedroom chalet with all the comforts of home. The steps to the loft are a bit steep and might need a bit of extra care when making that middle of the night trip to the bathroom :-) Candice was a very helpful and gracious host...she would have been available to answer any of our questions any time and gave very helpful information about other things to do during our stay. And we were blessed with beautiful weather! Sandy River Adventure Park is worth a visit! read more

The obstacle course was fun and just what we were looking for. It took us about 2.5 hours to get us through after a heavy rain. It was nice when we went because no one else was there until close to the end and a large group showed up. I never felt like I had to worry about safety and there was always an observer. I would go again, but after going this once, I already know that I wouldn't be able to expect my 8 year old son to go through that course. It's tough for those of us with short legs!! LOL We also stayed in a cabin on-site, bonus!! They are amazing. read more

We found this online. The zip lining was very good. Prev zip lined in TN. this was smaller but still fun. The staff were very nice and was willing to help. The supervision and training done by the staff was excellent. It quite a cute place to go. Check out their website for more info. I would like to see the website a little more user friendly. I anticipate if they advertise a little more iin the Richmond and Lynchburg area they will do well. I look forward to going again. read more

Last Saturday (May 11, 2014) was our first trip to Sandy River Adventure Park. In a sentence; IT WAS A BLAST! Think adult jungle gym. I thought it was going to be a choice between obstacle course and or zip lines, Nope, you get both and in great quantities. The differing levels of skill are perfect, from a smaller and more stable yellow line to the challenging black line. I loved the obstacles taking you up higher to the platforms that then allow you to zip tree to tree and then more obstacles taking you up again to allow you to "big zip" back to ground level. All of this in a well landscaped tree grove, truly we felt like we were traipsing about in the jungle trees. I was there with my husband and two of my daughters. Not once did I fear for our safety or my youngest's safety, even when she was standing on top of a tree with one foot and no hand holds. Their double locking system allows you to feel secure and confident. The staff are always near by to help and provide tips on how to maneuver around, they were very friendly and encouraging. Once a small boy actually got his gear stuck :he was a tad short and didn't know to stand up on the block on the platform to unhook, plus his dad was hollering from the next platform to move on, dad was stressing the small boy out. But the "red shirt" staff person, took a ladder up, went around a couple of obstacles like they were nothing and helped him get unstuck and continue on...all the while encouraging the young fella. There are heights involved, but if you follow their training protocol, you are always secured onto the heavy duty wires, sometime secured at three points, but always at least one and most of the time by two. It does take some physical abilities, but even a middle aged mom like me could do it. We definitely plan to return and play!!! read more

what an enjoyable day we had here during spring break. staff was friendly and helpful....the girls (13 & 14) had a blast!! they have a large covered pavillion w several picnic tables if u choose to pack your lunch........also hwve several log cabins for overnight stays.......its worth the drive for a fun day w your kids...... read more

I found the Sandy River Retreat on google search for "cabin rentals in VA" and was delighted to discover the adventure ropes course available as well. As a family, we had limited availability for dates for the trip and were only able to stay one night, so I was thrilled that we were allowed to bypass the "2nt minimum" by paying a small additional fee. After looking at the cabin pictures, our 3 children (ages 7, 9, and 11) all agreed they wanted the chalet because of the hammock on the balcony and the neat ladder-stairs, so I booked the 1br "Chalet" for one night. I also reserved the 11:30am rope course adventure for all 5 of us on our check in day (all by phone). We arrived at 10:45am, plenty of time to fill out the liability forms and use bathrooms (clean porta potties) and wander around (saw chickens, sheep, and donkeys) before getting harnessed. We bought a couple bottles of cold water from the check-in desk (next time, I will bring a cooler with bottled water, as the staff advised they are on well water which may not be potable). Staff member put a special tiny harness on our 7yr old, and was very kind and gentle and then even made sure to have another staff member double check it for fit/safety. Right at 11:30, Lita gathered everyone on the 11:30 adventure (22 people in all) and went over the instructions. Lita's presentation was efficient but very clear to understand. Before going to the actual course, everyone went through a mini practice course just a few feet off the ground. Several staff members were available and very helpful during the practice and the course. We left our camera and water bottles on the ground when we started up to the course. My family started on "yellow" (easy) course. I think most of the other people on our tour time were on the non-yellow, more challenging courses, because it seemed like we were the only people up in the trees! I didn't notice how attentive the staff was to the other members of the "11:30 adventure" but I felt like my family got super special treatment (I imagine other people in different areas of the course on that 11:30 adventure felt the same). We had at least 4 staff members that were either up on the course with us or on the ground just below us at all times, constantly giving help and encouragement. Being up in the trees was absolutely exhilarating, and I never felt scared for our safety, thanks to the expertise and attentiveness of the staff! Surprisingly, our thrill-seeker 7yr old actually got scared, so our kids only did once-through on yellow. Everyone's favorite was the big zip line at the end. My husband went through on his own a second time, and we all observed from the ground. While my husband was on his second time through, staff member advised us that we had been upgraded from the chalet to the 2br cabin. At first, I was disappointed, because the chalet pictures had sold us, but we ended up loving the 2br "Deer Run" cabin. After my husband finished his second time through (about 1:30pm I think), we headed to the cabin (which is right beside the adventure check in). We were grateful to gain access a little earlier than official check in time, so that we could shower (we were all very hot from the course on the mid-summer day). The cabin far exceeded our expectations. It was immaculate and seemed brand new, but full of character. Our children fell in love and asked if we could live there. We headed straight to the shower and then felt like idiots that we couldn't figure out how to switch the water from bath faucet to shower head (pull down on the round ring under the bath faucet -might be good idea to have this instruction posted in the bathroom). After we got cleaned up, we drove 10mins to Walker Diner on Main St for lunch (My husband loved his grilled pimento and ham sandwich). That night, we had planned for (and gotten permission from the owners) to use the fire pit near the adventure course check in to make s'mores, but lightning and thunder began just as we headed from the cabin to the fire pit, so we made "indoor s'mores" instead. Sunday morning, we headed out to the High Bridge Trail via the River Rd access (staff had advised that the trail was a lot shorter to get to the bridge from River Rd than from Main St). We were unprepared to pay the $4 parking fee with cash but luckily they accepted a credit card (only accepted after 10am) when we returned to the lot from the trail. The (very flat, easy) walk from the River Rd lot to the actual bridge is about a mile. The views from the bridge were amazing. Being on that bridge was like nothing I have experienced before. There is very little shade on the bridge so would be wise to do this in the early morning or late afternoon instead of the heat of the day in the summer! This was an excellent getaway for our family. We had a wonderful time, and definitely plan to return...and are recommending this to all our friends in the meantime! read more

My 15 year old niece and I stayed in the small cabin which was super cool (and very clean!) and we had a BLAST on the obstacle courses. If you think you're too old for this, think again.....I turned 52 while on the ropes!! And the people who run the place are the best part of the whole experience. Everyone is friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful. My (5) sisters and I are already planning a trip for us and all our kids. DO NOT MISS! read more

This park had been on my bucket list for a while after some friends had visited it and loved it. I finally took my son and daughter over Easter weekend and it was great! Exhilarating and challenging - it was a great workout! Fun! Fun! Fun! The entire staff were friendly and helpful. read more