Are there Any Bungee Jumps in New York?

Among the extreme sports community, there seems to be a growing demand for bungy jumping. Some states, such as California, have been able to keep up with this demand, while others struggle. So, what about New York?

New York state has no actual bungee jumping locations. However, there are two rides at Darien Lake, a Six Flags location, where you can experience something similar to bungee jumping. These rides are the Slingshot, a reverse bungee jump, and the Skycoaster.

I will talk more about bungee jumping in New York, and also include a couple of places nearby where you can go bungee jumping if you’re looking to take a road trip! Let’s get started.

Can You Go Bungee Jumping Anywhere in New York?

After thorough research, I haven’t been able to find any bungee jumping locations in New York. However, there are a couple of rides that offer a similar experience!

Slingshot Reverse Bungee at Six Flags Darien Lake

One of the most popular bungee jumps in New York is the reverse bungee at Darien Lake, better known as the slingshot. Instead of only your body falling through the air, you’re strapped into a small, compact sphere, which is made of steel bars.

The contraption is then pulled down, and launched, sending you on a wild ride. Of course, the steel cage is held in place by two large elastic bands that allow the cage to bungee between two steel towers.

On this ride, you will reach speeds of 80 miles per hour, and heights of 300 feet while flipping, and flinging, and most likely, screaming! This is not for the faint of heart, as it’s a step up from bungee jumping.

If you still aren’t sure whether this is something you want to try, watch this video!

Skycoaster Bungee at Six Flags Darien Lake

It was thought for a while that the Skycoaster bungee at Darien Lake was shut down, but the name just changed. This ride is still known as the Skycoaster, but its official name is the Red Hawk. While this isn’t officially a bungee jump, it’s the second closest you can get to one in New York; think of it more as similar to the giant swing.

What’s cool about this ride is you can choose to go solo, or with up to two other people (depending on weight distribution). Also, the riders get to pull the cord themselves so they can control when to release.

Once released, the ride will send you falling 180 feet through the air, at about 60 miles per hour. Instead of bouncing back up as you would on a bungee, you’ll dip through, and swing high into the air on the other side. Eventually, each swing through will get lower, and lower, until the ride ends.

Anyone wanting to ride on the Red Hawk should take note that the cost is not included in the price for park admission. Therefore, expect to pay an additional fee.

Not sure if this is for you? No problem. Watch a video of it before hopping on the ride.

Where is the Closest Real Bungee Jump to New York?

Darien Lake is the only place that has anything even closely related to bungee jumping. Therefore, you will most likely find yourself traveling to nearby regions to find one you can enjoy! So, what are the ones closest to New York?

1. The Great Canadian Bungee (Quebec, Canada)

Distance from Syracuse, New York: 210 miles
Height: 200 feet
Type: Head first
Website: https://bungee.ca/

If you’re able to travel to Canada, this is probably hands-down one of the best locations to go bungee jumping in North America, but more importantly, it’s a short drive away from New York. Also, this location allows you to opt for a head or body dip into the water! So, on those hot days, you can keep cool while enjoying your jump.

This bungee, also known as “The Rock,” sits above a gorgeous lagoon that’s around 160 feet deep. A rescue squad stands by as you leap off of the end of the platform, ready to retrieve you once your jump is over, or in case of an exceedingly rare emergency.

There are even areas around the gorge where friends and family can sit to watch the jumpers, for no extra cost! Or, if bungee jumping isn’t your thing, there is also a zipline you can ride on while your friends take the leap.

If you aren’t sure if this jump is for you, check out this video!

2. Vertigo Bungee (Lawrenceburg, Kentucky)

Distance from Jamestown, New York: 496 miles
Height: 240 feet
Type: Head first

Kentucky isn’t necessarily a neighbor to New York, however, it’s just a day’s drive away! So, if you want to take a little weekend road trip, this Vertigo Bungee would be a great spot to come to. The bridge is 240 feet high, and you’ll dive head-first into the waters below. And yes! You may dip into the Kentucky River.

This is a fantastic way to experience the state and the gorgeous views it has to offer. There’s nothing more beautiful than the rolling hills surrounding the river.

Still not sure if this is the ideal jump for you? Here’s a video you can watch before you embark on your journey!

Can You Bungee Jump off the Empire State?

No, you cannot jump off the Empire State building. A quick Google search may tell you that you can indeed bungee jump off of the Empire State Building, however, this is false.

An Instagram post by the nybucketlist announced on April 1st, 2021 that the skyscraper would be open to bungee jumping but you need to check the date. Yep! It was an April Fool’s Joke.

So, the correct answer is no, you cannot bungee jump off of the Empire State Building. There are too many risks involved. Although, there is a place nearby where you can scale a skyscraper, and then look down above New York City from the highest platform. This is also a great adrenaline rush, see more on this below.

Was there ever Bungee Jumping in New York?

There was a bungee jump once upon a time called Z-boing over in Orchard Park. However, it’s been closed down for quite some time now and is not available to ride anymore.

What are Some Related Activities to Bungee Jumping in New York?

It’s evident that New York is lacking when it comes to bungee jumping, however, that is not to say there aren’t other adrenaline-packed activities. Below are just a couple of the extreme sports you can find throughout New York!

City Climb: A Daring Adventure Above NYC

@edgenyc This is how we do #CityClimb 🧗 Would you try this out in NYC? #edgenyc #thingstodoinnyc #thrillseekers #bucketlistadventures #funthingstodo #nycviews ♬ This Is How We Do It – Montell Jordan

If you are on the search for something like bungee jumping in New York, the CIty Climb is a thrill for any of us adrenaline junkies. You get to experience a height like no where else, much higher than any bungee jump in the world.

The City Climb is an exhilarating experience that lets you scale a skyscraper over 1,200 feet high, then lean out to view the city from the highest outdoor platform. It’s similar to the Edge Walk at the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada.

City Climb participants must meet specific restrictions, such as:

Age: 13+ (And at least one adult, 18+, must participate with minors)
Height: 4.9ft – 6.7ft
Maximum Weight: 310lbs

It is a good idea to be somewhat physically fit as the experience includes climbing stairs. A City Climb ticket also includes visiting The Edge, which is known as the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere!

Ready for the climb of your life? Book the City Climb here now!

Skydiving in New York

While quite different from bungee jumping, skydiving still offers an amazing adrenaline rush coupled with unparalleled views of the Earth below. Here are just a few of the best places to book a skydiving session with:

Long Island Skydiving Center

Long Island Skydiving Center isn’t far from New York City! When jumping at this location, you’ll be able to see the New York Coast as well as the city of New York from a whole new perspective. You’ll be in great hands here!

Skydive Central New York

When skydiving here, you’ll be able to view the Finger Lakes area, as well as Lake Ontario as you’re plummeting toward the Earth at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour! This is also a professional training facility, so you know safety is their first line of focus.

Western New York Skydiving

Here you can tandem dive, or work towards your skydiving license as they offer a variety of programs. They have over 40,000 jumps and love teaching newbies how to dive, as well as helping to train experienced jumpers for their wingsuit jumps.

Skydive the Falls

Skydive the Falls offers skydivers the chance to view Niagara Falls in a way that few people get to see them! This is the best possible way to view them, but you’ll have to jump out of a plane. Moreover, you’ll get to see Ontario, and the skyline of Toronto.

Skydive Saratoga

This drop zone is family operated, which allows for a more intimate and personalized skydiving experience! Plus, again, the views are stunning. You cannot go wrong selecting this location.

Indoor Skydiving in New York

Indoor skydiving allows you to experience the thrill of skydiving without actually jumping out of a plane. You’ll get to feel the weightlessness of skydiving while an instructor helps to hold you steady and does tricks! Here are a few places you can do this:

Indoor skydiving is slowly beginning to expand in New York! There is a new iFLY location that will be going up in Queens New York, at 10-04 Borden Ave, Queens, NY 11101.

Ziplining in New York

Lastly, another way to get your adrenaline fixed is by ziplining! There are plenty of places throughout the state to do this. However, I’ve hand-selected a few of the best.

Hunter Mountain Zipline

Hunter Mountain is a beautiful place in the Catskills, and offers six ziplines to play on, where you can glide at 50 miles per hour through the air as you enjoy the views! However, you’ll most likely want to book ahead of time to ensure your spot.

Windham Mountain

This is a great option for those who don’t have much time, but still want to have the experience! There are only two lines here, and you can choose to ride once or twice. The lines are 500 feet long and 40 feet high, and you can race your family and friends!

Adirondacks Extreme Adventure Course

Your admission to this adventure course includes two rounds of the course. There is a total of 12 ziplines in addition to 9 bridges. However, there is a reach requirement, and your fingers should be able to reach a height of 5’ 9”.

Other Adventerous New York Tours You Can Book Today

Are There Any New Bungee Jumps Coming to New York?

At the time of writing, there is no talk of any new bungee jumps coming to New York, unfortunately. However, that’s not to say that there won’t be any, even in the near future. There hasn’t been any public talk of it as far as I can tell after thorough research.

Find out about more bungee locations nearby in our related posts:

Heather Wright

When Heather is not participating in extreme sports you can find her working the events across the country, or writing about these amazing adrenaline rushes. She loves to go skydiving, snowboarding, parasailing, hang gliding, dirt boarding, off-roading and hiking.