Go Ape facts for kids
| Employee owned | |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder |
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| Headquarters |
UK
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| Services | Ropes courses, zip wires |
Go Ape! is an exciting outdoor adventure company. It offers fun activities like tree top ropes courses and zip lines. You can also try ground-based adventures like Forest Segway Safaris. Go Ape! has locations across the United Kingdom and the United States. It's a great place for families and friends to have an adventure together.
Contents
Go Ape! History
How It Started
Go Ape! was started in 2002 by Rebecca and Tristram Mayhew. They got the idea after visiting a cool tree-top adventure course in France. Their first course opened in March 2002 in Thetford Forest. This was the first self-belay tree top ropes course in Britain. It means you are always safely attached to a rope.
Growing Bigger
In 2003, Go Ape! won an award for Best Tourist Attraction. They have won other awards too! The company grew quickly, opening new courses in many places. On May 8, 2010, Go Ape! opened its first course in the United States. This was at Lake Needwood in Maryland. In March 2015, another course opened in Wake County.
New Ownership
In 2021, Go Ape! became an employee-owned company. This means that the people who work for Go Ape! also own a part of the company.
Amazing Achievements
Some people love Go Ape! so much they try to complete all the courses. On September 29, 2019, Verity Bailes became the first person to finish the Treetop Challenge at all 34 UK locations. Greg Whittle did the same on March 6, 2022, becoming the second person to achieve this.
What You Can Do at Go Ape!
Types of Courses
Go Ape! has 36 locations in forests and woodlands. These places are in England, Scotland, and Wales. The courses are made of many fun parts. You'll find rope ladders, zip-lines, rope bridges, trapezes, and swings.
There are different types of courses for different ages and skill levels:
- Treetop Adventure: These courses are great for younger adventurers, usually aged 6-12.
- Treetop Adventure Plus: These offer more challenges for those ready for the next step.
- Treetop Challenge: These are the biggest and most exciting courses for older kids and adults.
- Nets Adventure: These are giant bouncy nets high in the trees.
Other Activities
Besides the tree top courses, Go Ape! offers other cool activities:
- Forest Segway: You can ride Segway scooters through the forest trails. There are 12 Forest Segway experiences available.
- Axe Throwing: At some locations, you can try axe throwing. This is a fun and unique activity. As of 2022, four Go Ape! spots offer this.
Record-Breaking Fun
The Go Ape! course in Grizedale Forest has something special. It has the longest dual zip-lines in Britain! This means two people can zip down side-by-side.
Community Feedback
Sometimes, when Go Ape! plans a new course, local people have questions or concerns. For example, Go Ape! decided not to build a course in Glasgow's Pollok Park after many people shared their thoughts. They also chose not to build in the Bidjigal Reserve in Australia. In the United States, a plan for a course in Seattle's Lincoln Park was also changed after community feedback. Go Ape! listens to these concerns when planning new adventures.
