Dec 27, 2011
Skydive Spaceland is a three-generation family-owned and -operated business located in Rosharon, Texas, about 20 minutes south of downtown Houston, Texas. First opened for business in February 2000 by Steve Boyd, Sr., Skydive Spaceland has grown into a truly world-class skydiving facility capable of handling hundreds of skydivers jumping daily as well as the world’s largest skydiving competition, the United States Parachuting Association National Skydiving Championships (2009).
Skydive Spaceland is a progressive skydiving center with top-of-the-line skydiving equipment, aircraft, and instructors who continually refine our industry-leading Skydiver Training Program to create highly trained, capable skydivers. We also have several world record holders and medal-winning competitive skydiving teams jumping/training here. The coaching and organizing of these accomplished skydivers help us continue to advance skydiving skills across the drop zone, providing a fun, progressive environment for skydivers of all levels. Come visit Skydive Spaceland and see just how awesome skydiving can be!
History
Here’s a little of Skydive Spaceland’s history from its very first newsletter (March 2000, just after Spaceland’s grand opening):
After 30 years in this sport, my dreams are coming true daily. I remember stuffing T-10 parachutes into their deployment bags in the late 60s, training my first static line student in the 70s, skydiving hard through the 80s, and then opening my first DZ in the 90s. After 7 years of operating East Texas Skydiving in Gladewater, Texas, I realized I couldn’t achieve my goal of operating a full-time turbine DZ. There just wasn’t enough of a population base in NE Texas.
So, the planning began to move to a major city that would help me realize my dreams. After looking at areas such as Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, and then Houston, I decided to stay in Texas. There were large hurdles to overcome, including selling everything I owned in Longview and convincing my wife Michelle, pregnant at the time, that liquidating and moving to the big city of Houston would actually work (this was the hardest part!).
After working closely with the FAA to find the right location for our resort, the groundwork was laid. All of this took about 2 years. After purchasing the land in Sept ’99, it was a non-stop construction project. I also elected to be the general contractor of this huge undertaking. After getting the construction phase underway, I had to start making decisions on training programs, parachute equipment, aircraft, office equipment and finally staffing. These were all very large tasks, but I could see my dreams coming to life.
All of this would be completed in a record six months and Skydive Spaceland was open for business on Feb. 26, 2000. From that day forward, it has been a real learning experience. The trials and tribulations, the highs and lows, and the day to day experiences are all worth it when I watch all of you, walking with your head held high, smiling and proud to be a part of Skydive Spaceland. We are still in our infancy, growing as fast as my children are. I can only hope and pray this DZ will turn out as fine as they did. My late skydiving father, Darnell Boyd, would be very proud of what we have all done. This is his legacy in the making, to be handed down through future generations. SKYDIVING is and always will be the focus of Skydive Spaceland. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Steve Boyd
Drop Zone Owner
Skydive Spaceland
