Skydiving: Is it on your bucket list?

GREENE COUNTY — A Greene County business that was unsure of its future during the pandemic is now thriving thanks to people with what is called a “COVID bucket list,”

The pandemic has changed the way many people think about life and they’re doing things now that they might have put off in the past.

Kelly West, who owns Skydive Greene County, said she was worried about maintaining the business that started in 1991 because of COVID. Thanks to the federal funding, she was able to keep the doors open, but said something interesting happened.

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“Everybody has a COVID bucket list. After the movie was released, a lot of older people, my age and older, had a bucket list and skydiving was on it and they are going to do it before they die. All of a sudden, COVID. I have 18-year-olds saying they have bucket list, and they have a list of things they want to do before they die,” said West.

About two weeks ago, Skydive Greene County held Jump Fest to celebrate local World War II veteran Jim “Pee Wee” Martin’s 101st birthday. West said talking with him really helped her put things in perspective.

“Just really soaking in how short life really is and that you really do have to live life to its fullest really hit home,” West said.

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For some, jumping out of an airplane is something they’ve always wanted to do. And, West said she’s happy to help cross skydiving off their bucket list.

“We have the rare opportunity to make drams come true. Make that dream of human flight come to reality. That gives us the feel goods. We like to make people happy,” West said.

According to West, she said they are doing the best they can to keep up with both new and regular customers. She said those wanting to jump have the best chance to secure a spot by booking a time slot on its website.

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