We left Niagara Falls and, after a breakfast stop in Buffalo, headed to Camelback Resort in Pennsylvania. It would be our final stop before arriving in New York City and returning the rental car. I had been looking for a place between Niagara Falls and NYC where we could go zip lining, and that’s when Camelback came up. Although it’s known primarily as a ski resort, it offers plenty of activities during the summer months too.
The resort features both an indoor and an outdoor waterpark, along with a Mountain Adventure Park. From treetop obstacle courses and a mountain coaster to mini golf and zip lining, there was no shortage of things to do. Zip lining was at the top of my list, and the teenagers were just as excited. The adventure park offered two options: a 4,000-foot-long zip rider and a much shorter zip line. We went with the zip rider. Once you convert it into meters, it’s not quite as impressive — just over 1,200 meters — but still a solid ride.
I’ve gone zip lining three times before. The first was in Laos, where we spent two days flying along long zip lines over waterfalls. Then there was Costa Rica, where I somehow survived a Tarzan jump. And once, in Ecuador, I did a Superman-style zip line. So I had reason to expect a real adventure, though we’d have to wait until the next morning to experience it.
After forgoing the valet parking which was a really wise decision in hindsight we first visited the indoor waterpark. I wasn’t really sure where the outdoor park was located so despite the nice weather we stayed indoors. Also, at check-in no one mentioned another waterpark being included.
The teenagers had fun enough while I sat in the hot and humid park drinking overpriced water and trying to read a book. Kids were yelling, music was playing, and overall it was the weirdest experience ever. I am definitely not a waterpark kind of girl.
indoor waterpark @Camelback Resort
There was only so much to do at the waterpark, and eventually the teenagers wandered downstairs to the arcade area. We met up later for pizza at a food stall within the resort and were looking forward to relaxing with some Netflix, but we couldn’t get it to connect to the TV. Even the house technician couldn’t figure it out. So much for our stay at Camelback Resort.
The next morning, we left the resort and drove just a couple of minutes to the Mountain Adventure Park. We arrived early to take care of the usual paperwork and get into our gear, but the Zip Rider station was not ready. It still had to be tested or prepared in some way. Instead of soaring down the mountain at 11 a.m. as scheduled, we finally made it to the top of the hill around 11:40.
It did not exactly inspire much confidence in how things were run.
getting ready for zip lining @Mountain Adventure Park
Their insistence on calling it a zip rider did not help much either. Once we reached the top, it became clear that we would be sitting in regular zip lining gear. There was no flying involved, just a straightforward slide down the cable.
Since we were hoping to get on the road to New York City, I volunteered to go first with my friend. There was no better time than the present to see if the system actually worked.
getting fitted into the ‘zip rider’ gear @Mountain Adventure Park
It was an okay experience, but far from the thrill I usually get from zip lining. The automatic braking system definitely took away from the excitement, making the ride feel a bit too controlled. The teenagers, on the other hand, absolutely loved it, so maybe I’m just a little spoiled. If you want to see all the of 75 seconds of the ride, please watch it here.
how it looks when you ‘zip ride’ @Mountain Adventure Park
All in all, our stay at Camelback Resort was, in my opinion, the least enjoyable day of the trip. Which is strange, considering it included both a waterpark and a zip lining experience. Maybe it was the overly managed and staged idea of “fun” that made it feel less special. Or maybe it was the steep pricing on everything from parking to food and drinks that left a sour impression.
The place gives off an all-inclusive resort vibe, yet in reality, you pay for everything separately, and there are no real alternatives nearby. As a guest, you end up feeling more like a walking wallet than a valued customer.
Would I come here again? Definitely not. Yours, Pollybert
