Navitat Knoxville — Attraction in Knoxville

We knew ahead of our visit that there might be a storm coming, but being Tennessee natives, we knew that it's a 50/50 chance that a storm will actually get bad. We prepared to get wet and maybe get hit with some wind, got geared up, and headed out for our adventure. The first thing I want to say is that the staff is knowledgeable and will carefully explain how your equipment works. They'll also go over do's and don't's, along with the expected etiquette on the course that helps to make this a safer, more fun experience for everyone involved.

We were nervous, of course, as it was our first time doing a ropes course like this. But by the time we climbed up into the bird's nest (the central location of all their different rope courses) my confidence had begun to build. I took the lead on the easiest course they offer (beginner, remember?).

I made it through the first part of the course, scared out of my wits! As I moved on to the next part, the rain and wind began to pick up a little and there was a faint sound of thunder, but nothing seemed to dangerous yet. As I was reaching the end of the second course, lightning streaked across the sky, and the crew started reining everyone in for safety (the harnesses rely on metal clips and pieces for safety, which turned us all into lightning rods of a sort). I had to skitter back as quickly as possible to the bird house, where the crew went to work, frenetically removing the metal equipment from each and every person while also doing a headcount to make sure they had everyone.

We then hurried back to the nature center. As we removed the rest of the harness and equipment, there was a whisper that we might be able to continue if we wanted to head back down. By that time, everyone was tired and wet, and honestly a little over the weather. In their kindness, Navitat graciously granted certain customers partial or full refunds (depending on how long they spent on the course before it was closed) and issued rain checks for those of us who had just arrived.

Despite the bad weather and the cancellation, I found it to be an exhilarating experience. I also learned that the staff on site are very vigilant and careful, and will take time with you to make sure you understand how to work your harness and equipment. We are planning on using our rain check very soon, and can't wait to get back out...

Absolutely awesome time! Our crew members Hannah and Katelyn were superb. They made me and my gang feel confident and capable with the harness system despite some of us being a little bit slower to grasp it, they were very patient and informative. At one point while I was on one of the courses, a wild dodo bird swooped down from the trees above me and tried to eat my sweaty arms that smelled of bologna. Luckily I wasn't alone. Hannah heard my cry of terror and whipped out her nerf gun to gracefully and gently shoot the dodo bird off of me. The bird caw cawed off into the sky leaving me in peace to thank Hannah for saving my bologna scented life. Hannah was extremely humble and told me it was nothing. About an hour later while I was on yet another one of the 6 extraordinary and well designed courses, I was peacefully ziplining through the air when a rabid mosquito bit me in the neck. I don't know what kind of Sampson strength this little bug had but boy oh boy it YANKED me back on the zipline causing me to come to a complete stop. Thankfully Katelyn was watching like a hawk in case I needed help. She pulled her trusty boomerang out from her helmet and flung it at my neck. You might think that would've scared me, but you don't know Katelyn. With Katelyn I knew I didn't have to worry about a thing. I truested Hannah and Katelyn with my life and this was no exception. Katelyn's boomerang flung passed my hitting the mosquito off my neck but not even grazing my skin. I heard the mosquito cry out in anger at being forcibly removed from it's snack but it flew off unharmed. Katelyn's boomerang gracefully whipped back to her hand and she deposited back under her helmet. She put her hand up, stopping me as I opened my mouth. "No need to thank me, just doing my job." Gee wiz was I grateful I had such incredible guides. I will definitely recommend this well-managed, safe, exhilarating, shaded, and friendly-staffed ropes course location to friends, family members, dodo enthusiasts, and anyone that is within yelling distance. Thank you Hannah and Katelyn for the adventure...

My husband and I wanted to try the course out and was told about the night time experience so we decided to give it a try. We had to be there at 7:30 for an 8:00 adventure, to make sure we were registered and to sign our waivers, to get hooked up in our harnesses and get all of our gear on. They then talked to all of us as a group about our safety gear and what to expect up in the trees. From that point we walked to the course. The guides gathered us all together and showed us how to hook and unhook our tethers and use the keys to lock them in and out. Then we were all able to practice doing ourselves until we were comfortable doing it. After that, we were able to go pick which course we wanted to start out with. They have a total of 6 courses (we only did 2). They start with beginner courses and they progressively get harder but you only do the ones you want to do (you don't have to start out on a beginner course either). We did the beginner one first and then went on to beginner 2. We made it to the first zipline part of that one and I was too afraid to go on, so I went back and my husband continued on. We went to leave but when we got back to the Navitat building we talked to Ben and he asked me why we were leaving so early so I told him that I was afraid. He offered to go back with us and go down the zipline with me so I wouldn't be so scared. I agreed and we went back up. He took us up and went down with me, after that I went again by myself. I just needed that little extra comfort to be able to do it on my own. All the guides were very knowledgeable and there to help out if need be. Ben just has that charisma and offers to go the extra mile to make you feel comfortable and get you confident in knowing that you can do it yourself. It was really pretty up in the trees in the dark with all the twinkling lights,...