Historic Banning Mills — Hotel in Carrollton

Zip lining at Historic Banning Mills provides a memorable experience with excellent value. The Canopy Level 3 tour covers a significant distance, sixteen zip lines, and several bridges over a three-plus hour duration. Pricing is competitive, with decent photos included at no extra charge, offering better value compared to other zip lining locations. Cameron, the guide you must request, delivers a quick yet thorough briefing, covering all safety and functionality information without delaying the action any longer than necessary. The scenery becomes increasingly stunning as the tour progresses, and a fall visit enhances the natural splendor. The strategic course design ensures all tour levels start and end at a central point. This setup allows for short breaks and enables groups on different tour packages to converge, creating an enjoyable and often comical mix of personalities and interactions. The Power Free Fall add-on is essential for thrill-seekers, combining panoramic forest views and a solid stair-climbing workout with a genuinely exhilarating drop.

Despite many positive aspects, a few elements detract from the experience. The check-in process was unnecessarily complicated, as the front desk requires ID and credit card verification—even with a reservation. Guests almost invariably prefer to leave their wallets in their cars, so this process effectively requires you to park, walk to the check-in building, trudge back to your car to retrieve items you wanted to leave behind, present those items, return to your car to store them, then walk back to the check-in building. The approach feels cumbersome and overly skeptical, as if the business assumes you are fraudulent until proven otherwise. Other zip lining locations simply require you to state your name and reservation time. Additionally, the provided gloves are damp, raising concerns about cleanliness after prior use.

In stark contrast to Cameron, the other guide enforces tight control over the guest experience, substantially limiting the sense of adventure. Unlike other zip lining locations where flexibility is allowed and even encouraged, this guide maintains strict posture rules and discourages even minor inversions, even though the guides are allowed to ride hands-free or sway dramatically during their turns. Riding sixteen zip lines in the same position quickly becomes monotonous.

Overall, Historic Banning Mills delivers impressive value, stunning scenery, a rigorous workout, and friendly staff. A return visit would focus primarily on the Power Free Fall and a Level 1 or 2 Canopy Tour, ideally guided by Cameron or his brother Tyler, whose lively personalities bring a much-needed sense of fun to an otherwise dry and rigid experience.

TLDR Recommendations: Do the Power Free Fall Bring earplugs (they are not offered, and you can experience upwards of 90-dB sounds depending on your weight and speed) Save money and time by booking the Level 1 or 2 Canopy Tour Limit your thrill expectations for the zip...

will not be sending my kids back to this camp. They enjoyed the experiences of the activities, however, I do not believe the kids are appropriately supervised during the down times like lunch and swim based on the stories reported to me. For example, one of the kids in my son’s group throughout the week elbowed my son in the gut, stole a walking stick from his hands and punched him in the nose after pushing a younger kid to the ground. The response from Ethan the lead counselor was that it was just boys being boys and my son was accidentally punched. None of which would have been told to me except that I asked my kids “ how was camp”. There’s also some other holes in Ethans story that would make this post very long. I believe he is just untrustworthy ultimately. Then when my wife was upset he just arrogantly dismissed her and then started to record her when she got upset. My other son on the last day came home with a knot and a bruise on his head after a teenager was thrown onto him in the pool. Again just not supervised. Their website claims these acts as well as profanity won’t be tolerated which I believe relieved some stressors as a parent. However, not only do they tolerate it, they tried to hide it and blame shift.

Response to owner: Y’all gave me your perspective on the matter and I was inclined to believe you in the moment. After speaking with my sons separately I was irritated with myself for not fighting for them more. It was not horse playing period. One kid punched another over not getting his way in a game. I bet you never contacted his parents to let them handle their own son. The kids wanted to finish the last 2 days and we let them thinking surely the week would finish better than it started. (Not referring to the activities). A refund was already denied by Ethan. I find it hard to believe they are watched by 2 counselors at all times when all the events above had to be reported to counselors who hadn’t witnessed it. Especially the punch and the pool accident. But look they also had stuff stolen on the last day from their lunch and apparently some inappropriate music at the pool. Again, just putting info out there so others know what they are getting into. The activities were great, just an unfortunate situation that we were not pleased with how it...

We had the most amazing experience! My husband and I were set to take our first trip in a decade to a place in blue ridge… turns out they were booked. This place came highly recommended in one of my mom fb groups so I looked into it. We didn’t have a huge budget or a lot of time… for a fantastic deal we booked here! When we arrived, we booked a tour for zip lining. Initially, we were going to book the full tour. I’m so glad we didn’t! Although it would’ve been amazing, my husband and I aren’t built like that! We did three levels. It was super exciting! Our instructors, Cameron and Gary, were amazing! They were funny, laid-back, informative, and friendly. I loved the two barn cats! Dinner was fantastic! My husband had wild boar medallions, and I had the blood orange salmon. It was truly a gourmet meal! The service was friendly. Trevor was our server. he allowed us to enjoy our meal, and also made the most of it! Darren answered all of my questions! I called multiple times before hand, and when I got there. Lots of questions! Darren truly took extra time and care to make it special. There were many wonderful people as well that I didn’t catch their names. I wish I had! Not only would I go back there for another romantic getaway with my husband I intend to go back there with my children as well! They would love the bridges and activities. Of course, the food and games! Especially loved that it required me to put my electronics down to connect better. We got to stay in a Kings view room. The treehouse we had requested was under maintenance. Although that was slightly disappointing, because I was excited about the atmosphere, we were the only ones in the cabins! And it was brand new! Everything about it was beautiful and peaceful. I am forever, grateful, and overjoyed that I trusted them with my very first vacation with my husband after Kids. I look forward to my next visit!

If I had any regret, it would be that I could’ve tipped better. I tipped them minimum. I hadn’t truly budgeted for that. But these employees deserve a 100% tip! They make it worth every penny and every moment. I promise to make up for it next time. Thank you banning mills and all persons there! Thank...