Lonestar Parachute Center

This was my first time skydiving and it was so much fun! We had to wait five hours due to the wind conditions, they couldn’t give updates because it’s so unpredictable of when things would improve. The front office staff was rude and seemed annoyed any time we would ask a question, but all of the instructors were really nice and friendly. Patrick cracked jokes to ease my anxiety and made the experience that much more fun. I’d do it again!

My friends and I went skydiving for the first time and absolutely loved it! The instructors completely made the experience with their fun-​loving personalities and making sure we all felt comfortable. It was amazing and I completely recommend Lonestar to anyone!

I had really high expectations for this place, the first woman I talked to Ariana was great, really friendly got me booked in with the handi-​cam deal for my boyfriends 21^st birthday. Our first reservation got cancelled because of lack of reservations and the weather, which was fine. We ended up going on the Saturday of that week and when we arrived we were greeted by friendly people who got us all informed on the jump.
We waited for 2 hours and watched 2 people from the same training class as us jump, then we asked what was going on. We were told there was a mix up and the instructor took the wrong person up and that he would jump on the next plane. Finally he jumped and loved it. We went inside to get the video we paid $ 100 extra for, only to drive an hour home, put it in the computer, and see a complete strangers skydive. We were pretty upset so we called the office and they told us they would just e-​mail us a copy within 24 hours. I called them again and the woman on the phone told me they would call me back which they did and now I finally have a copy.
The skydiving part was great and everyone was professional and great at their job but I’m extremely disappointed that I paid $ 100 extra for a video I didn’t get on the first day on a disk. I received it on the third day, but at least I got the video in the end.
Again the instructors are awesome, they were really good at what they do. And the people I talked to on the phone today were great. I’m just disappointed about the mix up.

First, let’s get the good going: The dive masters are awesome people with an obvious passion for skydiving. They were engaging and empathetic to the needs of the participants. These are folks I’d gladly play games with and go drink lots of beer and hard alcohol (after the jump, of course!)
Now the bad. Lonestar is incredibly poorly organized. We scheduled for an afternoon jump at first, and then we’re told — after 6 hours — that they couldn’t let us jump because they didn’t have enough daylight and there was something with the equipment. I get it – jumping is predicated on the weather and other factors. But because they were so unclear and evasive about the reasons, it felt, well, disorganized and left a bad taste.
We end up going back few weeks later; two of us didn’t have our «rainchecks» and apparently they don’t keep adequate enough records so that they felt like *we* might be ripping *them* off. (So much for the customer is always right!) After a lot of hemming and hawing and negotiating and passing the buck, they finally let the two of go for an additional $ 50 transfer fee. EACH!
Mind you, they have all these warnings on their website. It seems like they have these warning more like so they can mess up with no consequences more so than for actually protecting against fraudulent behavior.
To top it off, after we’re all waiting around for 3 more hours, the owner comes by and has a dilemma about how we’re an odd number of people, so it throws off his flight schedules. He looking to US, the CUSTOMERS, for answers. What? And this also might explain why our first experience was so horrible — bad scheduling of flights. They couldn’t get all the customers in before sundown because of bad numbers!!! Yeah, sure, people want to jump with their friends, I get that. But considering once you get up there, it hardly makes a difference, just intermingle strangers! Get volunteers! Do something other than look at the customer like we’re the idiots, you know, for having an odd number of friends.
Just don’t go. I know you probably can find some cheap deals with them — but pay the higher price for a more reliable outfit. We burned the extra cost savings just in the cost of gas with our FOUR 45 minute drives (there and back).
I would have bailed on the whole thing, had the dive masters not been so friendly and competent. I certainly didn’t feel safe until I talked to a few of them.

I surprised my boyfriend for his birthday in August to go skydiving. He’s always talked about wanting to go. I actually gave up the surprise about a week before his birthday because I could not keep it a secret anymore. It is about a 2 hour drive from Houston but definitely worth it. I believe our jump was scheduled for 9:30 and we jumped around 11am which is not that bad of a wait. Our instructors were great and made sure we had a good time. It’s definitely something everyone should try at least once.

My skydive experience was absolutely amazing. Dana was absolutely perfect. She made me feel extremely comfortable and safe about the jump. So much so I purchased an additional two jumps at the lower rate of $ 135 one for myself and one for a friend. I purchased these jumps from Chloe at the front desk and I went ahead and booked my next jumps and made it very clear I would be bringing a friend and one of the additional jumps was for a friend. I gave them all of his information as well as my own, for my next jump. Dana was so awesome I requested her again. Can’t say enough great things about Dana if I could give Dana a five star I would. When my friend and I arrived for my next jump and his first. They already had my information as well as his but would not honor the jump that I had paid for because it was his first jump. when I explained that Chloe had sold me two tickets and I clearly explained to her that the additional one was for a friend she assured me it was no problem. I ended up having to pay additional $ 54 for my friends jump their mistake but I had to pay for it. If I hadn’t been so far from home I would have taken my money back and went elsewhere.
Don’t forget to tip your instructors. Request Dana she’s an angel in the Sky.

First of all I’d like to say the jumpers there were actually really great, very fun to talk to and jump with. This review does not reflect the professionalism of the jumpers (Ask for Chris, he’s a cool dude). Once we were in the hands of the jumpers everything ran smoothly and the jump was great.
The reason for the 1 star is the organization of the staff and the owner:
The owner (tall ginger guy) is an asshole. He does not care about the customer experience at all. He trains the staff accordingly and nobody ever seems to be on the same page. Our friends came in with proof of «rain check» and he charged them $ 50 extra each to jump. When confronted with problems he tends to ask for an arbitrary amount of money and then make himself scarce. Another friend couldn’t make the reschedule date that was chosen for him and when he tried to reschedule for a time when he could jump the owner tried to charge him $ 100.
Don’t believe anything they say when calling ahead. We asked if all 7 of us could jump at the same time and they said yes. They only had 2 tandem harnesses on the day we were supposed to jump making that impossible. The plane holds plenty of people but they are limited by staff and equipment.
We were forced to reschedule after waiting for 6+ hours the first day, this was due to lack of planning by Lonestar, not weather or maintenance related.
The loading policy is disorganized. They cannot handle the traffic that the Groupon is bringing them. San Marcos is a good alternative.

Disorganized. Desensitized. Unprofessional.
Making appointments are pointless and time management is a big fat joke!
To be clear, I was not a jumper but a part of the family of 2 tandem divers. We were prepared to make a day of this family event but to be turned away after 8+hours because they jam packed their schedule, to what I can only assume is more money in their pocket, because the sun was setting.
Yes yes yes, I know the sunset is a safety issue but in this profession you do know when the sun sets and the fact that the last plane before my family members were suppose to be on was filled with more workers than customers (BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE SUN WAS SETTING) was just a slap in the face. Being there for that many hours we could tell the difference.
So here came the rescheduling, the promise of an upgrade and a raincheck for the first spot on the next plane. So the rescheduling was made.
Then, to our surprise, on rescheduling day our family members who were diving had their jump threatened to be cancelled because another family member (non-​diver) was consuming alcohol on the premises. Haha. First, no where on the website, email, signs on premises or any other information outlet for this facility states that alcohol is not welcomed. Only the divers are not to consume before a jump. No warning, no professionally asking to put in the car, just plain out «I wanted to cancel your jump but my wife convinced me to let y’all jump» oh and by the way, we are taking away your upgrade we promised you, for having to reschedule, because your dad has a beer. And what was even more upsetting is that we witnessed workers/​staff smoking (signs are actively posted that there is no smoking) and alcohol was brought to the premises from the lot around another building behind the restrooms.
My family members were just glad to finally jump, they were content with their video, BUT WE ALL AGREE TO SPREAD THE WORD AND NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE EVER AGAIN.

The actual skydiving was the best experience of my life. Instructors were awesome and no complaints on this end. They all seemed friendly, were funny, and answered every question we asked. Made me feel very secure.
However, their systems and process of doing things could be greatly improved. Was scheduled to skydive at 12 PM, was told to come in at 11:30 AM in order to not inconvenience others after us. Did as we were told and arrived early, but for nothing. They don’t actually schedule any jumps until you get there and if there are people that have raincheck slips, they put them in front of you no matter how long you’ve waited. On this particular day, I was told 10 people came in with rainchecks and were put in front of us. Worse, they either forgot to put our names on the list or something when we got there because people that arrived an hour AFTER us got to jump before us. We were both groups of pairs so it made no sense why they were loaded before us.
It was about 1 PM when we asked for an estimate of when we might go, they said probably in about 2 hours. No problem. We drove to HEB and Buccee’s nearby then came back in an hour and a half and asked again. They told us maybe in 2 to 2 ½ hours. This made us quite upset, so we asked what loading number we were. They didn’t know and told us to come back in 20 minutes to find out. Basically, they said 2 hours even though they didn’t actually remember who we are and what group we were.
Long story short, I waited 8 hours to jump. I also drove 3 hours in order to make it here and had to drive 3 hours back afterwards, making it an incredibly long day.
This was a fun experience, just beware of management and the wait times. They could be a lot more organized, I can think of plenty of easy fixes to make everything go smoother. I hope they can change and improve things soon, since the instructors were great and I wish them success.

Skydiving should be a fun experience, not miserably waiting in the sun (8+ hours) while groups that came 1 – 2 hour behind you jump first. I really don’t understand the loading policy but it seems like a big mess. Management doesn’t have answers to the questions asked. The only response was «sorry I have no answer to why we put other groups that came in after you before you». In my honest opinion I would spend the extra 50 – 100 on a better managed facility. They need better front staff training and that falls under the manager. If the manager can’t fix or answer questions he or she need to be demoted to a basic employee.
In response: if you read the legal contract it states that you should not consume any alcohol 12 hours before your jump. How ever that’s not listed In the email nor was it ever brought up by instructor or any employees. I personally think something that important should be provided to the costumer prior to arriving to the facility. In all honesty I was not upset one bit about not being able to jump. (Read other people reviews). Staff drinks on site when customers are still around. A class in business professionalism be taken by the manager.

We had an awesome time and experience skydiving. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and enhanced our positive experience. We will definitely be back !!

Just Do It!!! They are excellent at what they do, if you don’t leave this place with a joy in your heart then you are issues. Big Russian, Stacey and Donna are great!

Yay, this place did not disappoint. I coordinated a surprise birthday skydive for my boyfriend and like 11 of his friends. I asked Lonestar Skydive a lot of questions and had to make several additions to our group and I was always answered quickly and with super friendly service. With their help, I was able to pull of this birthday surprise with ease.
Everyone in the group had an amazing experience and my boyfriend refers to it as the best birthday ever!!! *pats myself on the back* a couple of us got the video and picture package and it’s soo worth it. I recommend you throw those dollars down to capture this experience.
They have picnic tables to hang out in while you wait. I saw some other people bring a mini grill to cook stuff in.
You must do thissss#

We went as a group, 3÷14÷15, and we were the first group to jump. It helped that the weather was the best in WEEKS, but the crew was so nice! Made us feel safe and I was so excited. I thoroughly enjoyed this place and the people. I will for sure go again.
Also they have some HOTT instructors!

What a fun day! Great jump with a fun staff! They made it a fun day and great event. We had so much fun! The medium photo package was great and a great way to document the event! I’m hooked!

I did my first dive today and it was AWESOME!!! Thank you friendly staff at Lonestar Parachute Center! It was a bit of a wait to get up in the air but it was to be expected for safety reasons and worth it :) I can’t wait to jump again and I would do it again with Lonestar Parachute Center!

I made an appointment three weeks in advance with Lonestar Parachute Center, and was told to arrive fifteen minutes early. My family drove an hour to get there, and arrived on time at 9:45 for the 10:00 appointment. We were the only people there. After about ten minutes, a young man arrived and told us that we needed to check in with an office person, who would «be here literally any minute.» A camera man also arrived by 10:00. We waited for the office person until she arrived at 10:20, which means we had been waiting for 35 minutes. She explained that because it costs too much to run the plane without enough people, there was no way we would be able to go skydiving without rescheduling. She told us that the pilot was not coming in for the day. To be fair, they had left a message on my phone while I was busy at work the day before, but I hadn’t had the time to check the message by the morning.
I don’t understand the point of making the appointment if they can break it at any moment. If they had wanted to reschedule, I don’t understand why they waited until less than 24 hours before the day and time we had agreed on. If the pilot was not showing up that day, I don’t understand why the camera man was there. I don’t understand why we were told to wait for 35 minutes if nobody was flying that day. The last thing I wanted to do was make another appointment with these people. It was extremely disappointing, and a tremendous waste of planning, gas, and time.

My first sky diving experience… and yes it was ok experience. Let’s directly come to the points.
Pro —
1) Got a good deal on Group On.
2) They made us real comfortable and yes, it wasn’t scary at all
Con —
1) A really tiny aircraft and so when you sit you have to really squeeze in.
2) Its tough to get a camera man jump with you unless its an easy day (again because the aircraft is so small)
3) if you are last in the day, it may result in real rush in.
All in all, it was an OK experience and we did enjoy our jump. The only thing missing was that we didn’t have good video of our jump as it was taken in a hand mounted camera.
So, I would recommend this place but make sure that you ask for a camera person to jump with you and book an early slot. Its a little more costly but you will experience far better video.

Amazing time. Crew was personable and fun. Videos came out great.
The whole experience was great. Definetly worth it.

These last few years have been rough and I have made commitments to myself that I don’t want to go back on; as a vow to start over, I decided to commence with skydiving! Fall 10,000 feet and just let go of everything! It should be noted, I am deathly afraid of heights!
I wanted to skydive at the end of my road trip with my father, but the weather had different plans; I am so thankful I scheduled the jump for Oct 3, the conditions couldn’t have been more perfect! It was extremely beautiful to sit outside enjoy the scenery, and every once in a while look up and watch people skydive, it really helped get me mentally ready.
When it was time for me to put on my gear, I met my wonderful awesome tandem mate (Chris); he was extremely nice and totally relaxed. I think he could tell how nervous I was about jumping. When the plane arrived we got in and as we flew up into the sky I had this sense of calming fear take over, like this is it, no going back!
The sky was so amazing we were able to see Austin, the plane did a turn and then you could see how far down you were going to go, and I just took a deep breathe! As the plane was getting into position for us to jump, Chris went over some final details, I almost bursted out into tears I was so terrified, but he had this very calming nature and reassured me how much fun I was going to have; the plane door opened!
As I put one foot on the outside step of the plane, it felt like my other foot wasn’t going to follow, but it did. I must of have been shaking something horrible, I tried to get into the position they asked the best I could and it felt like we were just going to be on the ledge forever but then I felt us fall forward and well that is it; you are falling!
The feeling I felt can’t be described, the closest I can come is that it is the most free feeling I have ever felt and beats every other experience with heights to date! When Chris pulled the cord to let the parachute out, I remember my legs shooting out in front of me, and then we were gliding through the air, it was just phenomenal!
Chris tried so hard for me to let go of my handles and I begged not to and promised if I didn’t have to let go of my handles I would totally go skydiving with him again! The trip down to the ground is forever burnt into my mind, the beautiful scenery, you just can’t describe what it is like, because it isn’t like anything else!
I feel completely refreshed and ready to start over; to new beginnings! Thank you so much for making my first time with skydiving such a memorable and enjoyable experience; I will for sure have to repeat it!