OCALA, Fla. — When you think of Central Florida’s terrain, you tend to think of very flat land.

But there’s a place in Florida, not far from Orlando, that offers cliffs, canyons, and even spring-fed lakes.

The perfect place to build one of the tallest and longest zip lines in the state.

Clay Parton, who has been zip lining for 12 years, says people come to Ocala and the Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park because of the scenery.

“The cliffs, the scenery. It just transports you to another place,” said Parton.

The park is celebrating 12 years of offering a unique zip line destination in the state of Florida.

“It’s like you’re not in Florida, but you’re still in Florida,” said Parton.

After arriving at the facility at 8045 NW Gainesville Road, Ocala, you will get your gear and a tram will take you closer to the zip line course.

There are three different courses to choose from, offering some 17 different runs.

Visitors go through a short ground school course to teach them on a practice run (a zip line where you can even touch the ground) before you soar like a bird on a regular line.

“Some people are just excited to go. I would say some are just scared the whole time. And some people after they do the first one, they are like woo, this is fun not scary,” he said.

Parton helped the owners (before it opened) explore the 100-acre facility and helped to uncover the cliffs, canyons and even some 30 caves on the property.

The land was once a mining facility dating back to the 1920s.

“When they were mining here, a lot that stuff that came out of the pits in the teens and 20s was used as the base of I-75,” Parton said.

The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park is open during the week and weekends.

Zip line prices start at $66 per person.

The facility also offers horseback riding and kayak tours. 

For more information, go to The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park.