Page 100 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2017

LEISURE unforgettable experience
Elevate Red Creek
5106-A Vestry Rd., Perkinston, MS 39573 | 601.945.2888 | www.elevateredcreek.com
100 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2017 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
Elevate Red Creek, the Coast’s premiere aerial adventure park experience, truly lives up to its name. Though some might initially think the name Elevate stems only from the course’s position high above the lush landscape of South Mississippi, there is actually a much deeper meaning behind it.
According to T.J. Golson, who co-owns Elevate with partner Dusty Watts, the two toiled over finding the perfect name for the adventure course.
“We wanted to be sure that it wasn’t just a catchy name, but a brand that spoke to people,” Golson said.
For Golson and Watts, Elevate isn’t just an attraction,
but a physical and mental experience. “This place is meant to elevate people’s minds, bodies and spirits,” Golson said. “We help people understand that though it may seem daunting at first, they can see it, they can do it and they can succeed. It’s all about attitude.”
With the help of the Elevate team, adventurers are led through the canopy obstacles and challenges, always being sure to keep safety as the number one priority. In fact, Elevate provides a mandatory “ground school” to teach
each climber the necessary techniques to navigate the challenge courses. After
a successful completion
of ground school, where participants demonstrate
their understanding of the equipment and challenges
on the courses, they will feel confident as they climb, leap, swing, zip and balance their way through the courses. With three courses to choose from, there’s something for everyone in the family. While the Mockingbird course is perfect for younger explorers over 6 years old (and at least 48 inches tall), the Kingfisher and Osprey courses are more advanced (for participants over 56 inches tall).
Although the Osprey course is the most challenging course of all, with 21 challenges
that take participants to over 50 feet in the canopy, the Kingfisher course proves to be a perfect starting point
for many thrill-seekers. The Kingfisher course ranges from 13 to 35 feet above the ground and incorporates 14 different challenges along the way.
The obstacles on Kingfisher include climbing nets, wobbly bridges, climbing walls, and of course zip-lines! One of
the course’s most exciting features is its zip lines that traverse Red Creek several times.
Be sure to take in the beautiful scenery as you make your way through
the course for a genuinely unforgettable experience and enjoy the most unique and exciting eco-tourism activity on the Gulf Coast, just 30 minutes from I-10! While the aerial adventure park is the main attraction, Elevate also offers rustic cabins for rent,
a pavilion that can be rented for private events and private sand bar access on Red Creek.
Co-owners T.J. Golson and Dusty Watts.
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos by Donn Hupp