A new family-friendly sports attraction, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, broke ground at Ridge Hill in Yonkers on May 14. This will be one of only 11 iFLY locations in the country.
Yesterday, representatives from Forest City Ratner Companies, owner of Ridge Hill, and Matt Ryan, president and COO of iFLY Indoor Skydiving, came together with local dignitaries to break ground on iFLY’s upcoming location at Ridge Hill in Yonkers, NY. iFLY is a new, family-friendly sports attraction that will be added to the exciting mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment options that make Ridge Hill a popular retail and recreational destination for families in Westchester and beyond.
iFLY, which currently has 37 locations in operation around the world and 11 in the U.S., simulates the sensation of skydiving, indoors. Its unique fan technology generates a controlled wind tunnel that creates a cushion of air on which a person can safely float. No special skills are required, and almost anyone over the age of 3 can safely experience the sensation of free fall without having to jump out of an airplane. The iFLY structure will be located along the lower portion of Ridge Hill Boulevard, and is scheduled to open in early 2016.
“iFLY provides our customers with ‘wings’ in a safe environment, making the dream of flight a reality for all ages,” said iFLY COO Matt Ryan. “It’s great to bring this one-of-a-kind experience to a whole new audience, and we’re very excited to be part of one of the best shopping centers on the Eastern seaboard—Ridge Hill.”
Local elected officials joined Matt Ryan and Kathy Welch, executive vice president and director of retail development for Forest City Ratner Companies, in breaking ground to welcome Ridge Hill’s newest entertainment attraction. Elected officials on hand included: Mayor Mike Spano, Yonkers City Council President Liam McLaughlin, and Councilmembers John Larkin, Corozon Pineda, and Mike Breen.
iFLY’s extraordinary experience of simulated flight is exciting enough to have entertained millions via television appearances on multiple occasions. The company’s attractions have been featured on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Kathryn Welch, Executive Vice President, Director of Retail Development of Forest City Ratner Companies said, “Shopping is always a thrill, of course, and now Ridge Hill will offer the adrenaline-charged sensational feel of skydiving too. There is no doubt that iFLY is a wonderful complement to the already stellar mix of shopping, dining and entertainment that can be found ‘On The Hill.’”
iFLY as a company is committed to encouraging excitement around science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at all educational levels. Its STEM field trips, organized in partnership with local schools in the communities in which it operates, include study of the scientific concepts that enable the flight experience.
For more on iFLY, visit iflyworld.com.
Main photo: (Left to right) Councilmember John Larkin; Kathryn Welch, EVP Forest City Ratner Companies; Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano; Matt Ryan, president and COO of iFLY Indoor Skydiving; Yonkers Council President Liam McLaughlin; Yonkers Councilwoman Corozon Pineda; Councilman Michael Sabatino; and Councilman Mike Breen take shovel to dirt to break ground on iFLY’s new Ridge Hill location.
