A plan by Destination Augusta to create a recreation facility along the Savannah River was approved by an Augusta-Richmond County Commission committee.
Members of the Public Services Committee gave the green light for a proposed management and operations agreement with The Forge for the Outdoor Urban Adventure Center. The company operates a 300-acre adventure park in Lemont, Ill.
“Finding the right group with the right vision to make this attraction a reality was the first step,” said Destination Augusta President & CEO Bennish Brown in a news release announcing the decision. “I firmly believe we found the right partner in The Forge. I’m impressed with how they take the destination’s assets and overall vibe into account when designing a project. This adventure center will certainly be authentic Augusta.”
The committee vote followed a presentation by Jennifer Bowen, Destination Augusta’s Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President.
“Jeremie Bacon is the co-founder of the Forge Adventure Parks. He has over 20 years of experience in outdoor recreation, finance, and operations, and he is our primary and principal contact through the design and build, and also will be the principal contact for the operations,” she said to explain the selection.
Centered at Riverwalk’s Freedom Bridge, formerly the 5th Street Bridge, it will include an illuminated, eight-story climbing and zipline tower, a two-story climbing challenge course, and an observation deck accommodating up to 100 people. There will also be a geodome which can be rented for private events.
Bowen’s presentation included a series of renderings, showing how the structures will be oriented in relationship to the bridge.
“The X tower is immediately to the right of the bridge, and it sits in a spot where there used to be an architectural firm many years ago, so it’s going to fit so nicely on that existing landing and foundation,” she explained. “You’ll zip across the river to that two-story challenge climbing course there in the middle, and then you will zip back to the landing area. For those of you who are not afraid of heights, you can climb all the way to the crow’s nest and get an even better and higher level from the bird’s eye view.”
At the ground level, there will be a location offering food and beverages and public restrooms. It also incorporates access directly to the river with donut boats available to rent.
“They are motorized boats that will be available for rent there at the river, and they can accommodate between eight and 10 people,” said Bowen. “While there continues to be canoeing and kayaking on the river by other outfitters, there will now be an opportunity to rent a donut boat. They will be available for hourly rent.”
She reminded commissioners that the idea of a development along the river was first proposed in the “Destination Blueprint,” created in 2017.
According to that plan, “Some of the recommended projects include a river destination center located on the Savannah River creating a place for people to gather at a café, book kayak expeditions, rent personal watercraft, paddleboards and/or canoes, water shuttle, a retail store and exhibits interpreting the significance of the river to Augusta.”
By 2020, the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority joined Destination Augusta to recommend that such a project be included in the project list for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 8. The list included $1.75 million for the project and was approved by voters in March 2021.
Funding for the project also includes a pledge of $150,000 from the Georgia Rehabilitation Institute.
“Making this attraction accessible to all people of all mobility types,” Bowen said. “That means that we will be one of just a few in the country where anyone of any ability can actually participate in the exercises and the activities of this attraction, that also opens it up to being able to recruit more groups and more people.”
Bowen said Destination Augusta is working with city departments, including engineering, to have the project approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The agreement with The Forge must also be approved by the full commission. The goal is to open the park in Spring 2026.
