For so many years, the ski hills of Ontario sat empty during the summer months. That trend is history. Many are converting their resorts to year-round recreation destinations. Horseshoe Resort, located just north of Barrie, Ontario, is one of these.
The Horsehoe Resort Adventure Park is a refreshing new recreational opportunity, not much more than an hour’s drive from the Greater Toronto Area. The park provides such activities as zip-lining, a climbing wall, downhill mountain biking, euro bungy, a surprisingly challenging maze and the amazingly fun Ogo ball run.
For $39, the Adventure Super Combo includes Mini Golf, the Maze, Climbing Wall, Zip-lining, Ogo ball and Euro Bungee. All but the zip-lining is unlimited. Downhill mountain biking is additional and prices range from $19 and up.
Zip-lining is the feature and a time slot must be reserved. After travelling up the ski chairlift, it’s
over 2,000 feet of controlled freefall travelling just above the slopes.
The climbing wall is somewhat challenging and safe. The Euro bunjee is located right beside it and appeals to the very young. The maze is located in the main square with the climbing and bunjee and is great fun if competing against someone. The mini-put is standard.
People come for the zip-lining but Ogo steals the show. You’ve got a beginner’s size ski hill, an inflated plastic ball that is about 10 feet high. Suspended inside the Ogo is a smaller ball that will fit three people. Once inside, the inner ball is given a shot of enough water to make the plastic impossibly slippery. You are then pushed down the hill. As the ball spins, the water keeps you sliding and mostly upright.
Getting there:
Simple stuff. Travel north on Highway 400 from Toronto. Pass Barrie and stay on 400 when it branches with highway 11. Get off at Horseshoe Valley Road and head east a short distance. The resort will be rather obvious on the right hand side.
Our take:
This park is obviously still developing and there is hopefully more variety to come. The zip-lining and Ogo are awesome the first time but leave you wanting something bigger and better. Perhaps in the near future, an Ogo run can be created on one of the bigger ski runs. The Ogo balls are made in New Zealand. New Zealand is known for its openness to extreme sports. Let’s get a little more extreme. I would definitely sign a waiver to ride one of these balls of fun down a big hill.
Since the zip-lining starts from the top of what seems to be the highest ski hill, I’m not sure how you could extreme up the zip-lining other than creating a higher start tower.
The maze could be expanded, possibly adding hills, tunnels and other obstacles.
The climbing wall can always go higher.
