Rocklin turns big hole in the ground into massive zipline adventure park | Bartell's Backroads

Rocklin turns big hole in the ground into massive zipline adventure park | Bartell's Backroads

Just behind Rocklin’s City Hall sits a massive granite quarry that once supplied stone for the California State Capitol. It has new life, now echoing with screams of excitement instead of the sounds of mining.

Rather than filling in or fencing off the 60-foot-deep quarry after operations ceased in 2005, the City of Rocklin chose a more adventurous path: transforming the site into Quarry Park Adventures, which is being called the largest and most elaborate rock quarry amusement park in the United States, according to Quarry Park General Manager.

“We do get a lot of people saying that they used to sneak in and try and rock climb in there,” said Brandon Jacobs, General Manager of Quarry Park Adventures. “So what I always say is like, well, we gave the people what they wanted.”

When asked if the park was the biggest of its kind, Jacobs said confidently, “It is! We can 100% say that!”

Rocklin, with its rich granite quarrying history, is uniquely suited for such a transformation. The quarry at the center of the park supplied stone for the construction of the California State Capitol. Its granite was favored not only for its quality but also for its proximity to a rail line offering free transport to Sacramento.

“They mined this quarry for about 160 years, and then finally stopped in 2002 and then permanently shut down production in 2005,” Jacobs said.

Today, what was once an industrial pit is now filled with more than five acres of high-flying attractions, including climbing structures, ropes courses and side-by-side ziplines stretching nearly 500 feet.

“The average speed, you go somewhere around 20-25 mph,” Jacobs said of the zipline experience.

No previous climbing experience is necessary to participate, and the park’s layout encourages both seasoned thrill-seekers and first-timers alike.

One feature, a free-fall drop into the quarry, gives a visceral sense of just how deep the former mine runs and challenges visitors to overcome their fear of heights.

Whether racing friends on the zipline or navigating one of the suspended obstacle bridges, Quarry Adventure Park offers a one-of-a-kind way to interact with a slice of California’s industrial history.

The city could have simply sealed off the abandoned quarry. Instead, it turned a historic site into a dynamic playground, offering residents and tourists alike a chance to experience Rocklin’s heritage from a whole new height.