OUTDOORS BOUND

WORDS BY MITCH HURST / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BOUNDLESS ADVENTURES

When Lorrie Funtleyder and her husband, Brian, took their kids on vacation to West Virginia in 2012, they had no idea how the trip would change their lives.

The family spent a day at an outdoor climbing and ziplining park, and Funtleyder looked on as her previously shy daughter opened up and tackled the challenges of the various climbing courses.

“It was really the first time that we as a family all did something together that each of us enjoyed,” Funtleyder says.

Fast forward seven years and the Funtleyders now run three outdoor adventure parks of their own. Boundless Adventures has locations in New York, Massachusetts, and in nearby Kenosha, Wisconsin in Bristol Woods Park.

The Funtleyders met at NYU’s Stern School of Business, and both were enjoying successful careers in the finance industry when they got bit by the bug to start their own business.

“I spent 17 years analyzing businesses so I started researching the aerial park industry and how they work,” says Funtleyder. “I found someone who had the expertise and we were on our way.”

Boundless Adventures launched its first park in New York in 2018 and in 2019 opened their location in Kenosha through a partnership with the Kenosha County Division of Parks.

“The county is getting revenue on its land plus it’s a great feature for the community,” Funtleyder says. “So it’s a win-win situation.”

The outdoor season in the Midwest is compact. Families push to pack in as many activities as possible before the inevitable cold seeps in and the accompanying snow. Boundless Adventures is open for three seasons, with each one offering a different beautiful view to enjoy.

Boundless Adventures offers an alternative to the usual summer activities—the pool, the beach, theme parks—by providing both a fun and challenging experience.

The Kenosha location features nine climbing and zipline courses with varying degrees of difficulty. Each family member will find a challenge that’s within their grasp and, upon completion, develop a sense of accomplishment. You can’t get that at Great America.

“What we offer is nothing like what most families have done before,” Funtleyder says. “There are only 20 parks in the country that feature a similar experience.”

Parents will appreciate the fact that Boundless Adventures limits the number of people using courses at any given time, unlike a theme park where families might wait hours to get on a roller coaster.

“We keep you active and engaged 100 percent of the time you’re here,” says Funtleyder.

In addition to providing a unique outdoor experience for families, Boundless Adventures also hosts corporate team building outings, charity events, scouts, camps, and high school and college sports teams, providing the opportunity to bond through a shared, challenging experience.

Earlier this year, the Boundless Adventures location outside Boston hosted an event for autistic children with a member of the New England Patriots.

“Just to let you know how challenging our most difficult courses are, a very fit NFL player didn’t want to attempt to complete our black course,” says Funtleyder.

It all adds up to providing a one-of-a-kind adventure for individuals and families that don’t want to just be entertained, but want to be challenged as well.

“If you have kids of varying ages where else can you go where there’s something for everyone?” Funtleyder asks. “We offer a challenging and rewarding experience for all ages.”