The transfer of DZONE’s Bozeman operation to a longtime staff member gives the skydiving company a practical test case for franchising an adventure business.
DZONE Franchising Corporation has completed the sale of its first franchise location, transferring the assets of the DZONE® Bozeman operation to Eric Skroch, a longtime staff member and resident of Three Forks, Montana. The deal was signed on May 1, 2026, and publicly announced on May 9 during DZONE Bozeman’s annual “Safety Day” event. The transaction gives DZONE Skydiving a live example of how its operating model can move from a company-run centre to an independently owned location.
The announcement places the deal within a broader adventure-tourism market that the company describes as increasingly professionalised. DZONE cited industry reports valuing the North American adventure travel market at approximately $185 billion, with the U.S. sector projected to grow at a 17.4% compound annual growth rate through 2033. The release also pointed to 3.88 million skydives recorded in the United States during 2024, according to the United States Parachute Association.
Under the arrangement, Skroch will lead the Three Forks-based DZONE Bozeman location, which will continue serving the greater Bozeman market. DZONE said the centre will operate under its national standards, while the franchise model is intended to provide entrepreneurs with a systemised route into skydiving operations. The company described its framework as focused on safety, community and scalable business systems, without disclosing financial terms for the transaction.
For DZONE, the significance of the sale lies less in adding a single location than in demonstrating that a high-adrenaline activity can be organised around repeatable business processes. Founder Abbie Mashaal said Skroch’s familiarity with the market and DZONE’s standards made the transition a proof of concept for the model. Skroch, who described the ownership move as a lifelong goal, said he would continue helping jumpers “Feel The Freedom®” while establishing skydiving as a professional business opportunity.
DZONE Franchising Corporation is now seeking additional partners to expand its presence across the United States, offering what it calls a turnkey solution for aviation enthusiasts and business professionals. The first transfer therefore functions as both an ownership change in Montana and an early demonstration of the company’s expansion strategy. Its longer-term importance will depend on whether the standards used at Bozeman can be applied consistently as further franchise relationships are formed.
