Harpers Ferry Adventure Center - ropes course, Purcellville

In 1992, Dewey Heffner and his son George started selling black tire tubes out of their truck under a sign that read, "Butts Tubes." Since then, the seed of this roadside venture sprouted into a company that specializes in outdoor activities, eventually maturing into Harpers Ferry Adventure Center.

The center's single-day and multiday adventures fuse adrenaline-packed thrills with the scenery of the Potomac and Shenandoah River regions. Whitewater-rafting trips play out against the crashing sounds of Bull Falls, and ziplining takes place among scenic treetop canopies.

Drawing from these activities, Harpers Ferry Adventure Center's crew also designs custom adventure packages and helps customers choose predesigned trips. They also lead team-building retreats using outdoor activities to teach universal skills, such as working toward a common goal or ziplining onto a stage for business presentations.