Following publication of SanDiegoVille's initial report, iFLY confirmed the closure in a statement, saying the decision was made after reviewing its nationwide portfolio of wind tunnel facilities.
"iFLY has made the difficult decision to close its San Diego location as part of a review of our tunnel portfolio," the company said. "Like many companies, iFLY is navigating a challenging economic environment marked by rising costs and shifting consumer spending. After careful evaluation, we concluded that the San Diego location does not have a sustainable path forward under current conditions."
Located at 2385 Camino Del Rio North, iFLY San Diego opened in 2016 as one of the anchor attractions within Sudberry Properties' Discovery Place development. The approximately $10 million facility features a 48-foot-tall vertical wind tunnel that allows guests to experience the sensation of freefall skydiving without jumping from an aircraft.
The three-story venue quickly became a popular destination for birthday parties, corporate outings, school groups, tourists, first-time flyers and experienced skydivers looking to practice their skills in a controlled environment. Under the guidance of certified instructors, participants ranging from young children to seniors could safely experience the feeling of flight.
When the project was announced in 2014, then-iFLY CEO Alan Metni described indoor skydiving as an experience that fulfilled a nearly universal dream.
"Almost everybody at some point in their lives has dreamt about flying," Metni said during the project's groundbreaking.
The Mission Valley facility also outlasted San Diego's only other indoor skydiving venue, a downtown East Village operation that closed before the City of San Diego purchased the property in 2018. The site was converted into the City's Homelessness Response Center, and earlier this year officials approved plans to redevelop the property into a 164-unit affordable housing project led by Father Joe's Villages.
With the Mission Valley closure, iFLY's Oceanside location at 3178 Vista Way, which opened in 2018, will become the company's only remaining San Diego County facility. Customers in central and southern San Diego County will now need to travel to North County to experience indoor skydiving.
The company said it will continue operating more than 35 locations nationwide and is "focused on delivering the safe, world-class flight experience our customers know and love." iFLY also stated it is committed to supporting affected employees and customers during the transition.
As of publication, neither iFLY nor the property's ownership has announced future plans for the purpose-built Mission Valley wind tunnel facility.
iFLY San Diego's final day of operation is July 31, 2026. For more information, visit iflyworld.com.
Originally published on July 29, 2026. Updated on July 30, 2026.
