Join the revolution: New company leaves other tourism attractions in its dust

What happens when a former Sony PlayStation executive and rally car hobbyist sets up shop in the Florida countryside? Just one of the most unique and thrilling tourist attractions to ride into Central Florida since that mouse came to town.

Revolution, The Off-Road Experience of Clermont, Fla., is a one-of-a-kind adventure that keys in on a variety of outdoor activities that perhaps many locals occasionally enjoy but tourists never get the chance to experience. On a sprawling 200 acres of Sunshine State wilderness, Revolution President Kevin Jowett is giving tourists the opportunity to ride ATVs, dune buggies and a four-wheel drive SUV; receive water-skiing lessons from an international coach; and learn how to reel in the big catch at the local lake.

“When we started this business a year ago, no one really understood what we were trying to do,” Jowett said “So many local people own four wheelers and want to do mud bogging, but that’s not who we are. We are more safety conscious.”

In fact, a motto of the adventurous new company is “Number one is safety, number two is fun.” For ATV riders, safety begins with a riding tutorial and equipping each rider with safety gear, such as goggles, helmet and gloves. After starting up the machines, riders must traverse a training course to teach them the basics of four wheeling. No one is allowed out of the course until he or she masters the basic maneuvers of four wheeling.

“Everyone tests their safety skills on the training course even if they are an expert,” Jowett said of the training course, which includes low-speed turns, long bends, small dips and steep hills. “Even if you have never ridden a four wheeler before, by the end of the training course you pretty much have it.”

Riding an ATV through Revolution’s winding, natural trails can be a thrill for anyone. The rides are led by an instructor and are typically about one hour and 20 minutes long. The guided ATV rides are limited to parties of five or less, and in addition to the guide at the front, a second instructor follows the party.

“So we are always watching and making sure everyone is safe,” Jowett said. “We’re not five miles an hour, but we’re not extreme.”

In the first year of business, Jowett is noticing a trend as Revolution guests typically come from one of three categories: tourists, locals and corporations. The tourists are not just the out-of-state visitors to Central Florida, but the international tourists from Great Britain, Germany and Norway.

“It’s a great way to show people what real Florida is like,” Jowett said. “I think that is the thing about when you come to the area as a tourist; you don’t get the chance to come out here and see something like this. This is Florida. It’s not necessarily the parks, the malls and everything else. People that come out here say ‘wow, isn’t it beautiful.’ It gives them a different impression of what Florida is about.”

The local residents attracted to Revolution are another unique group of visitors to the off-road experience. Those who own their own four wheelers are not as inclined to visit Revolution because they are required to use the company’s machines, but those who are looking to purchase an ATV can take an extended test drive at Revolution to see if they really enjoy four wheeling.

“The locals we are looking at are more of the urbanites,” Jowett said. “It’s more of the person that is living in Orlando or some of the suburbs who don’t get out to the countryside.”

Because of the established safety guidelines, parents are more willing to let their teenagers experience four wheeling at Revolution, The Off-Road Experience.

“I think a lot of parents with teenagers want to make sure the safety is there,” Jowett said. “I think what happens — certainly from what we’ve seen — you have youngsters 16, 17 and 18 years old that want to drive a four wheeler, but the parents are like ‘I’m not buying you a four wheeler, it is too dangerous.’ And it can be dangerous. What they can to do is come here to ride a four wheeler, have fun and do it in a safe environment.”

Another group to take advantage of Revolution’s exciting outdoor adventures is the corporate getaway and small business retreats. Revolution sets up tents and can accommodate daylong business functions because of its collection of outdoor activities.

 “We had a local company from Orlando recently come out with 20 employees and their partners,” Jowett said. “We have another one coming out next month from Iowa. They are coming down here for a conference and they are having a day out here with a barbecue.”