It is quite a scene here at Jumping Jacks Inflatable Funhouse. Bright colors. Ecstatic giggles. And so much bouncing. Everywhere you turn, there is a child bouncing. It looks like, well, it looks like a lot of fun.
With winter on the horizon, parents are likely scrambling for activities to keep their little ones busy. Co-owner Megan Klomp says Jumping Jacks is there to help.
“That’s the biggest response we get: ‘That’s going to be great in the winter,’” Klomp said. “It’s a way to burn off all that energy. It’s actually a workout; it’s exhausting.”
And Klomp’s not just talking about the experience in terms of kids.
“The parents have so much fun too, it’s unreal,” she said.
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Megan Klomp, left, stands amidst the inflated playground at Jumping Jacks, the business she co-owns with her husband Jay Klomp. |
Jumping Jacks Inflatable Funhouse is home to a number of inflatable structures made of lead-free, heavy-duty vinyl. An air blower keeps the structures inflated, providing tunnels, slides, playhouses and a generally welcoming environment for youth activity. It’s safe, contained and simple. It’s hard not to start bouncing and giggling.
“It’s just perfect entertainment,” said Hilary Ypma, who was there with her two kids and two nephews, “especially as we’re approaching winter when it’s colder and there are less options.”
Klomp and her husband Jay opened Jumping Jacks in August. They had considered opening a funhouse a couple of years ago but it didn’t immediately come to fruition. With five kids, however, they were constantly reminded of the need for a safe place for kids to play when the weather turns cold.
Once they were able to secure a location on Trumble Creek Road northeast of Kalispell, the Klomps put their plan into motion and quickly received positive feedback. Already, Jumping Jacks is busy throughout the week, particularly on Friday evenings, Klomp said.
Word-of-mouth has been the primary catalyst, she said, with customers promoting the business through avenues such as Facebook. Klomp said inflatable funhouses are popular in urban centers elsewhere in the nation.
“There obviously was a need for this here,” she said.
Jumping Jacks has a roughly 2,500-square-foot play area, along with a lobby in front and a party room with picnic tables upstairs. Klomp said birthday parties have been popular at Jumping Jacks.
The play area is big enough to host plenty of kids, but compact enough to provide a sense of comfort for parents, Klomp said. Children of all ages are welcome and parents are encouraged to participate. Klomp said she and her husband don’t provide Wi-Fi in an effort to promote family interaction.
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Kids bounce and slide at Jumping Jacks, a new indoor inflatable funhouse off Trumble Creek Road. |
“It’s really fun to see families play together,” Klomp said. “It’s really just a fun place – everybody has fun.”
Ypma could attest to that, as well as to Klomp’s characterization of the funhouse as an athletic experience.
“It’s such a workout,” Ypma said. “I’ve thought they should have a women’s exercise group here.”
The cost for a “jump” is $7 per kid. It’s free for parents and children under 2. After five full-price jumps, the sixth is free with a punch card. Jumping Jacks also offers party packages.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays. Weekends are available for parties.
“For a family of four to come out, it’s $14 and it’s a blast,” Klomp said. “The kids bounce, they run around and they make new friends.”
For more information, go to www.jumpingjacksfunhouse.com or call (406) 756-9375. Jumping Jacks Inflatable Funhouse can also be found on Facebook. Its address is 1075 Trumble Creek Road Unit H.