Less than one year after Springs Adventure Park closed its doors and sold everything, a new trampoline park is opening in the same spot. Elevate, a national brand of trampoline parks, will open its 15th trampoline gym in Colorado Springs.

This is the first Elevate location in Colorado. It will open in late March at 2512 Airport Road, said company owner John Laydon. Originally from Pueblo, Laydon said Elevate is in a “growth mode,” and the company saw the growing Colorado Springs market as a smart path forward.

Plus, as a fifth-generation Coloradan, Laydon is excited to bring the adventure park back to the central parts of the city. He sees the business as a catalyst, unlocking opportunities for families who want to keep their kids active but may be stymied by weather, cost or other factors.

“People value health and activity,” he said.  “(Families) are going to want kids to be active, jumping around, working out versus being having their face in front of a screen.”

Laydon calls the new park a “next-generation” adventure park. It will feature trampolines, a basketball court, dodgeball areas and a “pixel floor.” He is especially excited about the pixel floor, which Elevate operates at one other location.

A video tour of the new adventure park is available on the Elevate website:

It is essentially a large computer display built into the floor that helps kids as they play games like the floor is lava, he said. It’s a way to combine some levels of augmented reality, gaming and physical activity in a way that keeps kids engaged, he added.

“Kids get really bored really easily if there’s no technology, and so we’re trying to find the right balance of yes, there are augmented reality type games, but there’s also a very large trampoline court where kids can practice their tumbling,” he said.

The adventure park will also take a community-forward approach, seeking ways it can increase attendance and attract customers who may not be able to afford the regular entry fees. Laydon said there will be “thankful Thursdays”, where customers can bring donations that act as the fee and get jump time as a result. The donations will be distributed to “local communities in need,” Laydon said.

Plus, he sees the business as a way for college and high school kids to gain workforce experience. The business plans to hire roughly 30 people. Many of those roles will be part-time and designed for younger people, he said.

“That’s my favorite age to work with because with our operations and our standards, it’s an awesome opportunity to work with these younger people and get them prepared and ready for their future careers,” he said. “We really want to be able to work with them and help them develop into the best, you know, versions themselves.”

Among Elevate’s core activities are birthday parties, team events and drop-in play time, Laydon said. He is particularly proud of the birthday party operations, calling it a “white glove” experience that won’t drain a family’s savings.

Of the three trampoline parks in Colorado Springs, basic memberships range from $22.99 to 25.99 per month. Laydon said Elevate’s will be priced competitively, but did not specify an exact amount. At other locations around the nation, the most basic membership at Elevate is $24.99 per month, according to the company’s website.

He said their prices are priced to be cheaper than “taking your family to the movies.”

“We’re trying to fill that need and allow parents to get their families out of the house without breaking the bank,” he said.