In the midst of a recession, Kids Castle owner Mike Daglian does not care about the financial future of his newly built family entertainment center, which opens Sunday.
“I can care less about the economy,” Daglian said. “This is my dream.”
He could fail, but as long as the amusement center exists, he will be content, Daglian said.
Fourteen months ago, his longtime vision for a family-oriented amusement center came to fruition with the help of amusement consultant Reggie Moultrie.
When the 15,000-square-foot center was nothing but an empty warehouse, Moultrie and Daglian walked through the decrepit building and envisioned an interior design that has not wavered.
“The layout that you see today is almost exactly what we thought it would be 14 months ago,” Moultrie said.
The exterior is surrounded by cartoons of dragons, knights and princesses, creating a fairy-tale setting that stretches all the way to the Himalayan Ride, an indoor ride that goes forward and backward at up to 30 mph.
Inside are the typical bright lights and beeping sounds of games that beckon for someone to play them.
Not so typical is the restaurant seating, the private rooms for parties and a soft two-story playground. Instead of the traditional tokens, kids use cards to access games.
The prizes are unique as well.
“We wanted the parents to play with their kids and have a goal for winning,” Moultrie said.
Behind the redemption counter, beside the traditional stuffed animals and plastic toys, are blenders and name-brand kitchen equipment.
“It takes a lot of tickets and a lot of playing time to earn those prizes,” Moultrie said.
“We want the parents to enjoy it, too,” added Daglian.
“My favorite part about this place is the kids’ eyes when they see all the games.”
Although the indoor entertainment center does not have the same amount of games and rides as larger amusement parks like Six Flags, Moultrie said Kids Castle is a good alternative.
“No matter what the state of the economy is, parents are going to do something for their kids,” Moultrie said.
