BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - A popular entertainment destination is bouncing back in Northampton County.
The space that previously housed FreeFall Trampoline Park, at 2800 Baglyos Circle in Bethlehem Township, is now home to the Lehigh Valley’s second Sky Zone Trampoline Park.
Tabula Rasa Holdings, which operates 17 other Sky Zone locations including Sky Zone Bethlehem at 2285 Schoenersville Road at the Westgate Mall, acquired the business and lease in Bethlehem Township, according to Gregory Schmatz, Tabula Rasa’s vice president of operations.
Tabula Rasa leadership team saw a “big opportunity to grow in the area and solidify [Sky Zone] as the trampoline park of the Lehigh Valley,” Schmatz said.
The new Bethlehem Township location, known as Sky Zone Easton, opened Aug. 7.
Sky Zone Bethlehem at Westgate Mall is continuing to operate as normal.
“We’re excited to grow and welcome guests back to this fun spot,” said Kylie Beagell, Sky Zone Easton’s operations manager.
“We have a lot of the familiar attractions that people will remember from FreeFall, and we have some fun new attractions that we’ll be introducing soon as well.”
FreeFall, a 33,000-square-foot facility offering trampoline activities such as basketball, dodgeball and open jumping,in early June abruptly closedafter eight years of business.
The Tabula Rasa team is utilizing some of the existing equipment in Bethlehem Township, while also refitting the space with new designs and attractions over the next several months, Schmatz said.
Some of the walls have already been painted blue and orange to match Sky Zone’s signature color scheme, and workers are also in the process of replacing safety pads, foam blocks and other equipment with orange and blue versions.
“We’re continuing to transition everything as quickly as possible,” Beagell said.
“Eventually, all of the trampolines will mirror the Bethlehem park’s trampolines – black with orange borders.”
Sky Zone Easton features around two dozen new arcade games, including claw machines, basketball games and video games related to popular movies such as Jurassic Park and Fast & Furious.
A former FreeFall ropes course has closed, and the area will be utilized for a new attraction – possibly an Air Court, which allows jumpers to play basketball, soccer, volleyball or dodgeball on a springy, air-filled multi-court, Beagell said.
The design team also is considering adding Slick Slides, which are 20-foot tall slides that have a non-slip coating that make for a fast and thrilling experience.
While the team is planning to introduce new attractions, it’s also maintaining popular features such as a Little Ninja multi-level play structure, two dodgeball courts, three basketball hoop lanes where guests can test out their slam-dunking skills and Battle Beams, where participants go head-to-head with a challenger on balance beams, using cushioned cylinders to try and knock them off into a foam block pit.
There’s also a toddler section where young children, ages 5 and under, can jump in a safe, isolated area; and a Meltdown attraction, where up to eight participants test their stamina and agility by jumping over and ducking under rotating foam bars.
“Meltdown is a fan favorite, and so we’re definitely keeping that,” Beagell said.
Sky Zone, a premier leader in indoor active entertainment, owns, operates and franchises more than 270 parks worldwide and expects to hit 300 parks by the end of 2024.
Founded in 2004, the brand encourages families to “make memories and Play Every Day” through birthdays, team gatherings and after-school activities each year, according to a company description.
“Sky Zone caters to kids under 12 through thoughtful programming in a clean and safe environment,” the description continues.
Tabula Rasa was established in 2017 by franchisee Roger Duncan’s private equity firm, Ex Nihilo Capital.
In March, Sky Zone announced that Ex Nihilo Capital had acquired 10 locations across Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin and Tennessee, making it the largest franchisee in the system.
The portfolio also includes other regional locations in Lancaster and Harrisburg, Schmatz said.
“I’ve continued investing in Sky Zone for nearly 10 years due to its unparalleled brand recognition within the industry,” Duncan said in a March news release.
“The unwavering support I’ve encountered from the communities we operate in and the franchisor, have continued propelling my passion and unit growth over the years. This sector thrives on scalability, and I’ve yet to encounter a venture as inherently scalable as this one. For me, there’s simply no superior investment avenue, which is why I’m so proud to oversee the parks in our portfolio.”
Sky Zone Easton’s staff consists of more than 90% former FreeFall workers, according to Beagell, who comes to Sky Zone Easton from the chain’s Westgate location.
Like Sky Zone Bethlehem, Sky Zone Easton offers Glow, a popular event featuring black lights and music, 8-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
A standard pass (90-minute jump time) at Sky Zone Easton is $27, while an all-day open jump pass (does not include Glow) is $32.
There are also monthly memberships, including Basic ($22, includes 90-minute jump time every day); Elite ($28, includes 120-minute jump time every day and unlimited Glow); and Elite+ ($38, includes 120-minute jump time, unlimited Glow and access to both Easton and Bethlehem locations).
Memberships have a three-month minimum commitment, Beagell said.
“The Glow event is a beloved feature of our park in Bethlehem, and we’re excited to bring this unique party experience to a new location as well,” Beagell said. “It’s a fun time for all ages.”
Sky Zone Easton also can host private parties on any day of the week.
The facility offers three party rooms, featuring dividers that can be opened to accommodate larger groups.
Individuals interested in booking a party package can contact the facility at 610-419-0163 or skyzone.com/easton-lehigh-valley-pa.
“We are so excited to open our doors to you and let the good times roll!” a message on the business’ social media page reads.
The Sky Zone Easton facility is in good hands, with Sky Zone Bethlehem’s general manager, Ann Ruff, taking over operations, Schmatz said.
“She’s a rockstar,” Schmatz said of Ruff. “She’s so awesome. The kids love her, and the kids mean the world to her.”
While FreeFall and Sky Zone were technically competitors, the two businesses’ leadership teams had a friendly relationship, Schmatz said.
When Schmatz heard of FreeFall’s closure, he tried his best to communicate to the public that Sky Zone Bethlehem would take on any commitments that were made by FreeFall.
“People were calling us left and right saying their kids had parties planned at FreeFall,” Schmatz said. “We were discounting people’s birthday parties that were already committed because it was just the right thing to do. I felt really bad for these parents.”
Sky Zone Easton’s toddler time hours, reserved for children ages 5 and under, are 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Wednesday, Beagell said.
General open jump hours are noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (Glow event, featuring black lights, from 8-10 p.m.) and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.
For the latest Sky Zone Easton updates, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram.
