Ground floor: New Hiawatha business bounces into action

A visit to the Chicago area inspired a Cedar Rapids couple to bring a new type of family entertainment to Eastern Iowa.

'We went to a trampoline park in Naperville,” Laura Chadima Beer said of that December 2012 trip to see her sister in Illinois. 'There were people of all ages there, from adults doing aerobics to kids to teeny kids.

'We always wanted to own our own business and this seemed like a great thing to bring to the area.”

After more than a year of research and planning, Beer and her husband, Jeff, opened AirFX Trampoline Park in Hiawatha on April 3.

Trampoline parks are a relatively recent addition to the amusement industry. They feature a series of connected trampolines and angled trampolines that create a three-dimensional playground for free-bouncing and other activities. Patrons are charged by the hour for 'jump time.”

'It's a phenomenon that started on the West Coast,” Beer said. 'There are only about 160 trampoline parks in the world right now.”

After their first trampoline park experience, Beer and her husband visited several others to see the different designs and features. They explored various franchise opportunities, but ultimately decided to go the independent route after befriending the independent owner-operator of Helium Trampoline Park in New Berlin, Wis.

'He became a mentor to us,” Beer said. 'He gave us tons of information and help. Helium is a super cool park and we modeled ours after it.”

AirFX Trampoline Park features 12,000 square feet of wall-to-wall trampolines. The family entertainment center also has a separate jumping area for small children, dodgeball and basketball courts, three 30-foot tumble tracks for practicing gymnastics routines, and two foam jumping pits.

Other attractions in various stages of completion include a laser maze, outdoor miniature golf and soccer, and party rooms.

'Our phone was ringing off the hook so we decided to open up and let people in while we are still finishing up,” Beer said.

The park will have a full-service concession kitchen that serves pizza and other snacks and will be available for private parties and corporate events. It also will offer 'Airobics” fitness classes, a junior jumpers program for young kids, and dodgeball leagues.

Beer said that because of liability issues, all visitors to AirFX are asked to sign a waiver to enter the facility regardless of whether they purchase jump time. To avoid lines, patrons may register and sign the waiver in advance at the AirFX website.

At a glance

l Owner:

Jeff Beer and Laura Chadima Beer

l Business:

AirFX Trampoline Park

l Address: 1100 N. 18th Avenue, Hiawatha

l Phone:

(319) 378-4247

l Website: www.airfxcr.com