When the Henderson family drew up plans for its Lava Island franchise, they knew it had to offer everything caregivers love about indoor playgrounds: screen-free active play that wears kids out for bedtime in a fun, vibrant environment. What makes the “largest indoor themed playground” unique, however, is that the structure accommodates children—and their adults.
“We’re really intentional about creating a space where families can play together,” says vice president of marketing Alexa Hubbard. “We emphasize family play, and our play equipment was built for adults to play on—even our three-level jungle gym. Each level of the jungle gym ceiling height is pretty tall, so parents can engage in that play with their kids.”
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The Playspace
The new tropical play oasis, opening in Rock Hill (9610 Manchester) on December 5, will also feature more than 30,000 square feet of trampolines, foam pits, a jump tower, a Jacob’s ladder, a tricycle track, the brand’s “famous volcano slide,” a dedicated toddler area, and immersive, customized party rooms. The Rock Hill location will be the company’s fourth, with three more slated to open later this year.
“Our mission with Lava Island Rock Hill is to create a place where families and friends can escape, explore, and enjoy unparalleled fun in a tropically immersive environment,” says Celeste Henderson, founder and COO. “Our goal is to create a vibrant hub for the community that offers fun for kids of all ages––and kids at heart!”
Recommended for kids 12 and under, with a spacious toddler area that features soft play equipment, a mini slide, tunnels, and more, the goal is to appeal to kids in a wide range of ages. “When the Henderson family concepted the park and built it, they really wanted to make sure guest experience and hospitality is a guiding light in everything we do,” Hubbard says. “So when we’re gonna say we have a toddler area, we’re committing and we’re gonna provide a really fun space. Whether you’re popping in for a quick 45 minutes or hour before nap time, or you have a birthday party of 9-year-olds, we have something for everybody.”
The Parties & Food
Birthday parties, in particular, account for 25 percent of Lava Island’s revenue. With handpainted murals custom to each location and party room, kids can define their theme beyond the tropical oasis park.
“It’s one thing to just go to an awesome indoor playground for your birthday party venue, but then to have it feel like you are the center of this themed room, and you can have whatever theme you want…the rooms set the stage for your party theme to come to life,” Hubbard says.
Previous party room themes have included princess, space, superhero, dinosaurs, the ice room, and more. Base party packages start at $350, with variations in guest count allowance (16 on weekends, 26 on weekdays) and add-on options such as balloons, food, additional people, and more.
The in-house cafe menu offers picky eater-friendly such as burgers, chicken wings, pizza, french fries, dino chicken nuggets, milkshakes, smoothies, coffee, and funnel fries. “I know, as a parent, I don’t always have time to go to an indoor playplace and then go to somewhere to eat,” Hubbard says. “We kind of like being that one-stop-shop and having play equipment and food that appeal to the masses to make it really easy for everyone.”
The Community
In order to connect with the Rock Hill community, staff hopes to connects with the chamber of commerce and local influencers, as well as collaborate with area library branches to offer free passes for kids who complete reading challenges. “That’s a great partnership for us because, likely, if it’s a family that really values reading, they probably also value screen-free active play,” Hubbard explains.
Although the play equipment isn’t necessarily handicap accessible, Hubbard says, the overall grounds are, meaning that families always have the option to play. For those looking for a more sensory-friendly experience, Hubbard recommends the business’ less busy times, such as weekdays and early mornings. Lava Island’s business hours are another major perk for families, as they open every day at 9 a.m.—an hour or two before many other family attractions.
The Details
One-hour passes to Lava Island run $13.25 per person, and all-day passes are $20 per person. “Both of those passes give you full access to the park; you don’t pay per attraction, which is really lovely with the all-day pass,” Hubbard says. “You can also leave and come back in the same day. So if you wanted to pop in in the morning for a couple hours, play, go home for nap time or run errands, and then come back later that evening, we’ll just check your wristband or look you up in the system.”
Follow Lava Island Rock Hill on Facebook or Instagram, and join the VIP list for an exclusive, limited-time-only free all-day pass offer (with qualifying purchase), information on getting on the birthday party waitlist, and more.
The free Lava Loyalty Program allows families to earn points toward all-day passes through admission and pizza purchases. “I know when I go with my kids, the next day, I am sore from running around so much—in the best way,” Hubbard adds. “You hear people say, ‘Man, I haven’t played like that in years.’ And that is what it’s all about for us—creating an environment where people can play together… It feels like an escape from the everyday.”
