A trampoline franchise firm and a recreation company have joined forces.
In an agreement finalized recently, Altitude H20 and Commercial Recreation Specialists have partnered to deliver a first-of-its-kind concept in waterfront entertainment, according to Altitude H20 CEO Curt Skallerup.
The idea is modeled after CRS’ “water-based family entertainment centers,” which the firm introduced at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions show four years ago, said CRS president Ron Romens. The plan is to “activate” underutilized open water spaces such as a municipal lake by incorporating a variety of activities with a focus on water recreation and develop an environment that appeals to families of all age groups and demographics. Features are interactive, draw on current trends such as “American Ninja Warrior,” and can include inflatable challenge courses and slides, ziplines, climbing walls, wakeboarding, standup paddle boards, picnic areas, dining options and more.
Altitude H2O had been seeking a way to increase revenue in the summer when people prefer to spend their time outdoors, Skallerup said. Meanwhile, CRS had been targeting cities in an effort to bring more water-based recreation to communities throughout the U.S. The two organizations met at IAAPA in 2016, decided to form a partnership, and have been working to finalize the details ever since.
As part of the agreement, CRS will survey land, offer consultation and design services and provide products to Altitude H2O for use at its new franchise locations, explained Romens.
“We will go out and develop the concept and will specify the different components and act as the designer,” he said. “Altitude really understands scale, process and how to successfully duplicate a model, from hiring to training, and what we understand is how people recreate and the different components that create the environments.”
Texas-based Altitude H20’s business model will be mirrored after its sister company Altitude Trampoline Parks, which also is a franchise.
Altitude H20 was founded by the minds behind Altitude Trampoline Parks, Skallerup and COO Jeff Rutten, who opened the first location in 2011. In seven years, the firm has grown to 64 parks operating in seven countries, with 51 in the U.S. Thirty-eight additional facilities are in buildout for 2018, Skallerup added.
This Memorial Day weekend, Altitude H20 will celebrate the opening of its first location at Lake Grapevine at Meadowmere Park in Grapevine, Texas. It will include myriad slides and attractions and will be a “fully functioning waterpark under the Altitude H20 brand,” Skallerup said. Three additional Altitude H20 parks are slated to open Memorial Day but were not finalized as of this story.
“We’re very excited to drive this Altitude H20 brand and our partnership with CRS and very enthusiastic about what we can bring to talented cities and getting people out and being more active,” Skallerup added. “That’s really the exciting part about what we are trying to do,” he added.
