In Utah, kiddie entertainment comes cheap. Relatively cheap, anyway.
The Texas-based company Jungle Jim's Playland Inc. opened an indoor amusement park in Midvale this weekend, charging $5.50 admission per child. On weekdays, admission to Jungle Jim's is $4.50 for children 2 to 12.That means Utah parents pay several dollars less for a child's admission than do Texas parents. They pay $7.
"It's pretty competitive around here," says Jungle Jim's manager Darrin Bartunek, who used to manage a Salt Lake skating rink.
For price of admission, children get unlimited use of the Jungle Jim play areas and nine rides. Not included in the admission price are pizza and other food and tokens for air-ball games. Parents get in free.
The Utah Jungle Jim's is the third like it in the nation. The company is owned by two lawyers, Lee Sandoloski and David Pickus. Pickus and Sandoloski have two indoor amusement parks in Texas and, in addition to the Jungle Jim's in Salt Lake County, are opening parks in Kansas City and Phoenix. They are also selling franchises. Both men were on hand for the grand opening.
If Utah children are like those in Texas they'll enjoy the bumper cars the most, Pickus said.But most of all, he believes, parents will like the atmosphere.