SkyMania trampoline park plans move to Redmond Ridge

One of Kirkland’s most popular attractions for kids, SkyMania Trampolines, is in danger of bouncing out of business — and not because SkyMania has failed to draw customers.

The trampoline park, one of very few such indoor parks in the Seattle area, includes a handful of jumping areas, a trampoline volleyball and dodgeball court, laser tag, pool, and video games. It’s been so popular recently, according to owner Nancy Burritt, that jumpers have to get tickets in advance to avoid five or six-hour wait times on weekends.

The parking lot, just off NE 116th Street in Totem Lake, is generally packed in the afternoon. SkyMania is popular with corporate events, too, as large groups often rent the facility for company parties.

Burritt opened the park in 2011, and to immediate success. Skymania was a finalist for a workforce development honor from the King County Executive Small Business Awards in 2011

Last spring, she saw a sign go up along 116th Street notifying neighbors of a proposal to add town homes on the property, a proposal which would bulldoze the building housing SkyMania and a handful of other businesses.

The Vareze Townhomes project, which includes 82 units, is one of several housing developments along 116th Street and in the immediate area. In addition to the Village at Totem Lake construction, the city is also processing a 550-unit development on 118th Street and a 606-unit development on Slater Ave.

Burritt is hoping to reopen at a location in Redmond Ridge, about 20 minutes away from the current site. She said the travel shouldn’t be a big problem, but getting customers to Redmond wasn’t ever her main concern.

It’s about money.

The Redmond location needs extensive renovation and moving the massive trampolines isn’t easy, and both parts of the transition are expensive. Burritt estimates she’ll need $300,000 to make the move and open next spring — and that’s $300,000 she simply doesn’t have.

Burritt says she recently paid off debt and doesn’t have the cash on hand, and is asking community members to help SkyMania finance the new facility via a GoFundMe account.

The account offers incentives for giving, everything from jump passes and birthday parties to a two-hour rental and $700 for food. Burrett says she’ll likely need to raise a good portion of the money by the end of the year.

This comes as SkyMania celebrates its fifth anniversary with all-day discounts on Dec. 7.