- March 27, 2025
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An Urban Air Adventure Park is being built in Lakewood Ranch.
When finished this summer, the location, on Professional Parkway facing Interstate 75 northbound, will be the largest Urban Air in the country, with 60,000 square feet of indoor usable space.
In addition to the size, the cost is also large: what started as a $5-7 million concept has turned into an $18.5 million project. It's anticipated to open July 25.
Franchise owner Michael Tucci owns two other Urban Air Adventure Park locations, one each in Tampa and Brandon. Urban Air bills itself, according to its website, as "a safe place for the whole family to jump, soar, race, climb and play."
When Tucci first signed on with Unleashed Brands, the Texas parent company of Urban Air, in 2018, there were just over 30 franchise locations. Now, there are 350 franchises that are either open or under construction across the country.
Tucci signed a contract to open three locations. He says it was much easier to find space in Tampa and Brandon because there are more second generation big box stores to choose from in those areas than there are from Palmer Ranch to Lakewood Ranch.
In 2020, for example, Tucci opened his first Urban Air in what used to be an HHGregg in Tampa. (An electronics and appliance store chain, HHGregg filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed all of its stores.) The Urban Air location in Brandon, meanwhile, was an old Winn Dixie grocery store.
The formula changed for the Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota location; the new plan was to build from the ground up.
Tucci bought 7.5 acres for about $3 million from Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, where Professional Parkway runs parallel to Interstate 75. The massive block structure can be seen under construction when driving on the interstate.
The indoor adventure parks all come with a standard package of activities, which includes trampolines, a ninja warrior course, rock climbing walls, a dodgeball arena and battle beams, where opponents try to knock each other off a padded beam with oversized jousting sticks.
Beyond the base package, the franchise owner has to work out with the corporate office which additional attractions will be included in each park.
Tucci chose laser tag, virtual reality, a skyrider zipline, a slide park, an air court and mini carts for guests 5 and under.
Lakewood Ranch will be one of the first locations to have an air court. The court accommodates different ball sports. It’s enclosed with padded floors for a little extra bounce and safety.
As a former EMT, who still keeps up his certification, Tucci was initially drawn to the franchise because safety was the company’s first priority.
“I didn’t want to open something up that didn’t have strict guidelines,” he says. “I kind of fell in love with the safety first, and then all of the experiences they offer to families.”
The slide park is another new attraction for Urban Air. The slides look nothing like what you’d see at an outdoor park. The surf slide looks more like a halfpipe at a skatepark.
The facility will also include 12 party rooms. Tucci’s goal capacity is 1,100 people, but that number will be determined by the fire marshal. The park will require between 150 and 165 employees.
The price points will be similar to Tucci’s other locations in Brandon and Tampa, but the corporation sets the prices about three months prior to opening.
In Brandon, a day pass can be purchased from $25.99 to $36.99, depending on the amount of attractions included.
While the Lakewood Ranch location is the last Urban Air Tucci has to open to fulfill his contract with Unleashed Brands, Tucci sees himself opening two more at some point.
Right now, he only knows that the locations would be in Florida and he’ll probably follow Lakewood Ranch's model.
“With how it’s going and how much fun it’s been, I think from here on, I’ll do them from the ground up,” Tucci said.
This article originally appeared on sister site YourObserver.com.
