Beach-themed inflatable adventure park opens in Sarasota County

A new indoor inflatable attraction for families has come to life in south Sarasota County. Do The Beach Adventure Park is holding a grand opening Sept. 20 in North Port.

The 21,000-square-foot space was once a Winn-Dixie at 14265 S. Tamiami Trail, which has since been converted into a beach-themed park filled with inflatables.

Guests are greeted by what resembles a wooden boardwalk leading to epoxy flooring throughout that looks like shimmering sand, Do The Beach Adventure Park co-owner Mike Whincup says in a Sept. 19 phone interview with the Business Observer.

An inflatable obstacle course runs around a quarter of the park like a rollercoaster, and different areas give the feeling of being surrounded by water, including giant waves overhead, Whincup says. A sandcastle slide, climbing area, sunken pirate ship, big wave ninja challenge, sandcastle throne and under-the-sea toddler zone are among the offerings.

“The whole park is themed like a day at the beach,” Whincup says. Several influencers attended a soft opening, including one he noted who said there was something for everybody. “To get that instantly means as a designer and creating the whole brand, I’ve done my job."

Nearly 40 staff have been hired to keep the operation in North Port running, with more to be added, Whincup says.

Between 10 a.m. and noon on opening day, Whincup says the park is expecting 300 to 375 people. The first hour of play already sold out. 

Do The Beach Adventure Park has been a “labor of love” that was years in planning and six or seven months in the making, Whincup adds, with the last two weeks consisting of 12 and 13-hour days.

“We're so thrilled to open such a great facility for this fantastic community that has so often been underserved for entertainment options,” Whincup says in a statement. He and his son, Robin Whincup, are opening the business together as co-owners with franchise partners Tony and Michelle Fisher. 

The Whincups have been in the industry for decades, designing attractions for adventure parks through their business, Galaxy Multi Rides of Port Charlotte. “We’ve done over 100 parks in the last six years,” Mike Whincup told the Business Observer in March. 

Through Galaxy Multi Rides — which designs everything from mechanical bulls to inflatable obstacle courses — he said they have gotten a “good grasp that this was popular and an absolute revenue-generating machine” for one-third the cost of starting a trampoline park.

The Whincups’ plan has been to launch Do The Beach Adventure Parks as a franchise. In a Sept. 19 phone interview, Mike Whincup says that agreements have been signed for franchises in development in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Oklahoma.

“I’m excited to see” how the concept is received in places that do not have beaches like Florida, Mike Whincup says. 

Tickets start at $13.99 for toddlers and parents and $19.99 for others for an hour of play. Guests can also book 90-minute, two-hour and all-day passes.

Do The Beach Adventure Park uses a wristband system that tracks active play, provides geo-fencing and enables guests to buy items or add extra time.The park will also offer memberships as well as event spaces people can reserve for parties in the Sandcastle Suite, Surf Shack and Cabana Club on the mezzanine.