Take the Kids: Launching Pad's new ninja warrior course offers up something for all ages

Over Labor Day, the Launching Pad, the north Raleigh indoor trampoline park and fun center, opened up a new attraction - a ninja warrior course.

With a warped wall, salmon ladder and plenty of other obstacles designed to test strength in every part of your body, the course has been a hit with kids and adults since it opened, general manager Mike Ryan tells me.

"It's been really popular," he said.

I got up there earlier this week to check it out with my kids, who were climbing the walls after being inside for days as Hurricane Florence blew through. Here, they were able to literally climb a wall - that warped wall, a curved surface that you attempt to scale.

The course design comes courtesy of Drew Drechsel, a gym owner and popular competitor on the TV show American Ninja Warrior.

"We teamed up with him," Ryan said. "He designed the whole thing."

The goal with the course, Ryan said, is to offer up obstacles that kids can scale and that will keep adults engaged as well.

For instance, there are two warped walls. A 10-foot wall with a rubber surface, which makes it easier to climb, is designed for kids. A 12-foot wall with a painted wood surface, making it trickier to scale, is intended for more experienced people. Ryan said that, going forward, they'll be able to switch out obstacles with new ones to keep the course fresh.

The Launching Pad primarily attracts kids and their families, who come for an afternoon of bouncing on the trampolines, time in the XD theater, attempts on the giant climbing wall and jumps off the 13.5-foot Launch Tower. An arcade was removed to make way for the ninja course.

Ryan said they hope the course will attract more teens and adults. He said he's making plans for more new attractions that are aimed at either kids or an older crowd.

"We wanted a new attraction that could expand our age group," Ryan said.

My kids had a blast during our hour at the Launching Pad. They spent about 30 minutes bouncing on the center's expansive trampolines. But they spent a good amount of time attempting to maneuver around the different obstacles on the warrior course. The warped wall, especially, was a hit.

I liked the pricing. The Launching Pad recently started hourly pricing. For one price, you can participate in any and all attractions. You don't have to pick and choose based on how much you want to spend. So, for $16 each, my kids were able to bounce from one attraction to the next without worry.

Two hours of play is $22. Three hours is $30. An all-day pass costs $35 and allows you to come and go during the day.

The Launching Pad is at 6421 Hilburn Dr., Raleigh.

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