Canada’s largest inflatable theme park opens

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This article was published 13/07/2022 (1362 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BY KELSEY JAMES

STAFF REPORTER

BROOKLANDS

Canada’s largest outdoor inflatable bounce park will tower over King Edward Street until the end of September.

The Big Bounce Park, located at 1770 King Edward St. behind Winnipeg’s Punjab Cultural Centre, spreads over 13,000 square feet of space with elements that stands up to 10 metres tall

The structure’s 345-foot obstacle course is connected to the nearly 20-foot tall slide, which leads to the Leap of Faith, where customers jump from 25 feet. Inflated elephants guard the front of the fortress, there’s a king’s throne to sit on, climbing towers and a rabbit’s face to crawl through. There is even a designated picture area, basketball hoops, a bull riding station and a DJ booth stationed in the centre.

“If you keep elephants at the front of your home or business, it’s a good energy,” said 22-year-old owner Nikhill Dutt. “It’s protecting the whole thing.”

With the help of his friends and family, Dutt designed the structure and custom-made it through a company overseas (he did not want to disclose the exact manufacturer). The entire process lasted more than a year, with six or seven months focusing on just design and financing, and the completed price tag nears $1 million.

“It was my dream, but I never thought it would be this big,” Dutt said. “But then I did some research and figured out there’s a way to make it as big as you want.”

Finding a location willing to take on his creation proved difficult, Dutt said. He approached “tons of people,” but nobody was willing to house the structure for longer than a week. He contacted parks and churches before connecting with Navtej Bains, owner of the King of India restaurant at 1770 King Edward St., who rents three acres behind the building.

The Big Bounce Park was supposed to open earlier this month, but delays — including supply chain issues and a long set-up process — have pushed it back. The City of Winnipeg granted a permit to The Big Bounce Park on April 22. It allows for up to 400 people to attend at a time until Sept. 30.

The park can fit 400 customers, but Dutt is capping capacity at 200.

The infinity symbols at the front of the structure signify the hope the park will grow bigger, Dutt said (he’s already planning to shatter a world record next year).

“My aim, right now, is to bring something really crazy every year so Winnipeg becomes more special,” Dutt added.

Admission is $31.50 per hour for adults and kids aged seven and up, and $21 per hour for children under seven. Sessions must be booked in advance, and are timed to avoid lineups. The park opened on July8 and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., rain or shine.

For more information, visit www.thebigbouncepark.com