Clovis' entertainment options growing

CLOVIS — Their business is entertainment. And the entertainment options in Clovis are growing just in time for summer.

An inflatable fitness center, a rock-climbing venue and a mysterious “escape room” have all been added in the city in the past three months — and there are more fun-focused activities on the way.

A sampling:

Inflatable fun

Kimberly Bates is the owner of Kids Go Wild, an inflatable fitness center for children and their parents at 2300 N. Main St. This dream was six years in the making for her after she tried to find a place that was healthy and fun to take her two sons.

“When I was growing up, we weren’t given the options of chips or soda. I wanted to create an option where there are no bad options while they play,” Bates said.

The center features inflatable obstacle courses, basketball hoops and knockerball, inflatable costumes that allow wearers to run into each other with little risk of injury.

Bates said this dream of hers was also partially due to her parents playing with her throughout her childhood. She wanted to create a place where parents could get down and play with their children.

“If you’re 100 and want to play with your child or grandchild, that’s what we encourage,” she said.

Rock on

Chris Robertson, the owner of Clovis Rock Gym at 400 Commerce Way, said he opened his business because he grew up in Clovis and knows there is not much to do.

Robertson said he wanted to create a place where age didn't matter — his oldest customer is 65 and his youngest under 2.

“We’re trying to be as family oriented as possible and there’s no clear trend in my customer base,” Robertson said. “It is even with men and women, adults, high school students and junior high kids.”

He said other than hosting a fun place for the people of Clovis, he wanted to encourage people to learn about one of his passions: rock climbing.

“There’s no climbing experience needed,” he said. “All you need is the will to learn and the will to try.”

Can you escape?

Adults and children alike are also welcomed by Under Lock and Key, an “escape room” experience started by best friends Jennifer Swopes and “the other half of my brain” Shirley Porter at 2909 N. Prince St.

Their passion lies in the love of the game.

“We tried one in Las Vegas and we walked out and immediately wanted to walk right back in,” Swopes said.

“So we said, let’s just do it,” Porter said.

Escape rooms are clue-based, live-action mysteries played out by groups of people. Groups use clue after clue to escape the room in which they are trapped.

They said these kinds of entertainment venues are popping up all over the U.S. Theirs features three rooms — The Italian Kitchen, Detention and The Missing.

“We are having a hard time getting people to understand what we do but once they try it, they come right on back almost every time,” Porter said.

Bingo to bowling and more

Red Arrow Bingo Hall has been around for awhile, but owner Rocky Bernard said he’s about ready to add 50,000 more square feet of something to do before year’s end.

“I’ve had this place in my mind for years,” said Bernard, who said he plans to add miniature golf, bowling, carnival rides, laser tag, a rock wall and several different food venues to the bingo hall at 320 W. 21st St.

“We can’t wait, we’ve been building and building,” Bernard said. “I just love entertainment.”