iPlay Proves It's Good to Be a Kid in America

Recently, my kids realized that we never (GASP!) made it to Point Pleasant this past summer. We’d had an action-packed crazy two months and somehow never found the time to hit the rides and walk the boardwalk like we normally do.

Now that Point Pleasant is a chilly ghost town, they’ll have to wait until next year for this little bit of Jersey Shore fun and I know what you’re thinking: “Boo Frickin’ Hoo!” Poor babies. How in America will I keep them amused?

Just in the nick of time, a new indoor amusement park has opened its doors in Freehold, giving families across the Garden State a year-round destination for thrills and memory making. iPlay America is a sprawling 115,000 square foot indoor theme park that’s one-part Jersey boardwalk and one-part urban wonderland, with a little bit of Atlantic City and Disney thrown in. There, you and yours can experience bumper cars, go-karts, carnival games, a state-of-the art arcade, a two-story laser tag arena and much more whenever you want, without having to hop a plane, pack a lunch, waste­ -– I mean spend -– a whole day, or wait for sunshine.

Geesh, when I was a child, the only winter amusement I got was when my parents left me (alone!) to play the arcade games at the front of Two Guys or Rickels Hardware while they shopped. Now, iPlay America stands on the site where Rickels once was, as gleaming giant proof of how good it is to be a kid in our country these days.

Interior play possibilities abound. We’ve got inflatable bounce places, McDonald’s play areas, party gyms, indoor mini golf and Chuck E. Cheese, all there to welcome and absorb our children’s pent-up energy and unbridled screams. Wonderful for them, but not always as appealing to us overstimulated grown-ups.

What’s different, and nice, about iPlay America, is what it offers the adults. Founder Bob McDaid, a former real estate developer, says he designed iPlay for parents as much as for kids. The décor is uniquely detailed and aesthetically pleasing, with sophisticated cityscapes and nostalgic Jersey shore backdrops. Eating options include frozen yogurt, fresh salads and a charming, sit-down trattoria with a menu that would make any Mom’s mouth water. (It even includes vegetables!! Try finding those on the boardwalk!)

As McDaid told the large crowd who gathered two Fridays ago for iPlay’s Grand Opening, “I envisioned building a clean, safe place families wouldn’t have travel far to get to, that parents wouldn’t want to leave.”

Mission accomplished. On opening day, I was able to hang there for over two hours without wanting to blow my brains out. That might be a world record for me at indoor play places.

And, the joint really is super safe (security guards, wristband i.d. for the kids) so I was able to tote all three of my offspring plus a nephew without my usual fear of misplacing one of them.

I also loved its new play-place smell. Now, I am far from a germaphobe (which I secretly think is why my kids never get sick) but most of my friends are. They’d put their child inside a Purell bubble if they could. Well, iPlay America is so clean you could drop your ice cream cone on the floor, pick it up and still lick it. I mean, not that I would. That’s totally gross. Plus, I usually get mine in a cup.

But, the point is, now’s the time to go, while the place is still freshly- scrubbed-new. And, because it’s so nice, hopefully that will inspire visitors to keep it that way.

For what it’s worth, my kids and nephew had a blast. But why wouldn’t they? They got to race around the indoor speedway in sleek, modern go-karts that have a turbo boost button, and ride on futuristic bumper “cars” that send you spinning 360’s under a disco light show.

Each child had their own point-filled iPA “debit card” they could use to go on the rides of their choice or play whatever game they wanted. The Kite Flyer ride was a big hit, as was the Boardwalk Mini-Bowling.

Those kids swiped their cards to play skee ball, Whac-a-mole and claw grabber games like they were starving people at a free buffet. At least, until their points ran out. Of course, it’s easy enough to refill the cards at one of the many kiosks throughout the place. But running out of points is the perfect way to shepherd kids out without them kicking and screaming.

“Sorry guys, we’re out of credits for today. Time to go home.”

They got to see their zero balance for themselves and knew it meant Game Over.

Genius. 

On our way out, we grabbed some pizza at the City Square Grill Express (which my nephew gave two thumbs up) and recounted our favorite attractions while making mental notes of what to try next time.

And we still got home in time for soccer practice.

THE DETAILS:
iPlay America 110 Schank Road, Freehold NJ; (732) 577-8200
Admission $5.35, or Free with $20 iPlay card that can be used for all rides, games, attractions and restaurants. Open 7 days.

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