Sarasota County Launches Inflatable Adventure Park with a Beach Theme

A new indoor inflatable attraction for families is launching in south Sarasota County. Do The Beach Adventure Park will celebrate its grand opening on Sept. 20 in North Port.

This spacious 21,000-square-foot facility, once home to a Winn-Dixie located at 14265 S. Tamiami Trail, has been transformed into a beach-themed park featuring an array of inflatables.

Upon entering, guests are welcomed by a wooden boardwalk that leads onto epoxy floors designed to resemble shimmering sand, as described by co-owner Mike Whincup in a Sept. 19 interview with the Business Observer.

An inflatable obstacle course coils around a quarter of the park, creating a unique experience akin to a rollercoaster. Different themed areas provide an exciting atmosphere with oversized waves overhead, according to Whincup. Family-friendly attractions include a sandcastle slide, climbing zone, sunken pirate ship, big wave ninja challenge, sandcastle throne, and an under-the-sea toddler area.

“The entire park evokes the feeling of a day at the beach,” Whincup mentions. Influencers who attended a soft opening remarked that there’s something enjoyable for everyone. Whincup expressed satisfaction, stating, “To get that instantly means as a designer and creator of this brand, I’ve done my job.”

The park employs nearly 40 staff members, with plans for additional hires, Whincup noted.

On opening day, between 10 a.m. and noon, the park anticipates 300 to 375 guests, with the first hour of play already sold out.

Creating Do The Beach Adventure Park has been a “labor of love,” with years of planning followed by about six to seven months of construction. Whincup shared that the last two weeks involved extensive workdays of 12 to 13 hours.

“We’re excited to open such a wonderful facility for this amazing community, which often lacks entertainment options,” Whincup stated. He co-owns the venture with his son, Robin Whincup, alongside franchise partners Tony and Michelle Fisher.

The Whincups have decades of experience in designing attractions for adventure parks through their business, Galaxy Multi Rides of Port Charlotte. “We have successfully created over 100 parks in the last six years,” Mike Whincup conveyed to the Business Observer in March.

Through Galaxy Multi Rides, which designs a variety of attractions from mechanical bulls to inflatable obstacle courses, they recognized that inflatable parks are both popular and financially viable, costing only about a third compared to starting a trampoline park.

Long-term, the Whincups intend to develop Do The Beach Adventure Parks as a franchise. In a phone interview, Mike Whincup revealed that franchises are in the works for locations in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.

“I’m eager to see how the concept is embraced in areas that lack beach access like Florida,” he added.

Ticket prices begin at $13.99 for toddlers and parents, while general admission starts at $19.99 for an hour of play. Various plans for extended playtime, including 90-minute, two-hour, and all-day passes, are available.

Do The Beach Adventure Park features a wristband system that tracks active play, offers geo-fencing, and allows guests to purchase items or add extra time. Additionally, memberships and event spaces can be reserved for parties in various themed areas such as the Sandcastle Suite, Surf Shack, and Cabana Club.