A circus for the senses: Flipnout trampoline park features “wall walking,” laser tag

At Flipnout, you can bounce, do somersaults, pull out your favorite ninja warrior moves or go into James Bond stealth mode.

Flipnout Xtreme Las Vegas Trampoline Park opened in the Summerlin area at 4245 S. Grand Canyon Drive, Suite 111, just before Christmas. Safety director Ron Ramirez said the facility is poised to host corporate and birthday parties as well as individual users, with an expected use ratio of about 50-50.

One of the things that differentiates it from other bounce houses, he said, is that there are no foam pits.

“Foam pits are gross,” Ramirez said. “It’s impossible to clean them. … We use air bags. They are soft, and they break your fall like foam, except you don’t sink to the bottom. You just roll over and roll off.”

The Las Vegas night sky is painted one of the facility’s walls. There are automated locker rentals available to keep personal items safe.

Ramirez said it is ready to host a number of local companies for team-building meetings and added that talks with Pepsi and Home Depot are underway.

As if to underscore that, Candice Williams came in to investigate whether it would make a good spot for Pinnacle Entertainment, where she works, to host a meeting. She works in guest services.

“The age range where I work is 20 to the 60s, and so I was looking for something that would appeal to everyone,” she said. “I think there’s a lot to do (here) for the younger crowd, but in the back area, there’s the Escape the Vault thing where you just have to dodge the lasers, so I think that’s something (older employees) might like. It’s more low-key.”

Besides the bounce area, there also are challenges. A climbing wall contains a twist: Circles contain handholds, but if your weight isn’t directly under them, prepare for the circle to turn, dropping you off the wall. Another wall is hands-only for those who like to test their upper body strength.

You can also test your balance on the obstacle course, where you leap from dome to dome, jump wall, and try to make your way across the step swings. There is even a tightrope walk.

“We’re still waiting for someone to make it all the way across,” Ramirez said. “Maybe we should have a contest.”

Those who are really proficient at bouncing on the trampoline can make themselves go horizontal and “walk” up the wall in one of the areas. Chase Spendlove, 17, gave a demonstration, bouncing on his back to touch the trampoline wall with his feet. If one took a photo of him at his highest point, it would indeed appear as though he were defying gravity and stepping on the wall, halfway up.

Spendlove said it’s not unusual to for him to hang out after his shift to play on the equipment.

The facility makes no claim as to the exercise value, but those coming off the equipment were slightly winded.

Jump passes start at $13 per hour. All-you-can-play passes start at $18 per hour. Bring coins for the laser maze and the arcade, as those games are not included in the price. On Friday and Saturday nights, expect the lights to dim and colored lights to be turned on with the music increased for a different, darker experience.

One of the areas in back is the domain of the Warehouse Wars Laser Tag, complete with a labyrinth of elevations and options. Laser tag phasers record players’ points, and there are dozens of different games to keep things interesting.

There is also a separate area just for toddlers.

“We don’t want the little kids flying all over the place,” said Ramirez, “like they do at some places.”

A parents’ lounge overlooks the facility and includes massage recliners.

“We had a couple from Cirque du Soleil who came here,” Ramirez said. “It was amazing to watch them.”

Visit flipnoutxtreme.com or call 702-579-9999.

To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949.