The Riot Zone has been a great attempt to make Southeast Idaho a little more “fun”. I was excited to see a fun center being built, though I thought their location was way off track (pick either Rexburg or Idaho Falls and cater to one market well – either would have been better than catering to both markets poorly). But they have done a noble job at trying to put together a good place for toddler and teenage entertainment.
This year, however, it appears whoever is managing the place has really blown it. When visiting, rides inflatables are often deflated, and parts of other rides broken or unavailable. This can be a real disappointment for someone who travels 20-30 minutes expecting an afternoon of fun for the kids. There is even question this year if there will even be a corn maze. It appears as though whoever was in charge planted the wrong type of corn this year and they had to pull it all up and recently plant again. There is a question as to whether the corn will grow fast enough or high enough for them to have a maze.
I don’t know who is managing the place, but the owners may want to look into talking to their team and getting things up to speed, if not for this year – next year at least. Then again, maybe sales are down this year and they can’t afford to upgrade staff or equipment. Either way, if something doesn’t happen there is a dangerous downward spiral on the horizion –>poor equipment –> poor service –>poor sales – >no money for new equipment – >even worse equipment , etc.
Has anyone else had a not-so-fun time at the fun center?
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Gato got runned over by Marcus many moons ago. Be ye daft, 2486? 
Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
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The current state of the economy might have had an impact on the riot zone. When visiting, was the turn out of visitors typical to other days you’d been there? If not, that wouldn’t be surprising.
Many Idahoans don’t have the money for luxuries, especially for outings like the riot zone. When time allows for family fun, a short distance trip to the park for a picnic and a short jaunt through the zoo is more likely to fit in the budget; as well as afforded by the gas allowance.
We’ve certainly seen better days.
I know the Riot Zone is at least a better deal than the new inflatables they put up at TSR on Hitt Road. At TSR they want $6 for your toddler to jump for a half hour, and $10 for a toddler/preschooler to jump for an hour! No way are my friends and I paying that much, whether we have oodles of money or are flat broke!
I’ve been to Riot Zone once on a company picnic. I only had to pay for some of the stuff and still found it to be overpriced. The severe lack of shade is also brutal.
Wendy hit the nail on the head (in my case anyway).
I was there on a class reunion with my kids with me. I purchased a ticket for the bumper boats, and soon found out that no one else (at all) was riding them. Our group was however all participating in something else (can’t remember) that was the exact same ticket price. I asked very nicely if I could trade the tickets over for the same priced ride, and the minimum wage high school employee very rudely told me there are no refunds. I said I don’t want a refund – just for you to trade me for another ride’s tickets that cost the same. He again told me it’s against the rules and there’s no way he can do it. I was flabbergasted at the rudeness and complete disregard for customer service. My family nor anyone that I know will ever visit that place again – over a ticket trade that would have cost nothing. Idiots.
Come on Scott, you can see plain as day if anyone else is riding those boats. Why would you bother to purchase a ticket for this ride if nobody else was riding them? Seems to me it was your fault, not the employees.
I’ve been to the Riot Zone once on a company picnic. I would have been very disappointed if I’d had t pay for it as everything except the mini golf was pretty lame.
As for the inflatables, I don’t know prices but if I was going to take my kids to TSR or Riot Zone I’d pick TSR any day simply because its inside. We were there at Riot Zone in the evening when it was cooler and still died of the heat and there is absolutely no shade. The little kids weren’t enjoying it at all.