How Chris Worthy Built an All-Inflatable Pop-Up Waterpark Experience

Chris Worthy, a native of Queens, NY, developed Slide City Waterpark during the pandemic, drawing inspiration from his desire to connect with his daughter. As the founder of Bounce Playground, Worthy originally sought to create memorable experiences for children and families by incorporating inflatables into various events. Slide City Waterpark, an all-inflatable pop-up attraction, was born from his passion for offering fun, exciting, and healthy experiences for all ages. In this interview, Worthy shares the journey behind the creation of the park, the challenges he faced, and his plans for future growth.

Inspiration Behind Slide City Waterpark

SBS – What inspired you to start Slide City Waterpark, and how did you come up with the concept of an all-inflatable, pop-up waterpark?

Chris – What inspired me to come up with the concept of an all-inflatable pop-up waterpark was my daughter. I always wanted to be able to have fun with her. I feel inflatables are something people of all ages enjoy, which would allow my daughter and me to connect and have fun for years to come. We actually donated two water slides to my community block party, and with many different entertainment options, the only place the kids wanted to be was on the slides. From there, Slide City Waterpark was on.

Challenges in Launching Slide City

SBS – What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the initial stages of launching Slide City, and how did you overcome them?

Chris – Some of my biggest challenges was creating the water park. I thought it would be so simple. However, with Slide City Water Park being a pop-up location and us wanting to always provide a unique experience, we are constantly changing what the water park looks like. We have to pivot a lot. Not every space will look the same. Each venue is unique. We had to accept that we couldn’t do everything the same. We had to bring what was necessary without compromising the experience of Slide City Waterpark. Also, finding a good venue is always a challenge.

Choosing Locations for the Pop-Up Waterpark

SBS – How do you decide on the locations for Slide City, and what factors do you consider when choosing new sites?

Chris – We launched Slide City in New York first. We are originally from NY, so it only felt right to bring the experience to our home state. When we thought about touring, one of the first things we consider is the weather. Going to a place like Alaska wouldn’t make sense. Another thing we thought about is the location’s proximity to other amusement parks — specifically waterparks. We want to bring the experience of a water park to customers who dont always have the means of traveling 2+ hours to a waterpark. Then, it’s logistics. Does it have a water supply? What is the lay of the land? Can we temporarily install 21+ inflatables safely at this venue? A lot of thought goes into where we will pop up next.

Logistics of Setting Up a Pop-Up Waterpark

SBS – Can you share some insights into the logistics of setting up and dismantling a pop-up waterpark of this scale?

Chris – It’s a lot of hard work, and although it’s rewarding, it’s also tiring. It takes a minimum of three days to set up. We have to scale each location. Once we have the measurements, we have to create a map of which inflatables can fit into our space. Although we are a pop-up inflatable waterpark, we pride ourselves in creating an experience that will mimic your stationary water and amusement parks (minus the pools). That means changing rooms, showers, concessions, food court, lounge areas, and gaming area. We have to see how to make it all work. We want customers to feel as though they are really at a waterpark. Takedown is a 2–3 day process. We have to first let the inflatables dry, then roll them up, and pack them all in the truck to move along to the next location.

Ensuring Safety at Slide City

SBS – What strategies have you used to manage and ensure safety at the park, especially considering the unique nature of the inflatable attractions?

Chris – In the initial stages of setting up, we inflate all the inflatables and see where it makes sense to put them, keeping in mind entry and exit, emergency exits, emergency lanes for first responders, egress, and flow. We then stake down all of our inflatables. We have custom mats to provide extra padding for landings. There are hourly cleanups of the water. We are always walking around to make sure the safety of our customers is being met. This is year two, so we are still learning and implementing safety procedures. While we want you to have fun, it’s our responsibility to keep you safe.

Effective Marketing Strategies for Slide City

SBS – How do you market Slide City to attract visitors in different locations, and what has been the most effective marketing channel for you?

Chris – The most effective marketing channel has been partnering with other children’s event businesses in specific locations. We target their audience and retarget customers who have come to the waterpark in the past. This is also the age of social media, so we place ads all over Instagram and Facebook (still trying to figure out TikTok, though). You can follow us at Slide City Waterpark on all of our socials.

Creating a Positive Experience for Families

SBS – What measures have you implemented to ensure a positive experience for families, especially those with young children?

Chris – Fun for all is really the mission behind Slide City, so our theme park has an area for literally everyone — from babies at one year of age to adults.

We take into consideration discounts for families, so if you purchase a family pack, you save money. We want to bring an affordable experience to the people where the kids have fun and parents don’t have to spend their last.

Managing Seasonal Staffing and Operations

SBS – Given the seasonal nature of Slide City, how do you manage staffing and operations throughout the year?

Chris – The parent company, Bounce Playground, operates all year round. We are continually renting other equipment and creating experiences to keep the staff working and preparing for summer Slide City Waterpark operations.

Expansion Plans for Slide City Waterpark

SBS – Can you discuss any plans for expanding Slide City, either by adding new attractions or expanding to new regions?

Chris – Sure. We are expanding more into the five boroughs of New York next year. We also have plans to do special visits in Atlanta, GA, San Antonio, TX, Sacramento, CA, Pueblo, CO, and Baltimore, MD. We will also add 3–6 new attractions and add more sections to the park. Stay tuned for more details.

Maintaining the Longevity of Inflatables

SBS – How do you ensure the longevity and durability of the inflatable structures, given their heavy use during the season?

Chris – We make sure to clean and sanitize after each use. We store them properly. They are inspected and, if needed, repaired immediately. Our inflatables are strictly for this experience, so they are used less than any other rental inflatables on the market.

Handling Weather-Related Challenges

SBS – How do you handle weather-related challenges, and what policies are in place to deal with inclement weather?

Chris – We have daily early morning meetings to discuss the weather for the operation. We are open during rain but do close if the rain and winds are predicted to be too severe. We definitely close or shut down when lighting is within 30 minutes after we open or predicted before opening. In instances when we have to close, all attendees get free tickets to use another day, and those who have not yet made it get to reschedule their tickets.

Lessons Learned from Growing Slide City

SBS – Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in the creation and growth of Slide City?

Chris – More research. More planning. More learning. I would have started off small. Personally, I always have big plans, and once you start big, you can’t scale back. I would have started with less inflatables to grow the brand, a smaller space and operation, and grew over time with my market. I also didn’t invest much into marketing, and that is key for getting the word out, so I would have increased my marketing budget.

Advice for Entrepreneurs Starting Pop-Up Businesses

SBS – What advice would you give entrepreneurs looking to start a seasonal or pop-up business?

Chris – My advice would be to thoroughly research what you are trying to do. Reach out to those in the field and seek mentorship, guidance, and all that you may not be seeing. I’m learning every day, and there are things I wish I had known before I started.