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Ready for a new adventure? Try the Adventure Zone in Duluth's Canal Park Grandma's Restaurant Co. has expanded its menu to include a family fun center. The local chain has taken over the space previously occupied by Thrillz at 329 S. Lake Ave., and has done a $1 million-plus overhaul of the game space in Canal Park, i... Kid's Cove area in the new Adventure Zone Enthusiastic kids run back into the maze and up the slide Nov. 15 in the Kid's Cove area in the new Adventure Zone, the site of the former Thrillz. (Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com) Christa Lawler By Christa Lawler November 21, 2010 at 11:00 PM Share Grandma's Restaurant Co. has expanded its menu to include a family fun center. The local chain has taken over the space previously occupied by Thrillz at 329 S. Lake Ave., and has done a $1 million-plus overhaul of the game space in Canal Park, including renaming it Adventure Zone. They've made upgrades to the existing draws and added some new ones. It has been open for a few weeks, but a grand opening is planned for January. Duluth Rowing Club hosts 64th annual regatta "We think a family fun center is the perfect complement to the entertainment district down here," said Brian Daugherty, president of the local chain. In the past decade, this 50,000-square-foot venue has been called Thrillz, Carnival Thrillz and Bananaz. Before that, Grand Slam Adventure Center was a few blocks south. Daugherty said he thinks their version can succeed in this space where others have lasted only a few years at a time. "We are going to continue to reinvest and upgrade the product, which family fun centers demand," he said. "We also feel we have a unique connection to cross-marketing the fun center with our restaurants and hotel affiliations." One of the bigger projects was overhauling the pre-existing laser tag area. It has been expanded, and a second tier was added to the neon-lit playing field that includes a lofted center and obstacles. A batting cage was added, including a coaches box and different pitch speeds. The miniature golf area was renovated, and now includes a larger-than-life scenic digitally altered photo mural covering an entire wall. It tells a fictitious back story of the North Shore Nine, a legend that includes putting greens that were set up like islands in Lake Superior. A boat holding a set of golf clubs is a water-ready version of a golf cart. There is a view of Canal Park and the Central Hillside. Blake and Sabine Naber played a couple of rounds on the nine-hole course, and identified themselves as minigolf enthusiasts. Blake Naber said he wished the course were harder. A player is able to get around some of the obstacles rather than finding a way through them. But he said Adventure Zone had cleaned up well. "It's good to have a place like this in the winter in Duluth that doesn't involve drinking," he said. The centerpiece of the space is the token-operated arcade area with Price Is Right-themed games, driving games, shooting games and Dance Dance Revolution. There is air hockey, basketball hoops and a trolley-styled café with nachos and hot dogs and pizza. The Kids' Zone was the largest draw on Monday night. It's a playground of tunnels, padded obstacles, slides and climbing. "It's too cold to play outside, and my kids have a lot of energy," said Carley Odell, who was with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, who said it's bigger than the playground at McDonald's. Odell said she spent time at Grand Slam when she was younger, and one thing specifically triggered nostalgia: "The carpet," she said, indicating the dark flooring with a rainbow of confetti and squiggle decorations. "It seems like every arcade you go to has it, and I love it." Roxanne Hoechst was with her two kids, ages 4 and 11, and said she had been to every incarnation of this venue. "This is probably the best one so far," she said. "It even smells better." There is still a wide open space that they haven't decided what to do with. It could house a sport simulation area. A giant fireman's slide is en route. The climbing wall, which belongs to Vertical Endeavors, is still on site.



CREDITS: Carnivalthrillz

More changes are afoot for a 50,0000-square-foot amusement center in Duluth's [MN] Canal Park. The business at 349 Lake Ave. S. is on its third name and third set of owners in less than three years. The latest sign to go up on the building reads 'Carnival Thrillz,' and it supplants an old shingle that read 'Canal Park Fun Center.' The indoor amusement park opened its doors in the summer of 2001 under the name, 'Bananaz.' Matt Reardon, the newest manager of the amusement center, remains confident the current Minneapolis-based ownership group, Carnival Thrillz LLC, can bring newfound stability to the business. CREDIT:Duluth News Tribune