Eight years ago, two Tri-City couples launched a Knockerball franchise, featuring person-sized blow-up bubbles and other inflatables. Now, they’re bringing the fun to their first indoor location in Pasco.

Knockerball Tri-Cities is launching KBTC Family Fun Zone off of Chapel Hill Boulevard in Pasco. The 6,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar location will add a new indoor hangout space in the Tri-Cities that will feature bumper cars, virtual reality simulators, arcade games, food, from grilled cheese to ice cream – and of course, knockerballs.

“We just want to give families more options,” said co-owner Jasen Hinshaw.

“This area needs it,” said co-owner Rachel Garcia. “Kennewick has something going on, but Pasco does not.”

Bubble beginnings

Back in 2017, when the mobile business first launched, Jasen Hinshaw didn’t think it would be a successful idea, calling knockerballs “expensive bubbles.” 

The large, inflatable balls fit over someone’s upper body, allowing people in them to run around and knock into each other.

But his wife, Nellie Hinshaw, was able to persuade him. He got in contact with Rudy Garcia, who’d worked with him on a business venture previously, and his wife, Rachel Garcia. The four of them launched the business together.

Luckily, the idea took off. They ordered 10 to 15 balls at first, but “I think even before we’d got our first 10 knockerballs, we had to order more,” Rudy Garcia said.

For years, they’ve brought knockerballs to parties, events and fairs. Their rentals have expanded to include bounce houses, water slides, obstacle courses, laser and archery tag, a mechanical bull and more. 

A storefront has been on the owners’ wish list for a while, but the Covid-19 pandemic sidelined their plans. 

Later, the owners of Axe KPR made them an offer to take over the business, and Knockerball’s owners began running it about a year ago. Axe KPR is located at 8425 Chapel Hill Blvd., Suite C 104, and when the building’s developer began work on a new one next door, the owners jumped on the opportunity to occupy three of its suites.

Multiple businesses

Although Knockerball and Axe KPR will remain separate businesses, the owners certainly plan to take advantage of their proximity.

Passes can be bought at either location, Jasen Hinshaw said, and there will be shared package deals and discounts. Visitors can bring food from one venue to the other as well.

While pricing hasn’t yet been set for KBTC Family Fun Zone, Axe KPR’s prices are $20 for 45 minutes and $32 for 90 minutes, with discounts for military, teachers, caregivers and first responders.

Knockerball’s mobile business will remain the same, but the addition to the new building means they’ll have to hire more staff.

Each year, Knockerball Tri-Cities attends nine to 10 fairs and 400 to 500 events, from graduations, team-building or church activities, city or school events, or holiday or birthday celebrations and more.

To take care of the new fun zone as well as the mobile business, the owners are looking to hire between five and 10 employees. They were already in the process of interviewing candidates in late January, wrapping up in the second week of February.

“We’ve done a lot of it over the last eight or nine years,” Jasen Hinshaw said, and Nellie Hinshaw added, “We’ve been really hands on.”

They’ve reinvested everything they have into the business, and the new facility is the result. They initially thought the business might be a hobby, and in fact Jasen Hinshaw and Rudy Garcia still work 40- and 50-hour-a-week jobs, but it’s grown into much more than that. 

“Hopefully one day it will pay off to be our retirement,” Rachel Garcia said. 

The new KBTC Family Fun Zone on Chapel Hill Boulevard in Pasco will include bumper cars, knockerballs, virtual reality simulators, arcade games and more.

| Photo by Nathan Finke

Bringing smiles

The owners expect to open KBTC Family Fun Zone by the end of February.

It’s been a project six or seven months in the making since the owners officially agreed to it. The 9,000-square-foot building was completed in November. 

They expect the location will provide a good customer stream, with some traffic from nearby Chiawana High School and Tri-Cities Prep. 

“We’re trying to build an all-inclusive, you know, it’s not just for toddlers, it’s not just for adults, it’s not just for teenagers ... We’ve got stuff for everybody, grandkid to grandma and grandpa,” Jasen Hinshaw said. 

Already, people have come to Axe KPR from Yakima and Walla Walla, stopping by during business trips or buying out the venue for birthday or bachelor parties.

The owners are happy to make it happen. 

Throughout their years in business, they’ve loved seeing kids excited to have knockerballs show up at a party and watching their smiles and laughter. 

“We want to bring the fun,” Jasen Hinshaw said. 

Fun zone hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays; noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays; and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays; and closed on Mondays.

KBTC Family Fun Zone: 8425 Chapel Hill Blvd., Suite D120, Pasco; 541-922-8590. Go to Knockerball Tri-Cities Facebook’ page for updates on opening, pricing and its official website.