A Tale of Two New SoDu Play Places

By Tricia Smar, Special to Southpoint Access

Parents of young kids in South Durham rejoice as now we can set our little ones loose in not one but two nearby play places.

In just the last month, two indoor play locations have opened in what was once the play place desert of SoDu, providing the ideal retreat from the heat of summer and dreary rainy days. Big Bear Bounce has opened on NC Highway 55, near Anissa’s Spot (more on that partnership later) and Hyperkidz Durham opens today next to Sprouts on 54.

My family and I were fortunate enough to be invited to both venues to experience each firsthand. Below I’ll share my specific findings, but my biggest takeaway is that we are super lucky to have both these fantastic, family-friendly businesses here in SoDu.

Big Bear Bounce

5125 NC Hwy. 55, Ste. 102, Durham, NC 27713
Instagram | Facebook

At a Glance

Opened on April 19, 2025
Ages: 2 – 9 (younger children allowed but should use caution on inflatables)
Admission: $14.99/child for 2 hours of play
Passes: 5 for $49.99 or 10 for $99.99
Membership: $69.99/month
Birthday Packages: $349 for 15 kids for 2 hours or $599 for 20 kids and the whole facility for 2 hours with food
Food: Outside food is allowed in designated areas only; small snacks and drinks are available for purchase ($1-3); partnership with Anissa’s Spot for coffee, smoothies, etc that can be delivered on-site
Bonus Features: Local, Black-owned business; focus on supporting other local businesses and hosting community-oriented events

Hop on over to Big Bear Bounce for an inflatable-themed playtime. This brightly colored space with a wall of windows boasts two large inflatable attractions: one large bounce house with basketball hoop feature and one smaller bounce house with slide and Velcro ball dart board. Move toward the back of the space and you’ll find a Jungle Jumparoo next to a climbing structure for the older, adventurous toddler, followed by a section made just for younger toddlers and babies with a ball pit and fenced-off, soft play space.

A large open space just past the check-in desk holds several moveable games, like large building blocks, oversized Connect Four, and a sit ‘n spin type toy. The owner, Deronta Robinson, shared that this is designed to be a multipurpose space that can be used for community events, which he has begun to host in recent weeks. He painted a picture of future father-daughter/mother-son dances and movie nights, the latter of which was held last Friday for the first time.

It’s this commitment to the local community that resonates most with me. Not only has Robinson dedicated space to bringing community families together, but he has also partnered with another Black-owned business in the same shopping center, Anissa’s Spot. If you visit Big Bear Bounce during Anissa’s open hours (7:15 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays), then you can order food or drinks and have them delivered directly to you at Big Bear Bounce; a godsend for tired parents on the go in need of coffee to survive playtime.

So if you’re looking for a locally owned, super clean, relatively relaxed play place for your little ones, with an affinity for hyperlocal community building, Big Bear Bounce will fit the bill.

Hyper Kidz Durham

105 W. NC Hwy 54, Suite 237B, Durham, NC 27713
Instagram | Facebook

At a Glance

Opening on May 15, 2025
Ages: 0-13
Admission: Weekday: $10.99 (infants) – $14.99 (3-13); Weekend: $15.99 (infants) – $19.99 (3-13)
Monthly Pass: $69.99/month
Season Pass: $149.99 for 1 child; $119.99 per additional child
Annual Pass: $449.99 for 1 child; $199.99 per additional child
Birthday Packages: Start at $299 for 10 kids for 2 hours (weekday) up to $649 for 25 kids for 2 hours (weekend); all packages include pizza and drinks for children
Food: Outside food is allowed in designated areas only; nut-free facility so don’t bring any food with nuts; small snacks and drinks are available for purchase ($1-3)
Bonus Features: Enormous space with multiple areas for different age groups

Described as 13,000 square feet of fun, Hyper Kidz Durham brings the large-scale play place action to South Durham. With three age-designated play zones (big kid, kid, mini), kids of all ages will find adventure in this winter-themed park. Durham parents will be reminded of the multi-story, slide-filled scenery from places like Angel Island Fun Park and Happy Feet Planet. Around every corner lies a new feature to challenge your child’s physical strength (and wear them out enough for nap time). From the spinning toddler chairs to the three-story curvy slide, from the inflatable ax throwing to the mini trampoline, explore each area to discover hours of fun.

The three giant birthday party rooms along the back of the building show just how big of a bash your little one can throw. Suitable for up to 25 kids and 50 adults, the variety of birthday party packages (ranging from $299 – $649 for 2 hours) means that SoDu parents should expect to spend about half of their weekends in Hyper Kidz next year. And I’m not mad about it. With ample play spaces, seating for adults around the edges of the little kid space and in the lobby, and snacks/drinks for purchase, you’ll be sitting pretty in the AC while your children tucker themselves out.

It should be noted that Hyper Kidz is a predominantly East Coast franchise with eight current indoor playgrounds and seven opening soon. The branding comes with several key features that sets this spot up for success: colorful name and mascot recognition, tempting social media marketing, and tiered pricing for admission and birthday parties. The range of payment options, from weekday/weekend admissions to monthly passes to annual membership, allows for both flexible and bulk discount deals to appeal to all SoDu parents.

So if you’re looking for a giant indoor playground for your kiddo to blow off steam for several hours or a spot with flexible options for your kiddo’s next birthday, check out Hyper Kidz Durham.

Spread the word by sharing this Southpoint Access newsletter with friends and neighbors. Got a tip for your neighborhood news guy? Send email to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news. Call 919-695-9813, ext. 800.