Badlands. Why is it just getting more expensive?

[Anonymous]

When it was already expensive to begin with? Now parents have to pay. It's not like you can let your kids go alone. The membership still requires you to pay, only less.

I mean, it's nice and all but honestly after going 2x my kids were over it. It's not like there is unlimited stuff to do.

Do you think they will end up changing their pricing structure? Do people really go over and over? I am asking because literally everyone I know has gone only once or twice because of the price.

[Anonymous]

Clearly demand exceeds supply. I've gone a few times, and my kids like it. In bad weather, there aren't tons of options, particularly for families that have wide spacing in ages of their kids. (Badlands is among the only places that works for my 2 year old and 7 year old.)

[Anonymous]

They recently raised admission prices as well - it used to be $12.50 for kids 3 and under, now it’s $15. Not sure about the older kid rate. As PP said, demand must allow for it.

[Anonymous]

They just want to keep the riffraff out. That’s how it goes.

[Anonymous]

We've been once and it sounds like they've raised prices again since then. It was packed when we went so people must not mind the price.

Personally I won't be going back. It was way too much for what it was. My 2 year old wasn't into it at all. My 4 year old had fun, but he's happy anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I am sure they are busy at certain times but they are likely not busy most of there open hours so they need the price hike to make up the revenue. Also it’s likely the membership sales were not at the volume they anticipated. They likely aren’t getting a lot of repeat business but lots of people coming once or twice.

I think these kind of places seem like great ideas but they never seem to be able to stay in business. I think the price eventually deters people since this area has tons of free options and homes that are larger and have playrooms and outdoor spaces

A better implementation would be to downscale. People just aren’t willing to pay top dollar for indoor playgrounds in this
area. So model it after successful mall implementations - large open areas with seating all around the play area, free WiFi, coffee bar, and $5 admission per person. Offer memberships that actually
give a perk -certain number of free visits or ability to visit on holidays and limit general admission. Limit capacity and provide a live update via website if capacity is reached. Allow people to buy admission in advance for certain time slots. Manage capacity by having entry time slots and then clearing and cleaning btw the time slots. Birthday party room available with hosts but no exclusive use of facility.

[Anonymous]

Right!? We (family of five) went and paid $76 just to get in. It was fine because it was a crappy day out and there are so few options for families that have range of ages and that aren’t a haul.

[Anonymous]

It’s totally not impressive. My kids would much prefer a bounce place.

[Anonymous]

We have gone twice for birthday parties. It's nice/ok, but we'd never pay that much for what you get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When it was already expensive to begin with? Now parents have to pay. It's not like you can let your kids go alone. The membership still requires you to pay, only less.

I mean, it's nice and all but honestly after going 2x my kids were over it. It's not like there is unlimited stuff to do.

Do you think they will end up changing their pricing structure? Do people really go over and over? I am asking because literally everyone I know has gone only once or twice because of the price.

I guess they keep raising the price, because they can. I went there on a weekend in Feb and it was PACKED. I never went back, because I found it too stressful tp chase around two toddlers in such a crowded place with very little staff support/supervision. The way competition works is that they will raise the prices until there will be enough incentive for a competitor to open a facility.

[Anonymous]

The rise in minimum wage will drive up the cost of all of these type of places.

[Anonymous]

Way to expensive for my kid to climb on a few rocks. My 4 year old enjoyed it ($22.50 for him, $5 for me for 2 hours). But we tend to go places as a family - which would be $55 for the four of us for 2 hours?! There are so many free places in MoCo and DC. I don't mind paying - but it is too much for what you get IMO.

When we were there, the workshop was closed half of the time for something you had to pay extra for and then a program you had to sign up for. We signed up for the program, but my son didn't care for it and we walked out of it. The rotating exhibit didn't open until the last 30 minutes of our time slot - so we rushed through that. There was a 'dance party' in the forest area for a few minutes. But nothing I would go back for.

I know a few people who love it - but I don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The rise in minimum wage will drive up the cost of all of these type of places.

Or they lower the price and sell more time slots.

[Anonymous]

That will increase the cost of advertising. An increase in wages will cause an increase in consumer prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That will increase the cost of advertising. An increase in wages will cause an increase in consumer prices.

The reason they don't sell out more often is because of their pricing. Not for lack of advertising.