Funtopia is an international chain of family entertainment centers headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, owned by Adventure Facility Concepts & Management, a subsidiary of Bulgarian climbing wall and active entertainment manufacturer Walltopia.[2] Funtopia centers feature amusement climbing walls, trampoline parks, ropes courses, and obstacle courses.
 | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Family entertainment centers |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Sofia, Bulgaria |
Number of locations | 11 |
Key people |
|
| Owner | Walltopia |
| Parent | Adventure Facility Concepts & Management |
| Website | www |
The first Funtopia location opened in 2013 in Sofia,[3] and the chain currently has 11 locations in 5 countries, including both corporate-owned and franchised sites.
History edit
Following Walltopia's entry into the manufacturing of active entertainment products in 2012, the company founded Adventure Facility Concepts & Management (AFCM), its family entertainment center operation and franchising arm.[3] The first Funtopia center run by AFCM opened in June, 2013 in Paradise Center in Sofia, Bulgaria. It featured mainly amusement climbing walls targeting children and teenagers.[4]
In 2014, the chain expanded into the United States with its first franchised location in Lehi in Utah, with two corporate locations following in the years after, both in Chicago, Illinois.[5][6] The following year, Funtopia centers opened in Canada and Israel,[7][8] with the chain expanding into Australia and Malaysia in 2016.[9][10] The company most recently opened its first location in Oman in 2022, after finishing it in 2020 but facing delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.[11]
After starting with a focus almost exclusively on themed amusement climbing walls, the selection of attractions at Funtopia locations has grown over time to include trampoline parks, ropes courses, and obstacle courses, among others.[2][1]
Operations edit
Funtopia is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, with 11 centers currently operational in five markets, including Bulgaria, the United States, Australia, Israel, and Oman. It is owned by Adventure Facility Concepts & Management, itself a subsidiary of Walltopia.[2] The chain previously had locations in Canada and Malaysia.[1]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c Merlin, Lalla (10 December 2018). "Living adventurously through active entertainment with Funtopia". Blooloop. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "New Generation Active Entertainment Centers". Retrieved 15 Nov 2023.
- ^ a b Deprez, Esmé (10 November 2015). "The Bulgarian Duo Leading an Indoor Rock Climbing Revolution". Bloomberg. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Фънтопия" [Funtopia]. VisitSofia.bg (in Bulgarian). Stolichna Municipality. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ Hegarty, Erin (24 October 2017). "Funtopia indoor playground, climbing gym planned for Naperville". Naperville Sun. Chicago Tribune Media Group (Tribune Publishing). Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Pilossoph, Jackie (22 June 2016). "Funtopia, a new indoor playground". Glenview Announcements. Pioneer Press (Tribune Publishing). Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Baluja, Tamara (3 March 2016). "Employee fired for texting while girl stuck on climbing wall". CBC News. CBC. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ Filipova, Iglika (12 May 2017). "Да се покатериш на франчайза" [Climbing on the franchise]. Capital (in Bulgarian). Economedia. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Funtopia Carrum Downs: New Melbourne Playground opening October ..." Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times (News Corp Australia). 21 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ Leong, Ewe Paik (5 October 2017). "GO: Child's play in Klang Valley". New Straits Times. Media Prima. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Funtopia Barka – Active Entertainment Center for the whole family". Retrieved 17 November 2023.