So, you say there aren’t enough indoor activities to do with your kids in our area? That’s about to change, as Atty Bear’s Playhouse and USA Ninja Challenge will share a new building located at 25352 Wesley Chapel Blvd. that will, bring indoor play and obstacle-course adventures to the Wesley Chapel/Lutz area.
If you haven’t seen or heard of Atty Bear’s or USA Ninja yet, it’s because the building the two separate kids’ play places will share is set in from the construction on Wesley Chapel Blvd., in a new 13,600-sq.-ft. building behind Elite Pavers of Tampa Bay. Both businesses are targeting openings in early 2027, with USA Ninja Challenge anticipating February and Atty Bear’s Playhouse planning for sometime in the spring.
Visitors to the new building will need to drive through Elite Pavers’ parking lot to reach the new kids’ places at the very back of the property.
With 52 additional parking spaces planned for the new facility, families should have ample room to park when visiting either business. While the two concepts offer very different experiences, both are designed around giving young people opportunities to play, explore and develop new skills.
Atty Bear’s Playhouse
Atty Bear’s Playhouse is the vision of founder Deja Twait, a former educator and mother of three boys who wanted to create a better indoor-play experience for families.
According to the business’s website, the idea grew from her own experiences trying to find places where children of different ages could enjoy themselves together without an outing becoming exhausting for their parents.
Twait envisioned a play space that was fun for children but also comfortable for the adults accompanying them. The philosophy of Atty Bear’s is, “Where wild play meets calm space.”
Rather than offering just another indoor playground, Atty Bear’s aims to combine imaginative play with an inviting environment where parents can relax, catch up on work or socialize while their children play. The concept is intended to accommodate a range of ages, making it easier for families with multiple children to enjoy the same outing.
Renderings for the facility also feature Doodlebug’s Café, which is planned to give parents and children a place to sit and enjoy refreshments with a view of the play area.
The planned menu will emphasize fresh, dye-free options, including wraps and salads, a children’s meal, baked goods, coffee drinks, tea and smoothies. Options will range from a chicken-&-avocado wrap to fruit-based smoothies, offering alternatives to the typical snack-bar fare.
Birthday parties are another part of the concept, providing families with a place to celebrate special occasions without having to organize everything at home.
The combination of indoor play, refreshments and party opportunities will make Atty Bear’s a welcome addition to the area, particularly during Florida’s hot summers and rainy afternoons.
Wesley Chapel is expected to be the first of two Atty Bear’s locations to open. The other will be in Lakewood Ranch.
For more information about Atty Bear’s Playhouse, visit AttyBearsPlayhouse.com.
USA Ninja Challenge
USA Ninja Challenge – Wesley Chapel will offer a very different kind of adventure for older toddlers through teens.
Founded in New Hampshire in 2015, the Wesley Chapel/Lutz franchise will be the 50th USA Ninja Challenge location across 18 U.S. states. Local mom and franchisee Paige Perilloux says USA Ninja Challenge offers structured youth fitness programs centered on obstacle-course training, giving children an opportunity to climb, swing, balance and work through physical challenges.
And, considering that an “American Ninja Warrior”-style obstacle course will be included as a Summer Olympics sport for the first time in Los Angeles in 2028, the timing to open USA Ninja Challenge (which is a proud community partner of USA Pentathlon Multisport) here couldn’t be any better.
Perilloux, a mother of three, said she was inspired in part to open a location here after watching her youngest daughter grow up with plenty of energy and a love of movement.
“Wesley Chapel is where my family lives, works, plays and makes memories,” Perilloux wrote in an email. She hopes the new gym will provide a place where local children can build confidence, make friends and thrive in a safe, fun environment.
USA Ninja’s mission is pretty straightforward: “Building Strong Kids, Inside and Out.”
USA Ninja Challenge serves children ages 2½-17, with programming designed around different developmental stages. Its classes use obstacle course training to help kids develop strength, coordination, balance and perseverance while each participant learns to tackle challenges at their own pace.
Perilloux says the experience isn’t only about completing obstacles. The program also emphasizes confidence, resilience and learning to encourage others, giving children opportunities to celebrate their own progress and support their peers. A common theme for the facility is, “We don’t just build muscles. We build mindset.”
In addition to regular classes, the Wesley Chapel/Lutz location will offer opportunities such as birthday parties, camps and specialized obstacle course training. It’s perfect for those looking for alternatives to traditional team sports or simply a new way to keep active children moving.
Construction has progressed to the point that the building already has its roof and walls, and Perilloux says, “The Wesley Chapel Blvd. construction has not affected our progress or our opening date. I can’t wait to meet our future ninja families!” For more info about USA Ninja Challenge, visit USANinjaChallenge.com or email paige.perilloux@usaninjachallenge.com.
