Rachel Guthrie

Rachel and Jared Guthrie are bringing the first trampoline park to Tyler.

They are converting two vacant spaces on Capital Drive into 9,500 square feet of trampolines. Guthrie said he is cautiously optimistic about opening iJump Tyler in early November, or by Thanksgiving at the latest, but it all depends on how fast construction goes.

The Guthries and two other partners are renovating the building, knocking down walls and retrofitting the space to fit the needs of their unique business. About a year ago, they began researching trampoline parks across the country.

“We noticed a void in Tyler when it came to true family entertainment,” Guthrie said. “We wanted to be locals who brought something cool and fun to East Texas.”

Mrs. Guthrie, 34, grew up in Tyler and attended Bishop T.K. Gorman Regional Catholic School and culinary school while Guthrie, 35, who was raised in Lindale, played baseball for Dallas Baptist University before returning to East Texas. He works in medical sales, while she is a stay-at-home mom, who makes cakes and cookies as a side business. They have two daughters, who are 6 and 3.

Mrs. Guthrie’s father owned several businesses in the cable industry, while Guthrie’s dad owned a business in the gas industry.

“We’ve watched them in their example in terms of hard work and making sure what you’re doing is top notch,” Guthrie said of their parents. “I think owning your own business is every American’s dream. … We’ve always wanted to have a business.”

Mrs. Guthrie is involved with MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) at her church and when looking to start a business, she wanted to offer something for mothers with young children.

Guthrie said the business will give people an opportunity to get out and do things together as a family.

“We want to bring a lot of happiness to children,” he said. “This is a great way to get kids out of the house and get active.”

iJump Tyler will have trampoline basketball and dodge ball courts; as well as grids — smaller square trampolines for children or people taking exercise classes. They also will have a foam pit children can jump off into, as well as one 90-foot long court that can be converted into different things, such as a larger dodge ball court for bigger groups. Cheerleaders also can use them to practice tumbling.

“They’re absolutely enormous,” Guthrie said of the trampolines, adding that some of them will be 15 feet wide and 80 feet long.

Multiple companies produce different aspects of the trampolines. One business produces the netting, one the protective foam and another, the steel structures. The companies that make the parts assemble and install the trampolines on site.

iJump Tyler also will offer open floor space for parents to sit on couches, watch television or work using free Wifi while watching their children have fun. Mrs. Guthrie said they want to have a place where children and their parents want to come.

They will have 20 to 25 employees, and someone will be monitoring each station. Guthrie said safety measures have continued to improve on the trampolines, such as redundant netting underneath the trampoline in case of a malfunction.

“There’s a lot of oversight when it comes to this,” he said.

Guthrie said they will install a lighting and sound package in the rafters of the ceiling, with shooting lights and black lights for entertainment. They will host Disney themed days, such as the popular movie “Frozen,” for children, and will offer birthday party and corporate party packages. Most of the time, iJump will be open to the public while parties are going on, but the place can be rented out entirely for parties up to 90 people. iJump is not seasonal and offers indoor recreation even during bad weather.

“We want to offer a different environment for families to come to,” Guthrie said.

He said there were few available facilities in Tyler with the right height and space requirements needed for the business. He said he felt Capital Drive, off of Old Jacksonville Highway, was a convenient location to attract customers from Tyler and outside of town. The area includes several other kid and fitness-related businesses.

The Guthries have 15,000 square feet of space in the facility and hope to expand the trampoline space in the future, as well as open additional locations in other East Texas towns down the road, Guthrie said.