Jumping for Joy

Glen Bingham embarks on his seventh year with GJump
By Susan Greig

photo by shane darby.

Entering GJump, the 20,000-square-foot indoor trampoline park with disco lights bouncing off the walls and ceiling, is a bit like walking into another world—a world filled with laughter and fun. In contrast, the man behind the scenes works from a simple office with a single piece of decor on the wall. It’s a picture printed with his ethos, the words of Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

Gjump opened in 2017. Glen and his wife, Shelly, initially planned to open an outdoors entertainment venue for kids but realized the seasonal weather would significantly impact their success. This realization led them to the trampoline park.

 “In Texarkana, there really [was] no place for kids to get to have some exercise and fun things to do inside,” he said. “This [idea] far outweighed the [outdoor] venue I was going to go after, so I put all my focus here.”

Glen and Shelly immediately began working to secure their location next to Best Buy in the Texarkana Pavilion, aiming to open in September 2016. “But that wasn’t in the Lord’s plans,” Glen said, “so we opened May 2017. We had to wait eight months to get this building, but I said, ‘If we do things the right way, we [will be] in an “A” location, so it’s worth the wait.’ Moms and dads feel safe in this center, and it’s convenient—there are eating and shopping places here.”

GJump is an indoor entertainment facility with trampolines, dodgeball courts, climbing walls, foam pits, and more, for children ages 2 and up. Upon opening, GJump experienced immediate popularity, but, like for most other businesses, 2020 brought crisis.

“We were blessed, and things started off pretty good,” Glen reflected. “Then, this little thing called COVID came along, and it was quite challenging. Pretty scary times—lots of prayers, lots of focus, and lots of believing. We were closed for three months [at the beginning of the pandemic]. I put together a little parade for the kids with all my characters: Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Paw Patrol, Spider-Man, and a few others. We invited people on Facebook to come drive by GJump, where [the characters would] wave and give high-fives. It gave little kids something to look forward to.”

Glen worked in retail and store management for many years before opening GJump. He accredits the center’s success to the team members he brings onboard. “One of my strengths is to put together a strong staff,” he said. “I’ve been very fortunate to have had some really good managers and some really good party hosts who have helped my wife and me manage the business,” he said. “One of our goals is to hire a kid-friendly staff. You gotta like kids to be in our business.”

Shelly and Glen have one daughter, Avenly, who is a student at Pleasant Grove High School. Submitted photo.

Glen feels great pride in offering such a fun outlet for the community—but while fun is clearly important, safety is, too. “We have some minor accidents—sprained ankles, hurt knees,” he said. “I think the fact that we strictly enforce the rules helps [minimize] that. Sometimes kids get upset with that, but we know what we’re doing, and we’re trying to protect them. The number one rule at GJump is safety. I want you leaving here with sweaty cheeks and sweaty hair but everything else working good.” To this end, there are two special areas reserved for children 6 years of age and under to keep them safe. 

A top attraction for older children is the dodgeball court. Kids line up and down the walls, and the monitors sort them onto teams. “The kids love it,” Glen said. “It’s really fast-paced.” GJump previously held Saturday-night dodgeball tournaments, but that practice has fallen to the wayside. “But I’m going to get back to that,” Glen reflected.

Shelly and Glen are always looking and listening for new ideas to enhance the facility. They are currently considering adding more arcades in the fall because of requests from customers. 

“It’s a challenging business to run; there’s a lot of moving parts,” Glen remarked. “You’re in the people business, so if you don’t enjoy people, and you can’t deal with a little stress with people, it’s the wrong business for you. But I love kids. I love seeing them smile. I have no regrets—it was the right move for my wife and me.”