DEFY Thornton, a new brand of CircusTrix, a company that builds trampoline and extreme recreational parks, is not the first trampoline gym of its kind in the Thornton area. However, Michael Knight, general manager of DEFY Thornton, says this location is very different from other CircusTrix locations.
“This one is a little bigger. We have some attractions that others don’t have. With each park, we add new attractions,” he explained.
DEFY’s Thornton location opened this past August, and it’s a great place for kids, as well as someone to take their much older friends. Those who enjoy game shows such as Wipeout and American Ninja Warrior can now showcase their agility skills on a wipeout machine, 28 trampolines, zip lines, foam pits, and much more.
Knight says that providing ninja warrior-inspired obstacles is a huge draw to those who want to go beyond what a trampoline can do. This park is designed to test your strength, agility, and endurance. It’s also quite the adrenaline rush. “We have pretty fun zip lines. You don’t have to wear a harness. Our attractions are all designed to give you a little kick of adrenaline. We have a cool stunt fall. This involves climbing up a bunch of stairs that are probably 10 feet high. We have an airbag that you’ll jump off of. “It’s like falling off of a rollercoaster,” Knight said.
There is more to DEFY than trampolines. “It’s DEFY Thornton’s evolution of a trampoline park. The trampolines are still here, but our attractions are based around them,” he said. According to Knight, another key difference is the atmosphere. On the walls inside, there are murals and a graffiti-inspired theme. “We are very much into creating an environment that is post-worthy, especially among younger generations.”
Social media hype has also attracted some parkour stars and fans of American Ninja Warrior. While the stunts can get pretty wild, Knight assures that safety precautions are always taken at the trampoline park. To participate in Thornton jumps, participants must wear special grip socks with rubber gripping that can be purchased and worn. The purpose of this is to prevent foul smells and to prevent serious accidents from occurring from slippery socks.
“We don’t want people to smell terrible foot odors,” Knight said. In addition to the socks, DEFY also enforces several rules to prevent injuries, including no running, no diving headfirst, no running backflips, and no double jumping on the same trampoline. “In trampoline parks, you’d think there would be a lot of accidents. Thus far, we have only experienced a few ankle and elbow injuries. But there will always be a risk,” Knight said. Therefore, they have onsite staff to ensure people don’t act dangerously. Furthermore, they train people to recognize when people are going beyond their limits. Staff members are proactive, guiding you to jump within your capabilities at all times.
DEFY locations sometimes host slumber parties at the trampoline park where guests can jump all night in pajamas if they choose. If you want to rent out the arena for a private party, you can do so or experience a public lock-in. They also have a DJ attend and keep the party going all night long as well as serve pizza and drinks. Additionally, they offer prizes, such as an Xbox and a GoPro, and hold contests, such as who can survive the longest on the wipeout machine or can do the most flips in one go.
DEFY Thornton is not your typical trampoline park. It is located at 9925 Grant St. in Thornton, CO 80229, and is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. From Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. up until 7 p.m. every Sunday.
