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Places to Jump

Urban Air Adventure Park: A Family Guide to Passes, Grip Socks, Height Rules and the Waiver

A family guide to Urban Air passes, height rules, grip socks, food rules and the waiver, so you can plan your visit before you leave home.

By Up Is Jump TeamUpdated October 13, 20268 min read

It's a rainy Saturday, the kids have been bouncing off the couch since breakfast, and someone says the words "trampoline park." Urban Air Adventure Park is likely the one closest to you: an indoor park with trampolines, climbing walls, ropes courses and rides, sold through tiered passes. A good visit comes down to a few decisions you can make before you leave the house: which pass fits your kids' heights, whether you need grip socks, what you can eat, and signing the waiver ahead of time.

What Urban Air is and how big it has grown

Michael Browning Jr. opened the first Urban Air in 2011 in Southlake, Texas. In 2021 he created Unleashed Brands, a parent company for youth entertainment and enrichment franchises, and Urban Air is now its best-known brand. There are more than 400 open locations across the United States. Each park is independently franchised, which explains why some details vary from park to park.

That growth has been fast and well funded. Opening a single Urban Air costs between about $2.85 million and $7.94 million. That includes a $100,000 franchise fee, and owners need at least $750,000 in liquid capital. Owners also pay a 7% royalty on monthly sales. Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 has ranked Urban Air the No. 1 adventure park brand for eight years in a row through 2026.

What's inside

Attractions differ by location, but most parks are built from the same set of pieces:

  • Trampoline courts, the core of every park.
  • Tubes, a multi-level indoor playground.
  • Climbing walls and a Climbing Hill, a harness-free climbing area for younger kids.
  • Warrior Course, an obstacle course in the style of the TV ninja shows.
  • Ropes Course, an elevated course where climbers wear harnesses.
  • Sky Rider, an indoor coaster that riders hang from overhead.
  • Laser tag, and at some parks go-karts.

Before you go, check your local park's page to see which of these it has. The pass you buy decides which ones your kids can use.

Pass levels and what each includes

Single-day admission comes in tiers, and each tier adds attractions to the one below it:

  • Basic: trampoline courts.
  • Deluxe: trampolines plus the Tubes playground.
  • Ultimate: adds climbing walls and ropes courses.
  • Platinum: all attractions, including Sky Rider and laser tag.

Prices are set by each park, so check your local site. Before paying for Ultimate or Platinum, compare the attractions in that tier against your child's height (see below). A top-tier pass is wasted on a child who is too short for the rides it unlocks.

Memberships

If you expect to come back often, Urban Air sells Endless Play memberships. They start at roughly $14 to $21 a month with a 6-month or 12-month commitment. Members get unlimited visits plus discounts on food, merchandise and parties. A rough rule of thumb: if you'd visit more than once a month, compare the membership price against two single-day passes at your park.

Height rules by attraction

Height, not age, decides most of what a child can do:

  • Sky Rider and Ropes Course: at least 48 inches tall.
  • Climbing walls and Warrior Courses: generally at least 41 inches.
  • Climbing Hill: 52 inches and under. This one has a maximum, because it's built for smaller kids.

Measure your child at home before you choose a pass. Weight limits depend on the equipment at each park, and so do the rules for go-karts. Ask your park about both rather than assuming. Rules for how old a child must be to stay without an adult also vary by location, so call ahead if you plan to drop off an older child.

The grip-sock rule

Everyone who uses the trampoline attractions must buy and wear Urban Air's own branded grip socks. Socks from other trampoline parks aren't allowed. A pair usually costs $3.00 to $4.99. Keep them after your visit, since they can be reused next time.

Food and the no-outside-food rule

Day visitors can't bring in outside food or drinks. The only exception is a birthday cake or cupcakes for a party booked through the park.

Inside, the Urban Air Cafe serves typical family fare:

  • Pizza and burgers
  • Chicken tenders and mac and cheese
  • Waffle fries, pretzel bites and popcorn
  • Fountain drinks and ICEEs

If you'd rather not buy lunch at the park, eat before you arrive. Food is one of the membership discounts, so that's another point in its favor for frequent visitors.

Birthday parties

Party packages include a reserved table or private room, a party host, wristbands for the attractions, and food such as pizza. Packages come in levels, so you can match the attractions to the age and height of your guests. Choosing a package with Sky Rider for a group of mostly 40-inch five-year-olds means paying for rides most of them can't use. Bringing the cake is allowed with a party, as noted above.

Toddler sessions

For the youngest kids, many parks run Jumperoo, a recurring morning session just for children 5 and under. Little ones can jump without bigger kids landing next to them. Times vary by park, so check your location's schedule.

What to wear and bring

  • Athletic clothes without dangling drawstrings.
  • No jewelry. Remove it before playing, or leave it at home.
  • Closed-toe athletic sneakers for ropes courses and go-karts, in addition to grip socks for the trampolines.
  • A signed waiver for everyone in your group (see the next section).

The waiver, and what you can check yourself

Every guest needs a valid liability waiver before playing. You can sign it online in advance or at kiosks in the park. A parent or legal guardian must sign for every child, so signing at home saves time in line at the front desk.

The waiver is a legal contract. Urban Air's standard version is called a "Waiver of Liability, and Indemnification Agreement," and it includes a mandatory arbitration clause. That means a dispute over an injury would generally be decided by a private arbitrator instead of in court. Read it before you sign.

A waiver doesn't replace your own judgment. There are several things a parent can check:

  • Harnesses: On the ropes course and Sky Rider, watch staff fasten every buckle, including the leg straps, before your child leaves the platform.
  • Height checks: Make sure staff actually measure your child for height-restricted attractions, and don't push for an exception.
  • Inspections: Texas requires amusement rides to have annual certified safety inspections and continuous liability insurance, overseen by the Texas Department of Insurance, which posts current inspection information online. Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services requires annual permits, certified inspections and accident reporting. Michigan requires trampoline parks to follow the ASTM F2970 safety standard. Ask the front desk when the park's rides were last inspected.
  • No flips: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that flips and somersaults are a leading cause of permanent neck injuries and paralysis on trampolines. It also says children under 6 shouldn't use full-sized trampolines.
  • Know the medical view: The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages recreational trampoline use by children, including at commercial parks. It cites risks of concussions, fractures and spine injuries.

With the right pass, socks in hand and a waiver already signed, you can spend the morning watching your kids jump instead of standing in line.

Sources (36)

Photo: 119th Wing Airman promotes mentoring youth 150416-Z-WA217-049 by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, Public domain.