Discovery Zone
Encyclopedia
Discovery Zone was a chain of entertainment facilities featuring games and elaborate indoor mazes designed for young children, including slide
s, climbing play structures and ball pit
s. The chain was founded by Ronald Matsch, Jim Jorgensen
, Mike Geselbracht and Dr. David Schoenstadt in 1989. The first location was opened in Lenexa, Kansas
, in January 1990. An early investor and vocal supporter of the company was tennis player Billie Jean King
.
Other places similar to Discovery Zone include Chuck E. Cheese's
, Major Magic's, The Jungle, and Wonder Camp (a chain that closed in 1997). McDonald's
started a similar chain called Leaps and Bounds that merged into Discovery Zone in 1994.
In the 1990s, one of its jingles went like this: "I'm going DZ at Discovery Zone. Discover what I can do on my own! I can jump, swing, crawl, or mountain climb. I'm going DZ, it's one of a kind!". This was written by Benjamin Baer and sung by children. Other slogans were "Funbelievable fitness for kids!", "We're zoned in to Discovery Zone!", and "Where kids want to be!".
).
's control) Discovery Zone filed for bankruptcy on March 26, 1996 in Wilmington, Delaware
with debts of up to $366.8 million. By the end of 1999, Chuck E. Cheese's
had purchased approximately 500 of DZ's locations and turned many of them into Chuck E. Cheese's facilities while shutting down the rest.
Playground slide
Playground slides are found in parks, schools, playgrounds and backyards. The slide may be flat, or half cylindrical or tubular to prevent falls. Slides are usually constructed of plastic or metal and they have a smooth surface that is either straight or wavy...
s, climbing play structures and ball pit
Ball pit
A ball pit is a pit, usually rectangular and padded, filled with small colorful hollow plastic balls...
s. The chain was founded by Ronald Matsch, Jim Jorgensen
Jim Jorgensen
Jim Jorgensen is a serial entrepreneur. He has started over 25 enterprises since getting his MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business at the age of 24. Jorgensen’s industry selection for these new enterprises has been wide, running from retail to manufacturing, from Internet to mail order, and...
, Mike Geselbracht and Dr. David Schoenstadt in 1989. The first location was opened in Lenexa, Kansas
Lenexa, Kansas
Lenexa is a city in the central part of Johnson County, located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,190. As a satellite city of Kansas City, Kansas, Lenexa is included in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, in January 1990. An early investor and vocal supporter of the company was tennis player Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
.
Other places similar to Discovery Zone include Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's is a chain of family entertainment centers. Chuck E...
, Major Magic's, The Jungle, and Wonder Camp (a chain that closed in 1997). McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
started a similar chain called Leaps and Bounds that merged into Discovery Zone in 1994.
In the 1990s, one of its jingles went like this: "I'm going DZ at Discovery Zone. Discover what I can do on my own! I can jump, swing, crawl, or mountain climb. I'm going DZ, it's one of a kind!". This was written by Benjamin Baer and sung by children. Other slogans were "Funbelievable fitness for kids!", "We're zoned in to Discovery Zone!", and "Where kids want to be!".
IPO and Merger
Discovery Zone completed a successful IPO in June 1993 (led by Chris Bellios, Sam Jeremenko and Steven Noe) raising over $50 million. In 1994, Discovery Zone merged its operations with Blockbuster Video (and its parent, ViacomViacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
).
Bankruptcy
Stretched thin by expansion, changes in management tried to save the company, however (under ViacomViacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
's control) Discovery Zone filed for bankruptcy on March 26, 1996 in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
with debts of up to $366.8 million. By the end of 1999, Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's is a chain of family entertainment centers. Chuck E...
had purchased approximately 500 of DZ's locations and turned many of them into Chuck E. Cheese's facilities while shutting down the rest.