HELENA — February 2 was a day where two years of work finally culminated, and a dream became a reality for Ron Bolan and Vince Saccheri.
Flying Giant Adventure Park opened its doors to the public. Though the opening was a "soft opening" to give Bolan, Saccheri, and their staff some time to get a better grasp of the business and become a well-oiled machine, the two were teeming with excitement as they got ready to open the doors.
"We're super excited. This has been a long process -- getting this place to the point that it is -- and it's exciting times to be able to give the kids in the community something to do," said Saccheri.
The new adventure park features rock climbing, trampolines, dodgeball, and a rope course where patrons can strap into a harness and traverse an obstacle course in the sky. The indoor park also adds on to the existing framework of the business which featured batting cages and axe throwing bays.
For Bolan, an established businessman in Helena's Family Entertainment industry with Sleeping Giant Lanes, being able to open the doors to another venture is a proud moment for him and, in his eyes, the community.
“It just seems like yesterday when we started this project. We've been able to see it built from the ground up, and now finally getting our doors open it's a great sense of accomplishment, and a great sense of pride, being able to see this come to life,” said Bolan.
Bolan and Saccheri started their venture together in 2018 because in their eyes, Helena was only going to get bigger and they wanted to be able to provide some fun while being the first to bring that fun to the area.
"We've seen a lot of growth in Helena recently, and I think this is going to continue," said Bolan. "I think it was just a matter of time before somebody capitalized on that growth and brought something like this to Helena. I think there was a great need for it."
Though Bolan is associated with Sleeping Giant Lanes and Flying Giant Adventure Park, the two businesses are separate ventures despite a similar namesake and their close proximity.
Saccheri knows opening a business like this, right now, is an interesting and difficult proposition. However, he feels over the next year, they'll be able to show their investment into the community by providing a quality experience.
"I see us constantly reinventing ourselves, whether that's -- if an attraction doesn't quite get the participation level as others, I foresee us, you know updating that attraction into something new," said Saccheri. "Constantly staying relevant to the times."
Though the Adventure Park is open to the public, Bolan and Saccheri plan on holding a grand opening in the middle of February 2021.
