Couple brings year-round fun to community
Caylor and Cathryn Bax are pictured with their daughter near the colorful and expansive play area at their new business, PonderPlay.
An inquisitive zebra peeks around the corner. A cartoon panda peeks from behind a bush. A monkey hangs from a cardboard tree.
Bright colors adorn a two-story indoor play structure complete with rooms to investigate, a side-by-side slide, obstacles galore and a climbing wall. A ball pit filled with green, orange, red and yellow balls offers a fun place to jump or hang out. Nearby is a foam play area complete with whales and dolphins to ride.
Parents of a young and active kiddo and another one on the way, Caylor and Cathryn Bax know the value of play. However, they also recognize the challenges of living in an area where outdoor fun isn't always possible due to snow, rain, or hot days.
That's when the couple had the idea for PonderPlay — an indoor play center that is ideal for both rainy spring and fall days and snowy winter days when playing outdoors just isn't an option. The Sandpoint facility has addressed those challenges, offering year-round fun in a climate-controlled environment.
"We love our life in Sandpoint and the access to the outdoors this area provides," said PonderPlay's Cathryn Bax, who co-founded the business with her husband, Caylor. "We also know the realities of some of those days; we need to get out of the house and let off some steam, regardless of the freezing temps or rainy skies. We saw a need in the area to have a place exclusively designed with kids in mind where parents and guardians can also feel a sense of community."
PonderPlay aims to provide a safe, fun place for kids to play with a community feel for adults.
"We are fully dedicated to children's playtime," Bas said.
The result is a vibrant, child-friendly facility designed for fun. Parents aren't left out of the equation where, strategically placed at the entrance, comfortable seating allows them to relax while keeping an eye on the kiddos at play.
PonderPlay aims to provide a safe, fun place for kids to play with a community feel for adults, Caylor Bax said.
The Baxes have worked to make prices affordable, offering a $10 daily drop-in fee for short-term visitors or those wanting to try the facility. A $35 monthly pass allows unlimited visits for 30 days, suited for frequent users. The options ensure accessibility for various budgets and schedules, the Baxes said.
Bax said the play center cleans and sanitizes daily. It requires socks to be on play equipment; bare feet and shoes are not allowed. To ensure no one misses out on the chance to play, socks are available for purchase at the play center.
Parents and guardians are required to be with children while they play; no drop-offs are allowed.
PonderPlay officials said they are excited to be opening their doors and already have expansion plans. Those plans include establishing a party space to help celebrate patrons' milestones and providing bounce house rentals for local events, as well as working toward community partnerships to expand future offerings.
The business, owned and operated by Caylor and Cathryn Bax, is found at 1314 Wright Way, Sandpoint.
The indoor play center is open: Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.; and Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PonderPlay is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
For more information, PonderPlay can be contacted via email at ponderplaynw@gmail.com, online at ponderplaynw.com, or by phone at 509-475-6084.
