Indoor, outdoor family entertainment found in one place

After taking on the global oil industry for more than 20 years, in 2006 Blake Roberts decided to take on things a little closer to home.

He purchased four acres of land and opened up Katy Miniature Golf and Batting Cages and Inflatable Katy in late 2007. The facility includes two 18-hole miniature golf courses, laser tag, batting cages, a Euro bungy trampoline jump and three private party rooms with inflatables.

Five years later, the company has 24 employees and hosts on average 1,000 birthday parties annually. It also caters to groups of 10 to 250, and it has hosted fifth-grade graduation parties, day care groups and church programs.

The husband and father of three had been working on the concept for two years while also working for energy companies.

"My focus is on toddlers to 10-year-olds," he said. "Family entertainment is typically low-budget, and facilities tend to be dirty and not run properly. I wanted a clean, high-end facility with the best customer service in Katy."

In addition, there are free air hockey tables in each room because he knows that parents do not always come ready with spare change.

Laura Svoboda brings her two children, ages 4 and 2, to Inflatable Katy at least twice a month for the company's "open play," which takes place Tuesday through Friday from 9:15 to 11:45 a.m.

Though Svoboda has not held her children's birthday parties at Inflatable Katy, she said the rooms are clean and enables her to keep contact with her children as well as see everything that is going on.

"Some of the other inflatable places are older-looking and can be dark," she said. "We also like that this place is closer to home."

Meanwhile, Roberts' goal is to have a facility where parents and grandparents can participate in activities with their children. The batting cages have variable speeds from slow to fast and can pitch baseballs and softballs.

"Miniature golf is the best business because a 3-year-old can play as well as his 89-year-old grandfather," he said. "And it's a great family experience because people leave happier than when they got here."

Amenities:

• Drive-thru drop-off
• Reserved parking for party hosts
• A room designed for toddlers

Future plans:

• Bumper boats
• Electric go-karts

Katy Miniature Golf & Batting Cages, 2482 S. Mason Road, Katy, 281-574-3045, www.katyminiaturegolf.com