Life around the world has been halted since early March. Even though it’s summertime – typically a time to explore your city more than usual and travel a bit – the world continues to move at a much slower pace than normal so that we can all stay safe. However, there are a few entertainment places in Plano that are open with health protocols in place to keep all visitors and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please remember, per the governor’s order, individuals inside Texas businesses are expected to wear a mouth and nose covering when not eating or drinking, and to distance from others not in their party when possible.
Cinemark
The West Plano and Legacy locations of Cinemark are the among the first few that the movie theater chain chose to reopen first as part of its phased reopening plan. Until late July, Cinemark is showing classic movies at discounted prices. Staff are sanitizing theaters, common spaces and bathrooms regularly. Employees went through training before reopening, will wear gloves and a face mask, and will have their temperature checked before each shift.
Crayola Experience
Crayola’s indoor family destination reopened at The Shops at Willow Bend July 1, with 25 attractions to delight visitors. Crayola Experience is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, and the Crayola Store, also inside the mall, is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday 12-5 p.m. Annual passes and general admission ticket expirations have been extended, and Crayola Experience is replacing its full-price admission ticket with a 2020 Unlimited Pass. To keep visitors and employees safe, the attraction will be restricting attendance to 50% capacity, screening employees and guests, requiring masks for employees and guests, offering clear bags for all personal belongings, including a new timed-ticket entry system (so reservations are strongly encouraged), including signage for social distancing, including additional hand sanitizer stations, and cleaning and sanitizing constantly.
Go Ape
This outdoor adventure spot in Plano is open with new protocols in place to keep everyone safe. At the Oak Point Park location, you can go ziplining and swinging through tree canopies. The longest zipline is 423 feet; there are 40 obstacles to enjoy; and platforms are up to 28 feet tall. Go Ape encourages you to book in advance since they will not be operating at full capacity. Guests must stand six feet apart unless from the same group, and full-finger gloves and face masks are required. All staff will be wearing face masks and gloves and will be screened at the start of each shift. Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the space, and they will be doing a credit card-only payment system.
Jack Carter Pool
The City of Plano’s outdoor Jack Carter Park Pool is open to the public June 29 through August 9, then weekends only until Labor Day, September 7. Patrons must wear a mask upon arrival, and masks are also required in locker rooms. You may remove your mask when swimming or maintaining six feet of distance from anyone not in your group. Hours have been adjusted to account for extra cleaning. Reservations are required and can be made two days in advance.
Main Event
Main Event is open in Plano, offering bowling, laser tag, billiards and arcade games for visitors to enjoy. They’re keeping guests and employees safe by cleaning, sanitizing and communicating when any staff has tested positive for COVID-19. Other precautions include limited guest capacity, social distancing markers, hand sanitizer stations throughout the center, dedicated cleaning teams, required temperature checks for every team member, contactless payment and safety shields installed at registers.
Pinstack
Pinstack Plano is open for visitors to enjoy bowling, dining, arcade games, bumper cars, a high ropes course or arcade games. To keep everyone safe, contactless menus or one-time use menus are offered; tables are six feet apart and limited to 10 guests; the patio is climate-controlled for comfortable outdoor dining; overall capacity is limited; team members are screened before each shift and wearing face masks and gloves; sanitation stations are located throughout the venue. They will also only be using every other bowling lane, and a sanitized selection of bowling balls will be provided.
Plano Super Bowl
Plano Super Bowl is open 24/7 for bowling. Masks are required inside at all times unless you are eating, drinking, have a health condition, or are under the age of 10 years old. This means that while you are bowling, you will need to wear your mask, too. Dining tables will be spaced six feet apart, and they are sanitizing all common areas every hour.
Strike + Reel
Strike + Reel in Garland (located on President George Bush Turnpike just a few minutes’ drive from Plano) is showing classic movies for $4 a ticket right now. Theater seats are all reclining luxury loungers, and are cleaned between movies. Some of the arcade games have been turned off to restrict people from playing too closely to one another, and the bowling alley, high ropes course, climbing wall and bumper cars are still available for guests. Patio tables are available for anyone who wants to order from the menu and dine outdoors. Every staff member wears a mask, and sanitizer stations are available throughout the facility.
Summit
Summit, a climbing gym and yoga studio, is open in Plano for both members and non-members. They currently require reservations and you must wear a mask while you are in the gym – even while climbing. They require that you maintain six feet of distance from people not in your group, sanitize your hands frequently during your visit, wear shoes at all times and stow all your belongings in a cubby. They also encourage use of liquid chalk.
The Texas Pool
Around since 1961, the historic Texas Pool is open this summer with your safety in mind. When you visit the pool, you will be required to wear a mask when coming and going through the gate as well as when talking to the front desk workers and lifeguards. Before going to the pool, they recommend you call them at 972-881-8392 to check capacity in case they have already reached it for the day.
Thunderbird Roller Rink
Thunderbird Roller Rink is open with new safety protocols. Anyone entering the building and rink will have to wear a mask. Once you are roller skating or while you are eating in the dining area, you do not near to wear a mask. If drinks are on the table for more than 15 minutes, the staff will throw them away. Their hours have been adjusted to maintain cleaning and sanitizing standards. Every person entering the building will have their temperature taken, and if your temperature is 100 degrees or higher, you will not be allowed to enter.
Whirlyball Texas
Whirlyball Texas in Plano is now requiring reservations for visitors. There will be 30 minutes between each group to ensure proper sanitation. At this time, all arcade games will be off and closed, car seats and handles will be disinfected between groups, staff will have their temperature checked before interacting with groups, every vest touched in laser tag will be disinfected between use, hand sanitizer will be readily available, contact-less pay will be required, and all areas will be cleaned hourly.
