A colorful indoor playground complete with a world-class candy shop and café is opening in Greenwood Village. “Candeeland is a place where kids can just go crazy, wear themselves out with fun,” said Candeeland Colorado owner Wayne Marrs.
Marrs discovered Candeeland during a visit with friends in California while migrating with his family to Colorado from Alaska. He spoke with the owner about how much he and his family had enjoyed their time, and the owner suggested that Marrs open a location in Colorado.
“I’m really excited about kids being active. So, for me, we’re trying to design a play place that’s for smaller kids,” Marrs said. Candeeland will appeal to children who are ten years old and younger. “Lots of stuff they can crawl on, climb around, jump over, little ninja courses. Fun stuff,” Marrs explained.
The main feature in Candeeland is an enormous play structure with a maze, zip lines, obstacle courses, and areas for pretend play. A contained toddler area for four-year-old and younger children will include a ball pit and slides. Candeeland will also feature an arcade for the older children.
Marrs moved with his wife, Gaia, and their two young daughters to Colorado in the spring of 2021. Marrs and his friend Todd Krieg, who is also from Alaska, will operate Candeeland. “Between the two of us, we have five little girls. Really, building Candeeland is just a shameless attempt at us to be hero dads. That’s what it’s all about,” Marrs told What Now Denver.
Marrs’ wife and Krieg’s wife, Jen, are also partners in the project. “We’re all in this together.”
Candeeland can be rented for parties, or walk-in guests can pay an entrance fee. Candeeland will also have a small candy store at the front of the shop. “It’s part of the fun. Kids love candy. It’s Candeeland, gotta have it,” Marrs said. A café will offer a variety of food for children and adults including pizza.
Marrs hopes Candeeland at 7969 Arapahoe Rd., Ste. B, Greenwood Village, CO 80122 will open to the public by the end of 2022. “There’s tons of work to do especially these days with supply lines all messed up,” he said. “It’s a very challenging business environment right now.”
