Photos and video · Story
Photos and video in China Grove: what an afternoon looks like
Not a review - a description. Here is roughly how an hour goes.
The clips on the site were filmed in the rooms as they are. What is on the screen is what is in the room.
Plenty of the families in the room on a weekday morning have come from somewhere like China Grove. Nobody is local to a mall attraction; everybody has driven.
Walking in
Video works better than stills here. The interesting part is always the movement - the swing of a cable, the spin of a car.
Warn a nervous child about the noise before you walk in. Knowing what to expect is most of the difference between anxious and curious.
The middle of the visit
For a parent with a phone, the useful thing to know is where to stand: at the rail level with the crate, or at the boards where the cars come back round.
The site keeps a gallery of clips from both rooms - a bucket coming up full, a car spinning on the ice, first laps that end in a laugh.
The last ten minutes
The clips on the site were filmed in the rooms as they are. What is on the screen is what is in the room.
Bring a snack for afterwards rather than during. Hungry children leave early and full children want to stay.
What sticks
Video works better than stills here. The interesting part is always the movement - the swing of a cable, the spin of a car.
For a parent with a phone, the useful thing to know is where to stand: at the rail level with the crate, or at the boards where the cars come back round.
Questions parents ask
Can I film my child?
Parents film constantly. Be considerate of other families in the frame.
Where can I see what it looks like?
The video gallery on the site shows both rooms.
What are the opening hours?
10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
Where is New Life Entertainment?
Two centres: 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214, and 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027.
Planning your visit in China Grove
Nothing about the visit assumes you know the area. The centre is inside Concord Mills, which is signposted from everywhere in Concord and impossible to miss once you are there.
Feed them first. Every attraction in the world is improved by not being hungry in it.
If one child is nervous, let them watch for the first ten minutes without being asked to join in. Almost all of them join in.
Coming in from China Grove with more than one child, the useful thing to know is that the room does not need to be rationed - there is more than one thing to do at the same time.
The practical details
- XCAV ZONE — 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville TN 37214: four child-operated machines over a ball pit.
- ICE PARK — 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord NC 28027: a real rink with bumper cars on the ice.
- Opening hours — 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
- Phone — +1 (424) 387-6232 · +1 (615) 968-4925
- E-mail — info@newlife-entertainment.com
The two centres are at 433 Opry Mills Drive in Nashville and 8111 Concord Mills Blvd in Concord, open 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM most days and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.