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New owners of Rascal’s Fun Zone offering new fun for everyone

1/13/2023

13 Comments

 
Picture
PictureNew co-owner Brad Goedeker enjoys outing at Rascal’s Fun Zone with children Holly and Quincy Goedeker.
By Al Stilley
Editor

The future of Rascal’s Fun Zone – the 11-acre family entertainment complex in Whiteland - is in good hands.

The indoor-outdoor entertainment center is under the new ownership and management of Whiteland High School alumnus and brothers, Brad (Class of 1999) and Jeff Goedeker (Class of 1997), who purchased the massive facility in November 2022.

“Our hearts are in the right place to offer affordable, great entertainment where everyone can have fun and make memories,” Brad Goedeker said in an exclusive interview. “It has to be more fun, safer, cleaner, positive and uplifting for all who come to enjoy Rascal’s Fun Zone.”

They also seek to change the perception that Rascal’s Fun Zone as just a “seasonal outdoor go-kart track.”

As Brad Goedeker points out, there is much more that patrons can enjoy: two indoor go-kart tracks, a massive arcade pizzeria with prizes, 48,000 square feet of games, food, and entertainment, many new arcade games, indoor duck-pin bowling this summer, two outdoor miniature golf courses, outdoor pool bumper boats, two large pavilion areas outdoors, huge picnic area, and spacious parking.

Brad and his brother remember Rascal’s as a putt-putt golf course when they were at Whiteland High School.

“Had a great time here and our kids can have fun here,” Brad emphasized. “I hold this place in high regard. It is a staple of the community and people come from a 90-minute radius.”

He continued, “We want people to have a place for a birthday party, to enjoy special occasions, and for businesses and corporations to have large outings. We are friendly and affordable – that’s the niche we want to be in.”

Significantly, the Goedekers have improved the Rascal’s Fun Zone website and already have reached out to more businesses and corporations, schools, and organizations with improved marketing and special events.

For example, they have introduced a new “Reading for Rascal’s” program that rewards students at Clark, Needham, and Pleasant Crossing elementary schools for reading improvement and achievement that they want to expand to more schools. Rascal’s also opens its doors once a month for FireFlight of Indianapolis, a children’s alliance that benefits homeless children.

“We want to reach out, tell our story to the people, and use social media – that’s how new customers can find us.”

The website was utilized in November so followers could purchase gift cards online in time for Christmas giving. Also, nearby Endress+Hauser had its employee Christmas party at Rascal’s Fun Zone.

Brad also looked back on the past five months and realized, “It’s been a race to get a handle on everything.”
Brad, his wife Marissa and brother Jeff and his wife Nikki bought Rascal’s Fun Zone on Aug. 4, 2022.  Brad and Marissa, a third-grade teacher at Clark Elementary, have three children, Holly 11, Quincy 8, and Henry 4. Jeff and Nikki have four children, Brady 14, Gabi 12, McKenzie 8, and Isabelle 6. Each family lives in Whiteland.

Brad and Jeff played baseball and basketball and ran cross-country for the Warriors. Brad was valedictorian of the Class of 1999. He is an alumnus of Franklin College and Purdue University. He is a pharmacist and has worked with Walmart and Genoa Health Care and opened a small pharmacy in Franklin during the pandemic in August 2020 to help serve those with mental illnesses. He later was pharmacy director for a managed health plan with United Health Care in early 2021. Brother Jeff is a dentist.

They had several talks with the previous owners before buying Rascal’s Fun Zone.

“Rascal’s came out of the pandemic with some of their best sales, but it was a big challenge for any business or profession to navigate their way through the pandemic,” Brad recalled. “Hopefully, no one has to deal with anything that challenging again.”

They have touched many aspects of Rascal’s Fun Zone while retaining many of the former employees and making customers more welcome.

One major project is the refurbishing of the weathered stand-up animals throughout the two miniature golf courses. They have sent two of the animals to Whiteland High School for students there to refurbish in a pilot program.

“There was lots of deferred maintenance that needed to be done, mainly for environmental and safety improvements,” Brad said. “We were so fortunate and blessed to inherit a ton of workers who love this place.”

Brad also continues to reach out to more businesses, schools, sports clubs, teams and not-for-profits to help them raise funds through events at Rascal’s Fun Zone. And he has been networking with other family entertainment centers nationwide for new ideas.
​
“We are going to make Rascal’s better for everyone,” Brad concluded. 

Picture
​Rascal’s Fun Zone employees celebrate the recent holidays with party near end of last year.
Picture
Location: 629 N. U.S. 31, Whiteland.
Phone: 317-536-7600.
Regular Hours: Monday-Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. 9 p.m. (Hours vary during school breaks and summer months.)
Info: attractions, prices, group rates, to book parties, gift cards, job applications and more, visit www.Rascalsfunzone.com

13 Comments
C J Smith
1/13/2023 10:29:47 am

As one of the former owners of Rascals, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. It is great to see that Rascals is indeed in good hands and is wanting to maintain the family environment and give back to the community, May Brad, Jeff, and their families exceed the 52+ years that we were in the entertainment business in Indiana.

Reply
aaronpickerell81@gmail.com link
1/15/2023 11:48:33 am

Aaron Pickerell

Reply
Shella
1/14/2023 10:58:08 am

Any plans on sensory days or anything like that?

Reply
Rascals regular.
1/14/2023 09:23:48 pm

We have had many bday parties at rascales along with a lot of days we just visited. We love it for its tokens and tickets. Now.... it was sad watching my kids wait for tickets and none came out. It was sad to see how little credits and tickets we got. Its sad that we probably won't visit too much any more. We were regulars. I get it times change. Although some of the fun was sucked out of it. Sigh. Thanks for the memories tho. Maybe next time.

Reply
Unhappy customer
1/15/2023 12:29:14 am

Use to be a good place to go without having to worry about bringing much money and the coins were so fun. Now it's a card and everything cost so much. What happened to cheap place to have fun.

Reply
David young link
1/15/2023 02:39:32 pm

I've been there but you guys don't have pinball games

Reply
S
1/15/2023 04:03:54 pm

Change the designs on the front of the building, the stupid characters look like an 80’s horror movie.

Reply
Simon kemp
1/16/2023 12:06:17 am

Any idea if they’re selling the older gas go karts that they don’t use anymore, last time we were there, summer 2022, it was a bunch over by the bumper boat pool.

Reply
Craig
1/16/2023 09:09:41 am

If you want to try something different for family fun style place maybe make the food enjoyable to eat .
Seems like the food is always an after thought .

Reply
Susan Green
1/19/2023 06:08:24 pm

I love taking my grandchildren there

Reply
Judy Bennett
1/20/2023 11:39:07 am

My grandson and I visited on Tuesday of this week! I didn’t know things had changed with the way you played games! (Cards) not a fan of it! I spent $40.00 where in the past I could take him and spend just $20.00 for the same amount of time there! Probably won’t be back any time soon!

Reply
Russ
1/22/2023 08:06:43 pm

Went last night. Price almost double. Cost per game gone way up. Only get 110 tokens for $20. I had bought the zone pass for a year back in July. I was denied being able to use it for the 200 tokens for $20. They gave me $10 credit for 50 tokens and then the 110 tokens for $20. Total 160 tokens for $20 and took my old fun zone pass away from me. Needless to say I won’t be back with my 2 grandkids. Way too expensive. For a Saturday night not very many folks there. The new owners might want to rethink their price gouging. No longer affordable for families.

Reply
Kristen
1/24/2023 06:05:57 pm

Not a fan of new ownership. Prices went up and their new way of ticketing in the arcade is terrible. Attractions close at different times and mini bowling has been taken out. This has been our go to activity on New Year’s Eve but we will be finding a new place to go. Bye Rascals.

Reply



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